 |
Key Stage 3 |
Strong literacy is the key to success in all subjects, and indeed, all areas of life. We believe that being able to read critically, write effectively, and speak confidently about a wide range of topics are the most important skills that students should acquire – and we take that responsibility as English teachers very seriously. Reading, writing and oracy (being able to express yourself clearly) are taught and practised as part of each module. Our five year curriculum map is designed so that in key stage 3, students experience a broad range of texts, concepts and viewpoints, while developing the skills needed for GCSE.
Year 7 is a showcase of the breadth of content we offer for English and drama. We start in the Autumn term with A Glance at the Gothic, a study of well-known terrifying tales such as Dracula and Frankenstein. Towards Christmas, we move on to the play script for Sherlock Holmes – The Hound of Baskervilles with a focus on expressing fear and anticipation through gesture and voice.
In the Spring term, we return to the modern day in our study of Inspirational People, starting with the story of Iqbal, a boy who liberated child labourers from the carpet factories of Pakistan. Then we look at more young people who sought to improve the lives of others, or overcame their struggles to ultimately triumph.
Finally, in the Summer term, we focus on the life and times of William Shakespeare followed by a study of his tragi-comedy Twelfth Night. While reading the play, we also learn about features such as dramatic irony and how actors use props and stage directions to create humour.
In Year 8 we build upon the skills practised in year 7, starting with the Autumn term with Identity and Culture. We explore a wide variety of poetry and short stories, designed to build their cultural capital by exposing students to writers and poets from a wide range of different nationalities and backgrounds. Students also have time to reflect on their own cultural identity and what makes them who they are.
As we move into the Spring term, we will study Shakespeare's The Tempest, building on their previous study; familiarity of The Bard; and dramatic devices by tackling this famous comedy. As with many of the texts in our curriculum, the play also deals with challenging topics, such as discrimination and prejudice.
In the Summer term, we move on to our Novel Study. Teachers have freedom in the choice of novel for their class and in previous years we have enjoyed modern classics such as The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas and Private Peaceful.
In Year 9, we increase the challenge as we begin to prepare for GCSE.
The Autumn term's topic is Dystopian Worlds where we delve into a plethora of dystopian texts from 19th century writer HG Wells, to Orwell, to more modern writers. The themes and writers' methods explored in this topic will strengthen their ability to grasp key ideas within their GCSE texts.
In the Spring term, we move on to Lord of the Flies by William Golding - the first GCSE English Literature text that we study. Our cold read approach helps students to solidify their understanding of the plot and characters, before we move on to look at the key themes and ideas. We chose this text because students relish the power struggles, but also there is a wealth of wider contextual knowledge that acts as a hook to reel students back in when we revise ahead of exams.
During the Summer term, we cover our second GCSE text: Shakespeare's Macbeth. Students’ earlier study of Shakespeare plays puts them in a strong position to tackle this blood-spattered tragedy. We use a range of materials and adaptations to help students grasp the basics, before moving on to tackle the specifics of Shakespearean language and broader background knowledge of Jacobean society.