AS and A-level English

At A-level, English follows the WJEC specification.  For details of the work covered, please click on the links below:

English AS and A level Syllabus 2008

English AS and A level Syllabus 2009-10

Essential Texts

• Oxford Concise English Dictionary 9th Edition.
• The New Oxford English Grammar.
• All students will be provided with copies of set texts.

 

Prohibited texts

• York notes and equivalent are no longer suitable for this level of academic study.

Click here for the recommended reading list for AS and A-Level

 

GCSE English Literature and Language

At GCSE, English follows the OCR specification.  GCSE English Literature and Language are two separate GCSE’s but are taught together. Students have the option to drop Literature and take GCSE Media Studies instead.  Students may be entered for only Higher or Foundation papers.

For details of the syllabi, please click on the links below:

GCSE English Language Syllabus

GCSE English Literature Syllabus

These syllabi will be taught until 2010

Sample GCSE Teaching Plan

TERM	Year 10	Year 11
HALF TERM 1	Romeo and Juliet – study	C/w – Victorian Poetry
HALF TERM 2	Romeo and Juliet Coursework Plus Speaking and Listening individual contribution and group discussion	Opening Worlds Poetry Anthology
HALF TERM 3	Speaking and Listening Drama unit plus Creative Writing coursework	Chinua Achebe – Things Fall Apart or short stories
HALF TERM 4	Drama Text – Journey’s End plus language paper 2 practice	Chinua Achebe – Things Fall Apart or short stories
HALF TERM 5	C/w – Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde	Revision and Exam technique
HALF TERM 6	C/w – Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde plus Language paper 1 practice	Exams

Click here for explanations of the technical terminology

Click here for the recommended reading list for GCSE

 

English at Key Stage 3

The Curriculum allocation for Key Stage 3 is three, one hour lessons per week. Two lessons are dedicated to the syllabus and one lesson per week students follow an intensive literacy programme which aims to continue standards in spelling, grammar, punctuation , reading and comprehension.

Click here to view Syllabi for English at Key Stage 3

Key Stage 3 Literacy

Our intensive literacy programme aims to continue to raise standards in literacy across years 7 – 9.   Its primary focus is on the fundamental basics of spelling, grammar, punctuation, reading and general writing skills. The programme has been designed with the following aims:

Year 7 – As students arrive from differing primary schools, the aim is to teach the very basics with extension to ensure that every all students are at the same level.

Year 8 – This programme builds on the revised knowledge gained in year 7 and introduces higher level tasks in preparation for year 9.

Year 9 – Extension tasks are carried out at a higher level in preparation for the GCSE syllabus in year 10.

All lessons are taught using short, sharp activities with an emphasis on game playing and experiential learning. All topics are taught in a continuous rolling programme to ensure that topics are revisited continuously.

 

Spelling

• All classes have weekly spelling tests of between ten to fifteen words.
  
• Students are issued with an independent spelling log where they record words that they specifically find difficult. Once every term, students will be tested on their own, independent words lists.
  
• All students are issued with a basic skills booklet which contains common spelling rules and methods for learning spellings. There is also space for recording terminology under different subject headings which build up into the student’s personal dictionary.
  
• All students are tested on an annual basis to establish their spelling age.
  

Reading

• Students carry a ‘Reading Log’ in their folders where they record all the books they have read each term. A prize is awarded to students who have read a significant amount independently.
  
• Literacy classes often involved a ‘paired reading’ programme where students read to each other and evaluate their own accuracy and confidence in reading.
  
• Our Reading Rainbow Scheme consists of a course of reading activities that aim to encourage students to read different types of books. Under each colour of the rainbow is a series of approximately four reading tasks ranging from short activities to extensive novels.
• Each task is accompanied by a piece of written work. Once all tasks in a specific colour have been completed, the student will receive a certificate. This programme is compulsory and students who do not complete it in year 7 will carry it forward into years 8 and 9 as necessary.
  
• All students are tested on an annual basis to establish their reading age.

Click here to view the Priory School Literacy Policy