CURRICULUM

English

English Team

Miss H Brady – Director of English
Mrs K Kirby – Assistant Head of English and Assistant Director of Sixth Form
Mrs H Corrigan – English Teacher and SENCO
Mr P Hitchen – English Teacher and Deputy Headteacher
Miss N Murphy – English Teacher and Assistant Headteacher
Ms S Cassidy – English Teacher and Assistant Headteacher
Mrs S Burns – English Teacher
Miss M Reeve – English Teacher and Latin Excellence Coordinator
Miss A Smith – English Teacher
Mrs S Smith – English Teacher
Mrs J Hewitt – English Teacher
Miss M Hilton – English Teacher
Mrs R Long – English Teacher
Miss L King – English Teacher

Intent

English underpins every aspect of our lives and enables us to make sense of the world around us. Our intent is for our pupils to become confident speakers, critical thinkers, engaging writers, inquisitive readers and ultimately, independent learners. For pupils to become confident speakers who communicate their ideas and feelings effectively and actively participate in society, we provide a variety of opportunities for structured talk and debate. To become critical thinkers, we encourage pupils to be inquisitive whilst building and challenging viewpoints and perspectives. To become engaging writers we teach pupils to develop an authentic voice and practise applying this for a range of genres, purposes and audiences both within the classroom and for competitions. To become inquisitive readers, we ensure pupils understand the importance of reading for both knowledge and pleasure. We develop analytical reading skills to enable pupils to make inferences and consider writers’ motivations, as well as encouraging pupils to read widely outside of the curriculum, which builds empathy, tolerance and awareness of the world around us. We place strong emphasis on direct instruction of key vocabulary and accuracy of spelling, punctuation and grammar and provide time for pupils to reflect and improve their work. This accumulates to provide pupils with the necessary skills and experience to thrive as independent learners.

WHAT ARE THE KEY CONCEPTS THAT HAVE TO BE MASTERED FOR PUPILS TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS SUBJECT?

Fluency in reading, writing and spoken language
Develop an appreciation of our rich and varied heritage through contextual understanding
Increase range of vocabulary in both written and spoken English in order to communicate ideas effectively and clearly
Develop an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
Write coherently, adapting language and style for a range of genres, purposes and audiences
Analyse, evaluate and apply writers’ conventions

KEY STAGE 3

At Key Stage 3, Year 7 and 8 pupils have seven English lessons every fortnight, which increases to eight lessons for Year 9. For Year 7 and 8, this includes one reading lesson per fortnight in which pupils practise their reading skills through guided reading journals and develop their reading for pleasure through a class reader and independent reading. Sparx Reader as the homework provision for Key Stage 3 enhances pupils’ reading skills. Our expert staff deliver an engaging curriculum, which enables pupils to master the key knowledge and skills needed to thrive at Key Stage 4 and beyond.

ASSESMENT AT KEY STAGE 3

Throughout each unit of work, pupils complete a range of formative assessments such as multiple choice questions, comprehension questions, descriptive writing and analytical writing so we can continually assess the progress pupils are making. Pupils will also complete a mid-point and end-point knowledge assessment, which are graded using our KS3 grading criteria: Emerging, Developing, Secure or Mastered.

Each pupil’s reading age is tested through the New Group Reading Test (NGRT) at the beginning and end of each academic year and further supported by the data from the Sparx Reader test. These interactive tests are completed online and test pupils’ ability to read and comprehend what they have read.

SCHEME OF WORK OVERVIEW

KEY STAGE 4

At Key Stage 4, Year 10 pupils have eight English lessons every fortnight and Year 11 have nine English lessons every fortnight as they prepare for their AQA GCSE examinations. In English, pupils have the opportunity to achieve two GCSEs: one in Language, which pupils will sit at the end of Year 11, and one in Literature, which pupils will sit at the end of Year 10. Pupils will also complete the Speaking and Listening examination.

ASSESSMENT

Throughout Key Stage 4 pupils complete a range of formative assessments such as multiple choice questions, comprehension questions, descriptive writing and analytical writing so we can continually assess the progress pupils are making. Pupils will also complete a mid-point and end-point knowledge assessment, which are graded using GCSE marking criteria. Pupils complete a range of exam-style questions throughout Key Stage 4 to prepare for their mock and final examinations. This includes fortnightly exam-style questions to ensure pupils consistently build confidence, writing stamina and recall prior knowledge.

SCHEME OF WORK OVERVIEW

Year 10

Term 1

Term 2

Year 11

Term 1

Term 1b

KEY STAGE 5

English Literature is a popular choice for those studying at A Level. Pupils in Year 12 and 13 have nine English lessons a fortnight with our most experienced and committed team of expert English teachers. Throughout their study, pupils will use their knowledge and skills acquired throughout Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 to be able to approach the study of literature through the lens of historicism, encouraging the independent study of a range of texts within a shared context. Pupils will complete a two-year study before completing their A Level examinations during the summer term of Year 13.

ASSESSMENT

Throughout Key Stage 5, pupils complete a variety of assessments, such as passage-based questions, unseen material, single-text questions, comparison questions, and open and closed-book approaches. This allows pupils to develop a wide range of skills including reading critically, analysis, evaluation, and independent research, which are valuable for both further study and future employment.

At the end of Year 13, pupils will complete two examinations: Love Through the Ages (Paper 1: 40%) and Texts in Shared Contexts: Post 1945 to the Present Day (Paper 2: 40%). Pupils will also undertake an independent critical, comparative study of two texts of their choosing as part of their Non Examined Assessment (NEA) unit, which counts for 20% of the overall grade.