Curriculum Intent
‘Inspiring literature helps us to understand the world, and understanding language helps us to unlock great literature.’
English is offered as:
- Core subject Years 7, 8, 9, 10 &11
- A Level English Literature Years 12 & 13
‘Inspiring literature helps us to understand the world, and understanding language helps us to unlock great literature.’
English is offered as:
| Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 | Term 5 | Term 6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 7 | Modern Drama: ‘Our Day Out’ by Willy Russell |
Poetry: Place Poems of celebration from around the world. |
Introduction to non-fiction: Conventions of non-fiction forms; Travel Writing; Newspapers; Speeches |
Prose Modern Novel: ‘Coram Boy’ by Jamila Gavin |
Drama:
Introduction to Shakespeare. |
Myths and Legends. |
| Year 8 |
Modern Drama: ‘Pygmalion’ by George Bernard Shaw |
Modern Novel: ‘Noughts and Crosses’ by Malorie Blackman |
Prose: Gothic Literature. Extracts from various Gothic texts. |
Non-fiction and debating: The power of Spoken language. |
Drama: ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ by William Shakespeare |
Poetry: Love Poetry across the ages. |
| Year 9 | Drama: ‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare. |
Modern Drama: ‘A View from the Bridge’ by Arthur Miller |
Begin GCSE courses. Unseen Poetry (Literature Paper 2) |
Descriptive and Narrative Writing. (Language Paper 1 Section B) |
AQA Poetry Anthology (Literature Paper 2) |
AQA Poetry Anthology (Literature Paper 2) |
Students receive seven lessons a fortnight during which they will develop the key skills of communication through the written and spoken word. They will learn how to analyse the form, structure and language of a text while also looking at the conventions of different genres. For Drama this will include: stage directions, characterisation, context and language; for Prose: Characterisation, Themes and Narrative Structure and for Poetry: Interpretation, form and structure and terminology. Students will also study a range of non-fiction texts where they will explore the different conventions of various forms of non-fiction. Key skills will be developed through working both independently and in groups, and will consist of both written and oral work including role play and presentations.
Students receive seven lessons a fortnight during which they will continue to develop and add to the skills learnt in Year 7. For Drama they will develop their knowledge of how context can affect the content and ideas within a text, and consider how characterisation affects the audience’s response. They will also further their understanding of narrative structure, looking at how a plot is developed. In their Prose studies, students will develop their analytical skills by focusing on close analysis; how to unpack a quotation and looking at authorial intent and what key words and phrases suggest. They will also consider the importance of setting within a text and the effect on both the text and audience. For Poetry, students begin to develop their skills of comparison and how to analyse similarities and differences within two poems. For their non-fiction studies, students will engage in the skills of debating, looking at how to argue and persuade using both the written and spoken word. Again, these skills will be developed through working both independently and in groups, and will consist of both written and oral work including role play and presentations.
Students receive seven lessons a fortnight. For the first two terms, work continues to be part of the KS3 curriculum with their study of ‘Macbeth’ and ‘A View from the Bridge’ considering the key elements of tragedy. In Term 3, students move to the KS4 curriculum and begin their GCSE studies in both Literature and Language. Students will develop their independent thinking skills and will be encouraged to share their ideas and consider the ideas of others. Students will continue to develop their analytical and creative skills through both written and oral work as in Years 7 and 8. .
Throughout KS3, students are exposed to high quality texts which embrace our literary heritage and the Canon.
English studies comprise both written and oral skills and alongside the school assessment guidelines, assessment will be made of both these skills throughout KS3. There are two formal assessments a term which will be followed by whole class feedback lessons. Frequent constructive verbal feedback will also be given to pupils throughout lessons from the teacher and through peer assessment. Regular high level questioning will also be used to assess students’ understanding.
Students are encouraged to read as often and as much as possible. Throughout KS3, students have one lesson a fortnight which is dedicated to reading for pleasure. Students bring in their own texts for this lesson and to help them with this, a KS3 reading list of recommended texts is available.
In Year 7, students will be taken to the Globe Theatre for a tour and a workshop where they will develop their understanding of performing Shakespeare.
Students at Key Stage 4 have 7 periods a fortnight studying the AQA GCSE English Language and English Literature qualifications.
| Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 | Term 5 | Term 6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 10 | Modern Literature: ‘An Inspector Calls’ by J.B. Priestley (Literature Paper 2 | AQA Poetry Anthology.
(Literature Paper 2) |
Unseen Fiction Extracts from the 20th and 21st centuries.
(Language Paper 1) |
AQA Poetry Anthology and Unseen Poetry
(Literature Paper 2) |
Non-fiction texts from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.
(Language Paper 2) |
Descriptive and Narrative Writing and Writing for specified audiences and purpose.
(Language Papers 1&2) |
| Year 11 | ‘Romeo and Juliet’ by William Shakespeare
(Literature Paper 1) |
‘Romeo and Juliet’ and ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens
(Literature Paper 1) |
‘A Christmas Carol’
(Literature Paper 1) |
Revision | Revision |
|
Students begin their studies for their GCSE English Literature and GCSE English Language. In Year 10 the Literature focus is on Literature Paper 2 ‘Modern Texts and Poetry’. Students will also cover all the necessary elements for success in both Language Paper 1 ‘Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing’ and Language Paper 2 ‘Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives’. In addition, at some point in the year students will be assessed for the Spoken Language component of the English Language qualification. Students will give a presentation on a subject of their choice for which they will be awarded either a Distinction, Merit of Pass. Whilst this is a compulsory element of the GCSE English Language qualification, the grade awarded does not go towards the overall grade for this qualification.
The focus in Year 11 is GCSE English Literature Paper 1 ‘Shakespeare and the 19th Century Novel’. There are only two texts for this paper and students will study ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and ‘A Christmas Carol’ across Terms 1-3. From November in Year 11 students will complete a ‘Revision Note Programme’ where they will complete a schedule of revision tasks as part of their home learning. They will then build on this during Terms 4 and 5 which are dedicated to revision.
GCSE English Language Paper 1: ‘Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing’ (1 hr 45 mins. 50% of qualification)
GCSE English Language Paper 2: ‘Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives’. (1 hr 45 mins. 50% of qualification)
Spoken Language Award (compulsory unit but 0% of qualification)
GCSE English Literature Paper 1: ‘Shakespeare and the 19th Century Novel’ (I hr 30 mins. 40% of qualification)
GCSE English Literature Paper 2: ‘Modern Texts and Poetry’ (2 hrs 15 mins. 60% of qualification)
BBC Bitesize. Revision resources for both GCSE English Language and Literature https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
Revision guides for exams and texts e.g. York Notes and CGP
Seneca online for revision practice https://senecalearning.com/en-GB/
The Royal Shakespeare Company Learning Zone https://www.rsc.org.uk/shakespeare-learning-zone/
A KS4 reading list is available to encourage students to continue to read for pleasure.
English Literature A-level’s historicist approach to the study of literature rests upon reading texts within a shared context. Working from the belief that no text exists in isolation, but is the product of the time in which it was produced, the English Literature A-level encourages students to explore the relationships that exist between texts and the contexts within which they are written, received and understood. Across the course, students will study texts both diachronically (produced across a very broad time period) and synchronically (produced within a clearly defined time period).
The course consists of two categories of study: ‘Love through the Ages’ and ‘Modern Times: Literature from 1945 to the present day’. In the first category, students will study the following texts:
In the second category they will study the following:
Students will also study ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ by William Shakespeare as part of an independent critical study.
| Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 | Term 5 | Term 6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 12 | A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams | A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams | Unseen Prose | The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald | Pre-1900 Poetry | The Great Gatsby and Pre-1900 links |
| The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood | The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood | Feminine Gospels by Carol Ann Duffy | Unseen Poetry and Context and Perspectives | Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare/NEA | Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare/NEA | |
| Year 13 |
Othello By William Shakespeare |
Othello By William Shakespeare |
Revision | Revision | Revision | Exams |
| NEA | Unseen poetry and prose | Revision | Revision | Revision |
|
Paper 1: Love through the Ages |
Section A: Shakespeare ‘Othello’: One passage-based question with linked essay (25 marks) Section B: Unseen poetry: Compulsory essay question on two unseen poems (25 marks) Section C: Comparing texts: ‘Gatsby’ with pre-1900 poetry anthology. One essay question linking two texts (25 marks) |
Written exam 3 hours Open book in Section C only 75 marks 40% of A Level |
|
Paper 2: Option 2B: Modern times: Literature from 1945 to the present day |
Option 2: Section A answering on Drama core text; Section B comparing prose with poetry Section A: Set texts. One essay question on set text (25 marks): ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ by Tennessee Williams Section B: Contextual linking
|
Written exam 2 hours 30 minutes Open book 75 marks 40% of A Level |
|
Non-exam assessment: Independent critical study: Texts across time |
Comparative critical study of two texts, at least one of which must have been written pre-1900 One extended essay (2500 words) and a bibliography |
50 marks 20% of A Level Assessed by teachers Moderated by AQA
|
| History | Politics | Sociology | RS | Drama and Theatre |
Democracy: Abuses of democracy are taught in KS5 through the dystopian text ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’. Ideas of democracy and abuse are further explored by students through research of how context affects the ideas presented in literature and through the speeches of Martin Luther King.
Rule of law: This is explored in KS3 through ‘Macbeth’ when students examine the divine right of Kings and also throughout their studies looking at how the rule of law has affected women’s rights throughout history. This is also part of the study looking at the political elements in ‘Othello’ and ‘Death and the Maiden’ in KS5.
Individual Liberty: The rights of women are considered throughout all key stages. Students study ‘Myths and Legends in Year 7, ‘Pygmalion’ in Year 8, and through the study of 19th century literature throughout. KS5 has a strong focus on gender issues through the study of texts such as ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’, ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’, ‘A Doll’s House’ and poetry by Carol Ann Duffy. Students also study the speeches of Martin Luther King looking at the Civil Rights Movement and explore the concept of individual liberty under authoritarian military dictatorships in ‘Death and the Maiden’ and ‘Springtime in a Broken Mirror’.
Mutual respect: Respect for other cultures is developed in Year 7 through poetry, non-fiction texts and Myths and Legends. This is further explored in Year 8 through the study of the novel ‘Noughts and Crosses’ and in Year 9 through the play ‘A View from the Bridge’. Respect for different classes is also studied in Year 7 in ‘Our Day Out’ and further explored through socialist ideas with the GCSE study of ‘An Inspector Calls’ and ‘A Christmas Carol’. Cultural differences are also explored through the study of ‘Othello’ in KS5.
Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs: Tolerance of other faiths is implicit in many of the texts particularly in the analogies drawn in novels such as ‘Noughts and Crosses’, while the ideas of fundamentalism are explored through the study of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ in KS5.
