Pupils in Years 8-10 are steamed according to general ability and each class is timetabled for 5 periods of English per week.
The Northern Ireland Curriculum provides the framework for Key Stage 3 English. Pupils complete five units of work each year, focusing on fiction, non-fiction, drama, poetry and media texts to ensure full coverage of the curriculum.
The English Scheme at Key Stage 3 (Years 8-10) aims to:
- build on the skills developed as Key Stage2
- provide pupils with opportunities to communicate effectively in spoken and written form and to engage imaginatively and critically through text
- establish foundations for Key Stage 4 by providing opportunities for pupils to become more independent learners
Pupils are formally assessed in Talking and Listening, Reading and Writing in each unit of study.
| Year 8 | |
|---|---|
| Fiction: Personal Writing | “The Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom” – Louis Sachar “Maurice and his Amazing Educated Rodents” – Terry Pratchett |
| Non-fiction | “Boy” – Roald Dahl |
| Drama | “The Demon Headmaster” – Gillian Cross |
| Poetry | An Introduction to Poetry |
| Media | An Introduction to the Media |
| Year 9 | |
|---|---|
| Fiction: Genre Study | “The Hobbit” – J.R.R. Tolkien “Room 13” – Robert Swindells “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” – J.K. Rowling |
| Non-fiction | Health Campaign |
| Drama | “Stepping Up” – Jan Liddiard |
| Poetry | Poetic Techniques |
| Media | Newspapers |
| Year 10 | |
|---|---|
| Fiction: Relationships | “Private Peaceful” – Michael Morpurgo “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas” – John Boyne |
| Non-fiction | Shakespeare Project |
| Drama | “Stone Cold” – Robert Swindells |
| Poetry | Poetry from Other Cultures |
| Media | Advertising |
