English
Key stage 3
Year 7
Term |
Unit of Work |
Summary |
---|---|---|
Autumn Term 1 |
Growth Mindset unit leading into novel study |
A foundation of Growth Mindset to boost resilience and confidence in English, focus on spelling, punctuation and grammar unit leading into literary fiction of Benjamin Zephaniah’s Refugee Boy. Students develop their understanding of autobiographical writing as well as engaging with historical and cultural influences on a writer. |
Autumn Term 2 |
Poetry |
Students look at different types of poetry and begin to form an understanding of poetic and analytical techniques. |
Spring Term 1 |
Exploring Fiction |
Students look at a range of fiction texts and extracts leading to a piece of narrative writing. Students develop their skills in recognising a range of fiction writing conventions and understanding how these have been used. This is in preparation for the Close the Gap test in Spring 2. |
Spring Term 2 |
Shakespeare |
Students learn how to engage with the language and style of a Shakespearean drama, primarily through A Midsummer Night’s Dream. |
Summer Term 1 & Summer Term 2 |
Modern Novel |
Students spend a term reading and working on the novel. E.g. Ruby In The Smoke/ Skellig. Students are introduced to writers’ techniques and understanding how language, including figurative language, vocabulary choice, grammar, text structure and organisational features, presents and creates meaning. |
Year 8
Term |
Unit of Work |
Summary |
---|---|---|
Autumn Term 1 |
Poetry – Family Relationships |
Based around family relationships, this unit improves students’ ability to engage with the language, form and structure of poems. |
Autumn Term 2 |
Diversity Unit |
Students delve into a range of short stories focusing on different cultures, personalities and relationships. This unit aims to break down stereotypes, introduce new ideas and build students cultural capital. |
Spring Term 1 |
Non-Fiction-Literature |
Going back to non-fiction works and looking at language with a more appreciative eye, analysing the techniques employed by the writer and using this as a stimulus for creating own writing pieces. This unit is in preparation for Close the Gap in Spring 2. |
Spring Term 2 |
Modern Novel-Animal Farm |
Bringing political, linguistic and structural analysis whilst reading a modern text. Focus on persuasive language, emulating writers’ styles as well as developing critical writing and appreciation of a writer’s choices within historical contexts. |
Summer Term 1 |
Shakespeare- Twelfth Night |
Focus on character, plot and conventions. Developing interpretations using drama, creative writing strategies and analytical writing. |
Summer Term 2 |
Gothic Short Stories |
Students look at a range of short stories and develop their analysis of language and form; students will also evaluate the impact of structure upon the reader. Students will also look for connections and comparisons between texts. |
Year 9
Year 9 is viewed as a pivotal year in English and the curriculum serves as preparation for the demands of the two GCSE courses students will encounter at KS4.
Term |
Unit of Work |
Summary |
---|---|---|
Autumn Term 1 |
Study of Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men |
Exploration of character and theme, in preparation for the study of a novel at GCSE for Literature Paper 1. |
Autumn Term 2 |
Exam-style Language GCSE preparatory work. |
Preparation for Paper 1 (creative reading and writing) and Paper 2 (non-fiction based reading and writing). Students will tackle reading and writing tasks in the style of the GCSE Language examinations. |
Spring Term 1 |
Shakespeare Study |
Students will study a whole Shakespeare play in preparation for the rigours of the GCSE Literature Paper 2 examination. The focus will be on character and theme, in keeping with the GCSE requirements. Students will explore the language of Shakespeare and the context of his plays. |
Spring Term 2 |
Shakespeare Study Continuation |
|
Summer Term 1 |
19th Century Short Stories |
Exploring character and theme, with a focus upon familiarising students with challenging language, typical of nineteenth century texts. At GCSE students will be exposed to pre-twentieth century language for both the Language and Literature examinations. |
Summer Term 2 |
Poetry Study |
A collection of thematic poems will be studied with focus on the poet’s use of language, form and structure. Previously unseen poems will also be analysed. All work is aimed towards the skills needed for the GCSE Literature Paper 2 examination. |
Key Stage 4: GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature
AQA’s specifications for GCSE English Language and English Literature (for first examination entry summer 2017)
Year 10
Term |
Unit of Work |
Summary |
---|---|---|
Autumn Term 1 |
An Inspector Calls |
Preparation for Section A of English Literature Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry. Students will learn how to develop their skills in evaluating the effects of a dramatist’s techniques and the exploration of literal and inferential meanings. |
Autumn Term 2 |
Poetry (AQA Anthology) |
Preparation for Section B and C of English Literature Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry. Students will learn how to develop their skills of analysis through a range of poetry. Students will learn how to analyse the effects of poetic devices and language, as well as drawing comparisons between texts. |
Spring Term 1 |
Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet |
Preparation for Section A English Literature Paper 1: Modern texts and poetry. Students will learn how to develop their skills in evaluating the effects of Shakespeare’s language and dramatic devices. They will explore the literal and inferential meanings of Shakespeare’s language. |
Spring Term 2 |
Poetry (AQA Anthology) continued |
Continuation of poetry study. See Autumn 2. |
Summer Term 1 |
Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing |
Preparation for Section A and B of English Language Paper 1. Students will study a range of 20th and 21st century prose fiction extracts. They will develop their skills of analysis and explore the literal and inferential meanings of language in prose fiction. They will also use these skills in the development of their own writing for the purpose of narrative and descriptive writing. |
Summer Term 2 |
Literature Paper 2 Pre-Public Exam preparation |
Students will revise and consolidate their knowledge as well as learn the necessary skills for tackling a Literature Paper 2 in its entirety. |
Year 11
Term |
Unit of Work |
Summary |
---|---|---|
Autumn Term 1 |
Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives |
Preparation for Section A and B of English Language Paper 2. Students will study a range of short non-fiction and literary non-fiction texts from the 19th, 20th and 21st century which express a viewpoint. They will develop their skills of analysis and explore the literal and inferential meanings of language in non-fiction. They will also use these skills in the development of their own writing for the purpose of writing to express a viewpoint. |
Autumn Term 2 |
Dickens: A Christmas Carol |
Preparation for Section B English Literature Paper 1: Students will learn how to develop their skills in evaluating the effects of 19th century prose language. They will explore the literal and inferential meanings of Dickens’ language and other devices. |
Spring Term 1 |
Language Paper 1 & Lit Paper 2 public examinations preparation & revision |
|
Spring Term 2 |
Language Paper 2 & Lit Paper 1 public examinations preparation & revision |