KS3 Subject Intent
The KS3 English curriculum is designed to help students become confident readers, writers, and communicators, while building the knowledge and skills they will need for KS4 and beyond. Lessons aim not just to cover texts, but to give students a clear sense of why they are learning what they are learning and how it can help them think critically, express themselves, and understand the world around them.
In Year 7, themed around ‘Odysseys and Epics’, students begin by exploring Greek mythology and ancient poetry, before moving on to modern novels that explore journeys and personal experiences. Shakespeare’s language is introduced through The Tempest, helping students start to understand how writers use language and structure to create meaning.
Year 8 focuses on ‘Internal and External Conflicts’, looking at the challenges and tensions that shape people and societies. Students continue to study Shakespeare alongside modern poetry on the theme of conflict, and they have opportunities to develop their own ideas and express themselves through reading, writing, and spoken activities.
In Year 9, themed ‘Rebels with a Cause’, students consolidate and strengthen the skills they have developed in earlier years. They explore short stories, non-fiction texts, and drama that challenge perspectives and encourage critical thinking. Students continue to develop their writing and communication skills, using texts as a springboard to explore ideas and express their own interpretations.
Throughout KS3, the curriculum aims to build cultural capital and broaden students’ understanding of the world. By revisiting key ideas and themes in increasing depth, students develop the ability to analyse texts, make connections between ideas, and communicate their own thoughts clearly and confidently. The KS3 curriculum encourages curiosity, resilience, and a love of English, helping students see the value of reading, writing, and discussion both in school and beyond.
KS4 Subject Intent
The KS4 English curriculum builds on the skills and knowledge developed in KS3, helping students to become confident readers, writers, and communicators. Lessons are designed not just to cover texts, but to help students understand why these texts matter and how studying them can develop their thinking, creativity, and ability to express themselves.
In Year 10, students study one of two pathway options. The first is our Literature specification. Students study An Inspector Calls, Romeo and Juliet, A Christmas Carol, and the Power and Conflict poetry cluster. These texts have been chosen carefully with our students in mind, linked by the theme of relationships, which helps students make connections and remember key ideas. Alongside the texts, students continue to develop their writing skills, using what they read as a springboard for creative, non-fiction, and analytical writing. The goal is for students to understand how language, structure, and context shape meaning and to be able to express their own ideas confidently.
Our second pathway option for Year 10 students is English Functional Skills, a nationally recognised qualification. A Level 1 pass is equivalent to a Grade 3 at GCSE, while Level 2 is equivalent to a Grade 4 at GCSE. Through this course, students study non-fiction texts applicable to the real world, strengthening key skills including communication, reading comprehension, writing for different purposes, and practical language use— all valuable skills designed to prepare students for the demands of the English Language GCSE in Year 11, further education and employment.
Year 11 focuses on building on what students already know, revisiting texts and themes, and refining the skills needed for exams and life beyond school. Teachers use assessment data to spot areas where students need extra support, and lessons provide opportunities to practise reading, writing, and analysis in depth. The aim is for every student to leave Year 11 able to think critically, make connections across texts, and communicate their own ideas with confidence.
The KS4 curriculum is designed to develop curiosity, resilience, and a love of English, helping students see the value of reading, writing, and discussion not just for exams, but for understanding the world around them.
