English
The English department at The Derby High School aims to create a challenging and stimulating learning environment for all students. Our curriculum encourages learners to become independent, reflective and articulate individuals, able to express themselves with confidence and creativity.
We foster a lifelong love of reading by exposing students to a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction texts — including literature through the ages and two full Shakespeare plays. At Key Stage 3, students follow a thematic Resilience Curriculum, designed to build the skills and knowledge needed for success at Key Stage 4 and beyond.
Ambitious vocabulary development, regular diagnostic assessments and differentiated support ensure our curriculum is both accessible and aspirational for all learners.
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
KS2 National Curriculum Links
Students entering secondary school will have developed key literacy skills, including:
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Word reading
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Reading comprehension (listening and reading)
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Transcription (spelling and handwriting)
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Composition (articulating and structuring ideas in speech and writing)
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Spoken language and listening skills
These foundations are built upon and extended through a carefully sequenced curriculum at KS3 and KS4.
Curriculum Overview
Year 7 – Resilience
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Theme: Resilience
Core Text: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness -
Theme: Equality
Core Text: Animal Farm by George Orwell -
Theme: Villains
Texts: Range of pre-1914 and contemporary extracts
Year 8 – Power and Relationships
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Theme: Power
Core Text: Frankenstein (adapted text) -
Theme: Relationships
Core Text: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare -
Theme: Adversity
Core Text: I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
Texts: Additional pre-1914 and contemporary extracts
Year 9 – Society and Justice
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Theme: Betrayal
Core Text: The Tempest by William Shakespeare -
Theme: Social Justice
Core Texts: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and Macbeth by William Shakespeare -
Theme: Manchester
Texts: Range of extracts exploring identity, place and culture
Year 10 – GCSE Focus
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Texts Studied:
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A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens
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An Inspector Calls – J.B. Priestley
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Power and Conflict Poetry anthology
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Skills: Creative reading and writing; analysing and producing non-fiction texts
Year 11 – GCSE Consolidation and Revision
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Focus: Revision and consolidation of all GCSE content
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Skills: Analysing and producing non-fiction; creative and transactional writing; spoken language unit
Post-16 Pathways (KS5)
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Spoken Language and the Media
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Critical and Creative Writing
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Language Over Time
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Poetry and Drama
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Shakespeare Study
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Prose Study
Careers in English
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.
