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Original poster

Extract or Book - What is Usual in Secondary English?

33 replies

WoodRose · 11/10/2011 13:05

I went along to our local comprehensive school's open day this morning and was told that the English department did not set whole texts until KS4. Children in KS3 are given only extracts to read and analyse. I was not educated in this country so am unsure whether this is normal in English secondary schools.

Our local school teaches English in mixed ability classes in all years and there is a wide spread of abilities amongst the school's intake. Could this be why children are given extracts rather than books, so as not to put off those who struggle with reading?

Would love to hear from other MNers as to whether their children are expected to read books or extracts in KS3.

OP posts:
Pippaandpolly · 12/10/2011 07:16

I'm an English teacher and we teach whole texts from Year 7 up, including Shakespeare and poetry. I can't imagine doing anything else. In fact I don't think I could teach at a school that didn't do this. Sounds utterly ludicrous.

lecce · 12/10/2011 06:51

By choosing relevant extracts! A lot of students would struggle to identify themes unless you really directed them to the most relevant passages anyway - or at least, they may not struggle to identify them but would struggle to find suitable examples and quotations.

We also choose books that will be managable within the time constraints we have - so complicated plots tend to be out. I sometimes do a summary of chapters/scenes we have omitted and that works fine.

It is sad that the English curriculum is so overloaded now. All I remember doing isreading books and plays but that is just a small part of it now.

Original poster
WoodRose · 11/10/2011 22:52

Thank you all for your replies. It would seem that there is quite a wide variety of approaches. My school was the equivalent of an English comprehension with a wide range of abilities. However, all sets were required to read books in full. Usually, we would be set a chapter to read at home as preparation for a class discussion. Out of interest, how do students learn about themes and plot development if they are only reading extracts?

OP posts:
lecce · 11/10/2011 22:10

it's Shakespeare

lecce · 11/10/2011 22:09

In my school children read one novel a year during ks3 - depending on its length we may have to skip bits, though we offer children the chance to read missed sections at home if they are keen. We also read a whole play a year - in Yr9 its Shakespeare so we won't have to time to read the whole thing (and to do so would probably be to 'kill' it anyway Grin) but it's not just a couple of extracts. Our classes are mixed ability.

I find it hard to believe any school has dropped poetry as it is still part of the GCSE syllabus.

cat64 · 11/10/2011 21:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

mummytime · 11/10/2011 15:50

My DCs have studied whole books from year 7. This has included: Beowulf, Macbeth (again!), A Mid Summers nights dream, Animal Farm. They have also studied extracts, and newspaper reports. They are taught in mixed ability in year 7, broad ability groups in year 8 and sets for years above; one of my children has never been above the middle for sets.
They have also studied poetry all the way through school.

So it really does depend on the school (my DC are at a Comp).

gramercy · 11/10/2011 14:00

Ds is in year 9 and has yet to study a book properly at secondary school. He is taught in mixed ability classes too. They look at book extracts, but in my opinion the books are pitched at the lowest ability level. They did a "module" on Shakespeare, which consisted of the witches' section in Macbeth. As for poetry... I think that got abandoned in the Infants. I complained to the English teacher about this on the last parents' evening and she was in thorough agreement, but seemingly impotent.

Ds has me saying to him "Read this - it's good, honestly!" (or more cunningly, "I hated this, far too boyish") about various books, but what of those who don't have involved parents?

I now start to foam at the mouth every time I hear the word "Bitesize".