English Curriculum KS3

Overview

Our KS3 English curriculum focuses on students becoming critical readers, creative writers, and confident speakers through promoting a love of reading and writing, independent thinking, and resilience when studying classic and contemporary texts. Students explore a rich variety of British and world literature while building strong foundations in grammar, analysis, and composition. Each unit draws on prior knowledge, deepens core understanding, and develops the disciplinary skills needed for success at GCSE and beyond.

Year 7

• Autumn Term 1 -Transitional Writing: Students explore poems about growing up, identity and new beginnings. They learn how poets use language, imagery and structure to communicate ideas.
• Autumn Term 2- Non Fiction Writing: Students develop the skills needed to write for real audiences and purposes. They create speeches, letters and articles while learning how to use persuasive techniques, effective structure and ambitious vocabulary through the FAITH structure.
• Spring Term 1 Treasure Island (Play)- Students study a dramatic adaptation of the classic adventure story. They explore characters, themes and dramatic techniques while developing their understanding of performance, dialogue and stagecraft.
• Spring Term 2 - Narrative Writing: Students learn how to craft engaging stories by developing setting, character, plot and narrative voice. They build confidence in planning, drafting and improving their own creative writing
• Summer Term 1- Rat by Patrice Lawrence: Students read a contemporary novel exploring friendship, courage, justice and standing up for what is right. They develop inference, empathy and analytical skills while considering important social themes.
• Summer Term 2- Unseen Poetry: Students compare a range of unseen poems, exploring how writers use language and structure to present ideas and emotions. They build analytical confidence and learn to support their interpretations with carefully selected evidence.
  

Year 8

• Autumn Term 1 - Relationship Poetry: Students explore a range of poems that examine relationships, identity and human connection. They develop their analytical skills by exploring how poets use language, structure and form to communicate emotions and ideas.
• Autumn Term 2 - Non-Fiction Writing: Students develop their ability to write for a variety of audiences and purposes. They create persuasive speeches, letters and articles while refining their use of rhetoric, structure and ambitious vocabulary through the FAITH structure.
• Spring Term 1 - Romeo and Juliet: Students study Shakespeare's famous tragedy, exploring themes of love, conflict, family and fate. They develop confidence in analysing Shakespeare's language, characters and dramatic methods.
• Spring Term 2- Sherlock Holmes: Students read a classic detective novel, exploring mystery, suspense and deduction. They develop inference, analytical and evaluative skills while considering how writers engage and surprise their readers.
• Summer Term 1 - Narrative Writing: Students develop increasingly sophisticated creative writing skills by crafting engaging narratives. They learn how to manipulate setting, character, plot and language techniques to create compelling and imaginative stories.
• Summer Term 2 - Unseen Poetry: Students compare unseen poems, exploring how writers present ideas through language, structure and form. They strengthen their analytical responses by selecting evidence and developing thoughtful interpretations.

Year 9

Lessons will focus on the explicit teaching of reading, writing and oracy skills linked with by thematic approach, vocabulary and grammar development.

• Autumn Term 1 - Power and Conflict Poetry: Students explore a range of poems that examine power, conflict and their impact on individuals and society. They develop analytical skills by exploring how poets use language, structure and form to communicate powerful messages and viewpoints.

• Autumn Term 2 - Non-Fiction Writing: Students develop their ability to write confidently for a range of audiences and purposes. They produce speeches, articles and letters while refining their use of rhetoric, structure, vocabulary and persuasive techniques through the FAITH structure.

• Spring Term 1 - Noughts and Crosses (Play): Students study the stage adaptation of Malorie Blackman's powerful novel, exploring themes of prejudice, inequality, justice and identity. They analyse characters, dramatic methods and the ways playwrights communicate important social messages.

• Spring Term 2 - Narrative Writing: Students further develop their creative writing by crafting sophisticated narratives. They learn how to manipulate structure, viewpoint, characterisation and language techniques to create compelling and engaging stories.

• Summer Term 1 - The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde: Students study Stevenson's classic Gothic novella, exploring themes of duality, morality and Victorian society. They develop increasingly sophisticated analytical skills by examining characterisation, symbolism and the writer's methods.

• Summer Term 2 - Unseen Poetry: Students compare a range of unseen poems, exploring how writers use language, structure and form to present ideas and perspectives. They develop the analytical confidence and evaluative skills required for success at GCSE.

Key contact

Mr S Stansfield