English

Why choose walsall studio school?

Here at Studio and Sixth, It is important to us that students feel a long term benefit from studying our subject. The department aims for all students to achieve the skills that the English curriculum requires so that they can apply them throughout their lives. We feel that it is important to be able to read a text and understand its meaning. We feel that it is necessary for students to be able to analyse language to understand what they are hearing or reading. We want students to feel confident in being able to compare and contrast different viewpoints and perspectives. We also recognise that students need to be evaluative in their everyday life no matter what form that appears in and we want to arm them with the skills to do so. We do not just want to teach them to evaluate an extract but we want to teach them how to evaluate themselves; how to be aware of their ‘settings’ or ‘surroundings’, how to observe and read ‘people’ and their characteristics. How to always come up with innovative ‘ideas’, how to control their ‘tone’ and how to read the tone of others and how to evaluate ‘events’ that have happened or about to.

We believe wholeheartedly here that students need English; They need English to enable them to navigate through the day to day, beyond school and that is what our curriculum aims to do. We want them to enter the creative, professional world with the tools to communicate clearly and effectively.

As a student here you will have the opportunity to access clubs such as:

Debate club
Book club
Newspaper club

We have also previously offered a club in which students access some of the A Level Language and literature content

What will I learn?

Language

The English Language GCSE is split into two sections: reading and writing. The students are required to read a text and convey an understanding of that text therefore, we have created new, innovative ways to engage students with reading as we understand that we live in a generation of auto-correct, social media and colloquialisms. We embrace and celebrate English through fun ways such as World Book day a chance to mould the curriculum to enlighten students’ experience and expose them to texts that they may not be familiar with. We create interesting schemes based on real life events such as Chernobyl to bring our transactional pieces to life.

Literature

The literature GCSE is split into four different categories.

19th century texts – Here you will study Jekyll and Hyde. A tale about a man desperate to try and scientifically separate a person’s good and evil side
Shakespeare – Here you will study Macbeth a gruesome tale of a power hungry man, desperate to be King. He would do anything to maintain power, even if that means turning to the supernatural for help
Post 1914 modern British drama – Here you will study a tale of twins separated at birth due to them being born into poverty. A twisted tale about their different class journey’s and how they both end in disaster
Poetry – You will study a collection of poems related to conflict. You will study poems about war, class, discrimination and the power of nature.

How will I study?

You will study through taught lessons. You will also get to experience a range of teaching as we split the language and literature course. This means that you will have a separate teacher for both language and literature.

How will I be assessed?

Language paper 1 – 19th century texts and creative writing
Language paper 2 – Non-Fiction and transactional writing

Literature paper 1 – Shakespeare and post 1914 modern British Drama
Literature paper 2 – 19th century novel and Poetry

Speaking and listening endorsement – Here you will create a presentation on a topic chosen by you. This will help you to gain a qualification which shows that you are competent in communicating something which is appealing to employers.

Studio +

As a student here you will have the opportunity to access clubs such as:

Debate club
Book club
Newspaper club

We have also previously offered a club in which students access some of the A Level Language and literature content

Next Steps/ Prospects

Students that show a real passion and love for English often go on to pursue careers in:

Journalism
Marketing
Ghost writing
Teaching
Wrtitng
Administration roles
Personal assistant roles
Editor

Alongside English...

Core Studies

As well as studying the specialist subject you’re passionate about, it’s a legal requirement for all Key Stage 4 students to follow the National Curriculum.This means it’s mandatory that you also study:

Additional Option Subjects

Alongside a chosen pathway subject and Core Studies, students must also choose two more Option Subjects to equip them with a range of knowledge and skills.

Compulsory Studies