English

“I admire people who dare to take the language, English, and understand it and understand the melody” - Maya Angelou

 

Introduction

In the English Department, we want to inspire a love of language and literature, through an engaging and challenging curriculum. Our curriculum aims to instil philosophical thinking in our learners, by considering the big questions: Where do we come from? Should appearances matter? and Who has power? While, at the same time, honing their skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening. This is so that they can begin to see the value of English beyond the classroom.

Curriculum Intent

Within English, it is our intention that students become fluent speakers, writers and thinkers. All students can achieve this through the following areas: understanding the texts they are reading, by identifying explicit and implicit information; selecting accurate and precise evidence to support their ideas and arguments; identifying the specialist methods writers use and learning how to adapt them for their own purposes; understanding relationships between texts across time, themes and genre; evaluate how writers craft their texts analytically and thoughtfully; show an understanding of when texts were written and how this influences them; communicate clearly, effectively and imaginatively, adapting tone, style and register for the correct purpose and audience; organise their writing well, suing structural and grammatical features to support cohesion; understand the different genres (of fiction and non-fiction) and use these to shape their writing; use a range of sentence types, punctuation and vocabulary accurately and for effect and, finally, to speak and listen appropriately for different audiences and purposes.

Subject at KS3 - Overview

In English, we aim to address all areas of the national curriculum expectation that at Key Stage Three our students should receive an enriching and challenging program of study. We ensure that our pupils have opportunities to read a wide variety of texts, from across a range of time periods and cultures.

They have opportunities in years 7, 8 and 9 to read short stories, novels, poems, plays, journalistic writing and critical essays. We explore different forms of writing and ensure pupils have opportunities to produce high-quality writing in a range of forms and styles. We ensure they write with accuracy and can create engaging pieces of writing. Students are also supported in developing skills in speaking and listening. They have opportunities to discuss subjects and texts both formally and informally, to take part in drama activities and to prepare speeches.

Throughout Key Stage Three, students’ reading skills and their enjoyment of reading are developed through English lessons and tutor time reading. For some students, focused support to ensure weaker readers make accelerated progress to access the full curriculum is provided through the Lexonik reading programme. 

Pupils’ progress at Key Stage Three is assessed regularly by teachers through in-class assessment based on knowledge recall as well as extended writing tasks. External online GL Assessment Progress testing is also used to monitor progress and benchmark against national performance of similar students of the same age.

Subject at KS4 – Overview

In English at Key Stage Four, commencing in year 10, all students follow the AQA GCSE specifications for English Language and English Literature. Core knowledge of important literary texts and authorial style, as well as procedural knowledge and skills such as technical accuracy that are introduced at Key Stage Three underpins the main GCSE assessment objectives which guide the Key Stage Four curriculum. By the end of Key Stage Three, we expect the students to be secure in their skills in inference, analysis of language and structure and to be developing skills in comparison and evaluation, preparing them for GCSE English Language. We also ensure they are confident and capable of reading and interpreting a range of literary texts in preparation for GCSE English Literature. Both GCSEs are co-taught by the same class teacher; the exam units are taught distinctly and explicitly, though the broad knowledge and skills required for both overlaps. The text choices for English Literature are ambitious, ensuring that students are enriched and challenged in their studies. The opportunity to develop students’ speaking and listening is ensured through the Spoken Language endorsement undertaken in year 10, where students have the opportunity to present a spoken presentation or speech on a topical issue of their choice.

Studying English Post-16

We encourage many of our pupils to pursue English as a subject beyond GCSEs. Pupils can go on to study A Level English Literature, A Level English Language or other related courses, such as A Level Drama or Media Studies.

For all pupils, it is vital to achieve strong grades in their two English GCSEs to effectively undertake any Level 3 courses. Pupils need to achieve at least a grade 4 in their GCSE English Language. If they don’t receive this grade, it will be a compulsory part of their post-16 studies.

Employers say that one of the most valuable things they look for in the people who work for them is excellent communication skills, effective speaking and listening, as well as the fundamental knowledge of text comprehension and technical skills in writing. English provides pupils with this vital knowledge and skills set to ensure they achieve success.