English
English is an essential subject as it teaches literacy skills that are needed in all other subject areas. It is a highly popular subject area as the Curriculum allows for creativity and encourages a love of Literature.
The four main skills are reading, writing, listening and speaking. English Literature AS and A Level is a lively and challenging discipline which can be successfully combined with all subjects. It appeals to those who take pleasure in reading a wide variety of Literature, who enjoy expressing their opinions and developing independent ideas. The English department is a team of 11 specialists.
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Students are taught in ability set classes which are reviewed regularly throughout the year to move students where appropriate. Students in Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9) study English for 7 one hour slots. At Key Stage 3 the students are taught through units of poetry, drama, prose, media, novels, non-fiction, language study and short stories across all the Years. They follow a unit based curriculum that follows the National Strategy Framework for English. Knowledge about language and how to spell and punctuate correctly is developed through analysis of what the students write, formal grammar exercises and the use of practical texts. Speaking and Listening is practised in a variety of ways, such as small group debating, drama and whole class discussions. We use a variety of texts from different genres encouraging the students to have a broad and balanced view of the Canon. We encourage Key Stage 3 students to develop a love of reading and a private reading habit by taking part in the Accelerated Reader Challenge (rewarding students reading across a variety of genres) and by shadowing the Carnegie Award winners. |
There are two courses that Key Stage 4 students are entered for at Hampstead School. One is the single English course and the second is the Double English course. Both courses allow pupils to access the full range of grades available (A*-G) and will count towards one of their 5 GCSE’s including English and Maths, required for work and college. We at Hampstead School provide every opportunity and additional support to allow students to achieve the best possible grades, it is with this this in mind that we select the correct course for each student who embarks upon the English GCSE course. The curriculum maps for the course outline the units being taken at any one point in the course as well as controlled assessment slots. Year 10 Single English GCSE Curriculum Map Year 10 Double English GCSE Curriculum Map Year 11 Single English GCSE Curriculum Map Year 11 Double English GCSE Curriculum Map Revision Books: If you would like to help your child revise for any of the units then we recommend the CPG range of books. They are available to buy at www.cpgbooks.co.uk . Best CPG Revision Book = “GCSE English Complete Revision and Practise” Higher / Foundation.
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At AS and A2 the students currently follow the OCR board for Literature. The new syllabus offers exciting opportunities for students to develop skills at A Level. Students are expected to read a range of literature texts ranging from medieval to modern and to research critical reviews and the contexts of these texts. Students are assessed by written closed book exams and by coursework. In the new school year we will be introducing a new course to our syllabus, English Language will follow the AQA board. English is a very desirable A level for many university applications, including Arts, Political sciences and Law. Many of the students who study AS and A2 go on to read English at University. |