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English

Curriculum Overview

Vision 

We believe in the power of literature and language to provide opportunities for young people to visit worlds beyond their own, and to shed light on the one in which they already live. 

Disciplinary Concepts

  • To read and understand; to assimilate; to interpret

  • To hone skills of empathy

  • To articulate one’s views and perception of the world around us

  • To debate and join existing debates on subjects of significance in our community and the wider world

  • To understand the value of language in cognition

  • To consider anything a writer does on purpose to shape meaning (language/structure/form/characterisation)

  • To consider genre, its conventions and divergence from those conventions

  • To consider how personal, social, historical, cultural, political, economic contexts (and more) shape writing

  • To have a conceptual understanding of English

  • To write for varying purposes, audiences and in different forms for effect

  • To write accurately, with secure spelling, punctuation and grammar, to enable clear communication with the world around us

 

Curriculum Map

KS3

Throughout KS3 we aim to develop familiarity with increasingly complex vocabulary, support comprehension of increasingly challenging texts and develop the sophistication of students’ personal ability to infer meaning in texts. Furthermore, we aim to support the development of students’ ability to produce a variety of texts, both fiction and non-fiction, that use increasingly complex and accurate: vocabulary, structures, styles and techniques.

 

YEAR 7

(Non-Fiction) Autobiographical descriptive writing - students will study autobiographical writing from a range of C20th and C21st authors 

(Poetry) The Sonnet Form - students will study a range of sonnets 

(Fiction) Myths and Legends - students will study a novel and some short stories

(Shakespeare) A Midsummer Night’s Dream - Students will study an entire Shakespeare play

 

YEAR 8

(Fiction) Fear and Horror excerpts - Students will study a range of fear and horror texts (Fiction) The Giver by Lois Lowry - Students will study a Dystopian novel 

(Poetry) Modern Poetry - Students will study a range of poems that are connected by a particular theme 

(Non-Fiction) The Art of Rhetoric - Students will study a range of speeches 

(Shakespeare) Twelfth Night - Students will study an entire Shakespeare play 

 

YEAR 9

(Poetry) Poetry in Context - Students will study a range of poets who feature in the GCSE anthology

(Fiction) Of Mice and Men or To Kill a Mockingbird - Students will study a 20th century novel

(Fiction) 19th Century Short Stories - Students will study a range of 19th Century short stories

(Non-Fiction) A range of 20th and 21st century non-fiction texts linked to the novel - Students will study a range of non-fiction texts which are related to the novel being studied 

(Shakespeare) Romeo and Juliet - Students will study an entire Shakespeare play

 

KS4 

Students will begin their KS4 studies with unseen 19th century fiction in preparation for their English Language Paper 1, alongside studying the Time and Place poetry anthology (which they will be studying once a fortnight all year). They will also spend one lesson a fortnight practising their writing skills - writing makes up 50% of the English Language GCSE. They will also study one 19th Century novel, one post-1914 text, one Shakespearean text and a selection of unseen poems. Additionally, students will study a range of literary non-fiction texts to help prepare for their English Language Paper 2 exam. They will write and deliver a speech for the Spoken Language Endorsement element of their English Language GCSE.

 

Assessments

YEAR 7

Autumn Term

(Non-Fiction) Autobiographical descriptive writing - students will study autobiographical writing from a range of C20th and C21st authors and begin to - 

  • Evaluate texts and develop an understanding of the literary techniques used to create a sense of place (imagery)

  • Identify and name literary devices used by authors and evaluate their impact

  • Demonstrate an understanding of writing in an academic style

(Poetry) The Sonnet Form - students will study a range of sonnets and will begin to - 

  • Understand the difference between Shakespearean and Petrarchan sonnet form

  • Name and identify poetic devices within sonnets

  • Demonstrate understanding of themes and ideas

  • Demonstrate the ability to compare texts within their academic writing

Spring Term

(Fiction) Myths and Legends - students will study a novel and some short stories and will begin to -

  • Analyse the author’s development of setting

  • Analyse the development of character

  • Demonstrate understanding of literary conventions including hero, villain, anti-hero, protagonist and antagonist

  • Demonstrate understanding of the author’s use of foreshadowing

  • Identify and critically examine key ideas and themes

  • Demonstrate the ability to write in an academic style

Summer Term

(Shakespeare) A Midsummer Night’s Dream - students will study an entire Shakespeare play and begin to - 

  • Understand the contextual influences of the Early Modern period of Shakespeare's work

  • Analyse Shakespeare’s development of character

  • Demonstrate understanding of key themes within the play

  • Demonstrate understanding of the language of Shakespeare

  • Demonstrate the ability to write critically about themes 

 

YEAR 8

Students will practise these skills in greater depth by studying another novel and Shakespeare play, and more descriptive writing, poetry and non-fiction texts. They will aim to continue to be accurate and be increasingly impressive with their use of spelling, vocabulary, punctuation and grammar. 

Autumn Term

(Fiction) Fear and Horror excerpts - Students will study a range of fear and horror texts and will -

  • Demonstrate an understanding of how authors use setting, character, action/events, atmosphere, mood and tone to develop tension, suspense and fear

  • Demonstrate an understanding of how writer’s use language to create impact

  • Demonstrate the ability to write with a specific intended impact using techniques to create a stylised text

(Fiction) The Giver by Lois Lowry - Students will study a Dystopian novel and will - 

  • Analyse the author’s development of setting

  • Analyse the development of character (Jonas)

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the conventions of dystopia

  • Demonstrate understanding of the author

  • Identify and critically examine key ideas and themes

  • Demonstrate the ability to write in an academic style

(Poetry) Modern Poetry - Students will study a range of poems that are connected by a particular theme and will - 

  • Demonstrate an understanding of poetic devices and their effects

  • Analyse poems on a specific theme

  • Compare poems on a specific theme

  • Demonstrate the ability to write in a comparative academic style

Spring Term

(Non-Fiction) The Art of Rhetoric - Students will study a range of speeches and will - 

  • Demonstrate an understanding of how they are produced for audiences and purposes

  • Produce a speech appropriate to audience using techniques to make them effective

  • Present the speech with appropriate formality

Summer Term

(Shakespeare) Twelfth Night - Students will study an entire Shakespeare play and will - 

  • Demonstrate understanding of the contextual influences of the Early Modern period on Shakespeare's work

  • Demonstrate understanding of key themes within the play

  • Analyse Shakespeare's development of character

  • Demonstrate understanding of the language, forms and structure of Shakespeare

  • Demonstrate the ability to write in a critical academic style on the presentation of character

 

YEAR 9

Students will practise skills learnt in Year 8 in greater depth by studying another novel and Shakespeare play, and more descriptive writing, poetry and non-fiction texts. They will aim to continue to be accurate and be increasingly impressive with their use of spelling, vocabulary, punctuation and grammar. 

Autumn Term

(Poetry) Poetry in Context - Students will study a range of poets who feature in the GCSE anthology and will - 

  • Demonstrate an understanding of context and its influences over the writer’s work

  • Analyse poems for language, form and structure

  • Demonstrate the ability to do independent research

  • Demonstrate the ability to write in a critical and academic style

(Fiction) Of Mice and Men or To Kill a Mockingbird - Students will study a 20th century novel and will 

  • Demonstrate an understanding of context and its influences over the writer’s work

  • Demonstrate critical understanding of key themes within the text

  • Demonstrate understanding of the language, form and structure of text

  • Analyse writer’s development of character

  • Demonstrate the ability to write critically about a theme within the novel

Spring Term

(Fiction) 19th Century Short Stories - Students will study a range of 19th Century short stories and will - 

  • Demonstrate an understanding of context and its influences over the writer’s work

  • Demonstrate a developed understanding of form and genre

  • Demonstrate the ability to write in a specific style with a specific focus

(Non-Fiction) A range of 20th and 21st century non-fiction texts linked to the novel - Students will study a range of non-fiction texts which are related to the novel being studied and will -

  • Demonstrate further understanding of the novel through the study of thematically and historical linked texts

  • Develop a critical understanding of context

  • Analyse and infer meaning from a range of texts

(Shakespeare) Romeo and Juliet - Students will study an entire Shakespeare play and will 

  • Demonstrate an understanding of context and its influences over Shakespeare’s writing

  • Demonstrate understanding of key themes within the play

  • Demonstrate understanding of the language, form and structure of Shakespeare

  • Analyse Shakespeare's development of character

  • Demonstrate the ability to write in a critical academic style

  • Demonstrate the ability to write with a specific form and purpose (review)

 

KS4 (ENGLISH LITERATURE)

Students will begin their KS4 studies with unseen 19th century fiction in preparation for their English Language Paper 1, alongside studying the Time and Place poetry anthology (which they will be studying once a fortnight all year). They will also spend one lesson a fortnight practising their writing skills - writing makes up 50% of the English Language GCSE. They will also study one 19th Century novel, one post-1914 text, one Shakespearean text and a selection of unseen poems. Additionally, students will study a range of literary non-fiction texts to help prepare for their English Language Paper 2 exam. They will write and deliver a speech for the Spoken Language Endorsement element of their English Language GCSE.

19th Century Novel - Students will read one 19th Century novel, which will be either Frankenstein, Jekyll and Hyde or A Christmas Carol. The assessment for this unit is one extract-based question assessing AO2 (analysis of language, form and structure) and one question responding to the whole text assessing AO1 (personal response).

Poetry - Anthology and Unseen - Students will be studying poetry from the Time and Place anthology which consists of 15 poems from a range of poets. They will be asked to compare one given poem with one poem from memory and you will be assessed on AO1 (personal response), AO2 (analysis of language, form and structure) and AO3 (context). They will also study a range of unseen poems and be assessed on comparison of the two unseen poems (AO1 and AO2).

Post-1914 Text - Students will read one Post-1914 text, either Lord of the Flies, Animal Farm or An Inspector Calls, and will be given an option of two questions which assess AO1 (personal response) and AO3 (context).

Shakespeare - Students will read one Shakespeare play, either Macbeth or Romeo and Juliet and the assessment for this unit is one extract-based question assessing AO2 (analysis of language, form and structure) and one question responding to the whole text assessing AO1 (personal response) and AO2 (context).

 

KS4 (ENGLISH LANGUAGE)

Language Paper 1 - Reading - Students will be studying a range of 19th Century fiction extracts and will be assessed on key skills, such as, analysis of language and structure and evaluative skills. There are four reading questions on this paper

Language Paper 2 - Writing - Students will have a choice of two imaginative writing questions which will assess their writing skills. They will be assessed on the quality and the structure of their writing and their spelling, grammar and punctuation choices. 

Language Paper 2 - Reading - Students will study a range of literary non-fiction texts from the 20th and 21st century. They will be assessed on key skills such as analysis of language and structure, evaluative and comparison skills. There are eight reading questions on this paper. 

Language Paper 2 - Writing - Students will have a choice of two transactional writing questions to assess your writing skills. They will be assessed on the quality and the structure of their writing and their spelling, grammar and punctuation choices.

Spoken Language Assessment - Students will also have to write and deliver a five-minute speech on a topic of their choice, linked to the Shakespeare play they are studying.