Curriculum Overview

Our five-year curriculum outlines a strategic knowledge-based approach across Key Stage 3 and 4, using the skills outlined in the GCSE assessment objectives as the bedrock of our schemes of learning. This means that every single student is offered a broad, varied and stimulating curriculum to ensure that students from Year 7 through to Year 11 are regularly assessed and offered essential learning experiences that prepare them for GCSE English Language and English Literature examinations.

Intent

English is about communication – the key to everything. Understanding the English language and its literature empowers, transforms and connects you to the wider world. 

Implementation

Teachers will:

• Plan and deliver a scheme of work that will focus on the progression of skills, knowledge and understanding over time in reading, writing and speaking;
• Adopt a wide range of engagement strategies [including the use of technologies] to motivate students and secure their learning;
• Provide opportunities for students to work independently and in groups and to demonstrate what they can do in a wide range of contexts including: within the classroom; in assemblies; through the publication and broadcasting of work etc work; 
• Develop strategies and support to ensure that all students:
• Develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information;
• Acquire a wide vocabulary;
• Have an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language;
• Appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage;
• Develop strategies including effective modelling to ensure all students write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences; 
• Plan regular opportunities for students to engage in discussions and make formal presentation so with increasing sophistication, they can elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas;
• Teach students to control their speaking and writing consciously and to use Standard English;
• Teach students the vocabulary they need to discuss their reading, writing and spoken language and to use the elements of spelling, grammar, punctuation;
• Model how to understand the relationships between words, how to understand nuances in meaning, and how to develop their understanding of, and ability to use, figurative language.

Impact

Students will:

• Make good progress from their starting points and achieve well;
• Have a lifelong love of reading both for pleasure and learning;
• Be able to communicate their opinions and feelings confidently in a range of contexts;
• Be able to write fluently in-order to communicate their ideas and emotions to others.

Copies of past papers on this subject can be found below.  Please click on the title of each past paper to view these.  Be sure to review them for valuable practice and insight into the exam format.

Staff:

GCSE EXAM PAPERS

Copies of GCSE exam papers on this subject can be found below.  Please click on the title of each past paper to download, view and complete these.  Be sure to review them for valuable practice and insight into the exam format.