Aiming High
English
Curriculum Intent
- The Wren School English department is a creative collaborative team of subject specialists who aim high for their students and themselves.
- We believe engaging dynamic lessons will prepare students for whichever path they choose to follow. To deliver this we expect teamwork, rigour and determination from all students and staff. A resilient student will contribute to their own learning as well as others.
- At KS3, students are being prepared and also developing their passion for reading and writing. Our focus at KS4 is not only preparing for GCSE success but also to develop lifelong readers and writers.
Key Stage 3 Description:
During years 7 and 8, students follow a thematic curriculum in English designed to prepare students for the rigour of GCSE English. Across the two years, students sit an assessment each term and an exam at the end of the year, to support their teacher in tracking their progress:
Year 7 – Telling Stories
| Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 | Term 5 | Term 6 |
| Heroes
Writing focus |
Coping with Change:
Class novel: Monster Calls, Coraline or Millions
Reading focus |
Down with School
Reading focus |
Climate Change
Writing focus |
Inventions of the future
Writing/speaking focus |
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Reading focus |
Year 8 – Challenging Perspectives through Language
| Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 | Term 5 | Term 6 |
| Monsters and other things: gothic, age of enlightenment, romanticism
Writing focus |
The Fight for Survival
Class novel: Hunger Games, Salt to the Sea, Reading focus |
WWI – how the world’s perspective changed
Reading focus |
Travel writing
Writing focus |
Flipping Perspectives – Noughts and Crosses
Reading focus |
Changing perspectives through the art of persuasion – planning a sporting event
Writing/speaking focus |
Year 9 – The Importance of the Audience
| Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 | Term 5 | Term 6 |
| Women in literature
The Bridge, The Yellow Wallpaper, Iridescent Adolescent,
Reading and writing |
The Young Adult Audience:
And the Stars were Burning Brightly,
Reading focus |
Shakespeare, film and audience: Romeo and Juliet
Reading focus |
The enduring appeal of poetry – sonnets
Reading focus |
Creative writing finding your own voice to appeal to the audience: draw together all themes eg comedy to present important ideas; love; violent
Writing focus |
Using talk to convince your audience – rhetoric
GCSE speeches
Writing/speaking focus |
Key Stage 4 Description:
During year 9 onwards, students prepare to learn the skills needed to study AQA English Language (8700) and AQA English Literature (8702). Year 9 is a skills focused year, designed to bridge the transition to GCSE studies and prepare students for the rigour of GCSE literature in year 10 and revision and exam skills in year 11.
| Year 10 | ||
| 19th Century Novel
Novel study paired with opportunities for creative writing and non-fiction reading. |
19th Century Novel
Novel study paired with opportunities for creative writing and non-fiction reading. |
Shakespeare Play
Shakespeare play paired with opportunities for creative reading of unseen poetry, writing and performance. |
| Shakespeare Play
Shakespeare play paired with opportunities for creative reading of unseen poetry, writing and performance. |
Modern Novel
Study of a modern novel paired with creative and persuasive writing. |
Modern Novel
Study of a modern novel paired with creative and persuasive writing. |
| Year 11 | ||
| Consolidation, revision and examination preparation. | ||
Extra-Curricular Opportunities:
Students in English have the opportunity to attend a variety of trips and visits throughout the year, attending creative writing workshops; guest author visits and excursions to encourage reading and writing inspiration. Alongside these, there is the ever-popular book club, where students have the opportunity to read and discuss new and old books. New for next year will be the opportunities for debate and media club, ensuring all students have the chance to express themselves. Students are also regularly entered into competitions, with the opportunity to win prizes for their writing skills.
These will not run during COVID-19 restrictions.