In the English department, our curriculum is built on 3 pillars:
1. That knowledge is important to all thinking in English.
2. That we understand new things in relation to what we already know.
3. That retrieving knowledge helps us to remember it for longer.
English forms the basis for our development, relationships and our understanding of the world around us. The study of English is key to our personal growth and, through the development of effective written and spoken communication, it is the foundation for all our learning. The ability to communicate effectively, confidently and with clarity is crucial in school, but also in becoming an effective participant in our wider society with skills of communication being key to accessing the world of work and in navigating adult life. In a fast paced, global world the importance of fluent written and spoken English is crucial and it is essential that we develop these skills through an effective English curriculum.
From Year 7, students will be building of the foundations of the primary curriculum through a systematic exposure to a wide range of high-quality literature. We not only promote reading for enjoyment to ignite a curiosity in students, but also as a way of acquiring knowledge and exploring the world in ways that develop a student’s cultural and emotional intellect. Our Secondary Reading Strategy recognises the barriers students face in accessing challenging texts such as: complexity of narrator, non-linear time sequences, complexity of story or archaic texts and encourages students to confidently explore and probe the literal and layered meanings in the texts they read. Through our curriculum we actively encourage students to develop their close reading skills so they can confidently and methodically break down the language and structure of a complex passage to establish and analyse meaning. Furthermore, in order to develop accountable and independent readers, we have designed a curriculum which requires different types or layers of reading which is supported by text dependent questions and where possible, with mastery shown through a range of writing opportunities.
As our students progress through the English curriculum, they are continually developing their close reading skills through exposure to increasingly challenging fiction and non-fiction, which include works by 19th, 20th and 21st century writers. We want our students to be able to engage with a range of texts with confidence and to develop their skills in decoding difficult texts, gathering carefully selected evidence, evaluating texts in detail and possessing the ability to explore multiple texts simultaneously to formulate and articulate personal viewpoints. The development of these skills feeds directly into their study of spoken language and the importance of verbal communication in accessing the world around them. Opportunities have been created for students to debate and discuss their ideas through a range of individual and group presentations, speeches, performing plays and reading aloud. We firmly believe that exposure to a range of opportunities builds a confidence in students and allows them to develop their life-long skills in verbal communication.
Confidence, control and accuracy in a range of writing is developed through frequent opportunities to write for a range of audiences and purposes. It is important that students use writing as an opportunity to formulate and develop their ideas and in using writing as a way to think critically about a topic and express their point of view. Across all writing activities, students are exposed to the importance of accuracy and the ability for students to construct and revise sentences for effect and impact is vital. In order to develop their skills, students are encouraged to expand their use of vocabulary through probing and investigating the nuances of language in order to enhance their written expression and clarity.
The English curriculum in our schools is robust and systematic in exposing students to effective challenge, so they can build and refine long-lasting skills for the future. Subsequently, we offer a curriculum which has appropriate challenge for all students and aims to allow students to flourish in the skills required for success in their chosen KS4 and post 16 pathways.
We believe that students deserve a broad and ambitious English curriculum, rich in skills and knowledge, which ignites curiosity and prepares them well for future learning or employment. Our English curriculum will give students the opportunity to:
- read complex passages confidently and methodically, in order to breakdown the language and structure to establish and analyse meaning;
- demonstrate mastery of reading through discussion and writing;
- enjoy a wide range of fiction and non-fiction texts which help them to connect with the world around them;
- develop cultural capital that will help remove barriers to achievement in school, future learning and the world of work;
- write clearly, fluently and accurately in plain English, showing flair and creativity where appropriate;
- develop detailed ideas in writing, adapting language to audience and purpose;
- use a wide range of appropriate and ambitious vocabulary with precision;
- produce ‘beautiful work’ of which they can be proud;
- in talk, articulate and express their ideas, views and opinions about a wide range of topics clearly, confidently and respectfully;
- develop their character, including resilience, confidence and independence, so that they contribute positively to the life of the school, their local community and the wider environment.
|Pedagogy||Enrichment||Other general principles|
Our pedagogy is underpinned by:
We will enrich our curriculum by:
Our curriculum will enable students to:
The English Department staff are dedicated to ensuring all students have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
- Director of English - Mrs L Mundin
- Deputy Leader of English - Mrs S Read
- Leader of Literacy - Ms M Shaplin
- Lead Teacher - Miss J Buttery
- Teacher of English - Miss C O'Neil
- Teacher of English - Mrs Y Murray
- Teacher of English - Miss C Toyne
Our vision within English is to be a Department where:
- Teaching and Learning is the most important factor
- All students are treated equally
- All students are inspired to aspire
- All students are at the centre of their own learning
By setting these goals, our aim is to result in:
- Students' lives becoming richer and fuller
- Students' reading, writing, speaking and listening skills becoming developed
- Students becoming responsible for their own learning
- Students becoming active, lifelong learners
- Students reaching their full potential in examinations
Exam Boards & Qualifications
GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature
At Key Stage 3, students are provided with the necessary skills and knowledge ready to access the GCSE course in Key Stage 4
Topics covered include:
- Roald Dahl's 'Boy' with a non-fiction focus
- Poetry from other cultures and British Literary Heritage
- Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' and 'Much Ado About Nothing'
- Michael Morpurgo's novel 'Private Peaceful'
- Narrative Writing
- Speaking, Listening and Drama Activities
- George Orwell's 'Animal Farm'
- Inspirational and Protest Poetry
- Malala Yousafzai's ground-breaking autobiography 'I Am Malala'
- Literacy skills and Reading Reconsidered Principles which accelerate understanding and interpretation of texts are embedded throughout lessons .
Literacy skills will be embedded throughout lessons.
Extra curricular activities offered at KS3:
- Writing Workshops and Author Visits
- Book Club
- Doncaster Book Awards
- Handwriting Club
At Key Stage 4, the curriculum involves study of:
- Spoken language (speaking and listening assessment)
- Transactional writing
- Studying of 19th, 20th and 21st Century fiction and non fiction texts
- Poetry and Drama
- Creative writing
- 19th Century prose
Literacy skills will be embedded throughout lessons.
Extra curriculuar activites offered at KS4:
- Theatre visits
- Revision for exams
- Weekly support for Years 10 and 11
- Form time support with English skills
- Year 7 Overview(538 KB)
- Year 8 Overview(537 KB)
- Year 9 Overview(528 KB)
- Private Peaceful Knowledge Organiser(1.35 MB)
- Year 10 Overview(656 KB)
- Year 11 Overview(699 KB)
- Year 7 Learning Journey: Boy by Roald Dahl(1.28 MB)
- Year 8 Learning Journey: I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai(1.49 MB)
- Year 9 Learning Journey: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck(1.36 MB)
- 20 Great Reads(556 KB)