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English

AIMS

The aim of the English curriculum at Bedford Free School is to combine what we believe to be the essentials of literacy in the traditional sense of reading and writing with the broader notion of cultural literacy. To ensure the former, we have a rigorous, knowledge-based approach to grammar, spelling and punctuation. For the latter we ensure our students are introduced to what might be regarded as ‘difficult texts’ from year 7.  Combined with our daily DEAR (drop everything and read) sessions, pupils at BFS are able to draw upon a broad range of social and historical ‘contexts’, which may be applied to many other texts of similar periods, genres and linguistic structures.

Whilst there is much to ‘memorise’ in English at BFS (in terms of cultural, thematic, contextual and linguistic features) we encourage active teaching and learning. Our teachers demonstrate and explain, but also continually interact with pupils through well-constructed questioning. All Key Stage 3 pupils are required to learn a Shakespeare speech off by heart each year, but they are also given the opportunity to act and bring this great poetry to life. We also believe that all pupils should be given the opportunity to practice public speaking and practically employ the age-old features of oratory and rhetoric for public speaking, which they will have identified in their reading.

With the combined knowledge, understanding and practical skills acquired in the study of English Language and Literature at BFS, we firmly believe all pupils will be well prepared for future academic progress at 6th Form, University and lifelong learning. They will be literate in every sense of that word, and ready to use, understand and interpret the English language throughout their lives.

 

 

Key Stage 3

Year 7

Year 7 begins with an introduction to Classical Mythology and its influence on later works of literature. Here we begin a journey into the cultural and historical ‘contexts’ that help make sense of literature through the ages. This basic understanding of ‘intertextuality’ will grow throughout a pupil’s time at BFS. From the start, grammar knowledge and writing skills are covered in at least one lesson a week (see BFS Essential Grammar and Terminology). As the year progresses, revision and ‘review’ lessons are introduced.

For those struggling, there will be a corrective reading programme suited to the needs of the group (working on comprehension, vocabulary and grammar). An extra teacher will work with small groups with decoding issues, following a phonics-based programme.

Autumn – 1

Mythology:

  • Overview of The Iliad, The Odyssey, and various stories taken from Stephen Fry’s retelling of Greek and Roman myths, Mythos

Grammar and writing basics:

  • Parts of speech
  • Parts of the sentence

Autumn – 2

Creative and Functional Writing:

  • Using some of the latest ideas on the teaching of writing, we will explore and practise ways of making writing more accurate, concise, interesting and creative.

Revision fortnightly:

  • Grammar
  • Mythology
  • Writing: 2 x 200 word challenges with teacher feedback

Spring – 1

War Poetry and Drama:

  • White Poppies by Sue Saunders
  • War Poetry – Selection

Revision fortnightly:

  • Grammar
  • Mythology
  • Writing: 2 x 200 word challenges with teacher feedback

Spring – 2

Shakespearean Comedy & Elizabethan English:

  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Read and act out the whole play in class
  • Early Modern English – Know how to distinguish your ‘thees’ from your ‘thous’!
  • Shakespeare by Heart

Revision fortnightly:

  • Grammar
  • Mythology
  • Poetry
  • Writing: 2 x 200 word challenges with teacher feedback

Summer – 1

19th Century Literature

  • The Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
  • Victorian Vocabulary
  • Key contextual feature of the 19th Century

Revision fortnightly:

  • Grammar
  • Mythology
  • War Poetry and Drama
  • Shakespeare
  • Writing: 2 x 200 word challenges with teacher feedback

Summer – 2

Revision for end of year exams

  • Grammar & Terminology
  • Mythology
  • War Poetry and Drama
  • Shakespeare
  • 19th Century Novel
  • Writing: Guided and Creative

Oratory & Rhetoric:

  • A chance to learn about the Classical origins of persuasive writing and public speaking
  • Public Speaking for all pupils, who will write and deliver a persuasive speech to their peers on a topic of their choice

Year 8

Building on year 7, we begin with a chronological journey through various literary and historical eras. In addition to the linguistic features in question, we will address the social and historical contexts of each period and link writers with the monarchs of their time.

For those struggling, there will continue to be a corrective reading programme suited to the needs of the group (working on comprehension, vocabulary and grammar). An extra teacher will work with small groups with decoding issues, following a phonics-based programme.

Autumn 1

Literary Eras – Various texts in their time

Autumn 2

Non Fiction Writing:

  • Using some of the latest ideas on the teaching of writing, we will explore and practise ways of making writing more accurate, concise, interesting and creative

Revision fortnightly:

  • Grammar
  • Literary Eras
  • Writing: 2 x 200 word challenges with teacher feedback

Spring 1

Poetry: Unseen and guided

  • Using an anthology of poetry, pupils will learn how to read and analyse poems for themselves

Spring 2

Shakespearean Tragedy:

  • Rome and Juliet – Read and act out the whole play in class
  • Shakespeare by Heart
  • Archaic vocabulary and other linguistic features such as ‘elision’ in Elizabethan/Jacobean verse

Revision fortnightly:

  • Grammar
  • Mythology
  • Poetry
  • Elizabethan/Jacobean English
  • Writing: 2 x 200 word challenges with teacher feedback

Summer 1

19th Century Literature:

Summer 2

Revision for end of year exams

  • Grammar & Terminology
  • Literary Eras
  • Poetry and Drama
  • Shakespeare
  • 19th Century Novel
  • Writing: Guided and Creative

Oratory & Rhetoric:

  • A reminder of the Classical origins of persuasive writing and public speaking
  • Public Speaking for all pupils, including an introduction to adversarial debate

Key Stage 4

English Literature GCSE

Assessments

  • All assessments are closed book: any stimulus materials required will be provided as part of the assessment.
  • All assessments are compulsory.

Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel

What’s assessed?

  • Shakespeare – Macbeth
  • The 19th-century novel: A Christmas Carol

How it’s assessed:

  • Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
  • 64 marks
  • 40% of GCSE
  • Questions

Section A – Shakespeare: students will answer one question on Macbeth. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the play and then to write about the play as a whole. In preparation they will study context, close reading for language and overall themes and characters.

Section B – The 19th-century novel: pupils will answer one question on A Christmas Carol. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the novel and then to write about the novel as a whole. In preparation they will study context, close reading for language and overall themes and characters

Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry

  • Modern drama texts: An Inspector Calls
  • The poetry anthology: Power and Conflict
  • Unseen poetry

How it is assessed:

  • A written exam: 2 hour 15 minutes
  • 96 marks
  • 60% of GCSE
  • Questions

Section A – Modern texts: pupils will answer one essay question (34 marks) from a choice of two on their An Inspector Calls

Section B – Poetry: pupils will answer one comparative question (30 marks) on one named poem printed on the paper and one other poem from their chosen anthology cluster.

Section C – Unseen poetry: Pupils will answer one question on one unseen poem (24 marks) and one short (8 mark) question comparing this poem with a second unseen poem.

 

English Language GCSE

Subject content

  • Explorations in creative reading and writing
  • Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives
  • Non-exam assessment

For the award of the GCSE in English Language pupils must offer all three assessments.

Assessments:

All texts in the examination will be unseen.

Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing

Section A – Reading: One unseen prose fiction text

Section B – Writing: Descriptive or narrative writing

How it’s assessed:

  • Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
  • 80 marks
  • 50% of GCSE

Questions

Reading (40 marks) (25%) – one single text

  • 1 short form question (1 x 4 marks)
  • 2 longer form questions (2 x 8 marks)
  • 1 extended question (1 x 20 marks)
  • Writing (40 marks) (25%)
  • 1 extended writing question (24 marks for content, 16 marks for technical accuracy)

Paper 2: Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives

Section A: Reading: One non-fiction text and one literary non-fiction text

Section B: Writing: Writing to present a viewpoint

How it’s assessed:

  • Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
  • 80 marks
  • 50% of GCSE

Questions

Reading (40 marks) (25%) – two linked texts

  • 1 short form question (1 x 4 marks)
  • 2 longer form questions (1 x 8, 1 x 12 marks)
  • 1 extended question (1 x 16 marks)
  • Writing (40 marks) (25%)

Writing (40 marks) (25%)

  • 1 extended writing question (24 marks for content, 16 marks for technical accuracy)

Non-examination Assessment: Spoken Language

Presenting/responding to questions and feedback use of Standard English

How it’s assessed:

  • teacher set throughout course
  • marked by teacher
  • separate endorsement (0% weighting of GCSE)

Department contact

Mr Scanlan, Head of English: gscanlan@bedfordfreeschool.co.uk

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