The content and methodology followed by our department reflects the demands of the National Curriculum
Groupings
In Year 7 and 8 the majority of students are taught in mixed abilty groups. There are two targeted lower ability groups on either side of the year group which focuses on literacy and raising key skills in order to allow students to access the curriculum more easily and to prepare them in readiness for Key Stage Four studies.
Assessment
Students will examine six areas of study in both Years 7 and 8. In each scheme of work, students will be formally assessed at least once: depending on the scheme of work, students will complete either a reading or writing assessment and with some texts, students will also be assessed on their speaking and listening skills.
Assessments are completed over a number of lessons, including preparation as well as the completion of the task.
The students are awarded a holistic grade from 1-5 which reflects their performance in each assessment:
1 – Beginning
2 – Approaching
3 – Meeting
4 – Exceeding
5 – Mastering
These grades are tracked over the year to evaluate every student’s progress.
Common Assessments
In addition to the scheme of work assessments, all students in Year 7 and 8 also sit a formal exam. These take place at different points in the year: currently, the Year 8 exam week is in November and the Year 7 exam week is in June. The exam tests the Year 7 and 8 writing skills – particularly focusing on the creative writing abilities of students as this is an emerging focus of writing tasks at GCSE. The format of these assessments provide early preparation for students of elements of the GCSE English Language exams.
Literacy
The teaching of spellings, punctuation and grammar is an integral part of our schemes of work as determined by the National Literacy Strategy. Spellings, punctuation and grammar skills are taught explicitly in the weekly literacy lessons that Year 7 and 8 have, as well as being identified and addressed through normal marking procedures and more implicitly through activities in lessons related to the schemes of work being studied. The government intervention strategy is also used to support less able spellers at KS3 as well as the focused setting of students who are weaker in English and in Literacy.
The Key Stage Three Curriculum:
- Y ear 7 Schemes of Work
- Year 8 Schemes of Work
- Example of a typical year 8 lesson
Homework
GCSE Media Studies in Year 9
In addtion to their English studies, students at the top of the bands in year 9 complete the AQA GCSE Media Studies qualification. This provides them with opportunities for enrichment as well as a clear focus for the year. This course also thoroughly prepares students for the first unit studied in GSCE English Language.
- Year 9 Schemes of Work
- Media Studies GCSE 2010
The Reading Award Scheme
The National Curriculum online- an outlineof the English curriculum