We are very proud of the way in which our students respond to their study of English at all key stages. 

Students indicate that they appreciate the way in which the subject is delivered to be relevant to their daily lives and experiences, alongside providing them with lifelong skills.

We aim to:

• provide an academically ambitious but thoroughly enjoyable and accessible curriculum which will bring out the best in each student;

• create a positive atmosphere and stimulating environment which will facilitate and enhance learning for all;

• instil a lifelong love of literature;

• provide pupils with the knowledge, confidence and skills they require to express themselves appropriately;

• develop students' moral and cultural understanding of themselves and the world in which they live.

Students at KS3 are prepared for their GCSE and will spend the last term in Year 9 working on areas specific to their GCSE course; for example students will start their study of key poems.

Students are taught a unit each term based on a theme.  They will study a range of poetry, prose and drama.

Grammar and spelling are taught in all lessons.

All students at KS3 and KS4 will have a reading lesson once every two weeks.

Year	Curriculum Content
7	Contemporary Fiction & Literary Non-fiction English Literary Heritage Texts from other times and cultures
8	Contemporary Fiction & Literary Non-fiction Shakespeare Short stories and poetry
9	19th Century Literature 20th Century Novel GCSE Poetry Anthology and English Language work

 

KS4

GCSE – students all study AQA GCSE English Language and Literature.  For full details of the course and exemplar papers (including mark schemes) please go to:

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-language-8700

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-literature-8702

All students at KS4 have a reading lesson once every two weeks.  These lessons are used to allow students to develop skills in both, reading, understanding and literacy.  The Faculty is proud of the way in which students respond to their English lessons here at St Alban’s – they are taught by highly qualified and enthusiastic teachers who seek to engage students and to allow them to reach their full potential. 

KS5

Students are offered the choice of studying English Literature or English Literature.

English Literature

English Literature is about the study of human nature.  To study this subject at A level is to get an idea of how writers throughout history view humanity.  With the help of these writers you will foster your own abilities as readers, thinkers, critics and actors and it is this process which will help you to think and communicate in later life.

You will follow the AQA GCE English Literature A specification which involves study of a wide range of 21^st, 20^th and pre 20^th Century texts.

English Literature (A Level) a two year course covers units on Love Through the Ages and Texts in Shared Contexts.

English Language

A subject for those interested in language in a range of contexts. Straddling psychology, it allows debate around the impact of social media on our language as well as differences between male and female interaction.

The English language gives us the power to argue, persuade, instruct or simply describe whatever it is that matters most to us.  In fact, our use of English is what makes us human.

You will follow the AQA English Language specification.  This will involve the study of the development of language and allows the opportunity for creative writing and journalism.

• English Language (A Level) is a two year course which covers units on Language: the Individual and Society and Language Diversity and Change.