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Ridgewood School

Ridgewood School

English

The English Faculty sets its vision as making: ‘Independent and curious readers, writers and thinkers.’

Through the English Curriculum at Ridgewood School we demonstrate our belief that students deserve to have their ambitions and curiosity ignited by passionate practitioners. We are dedicated to nurturing a passion for literature, enthusiasm for writing and an appreciation of diversity. We enable students to develop a critical voice, inspire creativity and nurture an open-minded approach to the world around them. We foster students’ aspiration by providing opportunities to study a range of topics, texts and themes that explore important social and political issues affecting young people today.

Our English Curriculum will give students the opportunity to:

  • Learn in a safe and welcoming environment under the guidance of knowledgeable teachers.
  • Develop cultural capital that will remove barriers to achievement in school, future learning and the world of work.
  • Enhance their character, including their ability to demonstrate the values of the school (excellence, integrity, teamwork and enjoyment).
  • Study a range of challenging fiction including contemporary and classic literature; and non-fiction texts such as historical speeches, to enable them to recognise bias, question deliberate language choices and develop their own critical voice.
  • Write clearly, fluently and produce work they are proud of.
  • Develop detailed ideas in writing using a wide range of appropriate and ambitious vocabulary with precision, to suit audience and purpose.
  • Establish assured readers that question and challenge a range of diverse viewpoints.
  • Build confidence in oracy by enhancing speaking and listening skills.

Please get in touch via the enquiry form on our Contact Us page, should you have any further questions about our English Curriculum please contact Mr Westmoreland, Curriculum Lead.

KS3

Year 7 Topics and Assessments

  • Ghost Boys (Literature Analysis)
  • Shakespearean Villains (Extract Analysis)
  • Fantasy Writing (Narrative Writing)
  • Women in Literature (Literature Analysis)
  • Inspiring Individuals (Non-Fiction Writing)
  • Story Telling (Speaking and Listening)

Students will be undertaking summative assessments in weeks 7, 12, 20, 25 and 36 of the school year, as well as completing further formative pieces of work throughout the year.

Year 8 Topics and Assessments

  • Sawbones (Literature Analysis)
  • The Origins of Tragedy ((Extract Analysis)
  • Gothic Fiction (Narrative Writing)
  • War Writing (Non-Fiction Language Analysis)
  • Leading Ladies (Non-Fiction Writing)
  • Creating a Restaurant (Speaking and Listening)

Students will be undertaking summative assessments in weeks 9, 15, 23, 28 and 35 of the school year, as well as completing further formative pieces of work throughout the year.

Year 9 Topics and Assessments

  • Frankenstein (Literature Analysis)
  • Narrative Writing (Fiction Writing)
  • Society and Me (Non-Fiction Writing)
  • War Poetry (Literature Analysis)
  • An Inspector Calls (Literature Analysis)

Students will be undertaking summative assessments in weeks 5, 16, 21, 31 and 37 of the school year, as well as completing further formative pieces of work throughout the year.

What support can I offer as a parent?

  • Purchase copies of set texts: Ghost Boys (Y7), Sawbones (Y8), Frankenstein and An Inspector Calls (Y9)
  • Promote reading at home.
  • Encourage students to access resources on Microsoft Teams in their year group folder.
  • Access websites such as BBC Bitesize and Sparknotes for extra learning opportunities.
  • Create flashcards and other revision materials (quizzes, mind maps) as they go through topics to help with retrieval of key content.

Useful web links:

KS4

At GCSE, students follow the EDUQAS English Language GCSE specification and the AQA English Literature GCSE specification.

Year 10 and 11 and follows a scheme of learning which introduces new content that best prepare students for their English Language and Literature exams while practising and further enhancing the key skills taught at KS3.

Students will sit four English exams in total and will gain two GCSEs: one for English Language and one for English Literature.

The English Language papers are assessed with 100% examination at the end of Year 11:

Component 1 – 1 hour 45 minutes: Fiction (80 marks) 40% of overall GCSE

Component 2 – 2 hours: Non-Fiction (80 marks) 60% of overall GCSE

The full specification can be found at:

https://www.eduqas.co.uk/media/10ea1en0/eduqas-gcse-english-language-from-2015-e.pdf

 

The English Literature papers are assessed with 100% examination at the end of Year 11:

Paper 1 – 1 hour 45 minutes: Macbeth and A Christmas Carol (64 marks)

Paper 2 – 2 hours 15 minutes: An Inspector Calls, Poetry Anthology and Unseen Poetry (96 marks)

The full specification can be found at:

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english

 

Year 10 Topics and Assessments

(Language and Literature lessons run concurrently)

  • Language – Component 2: 19th and 20th century non-fiction (Reading Analysis)
  • Literature – Power and Conflict Poetry: non-war poems (Literature Analysis)
  •  
  • Language – Component 2: Transactional Writing (Letters/Speeches/Articles/Reports)
  • Literature – A Christmas Carol (Literature Analysis)
  •  
  • Language – Component 1: 20th century fiction (Reading Analysis)
  • Literature – Macbeth (Literature Analysis)
  •  
  • Language – Component 1: Creative Prose Writing (Narrative Writing)
  • Literature – Unseen Poetry (Analysing and Comparing poems)
  •  
  • Language – Spoken Language Component (Non-Examination Assessment)

Students will be undertaking summative assessments in weeks 18 and 36 (Language) and in weeks 13, 22 and 36 (Literature) in addition to mock exams (dates to be confirmed). Students will also complete further formative pieces of work throughout the year.

 

Year 11 Topics and Assessments

(Language and Literature lessons run concurrently)

  • Language – Component 2: 19th and 20th century non-fiction (Reading Analysis)
  • Literature – An Inspector Calls and Unseen Poetry Revision (Literature Analysis)
  •  
  • Language – Component 2: Transactional Writing (Letters/Speeches/Articles/Reports)
  • Literature – A Christmas Carol Revision (Literature Analysis)
  •  
  • Language – Component 1: 20th century fiction (Reading Analysis)
  • Literature – Macbeth Revision (Literature Analysis)
  •  
  • Language – Component 1: Creative Prose Writing (Narrative Writing)
  • Literature – Power and Conflict Poetry Revision (Analysing and Comparing poems)

Students will be undertaking mock exams in November and February of year 11 (exact dates to be confirmed. Students will also complete several summative assessments throughout the year.

 

How can students be successful and what support can I offer as a parent?

  • Purchase copies of set texts: Macbeth, An Inspector Calls, A Christmas Carol – available on Parent Pay.
  • Purchase revision guides for set texts and language skills – available on Parent Pay.
  • Encourage your child to access resources on Microsoft Teams.
  • Encourage your child to use GCSE Pod.
  • Access websites such as Lit Charts, BBC Bitesize and Sparknotes.
  • Use the AQA and EDUQAS websites to access specimen exam papers and mark schemes.
  • Create flashcards and other revision materials (quizzes, mind maps) as they go through topics across KS4.

Useful web links:
  1. English Department Resources
    Download
  2. KS3 Extended Learning
    Download
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