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Head of Faculty

 
Miss C Hunt  

Email

chunt@nationalacademy.org.uk

 

Telephone

(0115) 9635667 extension (3007)

 

Faculty overview

Through our Language faculty, students access the following subjects:

  • Key stage 3 English
  • English language
  • English literature
  • Modern Foreign Languages (MFL)

During the year, students follow a curriculum based on reading, writing speaking and listening. The focus is on making the study of language real to all students, while promoting excitement and pleasure in reading and exploring language. We combine lessons on specific reading, writing, speaking and listening assessment foci within schemes of work that are thematic.

Within each of the units, students will focus on very specific writing, reading, speaking and listening skills.

Routine and thorough assessing of students’ progress is an essential part of the faculty’s work. Students’ work is marked for effort and for the application of key skills. The key skills are those that are essential for successful language students and differentiated to be appropriate to each year group in key stage 3.

Accordingly, assessments are carried out regularly in the students’ class book, which tracks their progress and where individual targets are set throughout each year of key stage 3 and 4. Students will not receive a level in-keeping with the academy’s policy but will receive a comment that details what skills the student has demonstrated and a target that indicates what they need to work on next in order to sustain progress.

Furthermore, we use a half-termly assessment. To track progress and to inform the feedback given at key review points to parents/carers.

Lastly, all year 7 students are timetabled a dedicated literacy lesson that is taught alongside their four English lessons. This lesson is aimed at developing literacy skills needed in all subjects. For example: students develop key reading skills (skimming, scanning, summarising, etc.) needed to engage with texts from any subject; they develop the ability to structure their writing effectively in ways that are again fundamental to most subjects; while they also develop their ability to use key spellings, vary sentence structure, and punctuate effectively.

Enrichment

We celebrate as many of the national and international Language and Literary festivals, including European Day of Languages, National Poetry Day and World Book day. We also try to ensure the students have the opportunity to attend theatre performances and trips to France or Germany in the appropriate year group.

Facilities

The Languages faculty has ten dedicated teaching rooms, many equipped with interactive smartboards to enhance the students’ learning experience.

Subject specific equipment

As well as the essential school equipment listed in students’ planners, students must have a reading book for use in the weekly reading lessons. These can be brought from home or loaned from the academy library.

English – Key Stage 3 

Overview

Throughout Key Stage 3, students follow a curriculum based on reading, writing, speaking and listening. The focus is on making the study of English real to all students, together with promoting excitement and pleasure in reading and exploring language across time. We combine a thematic curriculum exploring one central text and then exploring wider reading through a range of satellite texts covering fiction and non-fiction in each term.

Year 7

The first aim of year 7 is to allow for a smooth and effective transition from year 6. Whilst revisiting spelling, punctuation and grammar from key stage 2 we also include units on: The Hunger Games and dystopia, Growing up and the study of Romeo and Juliet and then the play Our Day Out and the theme of ambition and education.

Year 8
in year 8 the thematic curriculum continues and develops the skills from year 7 through the following units: Outsiders and the novel Of Mice and Men; Dracula and the Gothic genre; Much Ado about Nothing and Voices of change.

Year 9
In year 9 we use the thematic schemes of work to focus on preparing students with the skills they require to transition into GCSE study. We include units on: Language diversity and change; Rebellion and Subversion using The Lord of the Flies; Justice and the study of The Merchant of Venice and the modern play Whose Life is it Anyway.

English Language 

Overview
Following on from the units covered within Key Stage 3, the English Language GCSE course extends students’ development of the key concepts of form, structure and use of language to enable them to adapt and interpret writing for different audiences and purposes.

Key stage 4
Students will study a range of fiction and non-fiction taken from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. They will develop new techniques and build their knowledge of key skills as a writer. Throughout the course, there will be the requirement to write extracts for non-fiction and fiction purposes, studying other writers work to help shape this development. All students will also learn how to adapt their spoken language to communicate clearly and effectively for different purposes.

Key stage 5
English language is a continuation from your English studies at GCSE level, yet there are many aspects to the course which will make it feel like a brand new subject. Most of the study will be based around a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction texts, much of which you will be able to source yourself, and there is ample opportunity for creative and imaginative writing.

For more information about the A-Level and AS course, visit www.hsfc-ac.org.uk/english_language

English Literature 

Overview
The study of English literature is the study of how we engage and think about our world. The study of literature is the study of culture, history, human relationships and the history of ideas. Alongside this, you will explore how various writers have used language, form and structure to create their own interpretations and pictures of the world.

Key Stage 4
You will study a range of fiction texts that are regarded as important and influential examples of English literature. These are:
• Shakespeare – Macbeth

• a 19th century text – Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

• a modern play- An Inspector Calls • poetry from 1789 to the present day exploring the themes of power and conflict

Key Stage 5

At AS level you will study a Shakespeare drama, a collection of Poetry by Christina Rossetti, A modern play and American Literature.

At A2 level, you will continue with the texts from year 12 but widen the focus on American literature and use critical theory such as Marxism or feminism enabling you to analyse literary texts of your own choosing.

For more information about the A-Level and AS course, visit www.hsfc-ac.org.uk/english_literature

 

Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) 

Overview
In Modern  Foreign Languages  we aim to develop a love of language learning amongst students together with a realisation of the importance of languages in today’s world. We hope to engender an appreciation of French and German culture, and the desire amongst students to discover more about our world and the languages within it.

The four language skill areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing will be developed with a strong emphasis on communication skills and grammar. We encourage all students to use the languages they are learning in the classroom for greetings and simple instructions.

For more details about the Languages faculty please contact Mrs Radford by email. An overview of the faculty can be downloaded below.

Key stage 3

In year 7, students learn German and study topics including:
• myself and my family• free time • school • 

In addition, we work to develop cultural awareness of the customs and traditions of France and Germany.

At the beginning of year 8, students in the top set (based on assessment) start an additional language, French  and continue with German. All other students continue with German and develop their skills and comprehension. This continues into year 9 and assists students in deciding on languages they may wish to study at GCSE and beyond.

Key stage 4
Students can opt to study French or German at GCSE. In both languages students are taught and examined in all four skill areas of listening, reading, speaking and writing, studying three themes:
• identity and culture • local, national, international and global areas of interest • current and future study and employment

Key stage 5
Our A-Level and AS level courses in French and  German have a broad educational value. Language is central to human understanding – the course develops communication and grammar skills together with an ability to analyse, interpret and evaluate texts and spoken language.

The A Level and AS courses for French and German include the following units:
• aspects of French/German speaking society • social issues and trends • artistic culture • grammar • literary texts and films

For further details of the A-level and AS courses, visit www.hsfc-ac.org.uk/modern_foreign_languages