English

Curriculum Intent

Our English curriculum is designed to inspire an enjoyment of language and literature. It is a curriculum adapted to suit the needs of deaf learners, giving them the opportunity to study a wide range of authors and genres, and explore their creativity, whilst also maintaining a focus on building vocabulary, developing greater fluency in reading and promoting accuracy in writing.

Students’ creativity and imagination are promoted and developed through creative writing and drama. Through the study of different novels, plays, poems and non-fiction texts, students build on their cultural capital as they explore a range of perspectives and cultures.

The development of the functional aspects of language are promoted through reading, writing, and communication, which equips students with literacy skills to enhance their access to further education and the wider world.

By the end of Key Stage 3, students will:

have studied a broad range of both fiction and non-fiction reading.
have begun to develop critical thinking skills and analytical skills.
be able to express their ideas appropriately.

By the end of Key Stage 4, students will:

have the skills and confidence to access the world around them.
be able to express their ideas confidently and independently.
will have developed critical thinking skills and analytical skills and studied the content specified by their exam board to achieve the best of their abilities.

KS3

Students are grouped according to their ability and degree of individual literacy development. The groups follow the Key Stage 3 Programme of Study for English, with some classes following an adapted curriculum to suit their learning needs, which ensures on-going skill development in speaking and listening, reading, and writing. The programme includes the study of a wide range of fiction and non-fiction. Students study whole books, short stories, poems and plays with a wide coverage of genres. This includes poetry, contemporary and heritage texts, and two Shakespeare plays.

Students gain confidence in communicating and writing for a wide range of purposes and audiences and will also begin to approach English creatively, making connections between ideas and texts and playing with language in an imaginative way. Through English lessons, students will consolidate and build upon their knowledge of grammar, vocabulary and how meaning is shaped through language, both written and spoken. Students are also encouraged to choose and read books independently for interest and enjoyment through the Accelerated Reader, Rapid Reader and Oxford Reading Tree programmes.

CLASS	Autumn 1 – Fiction Writing	Autumn 2 – Classic Novel	Spring 1 – Poetry	Spring 2 – Contemporary Novel	Summer 1 – Shakespeare	Summer 2 – Non-fiction Writing
ETA Year 7	Alter Egos	A Christmas Carol	Themed poetry	The Terrible Fate of Humpty Dumpty	The Tempest	Newspaper writing
ALPHA Year 8	Spy Fiction	Frankenstein	Themed poetry	Snow Dogs	A Midsummer Night’s Dream	Writing to Explain (game instructions)
BETA Year 8	Spy Fiction	Anne Frank’s Diary	Poetry sound devices	Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry	Macbeth	Writing to Explain
GAMMA Year 9	Imaginary worlds	Frankenstein	Themed poetry	Into the Storm	A Midsummer Night’s Dream	Writing the World (persuasive writing)
DELTA Year 9	Imaginary worlds	Dracula	Poetry from different cultures	Skellig	Macbeth	Writing the World (persuasive writing)

KS4

There are a variety of potential programmes of study in English at KS4:

GCSE English Language
GCSE English Literature
Functional Skills English
AQA Unit Award Scheme

Where appropriate, students may combine study across two programmes (e.g. GCSE Language and Functional Skills).

GCSE English Language

Edexcel Level 1 or Level 2 GCSE (9-1) – English Language (1ENO)

Component 1: Fiction and Imaginative Writing English Today (40% of the total GCSE)

Section A – Reading: study and analyse selections from a range of prose fiction
Section B – imaginative writing: explore and develop imaginative writing skills.

Component 2: Non-Fiction and Transactional Writing (60% of the total GCSE)

Section A – Reading: study and analyse selections from a range of non-fiction texts (including literary non-fiction)
Section B – Transactional writing: explore and develop transactional writing skills, for example, letters, articles, reports.

These components will be externally assessed at the end of the two year course.

Spoken language is still assessed but will appear on all students’ GCSE certificates as a separately reported grade alongside the overall grade issued. More information about this course can be accessed here

GCSE English Literature

Edexcel Level 1 or Level 2 GCSE (9-1) – English Language (1ETO)

Component 1: Shakespeare and Post-1914 Literature (50% of the total GCSE)

Section A – Study and analyse a Shakespeare play, answering questions about an extract and themes throughout the whole play.
Section B – Study and analyse a Post-194 play or novel, answering an essay style question.

Component 2: 19^th Century Novel and Poetry since 1789 (50% of the total GCSE)

Section A – Study and analyse a 19^th Century novel, answering questions about an extract and exploring the whole text.
Section B – Study a poetry anthology, answering questions comparing two poems within the anthology and one unseen poem.

These components will be externally assessed at the end of the two year course.

Edexcel Functional Skills English

Functional Skills English qualifications are designed to give learners the skills to operate confidently, effectively and independently in education, work and everyday life. They have been created in response to employers’ perceptions that many learners are not achieving a sufficiently firm grounding in the basics.

The qualifications range from entry level to level 2 (Level 1 and 2 are GCSE equivalent)

The aims of these qualifications are to develop learner understanding and skills in:

Level 2

Speaking, Listening and Communication – make a range of contributions to discussions in a range of contexts, including those that are unfamiliar, and make effective presentations.
Reading – select, read, understand and compare texts and use them to gather information, ideas, arguments and opinions.
Writing – write a range of texts, including extended written documents communication information, ideas and opinions, effectively and persuasively.

Level 1

Speaking, Listening and Communication – take full part in formal and informal discussions and exchanges that include unfamiliar subjects.
Reading – read and understand a range of straightforward texts.
Writing – write a range of texts to communicate information, ideas and opinions using formats and styles suitable for their purpose and audience.

Entry Level 3

Speaking, Listening and Communication – respond appropriately to others and make some extended contributions in familiar formal and informal discussions and exchanges.
Reading – Read and understand the purpose and content of straightforward texts that explain, inform and recount information.
Writing – Write texts with some adaptation to the intended audience.

Entry Level 2

Speaking, Listening and Communication – participate in discussions/exchanges about familiar topics making active contributions, with one or more people in familiar situations.
Reading – Read and understand short, simple texts that explain or recount information.
Writing – Write short texts with some awareness of the intended audience.

Entry Level 1

Speaking, Listening and Communication – participate in and understand the main points of simple discussions/exchanges about familiar topics with another person in a familiar situation.
Reading – Read and understand short, simple texts that explain or recount information.
Writing – Write short, simple sentences.

AQA Unit Award Scheme

The AQA Unit Award Scheme enables students to complete coursework and engage in practical tasks at a level differentiated to meet their individual needs. It is a flexible program that offers learners the opportunity to have their achievements formally recognised across different subject areas with a certificate each time a short unit is successfully completed. The areas for English are reading, writing, speaking and listening.

KS4 English Language Long Term Plan – Theta & Iota

CLASS

Autumn Term

Spring Term

Summer Term

YEAR 10

Component

Non-fiction Reading &
Transactional Writing

Fiction Reading &
Imaginative Writing

Comparison and Evaluation Skills (AO3 & AO4)

Transactional Writing (focus on form & purpose)

Assessment

MOCK EXAM

Paper 2

Non-fiction reading & Transactional writing

MOCK EXAM

Paper 1

Fiction reading & Imaginative writing

MOCK EXAM

Paper 1

Fiction reading & Imaginative writing

Paper 2

Non-fiction reading & Transactional writing

YEAR 11

Component

Transactional writing AO5 & AO6

(Paper 2 Section B)

Non-fiction reading

AO4 evaluation

(Paper 2 Section A)

Non-fiction reading

AO1, AO2, AO3

(Paper 2 Section A)

Imaginative writing
AO5 & AO6

(Paper 1 Section B)

Fiction reading

AO4 evaluation

(Paper 1 Section A)

Revision

Exam preparation

Assessment

MOCK EXAM

Paper 1

Fiction reading & Imaginative writing

Paper 2

Non-fiction reading & Transactional writing

MOCK EXAM

Paper 1

Fiction reading & Imaginative writing

Paper 2

Non-fiction reading & Transactional writing

KS4 English Literature Long Term Plan – Theta & Iota

CLASS	Autumn Term	Spring Term	Summer Term
YEAR 10 Component	Frankenstein	Romeo & Juliet	Poetry Anthology
Assessment	MOCK EXAM Paper 2 Section A 19^th century novel	MOCK EXAM Paper 1 Section A Shakespeare	MOCK EXAM Paper 2 Section B (part 1) Poetry
YEAR 11 Component	Boys Don’t Cry	Unseen poetry Poetry Anthology revision Frankenstein revision Romeo & Juliet revision	Revision & exam preparation
Assessment	MOCK EXAM Paper 1 Section B Post-1914 novel	MOCK EXAM Paper 2 Section B Poetry	MOCK EXAM Paper 2 Section A 19^th century novel Paper 1 Section A Shakespeare

KS4 English Functional Skills English – Theta & Iota

CLASS	Autumn Term	Spring Term	Summer Term
YEAR 10 Component	Reading Writing	Speaking, Listening & Communication Speaking, Listening & Communication (Reading)	Reading Assessment preparation (Writing) Writing Assessment preparation
Assessment	MOCK Reading assessment MOCK Writing assessment	Speaking, Listening & Communication assessment part 1 Speaking, Listening & Communication assessment part 2	Reading assessment Writing assessment

KS4 English Functional Skills English – Zeta

CLASS	Autumn Term	Spring Term	Summer Term
YEAR 11 Component	Reading Writing	Speaking, Listening & Communication Speaking, Listening & Communication Reading	Reading Assessment preparation Writing Writing Assessment preparation
Assessment	MOCK Reading assessment MOCK Writing assessment	Speaking, Listening & Communication assessment part 1 Speaking, Listening & Communication assessment part 2	Reading assessment Writing assessment
Complementary topic	Advertising Understanding purpose & audience Travel brochures Developing descriptive writing	Poetry Developing performance skills

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