English
Curriculum Intent
We want students to be critical readers and be able to write in a variety of forms with technical accuracy and using a wide, appropriate vocabulary. English provides opportunities for students to understand the views and beliefs of others as well as being able to express their own opinions and feelings. We want students to gain an understanding of how literature treats moral and political themes and how it contributes to the creation of a cultural identity. Studying English helps students to communicate with and understand the world around them giving them access to further learning opportunities and wider career choices.
Our curriculum is broad and balanced offering challenge whilst also being engaging and accessible. Knowledge and skills have been mapped to ensure Language and Literature skills are interleaved which helps to develop students’ ability to read as a writer and write as a reader. Units of work have been planned and sequenced to allow for reinforcement and to make specific links within and between texts.
Curriculum Map
| Term | Key Stage 3 – Year 1 | Key stage 3 – Year 2 |
| HT 1 | Contemporary Fiction – A Monster Calls, Roald Dahl’s short stories | Shakespearean Tragedy – Romeo & Juliet |
| HT 2 | Non-Fiction – Extremes Reading and writing | Dystopian Literature – Maze Runner, Hunger Games, Divergent, The Time Machine
Transactional Writing |
| HT 3 | Shakespearean Comedy – A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing | Spoken Language – Dragon’s Den |
| HT 4 | Classic Poetry – range of classic poems & poetry from other cultures | War Literature – War Horse, Private Peaceful |
| HT 5 | Creative Writing | Fiction/Non-Fiction – Journeys |
| HT 6 | Crime Literature – House of Silk, Sherlock Holmes Short Stories | Classic Fiction – Oliver Twist
Year 9 Language Component 1 Reading Introductory Unit & Shared Text |
| Term | Key stage 4 | ||
| Year 10 | Year 11 | KS4 Fleetwood & Breck | |
| HT 1 | Language Component 2 Reading Introductory Unit
Literature Component 1 Macbeth
Language Component 1 Narrative Writing preparation |
Literature Component 1 Poetry Anthology
Literature Component 1 Macbeth |
Language Component 2 Reading Introductory Unit
Language Component 1 Reading |
| HT 2 | Literature Component 2
A Christmas Carol
Language Component 1 Narrative Writing |
Language Component 1 & 2
Practice papers
Literature Component 2 A Christmas Carol |
Language Component 1 Writing Narrative
Year 11 Language Component 1 & 2 Practice papers Language Component 3 Spoken Language |
| HT 3 | Literature Component 2
An Inspector Calls
Language Component 1 Reading & Writing
|
Literature Component 1
Poetry Anthology
Literature Component 2 An Inspector Calls
Language Component 3 Spoken Language |
Language Component 2 Reading
Language Component 2 Writing
|
| HT 4 | Literature Component 1
War poems
Language Component 2 Reading and Writing |
Language Components & Literature Component 2
Targeted revision tasks |
Language Component 2 Reading
Revise Language skills
|
| HT 5 | Language Component 2
Spoken Language
Literature Component 1 Love poems |
Revision
Literature texts & poetry
GCSE English Literature
|
Year 10 Language Component 1 & 2
Year 11 Targeted revision tasks
|
| HT 6 | Revision
Language Components
Literature Component 1 Anthology
Literature Component 2 Unseen Poetry |
GCSE English Language
|
Year 10 Revision Language ComponentsC19th Short stories |
Curriculum Justification
All students attending McKee College study GCSE English Language and those students attending our College house site also study GCSE English Literature. The study and achievement of GCSE English Language and/or English Literature ensures students have the necessary formal qualifications for life beyond school whether that is A Levels, college, apprenticeships or employment with training.
GCSE English Language can support your application to a vocational qualification. A Grade 4 in English Language is required for entry to Higher and some Further Education courses.
Students can progress to AS Level English Language or English Literature and there are many careers that could be considered such as Digital Copywriter, Editorial Assistant, Journalist, English Teacher, TEFL/TESL/TESOL Teacher, University Lecturer, Writer/Screenwriter/Playwright, Lexicographer, Librarian, Forensic Linguistics, Media Researcher, Speech and Language Therapist, Law, Human Resources, Social Media/Web Content Manager, Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations.
Curriculum Development
We will continue to amend and adapt planning documents for KS3 and KS4 courses and investigate new ways of embedding cultural capital into the curriculum. There will be a focus on ensuring all students regardless of curriculum pathway have a consistent approach to studying English.
Revision Materials
Please click HERE to access the English revision page where you will find useful links to help with your revision.
