Secondary | English
The English Department is an exciting area of the school, with a welcoming environment where students can explore literature, poetry and all aspects of the English language, as well as extending their creative skills.
Our aims are to support and provide for the delivery of the English curriculum, endeavouring as far as possible to maintain continuity with the pupil’s mainstream learning experiences.
We deliver the English Curriculum in a variety of ways, catering for a range of learning styles and to differentiate the Curriculum according to pupil needs during every aspect of their learning in English.
Key Stage 3 (National Curriculum)
Our learners are encouraged to tackle a variety of writing and reading styles at KS3 so that they are fully prepared for the challenges of GCSEs.
Year 8
|
Term 1/2 |
Poetry – Culture Novel study – Oliver Twist |
|
Term 3/4 |
Modern Drama Non-fiction |
|
Term 5/6 |
Shakespeare – Romeo & Juliet End of year revision & preparation for exam |
Key Stage 4
Exam board: Edexcel
Course(s):
- GCSE English Language 9-1
- Functional Skills English Entry Level 3
- Functional Skills English Level 1
- Functional Skills English Level 2
The GCSE English Language 9-1 course at Horizon Academy is taught in a way that draws out the very best from our learners. We encourage the reading of full texts and give students time to consolidate their knowledge and skills. We are aware that students need to develop into mature and confident readers and writers to excel in this subject.
As we endeavour to support the individual needs of the students we also offer Functional skills English at three levels.
Planning and assessment:
The Functional Skills English curriculum is embedded naturally into the GCSE framework.
The GCSE English Language course has Functional Skills learning and assessment opportunities embedded. Learners are assessed for Functional Skills, routinely, as part of their GCSE programme.
Edexcel English Functional Skills qualifications are designed to equip learners with skills such as comparing the ideas and presentation of texts, writing for a specified audience and purpose, and communicating and adapting language. They’re assessed in three units (Speaking, Listening and Communication; Reading; and Writing) through a choice of paper-based or onscreen, on-demand tests.
Year 9 – GCSE English Language/Functional Skills English Entry Level 3
|
Term 1/2 |
Transactional writing: Travel writing Non – Fiction: Journalism |
|
Term 3/4 |
Fiction Imaginative Writing |
|
Term 5/6 |
End of year revision & exam GCSE Language paper 1 |
Year 10 – GCSE English Language/Functional Skills English Level 1
|
Term 1/2 |
Transactional Writing Unseen reading (non-fiction and Literary non-fiction) |
|
Term 3/4 |
Non-fiction and literary non-fiction text comparison Introduction to exam paper format/ mock questions |
|
Term 5/6 |
19th-century unseen fiction reading Imaginative writing End of year revision & exam |
Year 11 – GCSE English Language/Functional Skills English Level 2
|
Term 1/2 |
Paper 1 – Reading (19th Century Fiction) Paper 1 – Writing (Imaginative) Spoken Language Writing skills |
|
Term 3/4 |
Paper 2 Reading – 20th/21st Century non-fiction and literary non-fiction Paper 2 Writing – Transactional writing skills Spoken Language |
|
Term 5/6 |
Revision – Comparison and writing from reading Reading skills – non-fiction Writing skills |
Cross curricular links:
Opportunities to develop skills in core subjects i.e. Mathematics are indicated in the units/schemes of work where appropriate. These give learners the opportunity to practise these essential skills in naturally occurring and meaningful contexts, where appropriate to unit.
Photography © Meg Khan