BGE Content/Topics/Themes

In S1 to S3, the English curriculum focuses on building a strong foundation in key language skills: reading, writing, listening, and talking.

BGE English lessons aim to help learners:

Become strong communicators by understanding and enjoying a wide range of texts—from stories and poems to news articles and digital media.

Build confidence and creativity to express ideas clearly and confidently in speech and writing. Learners explore their imagination through creative writing and drama.

Think critically by learning how to analyse, evaluate, and discuss what they read and hear.

Work independently and with others in group discussions, presentations, and collaborative projects.

Prepare for life beyond Grangemouth High School by developing an understanding of how literacy is used in real-world situations—from job applications to social media.

 

S2 pupils participate in:

The RED (Red Enjoy Debate) Book Award. Pupils produce a creative interpretation of one of the shortlisted books and create alternative book covers.

A shortlisted author leads a writing workshop in our school library. A major highlight of the Book Award process is the fun and energetic award ceremony in May, where pupils from each of the secondary schools in Falkirk Council screen their creative digital interpretations of the shortlisted books, meet the authors and celebrate books and reading.

 

S3 Exam

In S3, learners continue to develop their skills in preparation for the Senior Phase. An S3 exam helps to course pupils into the correct level of qualification going into S4 and gives them a valuable experience of study skill development and exam situations.

 

S4 Levels/Content (brief)

English is a mandatory course choice in S4, and most pupils progress to National 4 or National 5 Literacy or National 5 English, with a smaller number working through National 3.

 

The National 3 course aims to help learners:

Develop their literacy skills with basic reading, writing, listening, and talking skills.

It encourages confidence and communication in familiar contexts for learners and is internally assessed across the year. There is no final exam.

 

The National 4 course aims to help learners:

Enhance their understanding of reading, writing, listening and talking skills. The course comprises of four units. They develop the skills needed to understand, analyse and evaluate straightforward texts. The course also provides learners with the opportunities to develop talking and writing skills in familiar contexts to then produce straightforward texts in both written and oral forms. This course is entirely internally assessed. 

 

The National 5 Literacy course helps learners develop:

Essential communication skills for learning, life, and work. It focuses on understanding and using language effectively in everyday contexts.

Learners are assessed through practical tasks such as reading a text, listening to spoken material, writing a piece of over 500 words, and participating in discussions. It is internally assessed across the year.

There is no final exam.

 

The National 5 course:

Spoken Language: This skill is assessed ahead of the exam. It encourages effective verbal communication and presentation skills.

Coursework:  Ahead of their final exam, students are required to create a writing folio. This emphasises the development of writing skills and is worth 30% of their final grade.

There are two final exam papers at National 5.

 

Paper 1: Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation (RUAE) Learners read a single non-fiction text They are assessed on their skills in comprehension, analysis of language, and the ability to evaluate ideas within the text.

Paper 2: Critical Reading –Learners respond to questions on a studied Scottish text (poetry, drama, or prose) and write an essay on another literary text studied.

 

S5/6 Levels/Content (brief)

English is an optional course choice in S5 and S6 with students progressing to either National 5 Literacy, National 5, Higher, Communications and Leadership or Advanced Higher.

 

The National 5 Literacy course helps learners develop:

Essential communication skills for learning, life, and work. It focuses on understanding and using language effectively in everyday contexts.

Learners are assessed through practical tasks such as reading a text, listening to spoken material, writing a piece of over 500 words, and participating in a discussion. It is internally assessed across the year.

There is no final exam.

 

The National 5 and Higher courses:

Pupils at National 5 and Higher complete a writing portfolio across the year. This component emphasises the development of writing skills, allowing students to express their ideas creatively and coherently. It is worth 30% of their final grade.

Spoken Language: This skill is assessed ahead of the exam at National 5 and Higher. It encourages effective verbal communication and presentation skills.

There are two final exam papers at National 5 and Higher:

 

Paper 1: Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation (RUAE)Learners read a single non-fiction text  at National 5 and two complex non-fiction texts at Higher. They are assessed on their skills in comprehension, analysis of language, and the ability to evaluate ideas.

Paper 2: Critical Reading – At both National 5 and Higher, learners respond to questions on a studied Scottish text (poetry, drama, or prose) and write an essay on another literary text studied.

 

The Communications and Leadership course:

Develops advanced communication skills in reading, writing, listening, and talking while developing leadership skills in theory and in practice. It is offered as an alternative to Higher English after completing National 5 English.

Learners explore complex language in both written and spoken forms by encouraging independent learning and critical thinking. They explore leadership principles, styles and qualities and put leadership into practice. It is internally assessed across the year.

There is no final exam. Learners achieve two level 6 awards.

 

The Advanced Higher course:

This course is suited for learners who enjoy studying literature and have shown strong skills at Higher level. It encourages independent learning and helps prepare pupils for university or college.

It broadens horizons with in-depth study of literature and analysis of style, ideas and language.

It fosters independence with a dissertation on a chosen literary topic.

Showcases creativity with a writing folio.