English
Why study English?
English is central to the school’s curriculum in its potential to develop students’ ability to think critically, articulate their thoughts and opinions from reading a rich and diverse range of literature, to strengthen written accuracy, and allow creative and analytical expression.
We encourage our learners to engage with and explore a range texts – both fiction and non-fiction – those from different cultures and those from the literary heritage so that they have a secure understanding of history, culture and current affairs. Through discovering new characters, plots and themes, students can shape their own writing to be imaginative, engaging and innovative.
Within English, we want our students to be able to express and communicate themselves effectively, and appreciate that the world around them is full of opportunities to converse and engage with a variety of people, views and perspectives – sometimes, very different from their own!
Useful Information: PIXL English App
English KS3
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Learning Cycle 1
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Learning Cycle 2
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Learning Cycle 3
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Year 7
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An Introduction to Shakespeare:
An exposure to the opening scenes, and key scenes, from a range of Shakespeare’s most famous plays:
- Hamlet
- Macbeth
- Romeo and Juliet
- Twelfth Night
- The Tempest
- Richard III
- Henry VI
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream
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Journeys
A core anthology, which consists of different text types both fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, which focus on the theme of Journeys – both literal and metaphorical journeys:
- Robinson Crusoe – Daniel Dafoe
- The Time machine – H.G. Wells
- Bill Bryson and other travel writing – various extracts
- Holiday Memory – Dylan Thomas
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Childhood and Growing up
The students will have a class reader, which explores the themes of moving on, and growing up, as they move to the end of their first year in Secondary School. Possible class readers:
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
- The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
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Year 8
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Gothic Imagination
Exposure to the gothic genre through time, including 19th, 20th and 21st century texts An anthology of different fictional texts to be distributed. The anthology consists of extracts which include:
- The Woman in Black
- Rebecca
- Jekyll and Hyde
- The Red Room
- Jane Eyre
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‘Loving Lines’
A core anthology which consists of key scenes from Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and poetry linked to love and relationships
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Exploring Different Cultures
The students will have a class reader, which explores the themes of different cultures, isolation. Friendship, poverty and class*. Possible class readers:
- Of Mice and Men
- The Life of Pi
- The Jungle Book
- Refugee Boy
- Noughts and Crosses
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Year 9
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A Very Victorian Christmas
Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’
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Conflict and Disaster
Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’
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Viewpoints and Perspectives
A core anthology, which consists of literary non-fiction extracts/sources (E.g. letters, memoirs, travelogues, diary entries) from 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, based thematically on different topics which develop the students understanding of the AQA English Language Paper Two Comparison
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English KS4
All students will study the AQA specifications for GCSE English Language and Literature, with examinations for both GCSE subjects being taken at the end of Year 11.
English Language GCSE https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-language-8700
English Literature GCSE https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-literature-8702
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Learning Cycle 1
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Learning Cycle 2
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Learning Cycle 3
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Year 10
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English Literature Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry (‘Blood Brothers’)
English Literature Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th century novel (Revision of ‘Macbeth’ and ‘A Christmas Carol’)
English Language Paper 1: Explorations in creative writing and reading (Section B; Question 5 ONLY: Writing to describe)
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English Literature Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry (Poetry anthology – ‘Love and Relationships’ cluster)
English Language Paper 2: Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives (Section B; Question 5 ONLY: Writing to argue/persuade/explain/advise)
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English Literature Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry (Revision of ‘Blood Brothers’)
English Literature Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry (Unseen poetry)
*NEA: Spoken Language to be completed after the end of Year 10 assessment
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Year 11
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English Language Paper 1: Explorations in creative writing and reading (Coverage of entire paper)
English Literature Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry (Revision of ‘Blood Brothers’, Poetry anthology – ‘Love and Relationships’ cluster and Unseen poetry)
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English Language Paper 2: Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives (Coverage of entire paper)
English Literature Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th century novel (Revision of ‘Macbeth’ and ‘A Christmas Carol’)
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Revision of all four papers ahead of the summer external examination series
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