Departmental Intent:
The overarching aim for English in the national and school curriculum is to promote high standards of language and literacy by equipping pupils with a strong command of the spoken and written word. We hope to develop their love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment.
The national curriculum for English aims to ensure that all pupils:
- read easily, fluently and with good understanding
- develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information
- acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic
- conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
- appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage
- write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences
- use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly
- their understanding and ideas
- are competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations,
- demonstrating to others and participating in debate.
Our curriculum is broad and balanced, and challenging, and the texts we study offer a wide range of viewpoints. Students read and study complex and whole texts, and they also experience a range of genres. The range of literature we study also provides students with insights into a variety of cultures and gives them a global perspective, as well as perspectives across history.
We read a fantastic range of texts with our students across KS3, including Skulduggery Pleasant, My Swordhand is Singing and Treasure Island in Year 7, A Christmas Carol, Romeo and Juliet, and Noughts + Crosses in Year 8, and then Animal Farm and Julius Caesar in Year 9. At KS4, our set texts are Macbeth, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and An Inspector Calls. We also study Power and Conflict poetry (all with the exam board AQA).
The English curriculum overview can be found here:
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Golden Threads are the key themes, values and skills that run throughout the curriculum across all year groups. In our school, these threads reflect our Catholic ethos and Catholic Social Teaching, supporting pupils’ academic development while encouraging them to make links between their learning, the wider world and their responsibilities as compassionate and thoughtful citizens.
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The KS4 course specification for English Language can be found here: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-language-8700/specification-at-a-glance
The KS4 course specification for English Literature can be found here: AQA | GCSE | English Literature | Specification at a glance
Bookflix is our reading incentive and is linked to rewards through achievement points and other prizes when children read specific numbers of books.
Bookflix displays are in every classroom, which gives teachers the opportunity to recommend books to read around each subject. Children should see which books are trending and newly added, just like the home screen on Netflix!
Here is the list of the current Bookflix books for the department:
The Book Thief Markus Zusal
Boys Don’t Cry Malorie Blackman
I Am Malala Malala Yousafzai
Jurassic Park Michael Chricton
The Ruby In The Smoke Phillip Pullman
The Island C.L. Taylor
Skullduggery Pleasant, Playing With Fire Derek Landy
The Perks of Being a Wallflower Stephen Chbosky
Boy 87 Ele Fountain
The Poet X Elzabeth Acevedo
One Of Us Is Lying Karen M. McManus
A Monster Calls Patrick Ness
Monster Michael Grant
