Intent
KS3
English at Baines in Key Stage 3 both builds on English at Key Stage 2, and prepares pupils for the demands of Key Stage 4. We want our pupils to have the knowledge and the literacy skills required to help them with GCSE and with life beyond school. Pupils build and reinforce this knowledge and these skills through a carefully chosen topic-based curriculum. It is our aim that we foster in pupils and appreciation and love of literature and non-fiction writing, both classic and modern, and become skilled communicators, both written and verbally. We encourage our pupils to think critically and with independence, to appreciate the importance of values both British and universal, and we want all of our learners to be resilient and confident in an enjoyable subject that is absolutely vital, both across school and in the wider world beyond.
KS4
Key Stage 4 English at Baines builds on the skills and knowledge learnt at both Key Stages 2 and 3, and prepares pupils for the rigours and the demands of both GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature. They will learn skills that are vital for life after school, such as the ability to communicate clearly, whether in spoken or written language, and the ability to read for meaning in increasingly sophisticated texts. Through GCSE English Literature, we want our learners to not only enjoy the texts we study, but also appreciate the way in which they have been written, and develop an understanding of the values and idea that underpin those texts.
Learning Journey
* GCSE/KS4 – Teachers will revisit elements of the GCSEs at other times, if they see fit. Poetry may be interspersed at other times throughout the KS4 course. Language Spoken Language will also be covered at different points throughout the course.
Names of staff, roles & contact details
Mr S Davies
Subject Leader for English
sds@baines.lancs.sch.uk
Mrs C Davies
Assistant Subject Leader for English
cds@baines.lancs.sch.uk
Mrs K Streetly
Literacy Co-coordinator/Teacher of English
kst@baines.lancs.sch.uk
Miss B Dunstan
Teacher of English
bdu@baines.lancs.sch.uk
Mrs H Gibson
Teacher of English
hgi@baines.lancs.sch.uk
Mrs S Russell
Teacher of English
sru@baines.lancs.sch.uk
Miss R Addenbrooke
Teacher of English (Maternity Cover) & Performing Arts and LSA
rad@baines.lancs.sch.uk
| HT1 | HT2 | HT3 | HT4 | HT5 | HT6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 7 | School Life | Gothic Tales | An Introduction to Shakespeare | An Introduction to Shakespeare - "A Midsummer Night's Dream" | Heroes and Villains | Shared Text and Examination |
| Year 8 | Who the Dickens Were the Victorians? | Science Fiction, Fact and Dystopia | Write Around the World prose, poetry and drama | Write Around the World prose, poetry and drama | Charity Campaign | Shared Text + Exam |
| Year 9 | War and Conflict – Including an anthology of poetry, speeches and other non-fiction texts | War and Conflict - "Macbeth" | Exploration and Adventure – Travel writing | Perspectives | Crime and Mystery | Shared Text: Of Mice and Men Examination |
| Year 10* | Language Component 1A Narrative Writing | Literature Paper 1 A Christmas Carol | Language Component 2 A and B Capital Punishment | Literature Paper 1 Romeo and Juliet | Language Component 1B Literature Paper 1 Revision Language Component 1 Revision Exams | Language Component 1B Literature Paper 1 Revision Language Component 1 Revision Exams |
| Year 11* | Literature Paper 2 An Inspector Calls | Literature Paper 2 Poetry: Power and Conflict | Literature Paper 2 Poetry: Power and Conflict continued, Unseen Poetry | Exam Preparation Language Component 1 and 2 Literature Paper 1 and 2 | Exam Preparation Language Component 1 and 2 Literature Paper 1 and 2 |
How and when is my child assessed?
The English Department assesses pupils in KS3 every half-term, following the Lancashire Assessment model. Over the course of an academic year, we assess reading and writing skills through a range of tasks, culminating in an end-of-year examination. Pupils use skills books and assessment books.
During KS4, pupils are assessed throughout the two-year course, through a mixture of classroom assessments at the end of units and using formal mock examinations.
| Name of course(s) offered | Exam board | Link to spec | Nature of assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| GCSE English Language | Eduqas (WJEC) | https://www.eduqas.co.uk/media/10ea1en0/eduqas-gcse-english-language-from-2015-e.pdf | Two examinations (1 hour 45 and 2 hours). Internally assessed Spoken Language presentation. |
| GCSE English Literature | AQA | https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-literature-8702/specification-at-a-glance | Two examinations (1 hour 45, 2 hours 15). |
Teaching Strategies
As we teach a broad range of knowledge and skills in English at Baines, it is important that we use a range of teaching strategies. We differentiate work, both between ability groups and individually in class, when required. We ensure questioning is used to maximise students’ learning and understanding. We understand the need for retrieval practice to improve students’ memories. Our curriculum in English ensures that interleaving takes place: returning to previous skills and knowledge is vital. Work is carefully modelled by the classroom teacher and we help to ‘scaffold’ student responses when it is required.
Homework is usually set once a week through Class Charts. Sometimes extra may be set and on other occasions, homework can span several weeks. Year 8 homework is set through the online facility of Bedrock. We also expect pupils to continue with independent reading.
If we believe that it would be advantageous and helpful, we run after-school sessions which provide additional support. These are not timetabled for all students. Rather, pupils will be invited to the sessions we teach and, if we deem it necessary, we inform parents and carers of these sessions.
In English, we understand that it is vital that students continue to follow the topics and units of work that are being taught in the classroom. As such, we will ensure that if a pupil has to work remotely from home, then they will be assigned work using Class Charts and Google Classroom which runs parallel to the in-school provision. We always try to avoid repetition of work done in school, but rather, the work set builds on and accompanies the work done in school. Print copies of work are available from school if student are unable to access it online.
Resources
Last updated July 2023