What are students studying in English this year?
At Key Stage 3, students complete a very wide variety of studies – we are keen for them to experience a very broad range of genres and periods of literature and we try to cover as much ground as possible. The specifics of the course will vary from class to class, but all classes will explore a Shakespeare play, poetry old and new, a piece of modern drama, and a novel. All students will work on developing their oracy skills.
What are the major assessments this year?
Each half term students complete a 'cross year' assessment, focusing on developing their reading and writing skills.
Summer examinations
Year 7
Students will be required to write
- an analysis of one of the dramatic monologues studied in class (45 minutes)
- a creative or descriptive response to given task (45 minutes)
Year 8
Students will be required to write
- an analysis of one of the Dystopian short stories studied in class (45 minutes)
- a creative or descriptive response to a given task (45 minutes)
Year 9
Students will be required to write
- a comparison of one of the poems studied in class and another, from memory, that you have studied in class (45 minutes)
- a transactional response to a given task (45 minutes)
What will the current performance grade be based on?
The current performance grades are based on all the work a student completes in the year, including classwork and homework as well as the 'cross year' tests. Her spoken contributions to class work and discussion will also form part of the assessment. All students are given guidance at the start of the year describing our assessment objectives and how we assess in English.
What should my daughter do if she feels she is struggling in the subject?
In the first instance, she should speak to her subject teacher. She should try to identify specific areas of the subject which she finds challenging, so that we can offer targeted support. We offer specialised support for students who have English as an additional language or who have specific needs like dyslexia or ASD.
How can I support my daughter?
The best way to provide general support is by talking to them about their work in English and asking how things are going. If you can, read the texts they are studying yourself and talk about them. Don’t worry about having a ‘literary discussion’ – just talking about a text on any level will help the student to make connections and identify problems with the text. Do get your hands on films and audiobooks of the set texts and watch them together or listen at home or in the car. Encourage them to continue reading as widely as possible and, in particular, to read and discuss non-fiction texts – for example, in the news and features sections of quality newspapers – as well as reading enjoyable and good quality fiction. It is a good idea at this stage to ensure that your daughter has access to a good quality English dictionary to help with vocabulary development.
What kind of independent work should my daughter be completing?
Years 7, 8 and 9 are regularly set homework which will include 30 minutes a week reading on the 'Sparx Reader' platform.
To do well in English, students should regularly practise and develop their reading and writing skills. Please encourage your daughter to keep a 'reading journal' where she records what she has read and reflects upon it.
Who can I contact for further advice and information?
If you need further clarification, please feel free to contact the Head of English, Ms Renganathan, on srenganathan@newsteadwood.co.uk with as much detailed information as possible.