English

The English curriculum aims to empower students with the skills and confidence to understand, explore and analyse the methods of communication across a range of literary contexts.

The teaching of English across KS3 and KS4 is underpinned by the facilitation of critical reading skills and the development of accurate, and compelling, writing as offered through a Mastery curriculum. The development of analytical skills across KS3, honed in the study of literature that is from a range of cultures and time periods and in the form of novels, poetry and plays, builds the necessary familiarity with the rigorous requirements of the GCSE exams and frequent and purposeful practice of key exam questions and styles is built in for termly review.

Passionate debate, discussion and exploration of texts from across our literary heritage offers students the opportunity to personally engage with a wide variety of challenging themes, ideas, characters and concepts which will inform and broaden their current world view. Within the study of English, students will question and critique the methods that writers, and speakers, use to present their views and perspectives, and respond to these ideas using their personal ideas and opinions. Students will be taught to recognise, use and evaluate the methods employed by great writers and speakers in order to develop their own written and verbal communication skills.

The chosen texts at KS3 allow students to confidently examine how a range of writers have, across time, responded to personal, social, cultural and political contexts. Across KS3 and KS4, the curriculum facilitates students in critically interleaving their understanding of a variety of literary forms, and their contexts, whilst honing their ability to select, critique and thread together interesting trends and tropes across different written texts.

To support the standards of literacy, especially reading skills, across the wider school curriculum, the English curriculum offers all KS3 students, and some KS4 students, the Accelerated Reader programme; students will be required to purposefully expose themselves to a range of novels and non-fiction texts by reading within a suitable range for their ability. Alongside the development of reading, the curriculum is designed with a deliberate focus on broadening students’ vocabulary, something that is supported by our knowledge organisers utilised across all year groups. Students are actively encouraged to experiment with the application and use of ambitious language and terminology throughout their studie: refining and honing their selection of appropriate and impactful vocabulary within their own writing and spoken language.

Our curriculum at QES goes far beyond what is taught in lessons, for whilst we want students to achieve the very best examination results possible, we believe our curriculum goes beyond what is examinable. We do this by regular exposure to a wide range of the finest fiction and non-fiction texts, exploring them through practical, creative and analytical approaches. We invest in spoken language skills. We offer extra-curricular clubs in creative writing and debating. We support productions and take students to the theatre and poetry events and work with writers both in and out of school.

Key Stage 3:

Students read a variety of literature including prose, poetry, drama, short stories and non-fiction texts. They develop their ability to form an interpretation, analyse and infer meaning. Students also have a weekly or fortnightly library lesson to develop independent reading habits using the Accelerated Reader programme.

English Content:

Mastery English Writing Units 1-4

Oliver Twist, Sherlock Holmes, Jane Eyre, Animal Farm, Small Island, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, poetry from across time and cultures and a collection of ancient tales.

Students will be formally assessed half-termly in response to the texts and disciplines being taught each half term. Assessments will be targeted at reading and writing skills and will be addressed with whole class feedback and fix-it lessons to enable students to address errors and misconceptions in their work and make developmental edits.

Key Stage 4:

All students study English Language and English Literature at GCSE.

In English Language, students develop their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills, evaluating writers’ purpose in a range of fiction and non-fiction material and constructing their own written pieces.

In English Literature, students read a range of literature including a 19th century novel, a Shakespeare play, poetry and a modern drama. Students explore themes and ideas, writer’s craft and intentions and contextual implications within each text.

Language

What will I study?

PAPER 1: Exploration in creative reading and writing

Section A: Reading Section - an extract from a work of fiction with 4 comprehension questions.
Section B: Writing - Writing Section - descriptive or narrative writing.

PAPER 2: Writer’s viewpoints and perspectives

Section A: Reading Section - non-fiction text and literary non-fiction text from 2 different centuries with 4 comprehension questions.
Section B: Writing Section - writing to present a viewpoint.

Literature:

What will I study?

PAPER 1: Shakespeare and 19th Century novel (40%)

Section A: Shakespeare - Students will answer one question on Macbeth. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the play and then to write about the play as a whole
Section B: The 19th Century novel - students will answer one question on A Christmas Carol. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the novel and then to write about the novel as a whole

PAPER 2: Modern texts and poetry (60%)

Section A: Modern texts - students will answer an essay question from a choice of two on An Inspector Calls.
Section B: Power and Conflict Poetry - students will answer one comparative question on one named poem printed on the paper and one other poem from their chosen anthology cluster
Section C: Unseen poetry - students will answer one question on one unseen poem and one question comparing this poem with a second unseen poem

Enrichment

Creative Writing club

Debate Mate

Reading aloud promoted through AR

National writing competitions

kEY sKILLS yOU WILL lEARN:

Collaborative curriculum planning lies at the heart of what we do in the department. We both liaise with external agencies, subject specialists and research to inform our planning. We are committed to a five-year plan of developing our schemes of work. These are focussed on embedding challenge, metacognition, memory techniques and literacy into our curriculum. Our curriculum covers the different areas of reading and writing fiction and non-fiction, and study of literary texts each year with the sophistication of the skills gradually increasing, and regular spiralling back to ensure key content is secure. Discussion and debate are a regular feature of lessons, as is extended reading and writing. We engage with real life contexts where possible to enable students to connect their learning with the world beyond. Alongside our schemes of work, we are developing knowledge organisers at Key Stage 3. This is enabling us to define the core knowledge our students need to master.

Next Steps:

Students go on to a range of course options at colleges from English; many choose to do English Literature or related degrees such as Sociology and Creative Writing. With the launch of QE6 in September 2023, the English Department will be staffed to offer A Levels in our subject. Skills acquired in English also support a range of other degree courses - especially Law, Psychology, Ethics and Philosophy, Criminology, Classics and other arts degrees. We also run additional English to support Y11 students to ensure their English GCSE grade is as high as it can be, and is not a barrier to anyone’s future career. Examination results are good and improving every year with the commitment of staff and engagement of our QES students.

Contact:

Lead Teacher of English: Mrs G Parris-Hammons - gparrishammons@qesluton.co.uk