English Senior Phase

This section of the website was last updated in February 2025.

Brannock English department is committed to providing all learners with a literary experience which is both engaging and rewarding.

Senior Phase English

All S4-S6 pupils within the English Department – and wider Languages Faculty – will be enrolled in an SQA accredited course.

These are extensions of the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) BGE experience young people had undertaken and build upon previously taught skills and areas of interest.

These courses are designed to enrich the experience of candidates through the equally weighted study of language and literature and to develop the skills of understanding and communication.

All Senior Phase pupils are expected to achieve the Literacy level for their age/stage (Level 4- Level 6). This is collected through in-class evidence and awarded alongside their SQA exam. Some young people collect this award elsewhere within the school.

What do we offer

  • National 3 English
  • National 4 English
  • National 5 English
  • Higher English
  • Advanced Higher English
  • Level 6 English Literature & Communication Course (from 2025-26)
  • National 5 Media (from 2025-26)
  • Level 5 Scottish Studies (from 2025-026)

What literature do we study

Senior phase texts are a mixture of teacher choice and what the teacher thinks young people will be most successful in the exam with. There are also pre-set items that are required by the SQA for the exam, called “set texts”.

For critical essay, the texts offered for 2024-25:

  • “A Hanging” by George Orwell
  • “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen
  • “Havisham” by Carol Ann Duffy
  • “Ozymandias” by Percy Shelley
  • Poetry selections by W.B. Yeats
  • “White Bear” (media) from the Black Mirror Series
  • “Stone Cold” by Robert Swindells

For set text, the texts offered for 2024-25:

  • “Tally’s Blood” by Anne Marie Di Mambro
  • “Sailmaker” by Alan Spence
  • Poetry selections by Carol Ann Duffy
  • “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde” by R. L. Stevenson
  • “Men Should Weep” by Ena Lamont

Class Organisation within English

Senior phase classes are streamed to allow young people to access work that will allow them to have the best chance of success in the National exams.

S4 streaming is based upon levels when completing S3.

S5 and S6 streaming is based upon previous attainment in S4 exams.

The young person’s choice, friendships, relationships with particular teachers and aspirations are also taken into account.

Formal Assessments in the Senior Phase

As for the BGE, the majority of assessments that your young person will sit in English are in class with the support of their teacher and further support from Support for Learning or the LCSC if required. These are used diagnostically by the class teacher to identify strengths and next steps for your young person. These assessments are set by the classroom teacher and dates vary from class to class.

On top of these, there are more formal assessments that young people are required to undertake either due to SQA criteria or to prepare for the exam.

Some internal assessments for the 2024-25 year include:

  • S4-S6 internal close reading assessment 1: week beginning 16th September 2024
  • S4-S6 internal close reading assessment 2: week beginning 21st October 2024
  • S4-S6 formal prelims start the week beginning 16th December 2024
  • S4-S6 internal close reading assessment 4: week beginning 17th March 2025

Some external assessments for the 2024-25 year include:

  • National 5 Folio deadline: 10th March 2025
  • Higher and Advanced Higher Folio deadline: week beginning 24th March 2025
  • National 5 English Exam: 6th May 2025
  • Advanced Higher English Exam: 6th May 2025
  • Higher English Exam: 7th May 2025

Pupil Levels & Reports

Brannock High School has a formal calendar of reports and Parent & Carer consultation evenings.

S4-S6 pupils sitting a graded course will have a discussion with their class teacher and decide a ‘target grade’ that we are working towards. This will be based upon prior attainment as well as aspiring for the absolute best for all young people.

This target will be used as a tool to allow young people and their teachers to make judgements about the pace, style and depth of learning. Target grades may get shifted upwards as the year goes along but we try not to lower them – we always keep our expectations high.

Target grades are purely a tool and do not represent what a young person “will” get or “only get” – performance in the final exam in English is the only deciding factor in the final grade.

Mr. McEwan, the head of Faculty, would be happy to discuss any young person’s individual levels, tracking or reports. Please get in touch by phone, email or the contact element of this blog.

National 4 English

National 4 English is a totally internal course which is pass or fail only. There are assessments in Reading, Writing, Talking and Listening. The final “assessment” is an Added Value Unit, a critical essay of 600 words or more.

Pupils will also normally also sit National 5 Literacy along side their National 4 course if their teacher feels they are able.

The SQA accredit and verify the course and, so, pupils’ work may be called for in order to check that standards are maintained.

National 4 candidates can proceed to National 5 if they would like.

National 5 English

National 5 English is a course followed by young people towards an external exam and a graded award. This exam is usually in May.

Pupils will study literature inside class that they will write about in the exam. Pupils will also prepare a piece of extended writing that is sent away to the SQA to mark.

There is also an internal unit (known as Spoken Language) that assesses Talking and Listening that pupils must pass before proceeding to the exam.

Pupils will normally be awarded the National 5 Literacy award alongside their exam entry.

National 5 English is required to then move on to Higher English the next year.

Higher English

Higher English is a course followed by young people towards an external exam with a graded award. This exam is usually in May.

Pupils will study literature inside class that they will write about in the exam. Pupils will also prepare a piece of extended writing that is sent away to the SQA to mark.

There is an internal unit (known as Spoken Language) that assesses Talking and Listening that pupils must pass before proceeding to the exam.

Pupils will normally complete  a Level 6 Literacy award alongside their exam entry.

Pupils require to have sat National 5 English at a passing level to proceed to Higher.

Advanced Higher English

Advanced Higher English is a course followed by young people towards an external exam with a graded award. This exam is usually in May.

Pupils will study an extensive amount of high end literature that will be used for both an exam and a dissertation. Pupils will be supported to engage in high end creative writing for a folio.

There is a significant jump in independent working between Higher and Advanced Higher, and the Advanced Higher Course is quite ‘end loaded’ so we would advise all young people considering it to discuss this with their English teacher – and carefully consider the other options they are choosing at the same time.

Young people considering Advanced Higher English must have a passing grade at Higher English.

  • Advanced Higher: SQA

Useful Links

Where can English take you

  • Law
  • Politics
  • Acting
  • Writing
  • Civil Service
  • Film/TV Editing
  • Copy Editing
  • Speech Therapy
  • Administration
  • Management
  • Digital Content Editing
  • Editing
  • Teaching
  • Marketing
  • Journalism
  • Broadcasting
  • Clerical Work
  • Copywriting
  • Film/TV Production
  • Classroom Support
  • Events Management
  • Information Services
  • Publishing
  • Advertising
  • Archive Work
  • Public Relations
  • Proofreading
  • Librarianship
  • Film/TV Direction
  • Travel & Tourism
  • Digital Marketing

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Our Faculty Vision Statement:
Kind in Action, Happy in Participation, and Successful in Achievement.

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