Subject: English
What will students learn?
Students begin their study of English Literature with two drama texts: A Streetcar Named Desire and Othello to build upon their knowledge of stagecraft from GCSE, and begin to introduce them to critical interpretations of texts. The focus then moves to comparison of prose texts before students study and compare modern poetry, then the Romantic poetry of Keats.
In KS5 students will study
How will students receive feedback?
At Paddington, all students will receive regular feedback from formative assessment tasks. Within the curriculum, specific tasks are allocated for feedback. This ensures all students gain regular feedback. Teachers will mark student work and provide targeted feedback that enables students to improve their work and make progress. To support student understanding, teachers plan high-quality re-teach time to prepare students for their feedback. Across each term, students will receive feedback from multiple tasks.
What examinations / assessments do students have at the end of KS5?
Exam board: Edexcel
Students will sit three exams at the end of year 13, and complete one piece of Non-Exam Assessment (coursework) during their two-year study:
Paper 1: Drama (2hr 15mins)
Section A: Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’: one essay question, incorporating ideas from wider critical reading
Section B: Williams’ ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’: one essay question
Paper 2: Prose
Students answer one comparative essay question from a choice of two on their studied theme and texts (‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and ‘Frankenstein’)
Paper 3: Poetry
Section A: Post-2000 Specified Poetry: ‘Poems of the Decade. One comparative essay question on an unseen modern poem written post-2000 and one named poem from the studied contemporary text
Section B: Specified Poetry Pre- or Post-1900: John Keats One comparative essay question
Coursework: Comparative essay on two texts, chosen by students. The essay must include references to critics and wider reading
What resources can be used to support learning?
- Knowledge organisers are used to develop students’ knowledge of core knowledge in each cycle. Students can use this to revise key information through self-quizzing.
- Seneca learning is used to help students learn and memorise key context. Teachers set Seneca tasks weekly in addition to homework.