Ribston HallHigh School
Key Stage 3
Description
The national curriculum forms the foundation of English study at Ribston Hall High School. Students are encouraged and supported to develop their skills of reading, writing and oracy across each scheme of learning. Through a wide range of challenging texts, students explore a breadth of themes spanning across the centuries. We offer variety, with a new focus each half term, ensuring that all interests are catered for. Students are exposed to a range of genres of fiction and non-fiction texts that will ignite their imaginations and inspire their academic curiosity.
At Ribston Hall, we build creativity through the study of different texts, then give students the opportunity to develop the skills they have studied in their own writing. They are encouraged to use ambitious vocabulary and a variety of language techniques to create different effects for different audiences. High levels of grammar, spelling and punctuation are reinforced throughout study at Key Stage 3.
In year 9, students work with texts and complete tasks inspired by the AQA GCSE English Language and Literature courses. We introduce the GCSE mark schemes at this stage in their journey to increase challenge, raise aspirations and build awareness of the demands of the examinations.
In addition to their English lessons, students in Year 7 and 8 have fortnightly lessons in the library. Extended English lessons comprise of 30 minutes of silent reading, followed by 30 minutes of work towards their termly project. In Year 7 these include rehearsing for Poetry by Heart and Around the World in Eight(y) Books. In Year 8 these include TEd Talks and working with local primary students to create their own children’s books.
Content
| Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 | |
| Autumn |
Introduction to English Modern Novel: Northern Lights |
Modern Novel: Clap When you Land Non-Fiction Reading and Writing: Survival |
Novel: Jane Eyre/The Great Gatsby Non-Fiction: Standing Out |
| Spring | Literary Movements (Poetry from Shakespeare to Modern Day) Gothic Writing |
Crafting Characters Protest Poetry |
Modern Playscript: DNA Fiction: Crime Writing |
| Summer |
Introduction to Shakespeare Journalism & Bias |
Shakespeare: Much Ado About Nothing Dystopian Writing |
Shakespeare: Macbeth Poetry: Worlds and Lives |
Key Stage 4
Exam board
AQA English Language (8700)
AQA English Literature (8702)
Description
The demands of the AQA GCSE English Literature and English Language papers are introduced in Year 9, through texts of a similar calibre to those studied at KS4. In Years 10 and 11, GCSE texts and exam skills from both English Language and Literature are integrated throughout, enabling students to flourish in both qualifications.
The material that the students cover offers high levels of challenge that facilitate the achievement of the highest GCSE outcomes, while scaffolding support for students to feel confident to take risks and build their own analytical style. With the onward journey towards A Level English literature in mind, we ensure that students are given insight into what further study of English looks like and how their skills will be needed beyond the classroom.
Content
| Year 10 | Year 11 | |
| Autumn |
Literary Heritage Novel: Jekyll and Hyde Fiction Reading and Writing |
Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet
|
| Spring |
Modern Play: An Inspector Calls Fiction Reading and Writing Modern Play: An Inspector Calls Non-fiction Reading |
Revision Programme: Jekyll and Hyde, Romeo and Juliet, Poetry Anthology, Unseen poetry, An Inspector Calls, English Language Papers 1 and 2 |
| Summer |
Poetry: Unseen and Love and Relationship Anthology Spoken Language Endorsement |
Key Stage 5
Year 13 Exam board
Edexcel A-Level English Literature (9ET0)
Description
The A Level specification allows students to cover relevant, engaging and thought-provoking literature through the lens of historicism. Students build their global awareness through the study of English Literature at A Level in a way that facilitates their personal development as thoughtful, knowledgeable citizens.
The course offers clear progression from GCSE and provides a variety of assessment styles, such as passage-based questions, unseen materials, single and multiple- text questions, and open and closed book approaches.
One of the aspects of the course that really prepares students for the next steps is the non-examined assessment – an opportunity for students to formulate their own hypothesis and select their own texts for study. This portion of the course encourages independent thought. Students can travel along a line of enquiry of their choosing, work with texts they have a personal interest in and craft arguments that spark their own personal interests. With the support of their class teachers, students at A Level are fully prepared for their futures as articulate, productive adults.
Content
| Year 12 | Year 13 |
|---|---|
| Shakespeare: Othello | Modern Play: A Streetcar Named Desire |
| Drama: A Streetcar Named Desire- Tennessee Williams |
Poetry- |
| Prose Comparison: The Picture of Dorian Gray- Oscar Wilde | NEA Submission |
| Poetry: The Romantics |
Revision Programme: Othello, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Beloved, POTD, Unseen Poetry |
| Revision for Y12 Diagnostics | |
| The NEA |
Extra-curricular opportunities
Students will find that extra-curricular opportunities crop up seasonally, we run events and competitions that surround national celebrations, such as Black History Month, Remembrance Day, World Book Day, Pride, and there are weekly clubs that students can look forward to such as: Creative writing clubs, reading groups and revision and coursework drop-in sessions.
We also work closely with the library and students can take up the opportunity to become Student Librarians, Reading Ambassadors and Subject Captains.