English
English Curriculum Overview
Our English curriculum develops confident, articulate and critical readers, writers and communicators. Through the study of a diverse range of literature, non-fiction texts and spoken language opportunities, students explore significant ideas, cultures and perspectives while developing the reading, writing, speaking and analytical skills needed for academic success and life beyond school.
The curriculum is carefully sequenced around recurring themes such as identity, relationships, power, conflict, social justice, morality and human nature. Students develop an appreciation of literature from different periods and cultures while learning to communicate thoughtfully and effectively for a variety of audiences and purposes.
Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9)
Students develop the core skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening through a carefully sequenced curriculum centred around significant literary texts, non-fiction, poetry and drama.
| Year 7: Adventure and Coming of Age | Year 8: Society, Justice and Power | Year 9: Relationships, Morality and Human Behaviour |
|---|---|---|
| Treasure Island | Dracula | Relationships and Identity (Short Stories) |
| The Wolves of Willoughby Chase | Richard III | Relationships and Identity (Non-Fiction) |
| Non-Fiction and Poetry: The Effects of War and Conflict | Social Justice (Non-Fiction Rhetoric) | The Crucible |
| A Midsummer Night's Dream | Social Justice Poetry Anthology | Sherlock Holmes |
| The Girl of Ink and Stars | Dystopian Fiction | Relationships and Identity Poetry |
| Pygmalion | King Lear | |
| Key Themes | Key Themes | Key Themes |
| Adventure and exploration | Power and ambition | Relationships and identity |
| Identity and self-discovery | Social inequality and justice | Morality and ethical choices |
| Friendship and resilience | Prejudice and discrimination | Human behaviour and motivation |
| Conflict and its consequences | Fear and the Gothic | Truth, justice and responsibility |
| Dreams, imagination and transformation | Class and identity | Power, reputation and consequence |
| The individual's relationship with society |
Throughout Key Stage 3, students learn to:
Analyse writers' methods and intentions
Explore language, structure and form
Evaluate different interpretations of texts
Write analytically and creatively
Present and discuss ideas confidently
Understand the relationship between literature, culture and context
Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)
Students follow the AQA GCSE English Language and English Literature courses, developing sophisticated reading, writing, speaking and analytical skills through the study of literature, poetry and non-fiction.
English Literature
Students study:
| A Christmas Carol | Macbeth | An Inspector Calls | Power and Conflict Poetry Anthology | Unseen Poetry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social responsibility and inequality | Ambition, power and corruption | Capitalism and socialism | Power, identity and memory | Independent interpretation |
| Dickens' critique of Victorian society | Kingship and leadership | Responsibility and morality | War and human conflict | Analysis of language, structure and form |
| Character development and transformation | Gender and societal expectations | Social class and inequality | Nature and the environment | Comparative evaluation |
| Themes of redemption, poverty and compassion | The supernatural and fate | Generational change and social reform | Comparative literary analysis |
Students develop:
Fiction and non-fiction reading skills
Critical analysis and evaluation
Narrative and descriptive writing
Transactional and persuasive writing
Speech writing and rhetoric
Spoken Language presentation skills
Comparison of viewpoints and perspectives
Examination skills for Language Papers 1 and 2
Year 11 Revision Themes
As part of GCSE preparation, students revisit all literature texts through key concepts including:
Power
Loss
Relationships
Change
This thematic approach encourages students to make connections across texts and develop deeper critical understanding of writers' ideas and methods.
Assessment
Assessment is embedded throughout the curriculum through:
Retrieval and knowledge quizzes
Reading and analytical writing assessments
Creative and transactional writing tasks
Spoken language presentations
Comparative poetry responses
Literature essays
Mock examinations
GCSE-style examination questions
Formal GCSE English Language and English Literature examinations
Enrichment and Careers
English develops creativity, communication, critical thinking, empathy and analytical skills that are highly valued across all professions. Through studying literature from different historical periods, cultures and perspectives, students develop a greater understanding of the world and the people within it.
The subject supports progression into a wide range of careers including journalism, publishing, law, marketing, public relations, teaching, media, politics, business, communications and the creative industries. Strong literacy and communication skills provide an essential foundation for success in further education, employment and everyday life.