The English curriculum at KS4 is based around the AQA GCSE English Literature and English Language syllabus. Under our current model, all students will sit their GCSE English Literature and Language at the end of Year 11. However, with the way our curriculum is designed, the transition from KS3 to KS4 should be seamless with key knowledge and skills mapped across Year 7-9 to allow students to become entirely au fait with all facets of literary and language study. Students read a variety of texts including novels, poetry, drama and a Shakespeare play – they also study media “texts” and 19th century non-fiction in addition to being encouraged to read widely in order to develop their appreciation of the different genres. Throughout the course, students will develop their confidence in analysing texts independently, choosing their vocabulary for impact, and articulating their ideas both verbally and in written forms.
For further details, please follow the link below.
Download Full GCSE English Language Specification
Download Full GCSE English Literature Specification
| Year | Term | Topic | Type Of Assessment | Assessment Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Autumn | GCSE English Literature 1 - A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens | Vocabulary 1a - Questions on Dickens’ background, context and key vocabulary relating to A Christmas Carol | Week 3 (September) |
| GCSE English Literature 2 - Anthology Poetry Cluster 1 – Pride and Power **3 days per week** | Reading 1b | Week 6 (October) | ||
| Exam extract question with focus on either character or theme from A Christmas Carol | ||||
| Reading 2 - Follow up exam extract question with focus on either character or theme from A Christmas Carol | Week 12 (December) | |||
| GCSE English Language 1 -Paper 1: The Silent Land - **2 days per week** | Reading 3 - Q2 (language) and Q3 (structure) from ‘shadow’ unseen paper | Week 7 (October) | ||
| Writing 1 - Q5 creative writing task – narrative or description – from ‘shadow’ unseen paper | Week 13 (December) | |||
| Spring | GCSE English Literature 3 - Anthology Poetry Cluster 2 – Effects of War **3 days per week** | Vocabulary 2 - Thesis words, poetic terms and context related information relevant to Cluster 1-2 poems | Week 2 (January) | |
| Reading 5 - Exam question from Anthology Poetry Cluster 1-2 poems | Week 6 (February) | |||
| GCSE English Language 2 - Paper 2: AQA past paper **2 days per week** | Vocabulary 3 - Thesis words, poetic terms and context related information relevant to Cluster 1-2 poems and A Christmas Carol | Week 4 (January) | ||
| Reading 6 - Exam paper on Section A | Week 8 (February) | |||
| Writing 2 - Exam paper on Section B/transactional writing | Week 10 (February) | |||
| Summer | GCSE English Literature 4 - Macbeth by William Shakespeare **3 days per week** | Vocabulary 4 - Thesis words, poetic terms and context related information relevant to Cluster 1-2 poetry, A Christmas Carol and Macbeth | Week 2 (May) | |
| Reading 7 - Exam extract question on Macbeth | Week 6 (June) | |||
| GCSE English Language 3 - Paper 1-2: AQA past paper **2 days per week** | Writing 3 - Exam tasks focusing on both creative (Paper 1) and transactional (Paper 2) writing – intensive skills-based diagnostic to consolidate end of year progress | Week 4 (May) | ||
| Spoken Language - Presentations on subject of own choosing – assessed and recorded in class | Week 5 (July) | |||
| 11 | Autumn | GCSE English Literature 5 - An Inspector Calls by J B Priestley **3 days per week** | Vocabulary 5 - Thesis words, poetic terms and context related information relevant to Cluster 1-2 poetry, A Christmas Carol and Macbeth (full play) | Week 2 (September) |
| Reading 8 - Exam question (no extract) on An Inspector Calls | Week 4 (October) | |||
| Reading 9 - Exam question on Anthology Poetry Cluster 3 – Identity poems | Week 10 (November) | |||
| MOCK EXAM - Macbeth & Anthology Poetry | Week 11 (December) | |||
| GCSE English Language 4 - Paper 1-2: AQA past paper **2 days per week** | Reading 10 - Revisiting high tariff questions on both papers – Paper 1 Q4 (Evaluative) and Paper 2 Q4 (Comparison). | Week 5 (October) | ||
| MOCK EXAM - Paper 2 (full) | Week 11 (December) | |||
| Spring | GCSE English Literature 6 - A Christmas Carol, Anthology Poetry, Macbeth and An Inspector Calls **3 days per week** | Vocabulary 11 - Thesis words, poetic terms and context related information relevant to A Christmas Carol and Macbeth, An Inspector Calls and Anthology Poetry | Week 2 (January) | |
| Reading 11 - Core knowledge and skills workshops focusing on character, theme and other exam question foci – carousel in department | Week 7 (March) | |||
| GCSE English Language 5 - Paper 1-2: AQA past paper **2 days per week** | Reading 12 - Full Section A walk-through and skills review of Paper 1 and Paper 2 | Week 4 (February) | ||
| Writing 13 - Full section B walk-through and skills review of Paper 1 and Paper 2 | Week 9 (March/April) | |||
| Summer | GCSE English Literature 8 - A Christmas Carol, Anthology Poetry, Macbeth, Unseen Poetry and An Inspector Calls | Full consolidation of exam paper knowledge and skills – personalised learning approach according to item level analysis | Week 1-7 (June-July) |