English (Key Stages 3 & 4)
The English Curriculum will equip all students with the skills that will enable them to become critical and perceptive readers; effective and confident communicators and successful members of society. Our knowledge-rich curriculum is focused on reading and language acquisition as well as rigorous literary study.
Through literature, students are immersed into unfamiliar worlds giving them access to knowledge that is part of their cultural identity and heritage.
Our aim is to enable students to:
● develop the habit of reading widely and often for academic enhancement and pleasure;
● appreciate the depth and power of the English literary heritage;
● read in detail, critically and evaluatively, so that they are able to discuss and explain their understanding of ideas and make connections between texts, contexts and their own experiences;
● acquire and use a wide vocabulary, including the grammatical terminology and other literary and linguistic terms they need to be successful in the subject and beyond;
● write accurately and analytically about the texts they read, using Standard English;
● use knowledge gained from wide reading to inform and improve their own writing;
● use grammar and punctuation correctly and spell accurately;
● become articulate speakers and careful listeners, who know when to lead and when to participate;
● develop a control of language (written and spoken) empowering them to be able to communicate for a range of purposes.
Key Stage 3
| Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
| The aims of the English curriculum in Year 7 are to consolidate and master literacy knowledge, develop engagement and analysis of reading. Within the six English lessons per fortnight, students will study a range of high-quality texts and thought-provoking topics that develop their reading, writing and spoken language skills, as well as their academic resilience and independence. Additionally, students have a reading lesson once a week to ensure progress with reading as well as a structured form time reading session every week. | The main aims of the English curriculum in Year 8 are to build on the foundations of Year 7 and allow students to continue to establish and develop the key skills and knowledge needed and make links to topics and literature taught in Year 7 whilst reading challenging texts. Within the six English lessons per fortnight, students continue to study a range of high-quality texts and thought-provoking topics that develop their reading, writing and spoken language abilities. Additionally, students continue to have a weekly reading lesson as well as a structured form time reading session every week to support reading progress. | The main aim of the English curriculum in Year 9 is to act as a bridge to the GCSE curriculum to equip students for the transition to GCSE study. Students will embed and consolidate the skills and knowledge they have been developing for the previous two years as a basis on which to move to higher level reading analysis, develop a critical writing style and consider challenging ideas and concepts. Within the six English lessons per fortnight students will engage with challenging texts and concepts which pull together the themes taught across Years 7 and 8. |
| Topics Studied | Topics Studied | Topics Studied |
| ● The origins of Literature: Greek Mythology ● Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream ● Non-Fiction and Poetry: Crime investigations and newspapers ● Alter Egos: Extracts from fiction leading to descriptive narrative writing on the transformation of Dr Jekyll into Mr Hyde ● Modern Novel: The Breadwinner and cultural poetry ● Non-Fiction Writing: Campaigns and speeches | ● Literature through the ages: Norse to The Romantics ● Poetry: Relationships ● Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet ● Novel: Lord of The Flies ● Modern Play: The Terrible Fate of Humpty Dumpty ● The News: How the media can influence and manipulate through the power of language ● Growing Pains: short stories and articles based on adolescence | ● Shakespeare: The Tempest ● Women in Literature (short stories and poetry) ● Spy Fiction ● Novel: Of Mice and Men ● Manchester Voices: poetry, non-fiction and travel-writing ● Writers’ viewpoints and Perspectives: Current affairs |
Key Stage 4
We aim to:
● engage and challenge all through excellent teaching and rich content;
● ensure further progression and mastery of skills throughout the key stage;
● increase students’ cultural capital;
● prepare them for further study and the world of work.
AQA Language and Literature
● Literature: Poetry (Power and Conflict Anthology and Unseen Poetry), Macbeth, A Christmas Carol, An Inspector Calls.
● Language: Explorations in Creative Writing and Reading, Writers’ viewpoints and Perspectives, Spoken Language Endorsement.