Subject:   Year 8 ENGLISH

Number of Lessons over 2 weeks:  7

Students are taught in streamed ability groups, where they consolidate and develop their acquired knowledge of English. There is more opportunity for cross-curricular links, but at the same time the curriculum has the flexibility for personalising the learning for all. The students will develop their knowledge and understanding of texts, in addition to utilising practical writing skills through the teaching of the four key concepts; creativity, competence, cultural understanding and critical understanding. The study a variety of units which include:

• A novel
• A play
• Non-fiction unit
• Multi-media and print-based texts
• Creative writing
• Poetry

Assessment:

Students are assessed and monitored in a number of ways. These take the form of self/peer assessments and end of unit summative assessments which focus on different areas of English such as: reading, writing or speaking and listening. Students are set an end of key stage English target which is regularly monitored and reviewed against their end of year target.

Homework:

The students will be provided with a homework project at the beginning of each unit. They are set homework twice a week which complements the particular unit that is being studied. This could be in the form of a formal assessed essay, research, reading or a review based on an element of the media. Each homework project will be published on the school website.

Equipment requirements / recommended texts:

All texts are provided by the English Department.  The standard equipment required by students is a blue/black ink pen, pencil, sharpener, eraser and a ruler.  Students are recommended to visit the homework and revision web sites to complement their English work and revision.

Ways that you can support your child in English

• Encourage them to read for twenty minutes every day.
• Ask them to read aloud to you.
• Encourage them to read newspapers/watch the news.
• If they find spelling difficult get them to learn one new word per week.  Write the word they are learning on a large piece of paper and stick it somewhere they will look at frequently.
• Use the school website to check what homework has been set for each week and that your child has completed each task to a good standard.

Contact:    Ms. N. Porter, KS3 English Co-ordinator