The document discusses preparing students for the transition from Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 4 under the new National Curriculum for English. It proposes examining themes from novels studied in KS3, such as Twelve Years a Slave and Othello, to build skills needed for linear GCSE assessments. Studying how these texts portray race and comparing character reactions could help students understand how authors express meaning and themes. Question examples are provided to develop skills like analysis, comparison, and discussion around characters, settings, and social contexts.

1. Securing the transition from
KS3 to KS4 under the new
National Curriculum for English

2. Rationale:
Under the new National Curriculum for Key Stage 3,
pupils are now required to read whole novels.
We are looking at how best to prepare pupils for Key
Stage 4 under the new GCSE Curriculum in light of
the fact that assessment is soon to be linear as
opposed to modular and there will be no coursework.
Our idea is to start examining themes of novels in
KS3 to build up a broader skillset and contextual
knowledge amongst pupils that can inform their study
of set texts at GCSE.

3. KS3 KS4
Othello12 Years a Slave
Why?
Common Themes
Discuss the role that race
plays in Northup’s Twelve
Years A Slave. How do the
other characters react to
Northup’s skin
colour/status? How does
Northup see himself?
Discuss the role that race
plays in Shakespeare’s
portrayal of Othello. How
do the other characters
react to Othello’s skin
colour or to the fact that
he is a Moor? How does
Othello see himself?
Skillset
AOs

4. KS3 KS4
Othello12 Years a Slave
Why?
Common Themes
Discuss the role that race
plays in Northup’s Twelve
Years A Slave. How do the
other characters react to
Northup’s skin
colour/status? How does
Northup see himself?
Discuss the role that race
plays in Shakespeare’s
portrayal of Othello. How
do the other characters
react to Othello’s skin
colour or to the fact that
he is a Moor? How does
Othello see himself?
Skillset
AOs

5. Key Stage 3:New Programme of Study

6. Key Stage 4: New GCSE Specification

7. 12 Years a Slave vs Othello:
Common themes
1) Violence
2) Race
3) Setting
4) Gender
5) Characterisation
6) Tragedy
7) Love
8) Jealousy

8. KS3 questions:
• Discuss the role that race plays in Northup’s Twelve Years A Slave. How do the
other characters react to Northup’s skin colour/status? How does Northup see
himself?
• Discuss the importance of setting in the novel, paying close attention to the
particular character of each location and segregation on the plantations.
• Analyse Patsey’s role. To what extent is she merely a passive victim of Edwin
Epps, the plantation owner? How does her character change when she is not
around Epps?
• Discuss the role of Mary Epps. Does her character change throughout the novel,
and if so, how? Do you think that she is aware of her own husband’s brutality?
• How does the character of Patsey compare to female characters in related
novels such as The Colour Purple (1982), Oroonoko (1688), and Roots (1976)?
What does this suggest about changing perceptions of slavery?

9. KS4 questions:
• Discuss the role that race plays in Shakespeare’s portrayal of Othello. How do the
other characters react to Othello’s skin colour or to the fact that he is a Moor?
How does Othello see himself?
• Discuss the importance of setting in the play, paying close attention to physical
details that differentiate Venice from Cyprus and that define the particular
character of each location as it pertains to the plot of the play.
• Analyse Desdemona’s role. To what extent is she merely a passive victim of
Othello’s brutality? How does her character change when she is not with Othello?
• Discuss the role of Emilia. How does her character change during the course of
the play? Pay particular attention to moments when Emilia decides to be silent and
when she decides to speak. What is the effect of her silence about the
handkerchief? Do we forgive this silence when she insists on speaking in spite of
Iago’s threats in the final scene?
• How does the character of Desdemona rank among Shakespeare’s characters?

10. Assessment Objectives
AO1
Respond to texts critically and imaginatively; select and evaluate relevant
textual detail to illustrate and support interpretations.
AO2
Explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers’ presentation of
ideas, themes and settings.
AO3
Make comparisons and explain links between texts, evaluating writers’ different
ways of expressing meaning and achieving effects.
AO4
Relate texts to their social, cultural and historical contexts; explain how texts
have been influential and significant to self and other readers in different
contexts and at different times.

11. Skillset
Thinking creatively
Analysis
Making links; compare and contrast
Inference
Deduction
Discussion
Evaluation
Synthesis

12. KS3 KS4
Othello12 Years a Slave
Why?
Common Themes
Discuss the role that race
plays in Northup’s Twelve
Years A Slave. How do the
other characters react to
Northup’s skin
colour/status? How does
Northup see himself?
Discuss the role that race
plays in Shakespeare’s
portrayal of Othello. How
do the other characters
react to Othello’s skin
colour or to the fact that
he is a Moor? How does
Othello see himself?
Skillset
AOs
Securing the transition from KS3 to KS4
under the new National Curriculum for English