English

Intent

Our curriculum is designed to equip students with the skills to be successful and confident communicators. In addition, we aim to embed a deep respect and appreciation for literature's role in shaping and challenging society.

We believe that the ideas, issues and topics that we explore in English will help to form, as well as to challenge, the attitudes and opinions of all our students, making them reflective and active learners. 

Introduction

English lessons at St. Peter’s are active and interesting. Pupils extend their writing, speaking and listening skills and are encouraged to develop a love of reading. They are actively involved in their learning through lessons incorporating a wide range of strategies and resources.

English at Key Stage 3 is delivered through an integrated programme of reading, writing and speaking and listening activities. All pupils follow the same core programme with activities differentiated to cater for the full range of abilities. In Years 7 & 9, pupils are timetabled for four 100-minute periods of English per fortnight. In Year 8, they receive three sessions of 100 minutes over the fortnight. In KS4, Year 10 pupils have four periods a fortnight, which increases in Year 11, so pupils have five periods across the fortnight.

Pupils are placed into mixed-ability sets on arrival in Year 7. Following the completion of baseline tasks and skills tests, teachers can tailor their curriculum delivery to individual needs whilst following the Curriculum Map for Year 7. Pupils' work is frequently monitored, and their progress is reviewed at timely intervals each year to inform further planning and support strategies.

At Key Stage 3, Pupils work through a series of units during which they focus on developing, enhancing and assessing key skills in reading, writing, literature and spoken language. In addition, they are involved in peer assessment and self-evaluation activities to clarify their understanding of how to progress towards and move beyond their target levels in each subject strand. At this stage, pupils are introduced to the assessment objectives for each subject strand in line with the new specification GCSE syllabus and examinations.

Much of the English Language work is delivered by exploring literature, covering texts from pre and post-1914 and a wide range of genres, with opportunities to analyse prose texts, poetry and drama.

Pupils will also receive a rigorous and uniform delivery of grammar alongside a stronger focus on independent learning to prepare pupils for the new linear exam-based qualification demands. Reading for pleasure is encouraged via our ‘Magic 3’ reading programme, during which pupils are encouraged to select their own reading material and produce highly creative responses to the texts covered. This supplements the use of Accelerated Reader in Years 7 and 8, reinforcing the integral nature of reading independently to academic success and improved student well-being.

Most of our pupils are entered for English Language and English Literature GCSE following the AQA Examination Board.  Both qualifications culminate in two challenging examination papers at the end of the courses.

A recent move to linear exams has been thoroughly embedded into the spiral curriculum to extend pupils ‘knowledge and understanding of the assessment requirements. Pupils enjoy the integration of Literature study with Language, and we feel the benefits of this approach are reflected in the consistently high level of achievement in terms of A* - C grades. GCSE English language and English literature results are consistently well above the national average.

The English Department offers a variety of activities throughout the year across both Key Stages. Pupils are also provided opportunities to develop their public speaking skills and participate in regional and national competitions, where we have experienced regular success. The pupils’ enthusiasm for these activities enriches their experience of the subject as a whole and creates a learning environment in which excellence can thrive.