Kear English
WELCOME TO THE English DEPARTMENT
The importance of English
In the English Department we believe that literacy is at the heart of learning:
The English Department at Kear Campus is committed to promoting a life-long love of reading, as well as critical thinking and social awareness. Personal reading is actively encouraged in each year group.
In the English Department we believe:
- Practice makes perfect – the more you read, the better you get at reading.
- Reading is exercise for the brain – it helps you to think faster and concentrate better.
- Reading improves your vocabulary, spelling and your general knowledge.
- Reading helps your imagination and your ability to empathise with others.
- Reading relaxes our bodies, and our minds.
- Reading improves your work in other subjects like History, RMPS, but also Maths.
- Reading helps you gain experience from other people.
- Reading can make you feel better.
The curriculum across all year groups offers the opportunity to engage with novels, short stories, non-fiction articles, film, documentaries, plays and poetry. Texts will be explored through group activities as well as individual work. Discussion, listening and presentation skills are an integral part of the pupils’ experiences in English. Students also have opportunities to use their imagination and to produce their own creative pieces.
Broad General Education (BGE)
Pupils in S1-S3 undertake a common course that exposes them to all the experiences and outcomes in English and Literacy as set out by Education Scotland, developing skills in Reading, Writing, Talking and Listening. A range of texts will be used to facilitate the broadening of pupils’ literacy skills including.
English assessment reflects Curriculum for Excellence experiences and outcomes, and pupils are encouraged to set targets to plan for their success. All students receive regular feedback either oral or written and be given the opportunity to develop their self-assessment skills.
Nationals
In S4 students will take the most appropriate course for their ability.
National 4 Overview
To achieve the National 4 English Course, learners must pass all the required Units. National 4 courses are not graded and there is no final examination.
- Reading assessment on text
- Comparison 2 texts (Added Value Unit)
- Listening assessment
- 1 piece non-fiction writing
National 5 Overview
The National 5 course is made up of three components; two exam papers and an externally assessed folio containing two essays. The details for each component are listed below:
Folio 30% – 2 essays
- 1 Broadly discursive /15
- 1 Broadly Creative /15
Exam 70% – 2 papers
Paper 1 – Reading for Understanding/Analysis/Evaluation (Formally known as close reading) 30%
- Read one article and answer questions /30
Paper 2 – Critical Reading 40%
- Textual Analysis on a Scottish text /20
- 1 Critical Essay on a range of genres /20
In S5, pupils progress to Nat 5 or Higher, as appropriate.
Higher Course outline
The Higher course is made up of three components; two exam papers and an externally assessed folio containing two essays. The details for each component are listed below:
Folio 30% – 2 essays
- 1 Broadly discursive /15
- 1 Broadly Creative /15
Exam 70% – 2 papers
Paper 1 – Reading for Understanding/Analysis/Evaluation (Formally known as close reading) 30%
- Read one article and answer questions. Final 5 mark question to compare main ideas with second article. /30
Paper 2 – Critical Reading 40%
- Textual Analysis on a Scottish text /20
- 1 Critical Essay on a range of genres /20
Extra - Curricular Activities
In the English Department we also run a Friday Film Club Masterclass.
Life - Long Skills
In the English Department we nurture the life-long skills which are applicable to all careers and further studies, such as;
- Excellent communication
- Literacy
- Creativity
- Teamwork
- Empathy
- Research skills
- Critical thinking
- Analysis
- Confident and sophisticated writing
Welcome to Media
As we move further into the digital age Media is becoming ever more prevalent in our culture and society. As Media becomes more widespread and accessible the need for young people to be able to understand and evaluate the Media they engage with is important.
Media qualifications provide learners with opportunities to develop both theoretical knowledge of the media and the ability to create media content.
Learners understand and develop their media literacy skills and appreciate the opportunities and challenges that occur in the media industry. Learners develop knowledge and understanding of the key aspects of media literacy and the role of media in society.
Media is a subject in which students engage with all forms of mass communication (films, TV, the press, social media etc.), and the skills they learn are increasingly crucial in today’s world. They gain a theoretical understanding of how to interpret, evaluate and question different kinds of media texts, but also learn practical production skills that enable them to collaborate together to create their own films in a range of different genres.
Screen industries are a rapidly growing sector of the Scottish economy, and organisations such as Screen Scotland are working to develop the skilled workforce that is needed to support this growth. Studying Media in school can be an excellent springboard towards a hugely varied range of careers in this sector.
BGE Curriculum
In S3, students are introduced to the key concepts and production skills they will need in Media through studying a range of films, adverts and TV shows, and creating their own texts in response to a variety of briefs.
Senior Phase
The department offers National Qualification courses at National 4, 5 and Higher level.
National 4 is internally assessed and consists of 3 units: Analysing Media Content; Creating Media Content, and an Added Value Unit assignment in which students plan, create and evaluate a media text.
Both the National 5 and Higher courses place an equal weighting on coursework and the exam. Coursework consists of an assignment in which students plan, create and evaluate a media text, while the exam papers assess their ability to analyse media texts and to discuss the role of the media in society.
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