ENGLISH KEY STAGE 3

Introduction

To support the aims of the school by equipping pupils with a range of transferable skills suitable for life long learning and by assisting each individual to achieve their full potential. The study of English seeks to develop the ability of pupils to express and communicate meaning effectively in written and spoke language, to read, understand and engage with a wide variety of texts and to foster their appreciation and enjoyment of literature. In addition, the study of English should be an enjoyable one, which makes a positive contribution towards the personal and social development of the pupils.

Organisation of Teaching Groups

Pupils in years 8-10 are steamed according to general ability and each class is timetabled for 5 periods of English per week. Pupils in years 11 and 12 are also streamed into F and E groups. All pupils are entered for GCSE examinations.

Delivery of English in the Classroom

The Northern Ireland Curriculum provides the framework for planning teachers' work programmes. The department schemes for Key Stage 3 are borken down into years to ensure full coverage of the curriculum. Key stage 3 pupils complete five units of work each year, focusing on fiction, non-fiction, drama, poetry and media texts.

YEAR 8 ENGLISH

Unit 1: Fiction

Study of a novel
Bully by Yvonne Coppard
Under the Hawthorn Tree by M. Conlon McKenna
Danny, Champion of the World by Roald Dahl
Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by R.C. O'Brien

Unit 2: Non-Fiction

Autobiography Boy by Roald Dahl

Unit 3: Drama

Study of a play
The Demon Headmaster by Gillian Cross

Unit 4: Poetry

An Introduction to Poetry

Unit 5: Media

Comics and Magazines

YEAR 9 ENGLISH

Unit 1: Fiction

Genre Study
Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Haunting Tales
The Hobbit by J.R. Tolkien

Unit 2: Non-Fiction

Persuasive Writing

Unit 3: Drama

Study of a play
Stepping Up by Jane Liddiard

Unit 4: Poetry

Poetic Techniques

Unit 5: Media

Newspapers

YEAR 10 ENGLISH

Unit 1: Fiction

Exploring Relationships
Maura's Angel by Lynne Reid Banks
Welcome Home Jellybean by M. Fanta Shyer
The Machine Gunners by R.C. O'Brien
The Twelth Day of July by Joan Lingard

Unit 2: Non-Fiction

Shakespeare Project

Unit 3: Drama

Study of a play
Our Day Out by Willy Russell
Buddy by Nigel Hinton

Unit 4: Poetry

War Poetry

Unit 5: Media

Advertising