English
The English department has a clear vision to create a challenging, stimulating learning environment for all staff and students. We challenge our students to become independent, thoughtful citizens and our curriculum embeds a natural love of reading by exposing students to a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction texts, including literature through the ages and two whole Shakespeare plays. At Key Stage 3 we have a thematic Resilience Curriculum in which students are taught the necessary knowledge and skills to allow them to succeed at Key Stage 4. Ambitious vocabulary and regular diagnostic assessments are embedded throughout and we ensure that our curriculum is accessible and aspirational for all
RESILIENCE Framework
R – Real World
E – Engaging & Enriching
S – Skills for Life
I – Inclusive
L – Leadership
I – Independence
E – Encourages Reflection
N – Next Steps
C – Challenge
E – Ethics & Empathy
Curriculum Overview
| Unit | Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 | Year 10 | Year 11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Resilience The Ruby in the Smoke |
Power Frankenstein |
Social Justice The Hate U Give |
A Christmas Carol Creative Reading and Writing |
An Inspector Calls Analysing and Producing Non-fiction Texts (Revision) |
| 2 |
Equality Animal Farm |
Relationships Romeo and Juliet |
Betrayal The Tempest |
Macbeth Analysing and Producing Non-fiction Texts |
Revision of all content |
| 3 |
Villains Range of pre-1914 and contemporary extracts |
Identity Range of pre-1914 and contemporary extracts |
Manchester Range of pre-1914 and contemporary extracts |
Power and Conflict Poetry Creative Reading and Writing Revision / Spoken Language Unit |
KS2 National Curriculum
- Comprehension (both listening and reading)
- Transcription (spelling and handwriting)
- Composition (articulating ideas and structuring them in speech and writing)
- Spoken language and listening skills
Next Steps: Post-16 Pathways (KS5)
- Spoken Language and the Media
- Critical and Creative Writing
- Language Over Time
- Poetry and Drama
- Shakespeare Study
- Prose Study
Next Steps: Careers
- Journalist
- Teacher
- Script Writer
- Lawyer
- Author
- Social Worker
- Publisher
How you can help your child in Key Stage Three:
- Ensure they are reading regularly and ask them about what they are reading.
- Ask them to show you their English book and discuss their recent work with them.
- Quiz them on the texts that they have studied.
How you can help your child in Key Stage Four (AQA English Language and Literature):
- Quiz them on quotations from the texts they have studied.
- Watch TV programmes/ videos which link to the context of the texts they are studying.
- Ask them to explain what happens in the texts they have studied.
