English

Outline of course:

Content:

The Year 8 curriculum is organised into six units covering the requirements of the English National Curriculum and drawing on the advised learning objectives included within the National Literacy Framework.

All Year 8 students, depending on which teaching group they are in, will study the following six units at some point during the year: a Shakespeare play, e.g. 'The Tempest', media, a modern novel, poetry, the origins, use and development of the English language and a pre 1914 gothic text.

Activities: (Including fieldwork, practical work etc)

We aim to offer a wide variety of teaching and learning activities in order to engage all learners. Just a few examples of activities your child may learn through are: close reading of texts, close exercises, role play, group discussion, oral presentations, hot seating etc.

Skills: Each core unit will offer a wide variety of activities to develop and improve students' speaking and listening, reading and writing skills, understanding and knowledge.

Homework activities: Each unit of work lasts approximately six weeks and, typically, students will be set one thirty minute homework task per week.

Typical tasks will include researching a topic, learning spellings and/or the meaning of words, independent reading, teacher-directed reading, focused writing tasks, proofreading, completion of class work and learning evaluations.

Your help is very much appreciated and here are a few ideas about how you can support your child with English homework:

• Talk to your child about how to approach the task set
• Discuss their reading with them
• Proofread work with your child (please advise us of the help you have given)
• Test spellings etc
• Encourage your child to meet deadlines

Assessment: During a unit of work, assessment is in line with school policy. One formal assessment will be conducted per unit of work to a total of two speaking and listening, two reading and two writing assessments. National Curriculum levels will be awarded for each formally assessed task.

An end of year examination will take place in June and end of year assessment is by National Curriculum levels of attainment.

Parental contribution: Parents are encouraged to monitor students' homework and offer guidance wherever possible. Please do not hesitate to make contact with your son's/daughter's teacher, in the event of problems or queries.

• Useful resources and equipment:
• A good dictionary or spellchecker at home.
•  Access to a computer, if possible.
• A tape recorder can also be useful.

Other relevant information: Setting in year nine will be determined by pupil performance throughout Year 8, plus end of year internal exam results. Please note that the English department sets in conjunction with Modern Foreign languages and Humanities