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 Transactional 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 Component 1 & 2

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