Woodmill High School S3 S4 course choice booklet subject info | Page 15

English, Literacy and Media
Levels
National 3, National 4 and National 5
Literacy and English with Media

Course Outline
At the beginning of third year all pupils begin a general course leading to the award of a National
Qualification in English. Based on their class work, homework, preferred learning styles, and class
assessments completed throughout S1 and S2, pupils will be put in a class best suited to them.
In English, all pupils are taught the skills needed for Reading, Writing, Talking and Listening. The particular
class that any pupil is placed in matters very little; each will progress according to ability.

Rationale
Purpose and Aims
The aims and purposes of the course is to ensure that all pupils have an appropriate level of literacy and
English for the rest of their time in school, for any further studies they may pursue, and crucially for the
world of work which follows school. To this end all pupils in Woodmill leave school with a pass in English.

Information regarding typical learners who might take the course
There are courses in English suitable for all pupils, and the style of teaching is broad reaching. Pupils will
experience different types of learning in class, from group discussion to formal writing skills. English and
literacy are the essential building blocks for continued success in written work.

Course Structure and Conditions of Award
The course addresses the four main modes of communication, reading, writing, talk and listening in a
number of ways. Writing, pupils will be taught skills relating to: giving information; arguing a case/expressing
a point of view; expressing feelings; creating stories or other types of imaginative task. In Reading, pupils
will read novels, plays, poetry, study media multimodal texts, such as advertising and websites. Pupils will
then be expected to write in some detail about them, demonstrating their understanding and analysis.
Talking and Listening will continue to be daily classroom activities and the assessment of these is an integral
part of the course for the exam board. In addition to this pupil’s demonstration of verbal communication in
class will help them prepare for life outside school.
At the end of S4, an English grade will be awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority. This award will
reflect the ability of the pupil at that stage of their schooling – though not all of the new courses have an end
of course exam.

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