St Mary's Catholic College Wallasey

Key Stage 3

Year 7

You will already know a lot about the skills you have developed in reading, speaking and writing in primary school. You will now really begin to build on these skills.

Year 7 is an important year for you to develop your reading skills and learn some strategies for finding information in a text. You will look at how writers use language and you will investigate writers' viewpoints and opinions. You will read a wide range of fictional texts, including short stories and novels, as well as poetry and non-fiction texts.

You will also have a reading lesson once a week based in St Mary's Library where you will read independently using the Accelerated Reading scheme so that you can really develop an enjoyment of reading and become a much more confident reader. You will have a library book as well, which you should be reading both at home and in college whenever possible.

You will do a variety of writing tasks in Year 7 including stories, poems, reports, letters and diaries. You will concentrate on writing at greater length and in greater detail. You will learn how to write for a variety of purposes and audiences and to plan and organise your writing, paying close attention to punctuation, paragraphing and spelling.

Year 7 is an important time for you to begin to broaden your vocabulary so that you can use more interesting and specific language in your written work. Remember - the more you read, the more you develop your vocabulary!

You will develop a wide range of speaking and listening skills in Year 7. You will be encouraged to perform in group drama activities, to give a talk to a real audience and to take part in a variety of group and class discussions. These sorts of activities will really help you to become much more self-confident when speaking in public. They also encourage you to concentrate well and listen carefully to other people.

Parents can help in a variety of ways. Firstly, it is important that you read to and with your parents - it's also good if they read to you sometimes! You should try and visit the Library as much as possible to borrow a wide range of books. Books also make great birthday and Christmas presents! Your parents can help you learn by testing your spelling and making sure that you are using a dictionary and a thesaurus when working. Make sure your parents look at your English book frequently and take great care to make your work neat and presentable. If you have a computer at home, you will find www.bbcbitesize.co.uk very useful.

Year 8

You will now be very familiar with what is expected of you in English, and in Year 8 you will build in the skills introduced in Year 7. You will continue to be encouraged to read independently using the Accelerated Reader scheme so that you can really develop an enjoyment of reading. You will read a class novel and be expected to explore and research the book's wider issues, characters and themes. You will also be introduced to important examination preparation skills, such as note taking and context based research.

You will look at a variety of other texts, both fiction and non-fiction, and explore how writers use techniques for effect. These will include short stories and poetry.

Year 8 is an important time to develop your writing skills. You will continue to write texts for a variety of audiences and purposes and be encouraged to use punctuation and paragraphing accurately. You will also try to use vocabulary more adventurously. You will have a go at writing a story with a twist and produce an epic poem about a monster and a hero.

Many speaking and listening opportunities await; you will produce role-play and performances in the 'Spooky Shakespeare' scheme of work, as well as take part in group and class discussions. These sorts of activities will help you to develop your self-confidence and listening skills.

Parents can help in a variety of ways. Read to and with your parents and show them your draft work so that they can help and advise you. Be proud of your efforts and make sure that your work is neat and presentable. If you have a computer at home, you will find www.bbcbitesize.co.uk very useful.

GCSE English

"I really had a lot of dreams when I was a kid and I think much of that grew out of the fact I had a chance to read a lot."
Bill Gates - Founder of Microsoft

"Me fail English? That's unpossible!!"
Ralph Wiggum - The Simpsons

About the course:

Studying English Language and Literature provides students with opportunities to explore a rich variety of texts over a period of two years.  The wide range of learning experiences also provides students with the necessary communication and functional skills they will need for the future.  Students at St Mary's prepare for Accelerated Entry for English Language, producing coursework and sitting terminal examinations by the end of Year 10.  Study for English Literature begins at the start of Year 11.

English Language

Year 10 students will study texts including prose fiction, poetry, a Shakespeare play and non-fiction texts, producing written coursework in response to these studies.  During Year 10, students will be assessed for speaking and listening skills individually, in a group and in role.  They will sit two English Language examinations at the end of Year 10, which focus on their reading and writing skills.

English Literature

During Year 11 students are required to study poetry and prose published before 1914, producing written coursework in response to the texts.  Students will also study a prescribed prose and drama text in preparation for the terminal examination as well as a selection of poetry for an 'unseen' poem in the examination.

All coursework will be internally marked and moderated.  It will also be externally moderated by the WJEC examination board.

How it will be assessed:

• Language: Written coursework 20%; Speaking and Listening coursework 20%;
• Paper 1 examination 30%; Paper 2 examination 30%
• Literature: Written coursework 30%; English Literature examination 70%

What it prepares you for:

Success in English is vital for the future.  Whether wishing to study for A Levels and other qualifications, or  leaving school to seek employment, all students benefit greatly from success at GCSE level.

Adult Literacy

"This course is about improving your everyday literacy skills for the workplace and for life"

About the course:

The Certificate in Adult Literacy course is designed to help improve your performance in 'functional' literacy. This includes practical writing and the skills which underpin it (spelling, punctuation, fluency,) reading and understanding of non-literary texts, and speaking and listening. The course will help you gain confidence as a writer and as a reader.

Towards the end of the course you will take a formal examination at the appropriate level, Level One or Level Two. This examination is multiple choice based on  a series of short extracts. The exam is taken online from within college.

If you are working at Level One and you succeed, you may gain the confidence to move on to a Level Two programme, and to extend your literacy skills. This will be an asset when you start to apply for employment.

How it will be assessed:

Examination (see above)

What it prepares you for:

The course is a valid literacy qualification which demonstrates your competence in literacy. The Certificate in Adult Literacy qualification is widely recognised by employers.

Entry requirements:

GCSE grades E-G

AS / A2 English Language

"The limits of my language are the limits of my world"
Wittgenstein

About the course:

The course is based around principles of linguistics, mainly spoken and written English.  You will study a wide variety of texts as well as speech extracts or discourse and consider purpose and audience.

If you enjoy creating your own work and the consideration of such ideas as gender, power and authority, how children learn to speak and how the English language has changed from a 20th century and a pre-20th century perspective then this is the course for you.

During the course you will study the following modules:

AS Level

• ENB1  Categorising Texts (examination)
• ENB2  Creating Texts (coursework)

If successful at AS level, you will then study a further two modules to complete your A2

A2 Level

• ENB3  Developing Language: Change and Acquisition (examination)
• ENB4  Language Investigation (coursework)

How it will be assessed:

Through both coursework and examination. Coursework includes a folder of the candidates' own original writing.

What it prepares you for:

English Language is a highly regarded and recognised academic subject which can be combined with Arts, Sciences and Mathematics for entry into Higher Education. It has particular value in careers such as Law, Education, Medicine, Journalism, Media, Banking and most managerial areas.

Entry requirements:

A minimum of five GCSE passes at grade C or above, including English Language and Literature preferably at Grade B or above.

AS / A2 English Literature

"The answers you get from literature depend on the questions you pose"
Margaret Attwood - Canadian  writer, born 1939

About the course:

The course is based around a range of poetry, drama, prose and creative reading study. You will build up your literary skills and knowledge of key ideas, focusing on a number of texts from different periods and genres.

If you enjoy reading and discussing what you have read and the ideas posed by literature then this is a great starting point for choosing the course.

During the course you will study the following modules:

AS Level

• LT1:  Poetry (post 1900) and Drama (post 1990) (Examination)
• LT2:  Prose study and Creative reading (Coursework)

If successful at AS level, you will then study a further two modules to complete your A2

A2 Level

• LT3:  Period and Genre Study (Coursework)
• LT4:  Shakespeare and Related Drama (Examination)

How it will be assessed:

Coursework and examination. Coursework is essay based but includes a creative writing piece and a commentary.

What it prepares you for:

English Literature is a widely recognised academic subject that can be combined with Arts, Science or Mathematics for entry in to Higher Education. It has particular value for careers in Law, Teaching, Nursing, Journalism and Media, Banking and in most management areas.

Entry requirements:

A minimum of five GCSE passes at Grade C or above, including English Language and Literature preferably at Grade B or above.