Curriculum English
Curriculum Intent:
The English curriculum is developed with the needs of the pupils at its core. We endeavour to help each individual pupil to develop their communication, reading and writing skills, at a suitably challenging level. We recognise that developing these skills is key to being a successful learner across all curriculum areas and in the world beyond school.
English lessons are enjoyable and engaging and offer opportunities for role play, plan and deliver presentations, engage in lively discussions, and debates. These opportunities promote pupils to foster confident communication skills.
Pupils that need support to develop early reading and writing skills are taught phonics systematically using Little Wandle Letters and Sounds revised (SSP.) Taught phonics is delivered in a low risk, relaxed and safe environment for pupils to thrive in and develop a positive sense of self. Throughout the curriculum, opportunities are developed to study ‘Texts that Teach’ and to develop a love of reading. ‘Texts that Teach’ have been selected, as they offer pupils something new to learn and help pupils to build a rich vocabulary and an understanding of the English language, at an accessible level of challenge. It is our aim that pupils develop an understanding of what they have read and can answer a range of literal and inferential questions about texts that they hear and read. This is a fundamental skill for life and will help to ensure success beyond school.
- KS3 Year 1 Texts that teach.pdf
- KS3 Year 2 Texts that Teach.pdf
- KS4 Pathway 1 Texts that Teach.pdf
- KS4 Pathway 2 and 3 Texts that Teach.pdf
Pupils are taught to write for a range of purposes within their English lessons. Once they have mastered basic writing skills through taught phonics, they will have the opportunity to write for different purposes- to entertain, inform and to persuade. They will develop an understanding of the style, structure, and purpose of these writing styles. This will help pupils beyond school as they will have been taught how to write a range of texts including letters, emails, complete forms and to write for pleasure.
Key stage 3 and KS 4 Route 1 ‘Writing to…’ documents:
Key Stage 4 Route 2 and 3 ‘Writing to…’ documents:
- PDf Printable writing to inform.pdf
- PDf Printable writing to entertain.pdf
- PDF Printable writing to persuade.pdf
- PDF Printable writing to discuss.pdf
Communication, reading and writing are the key skills taught within English lessons and each year pupils develop and master these skills at an appropriately challenging level.
In KS3, themes guide the texts that are used as vehicles for learning, within English lessons. Pupils develop an understanding of ‘Writing to inform’ each autumn term, ‘Writing to Entertain’ each spring term and ‘Writing to Persuade’ each summer term.
In KS4 pupils continue to study broadly. They continue to develop and master communication, reading and writing skills. Pupils follow one of four accreditation paths at KS4- OCR Life and Living pathway, WJEC Additional English Entry Level, WJEC Entry Level English or EDUQAS GCSE English Language. These increase in challenge and when pupils achieve their Entry Level 3 (Year 9/10) they work towards their GCSE in English Language.
Pupils continue to master writing to entertain, inform, persuade. Some pupils also develop the skills required to write to discuss. They also develop and refine their communication and reading skills at an appropriately challenging level. Each year within KS4, pupils study a whole text that helps pupils to develop narrative writing skills and their ability to read for meaning at a literal and inference level. Pupils build their vocabulary and are encouraged to use adventurous language when writing and communicating with others. Pupils develop their ability to write for different purposes, including for a range of non-fiction purposes. Pupils further develop their communication skills and participate in debates, discussions, and interviews.
It is the intent of the English department that pupils leave Southall School being effective communicators, having a lifelong love and passion for reading for pleasure and to gain knowledge, being able to understand what they have read and having the ability to write for a range of purposes. It is our hope that these skills will help them to be positive and confident global citizens.
KS3 English Curriculum Implementation and Overview – 2 year rolling program
Year 1
| Term | Theme KS3 Year 1 Texts that teach.pdf |
| Autumn term 1 | Magnificent Me: Texts that Teach* Writing to inform PDF writing to inform.pdf |
| Autumn term 2 | Brilliant Britain: Texts that Teach* Writing to inform |
| Spring term 1 | Save our planet: Texts that Teach* Writing to Entertain PDF Writing to Entertain.pdf |
| Spring term 2 | Magic and Monsters: Texts that Teach*Writing to Entertain |
| Summer term 1 | World of Work: Texts that Teach*Writing to Persuade PDF writing to persuade.pdf |
| Summer term 2 | Amazing Adventures: Texts that Teach* Writing to Persuade |
Year 2
| Term | Theme KS3 Year 2 Texts that Teach.pdf |
| Autumn term 1 | My Hometown: Texts that Teach*Writing to inform PDF writing to inform.pdf |
| Autumn term 2 | Let’s Celebrate: Texts that Teach* Writing to inform |
| Spring term 1 | Transport: Texts that Teach*Writing to Entertain PDF Writing to Entertain.pdf |
| Spring term 2 | Superhero/Superhuman: Texts that Teach*Writing to Entertain |
| Summer term 1 | Fantastic Food: Texts that Teach* Writing to Persuade PDF writing to persuade.pdf |
| Summer term 2 | Journeys Through Time: Texts that Teach* Writing to Persuade |
KS4 English Curriculum Implementation and Overview – 3 year rolling program
Year 1
| Texts to support and the KS4 Curriculum | KS4 Pathway 1 Texts that Teach.pdf | KS4 Pathway 2 and 3 Texts that Teach.pdf |
| Term | Route 1 – Themes | Route 2 – Themes | Route 3 – Themes |
| Autumn term 1 | The Natural World- Island* Wordless book Developing communication and early writing skills | The Natural World The Call of the Wild – Jack London* Writing to entertain | The Natural World The Call of the Wild – Jack London* Writing to entertain |
| Autumn term 2 | Film Study- Animal Antics* Writing to persuade | The Call of the Wild – Jack London* Writing for different purposes | The Call of the Wild – Jack London* Writing for different purposes |
| Spring term 1 | Narrative Story Study* The Natural World Reading focus | Spoken language – Entry Level Theme set by WJEC | Spoken language – writing to discuss GCSE Component 3 |
| Spring term 2 | I am an author- The Animal Kingdom Writing to entertain | Non-Fiction- The natural World * Writing to persuade | Non-Fiction- The natural World * Writing to persuade |
| Summer term 1 | Poetry- Our Earth is a poem* Writing to entertain | Exam Preparation- Entry Level Entry Level English Language Component 1 | Exam Preparation GCSE English Language components 1 & 2 |
| Summer term 2 | Non- Fiction Monsters 100 Weird Creatures from Around the World* Writing to inform | Gothic Literature- The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde- Robert louis Stevenson* | Gothic Literature- The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde- Robert louis Stevenson* |
Year 2
| Term | Route 1 – Themes | Route 2 – Themes | Route 3 – Themes |
| Autumn term 1 | All about me The Arrival* Developing communication and early writing skills | All about me Holes- Louis Sachar* Writing to entertain | All about me Holes- Louis Sachar* Writing to entertain |
| Autumn term 2 | Film Study- It’s all about you* Writing to persuade | All about me Holes- Louis Sachar* Writing for different purposes | All about me Holes- Louis Sachar* Writing for different purposes |
| Spring term 1 | Narrative Story Study* All about Me Reading focus | Spoken language – Entry Level Theme set by WJEC | Spoken language – writing to discuss GCSE Component 3 |
| Spring term 2 | I am an author- Stories in a familiar setting Writing to entertain | Non-Fiction- All about me Writing to persuade | Non-Fiction- All about me Writing to persuade |
| Summer term 1 | Poetry- Whale of a time (funny poems for every day) * Writing to entertain | Exam Preparation Entry Level English Language Component 1 | Exam Preparation GCSE English Language components 1 & 2 |
| Summer term 2 | Non-Fiction- The Fossil Hunter* Writing to inform | Romeo and Juliet -William Shakespeare* | Romeo and Juliet -William Shakespeare* |
Year 3
| Term | Route 1 – Themes | Route 2 – Themes | Route 3 – Themes |
| Autumn term 1 | Diversity- Flotsam* Developing communication and early writing skills | Diversity Refugee Boy- Benjamin Zephaniah* Writing to entertain | Diversity Refugee Boy- Benjamin Zephaniah* Writing to entertain |
| Autumn term 2 | Film Study- Another Life* Writing to persuade | Diversity Refugee Boy- Benjamin Zephaniah* Writing for different purposes | Diversity Refugee Boy- Benjamin Zephaniah* Writing for different purposes |
| Spring term 1 | Narrative Story Study* Diversity Reading focus | Spoken language – Entry Level Theme set by WJEC | Spoken language – writing to discuss GCSE Component 3 |
| Spring term 2 | I am an author – Let’s go on an adventure Writing to entertain | Non-Fiction- Diversity* Writing to persuade | Non-Fiction- Diversity* Writing to persuade |
| Summer term 1 | Poetry- Courage in a poem* Writing to entertain | Exam Preparation Entry Level English Language Component 1 | Exam Preparation GCSE English Language components 1 & 2 |
| Summer term 2 | Non- Fiction- How to be extraordinary* Writing to inform | The Tempest- Shakespeare | The Tempest- Shakespeare |