Fearnhill School
English, Drama and MFL Faculty
English
The English Department wants to promote a curiosity about learning and an active interest in language and literature, demonstrating to students how to develop their writing, reading and speaking and listening skills. Our belief is that all students can enjoy reading, and we aim to encourage this through introducing them to a wide range of texts, both in class and independently at home after our fortnightly guided library lessons. It is fundamental that students continue to develop their vocabulary and comprehension so they can achieve their potential and although this is supported across all subjects, it is at the core of everything we do.
Students are taught in mixed-ability groups from years 7 to 11 and study a range of challenging texts from different time periods and cultures throughout. We intersperse each scheme of learning with specific literacy skills that complement the unit being taught and ensure we are continuing to build confidence and embed the core disciplinary skills and knowledge they will need to be successful at GCSE and beyond.
YEAR 7
In Year 7 students’ study:
- Extracts: Myths and Legends
- Poetry: Poetry Through the Ages
- Modern Novel: A Bone Sparrow
- Non-fiction: You are a Champion
- Shakespeare play: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
YEAR 8
In Year 8 students’ study:
- Extracts: Dystopian Fiction
- Poetry: Passport to Poetry
- Shakespeare: Extracts from Much Ado about Nothing, The Merchant of Venice, Twelfth Night and Hamlet
- Modern Play: Blood Brothers
- Victorian Visionaries: Oliver by Charles Dickens
YEAR 9
In Year 9 students’ study:
- Extracts: Gothic Fiction
- Poetry: Unseen Poetry
- Novel/Extracts: Diverse Texts
- Shakespeare play: Macbeth
- Speaking and Listening and Non-fiction: Inspiring Voices
In the year prior to GCSE study, we focus on developing the maturity and accuracy of students’ reading, writing, and speaking and listening skills. This culminates in the completion of their Speaking and Listening award at the end of year 9 which is an additional certificate that is awarded alongside their English GCSE at either Pass, Merit or Distinction level.
YEAR 10 & 11
Years 10 & 11 students are entered for both AQA GCSE English Language and English Literature. During this time, students develop the necessary skills to enable them to be successful in the world of work. They refine their reading, writing and speaking and listening skills. In addition to this, students also develop and refine their appreciation of a wide range of literary texts including: Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’, Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’, the AQA Power and Conflict Poetry Anthology and Priestley’s ‘An Inspector Calls’.
A flier for an external English Literature Revision course can be found here.
YEAR 12 & 13
In Years 12 and 13, students study AQA A Level A – Option B English Literature. During this time, students read a wealth of English Literature including works by Shakespeare, F Scott Fitzgerald, Margaret Atwood and many more. They also develop their appreciation of literary techniques and the ability to write critical analysis of unseen texts. An important part of the course involves the non-exam assessment (NEA) where students have the freedom to choose the books they study and the themes they would like to explore in more depth and detail.
ASSESSMENT
KS3
Students get feedback on their progress every half term through an in class marked piece and they are tested on their key vocabulary and the disciplinary knowledge they have picked up in each unit. Twice a year this is a full assessment which is fed back to parents. Over the course of each year they develop their skills of creative, transactional and analytical writing, reading, comprehension, inference and deduction, as well as developing their metacognition, exploratory and presentational speaking and listening.
KS4
Year 10: Students get feedback on their progress every half term through an in class marked piece based on the content they have covered. Twice a year this is a full assessment which is fed back to parents. The latter being a full mock of one language and one literature paper at the end of Year 10.
Year 11: Students get feedback on their progress every half term through an in class marked piece based on the content they have covered. They also have two mock periods across the year. They revise and sit one full language and one full literature paper for each.
KS5
Year 12: Students get regular feedback on homework and essays completed. There are also two formal assessment periods the latter being when they are assessed on one full paper at the end of the year. They also start working on their NEA in the Summer term of Year 12.
Year 13: Students get regular feedback on homework and essays completed. There are also two mock periods where they are assessed on both full papers that make up their A Level. They also complete their NEA in the Autumn Term of Year 13.
EXAM BOARD LINKS
- http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-language-8700
- http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-literature-8702
- https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/as-and-a-level/english-literature-a-7711-7712
CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES
The English Department organises a variety of extra-curricular and enrichment activities including: Books and Biscuits Reading Club, Creative Writing Club and participation in debating competitions. There is also ‘Fearnzine’ a magazine written by the students for the students, which is live on the website here. We also try to organise regular author visits and theatre trips to inspire and develop students’ understanding and enjoyment of English.
At Fearnhill Year 10 Opinion Articles you will find a collection of opinion articles produced by our Year 10 students on a wide range of topics – from religion to music; from social media to snowflakes; from feminism to narcissism. Some of these are controversial; some are designed to get you thinking; some are intended to make you laugh. Whatever your reaction, we hope you enjoy!
Drama
“Drama is life with the dull bits cut out.” – Alfred Hitchcock
Drama at Fearnhill School builds successful relationships, raises confidence levels and improves skills needed in all subject areas. Pupils are encouraged to co-operate, communicate and contribute to group and class situations, put ideas and theories into practice through thoughtful presentation of their practical work and observe, analyse and discuss their achievements.
YEAR 7
Topics include: Myth and Legends, Mime, Magic and WW1.
YEAR 8
Topics include: Silent Movies, Runaways, Documentary Theatre and Murder Mystery.
YEAR 9
Topics include: Verbatim Theatre, Civil Rights, Performing Script and Shakespeare.
YEAR 10 & 11
We follow Eduqas GCSE Drama. This course gives students the opportunity to explore plays, theatre styles, themes and issues in a highly creative and practical way. Emphasis is placed on team work and learning through experience. Students are assessed in practical activities and they also complete written course work. There are two performance exams and one written exam during Year 11.
YEAR 12 & 13
BTEC Performing Arts Level 3 option combines music and drama. Students here explore what it means to be a performer, investigate a practitioner, create a group performance to a stimulus and deliver workshops and learn new performance skills.
ASSESSMENT
More details can be found below.
EXAM BOARD LINKS
CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES
There are extra-curricular opportunities each year for students throughout the school to become involved in. There is an annual whole school production and a weekly drama club.
USEFUL WEBSITES
Modern Foreign Languages
“Learning another language is not only learning different words for the same things, but learning another way to think about things.” Flora Lewis (American journalist)
The Modern Foreign Languages department is dedicated to offering our students Spanish and French at all key stages of the curriculum and the opportunity to extend their proficiency in the chosen language to the highest possible level. We value the importance of learning a foreign language in our school curriculum as it helps to shape personal qualities and abilities in all our students, such as determination, self-confidence, focus, problem-solving skills and open-mindedness. It also has a positive influence on your understanding of your mother tongue.
YEAR 7
All students in Year 7 will be allocated either Spanish or French, consolidating and extending any prior knowledge from KS2. This will include topics such as my family and friends, my town, my free time activities, my studies and customs and festivals.
YEAR 8
All students continue their study of their allocated language, engaging with new topics, consolidating previous learning and communicating in different tenses. This will include topics such as my life at school, food and travel and tourism.
YEAR 9
All students continue their study of their allocated language, extending topic areas and communicating in a range of tenses. This will study topics such as healthy living, career choices and future ambitions, visits to French/Spanish cities and role models.
YEAR 10 & 11
It is highly recommended that all students continue with their allocated language at GCSE level. The KS4 courses build upon the knowledge and skills acquired at KS3 and students have the opportunity to sit the final GCSE examination at either Foundation or Higher tier.
We follow the AQA specification. Students will learn to communicate effectively through listening, speaking, reading and writing, and through understanding how each language is constructed. Students will make use of different media in the target language.
YEAR 12 & 13
We offer the opportunity to study French & Spanish at AS/A2 level as part of the Letchworth Sixth Form Consortium. Students build on the skills and knowledge from GCSE allowing students to discuss and debate contemporary social issues at an advanced level in the target language.
The A2 curriculum has a broad content covering current affairs and includes cultural topics through the study of a book and a film. Students work closely with teachers to improve their speaking and listening skills.
EXAM BOARD LINKS
- http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/spanish-8698
- http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/french-8658
- http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/as-and-a-level/spanish-7692
CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES
Lunch time revision sessions are available and there is a Languages After School Club. Past trips include: Christmas Market to Lille, cultural trips to Barcelona and Madrid, Spain.
USEFUL WEBSITES
