‘Discover your truth through the beauty of words.’ 

English Curriculum Intent

At the heart of our English curriculum lies a deep belief: language shapes lives. Every young person deserves not only a high-quality English education but one that ignites their curiosity, empowers their voice, and equips them for life beyond the classroom. 

We teach English because it is the thread that connects past to present, self to society, and emotion to expression. Through English, students grow as thinkers, as learners, and as citizens of the world. 

National Curriculum 

The national curriculum for English aims to ensure that all pupils
can:

  • Read fluently, confidently, and with insight 

  • Cultivate a lifelong love of reading, for both joy and knowledge 

  • Build a powerful vocabulary, master grammar, and understand the structure and rhythm of language 

  • Appreciate our rich literary heritage, while also seeing their own experiences reflected in texts 

  • Write with accuracy, clarity, and voice, across a variety of genres and audiences 

  • Use talk as a tool for learning, articulating ideas, questioning, and exploring meaning 

  • Speak and listen with confidence, engaging in debate, presentations, and performance 

Exceeding Ambition 

Through our Cultural and Academic Literacy pedagogy, we challenge students to engage with texts at a deeper level. We encourage them not just to receive meaning, but to question it, interpret it, and reshape it, developing agency and independence as readers and writers. 

Here's our Curriculum Road Map for English:

English Curriculum Map September 2025

19.88 MB

Intent

Intent: Our Purpose and Promise 

  • To ensure every pupil becomes competent in English, knowing that literacy opens doors: to further education, meaningful work, and active participation in society. 

  • To provide an inspiring, challenging, and inclusive curriculum that nurtures cultural capital and builds belief in every student’s potential. 

  • To foster a genuine love of reading and learning — not just for exams, but for life. 

  • To celebrate English as a tool for communication, connection, and self-expression — developing not only academic skills but also emotional intelligence, empathy, and confidence. 

  • To build mastery in the core skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening, which underpin success across every pathway. 

We want our students to: 

  • Explore and analyse literature — prose, poetry, and drama — with insight and imagination. 

  • Understand difference, embracing diversity through empathy and enquiry. 

  • Express themselves with clarity and power, both on the page and in the spoken word. 

  • Question the world around them, equipped with the critical tools to navigate complex ideas and information. 

Implementation: - What does learning look like? 

We view progress in English as a spiral, not a straight line. Students arrive in Year 7 with a foundation in reading and writing; from there, they revisit and deepen their skills with each year, building fluency, independence, and sophistication. 

In Years 7–9: 

  • Students experience a rich, diverse diet of literature, designed to inspire, challenge, and broaden their horizons. 

  • They develop skills in analytical, creative, and transactional writing, laying the groundwork for the demands of GCSE. 

  • In Term 3 of Year 9, students begin a GCSE-style transition unit, assessed using real GCSE criteria. This gives them a meaningful starting point for Year 10. 

In Years 10–11: 

  • Students follow the Eduqas English Language and AQA English Literature courses. 

  • They continue refining the core skills built at KS3, applying them to increasingly complex texts and tasks. 

  • Through targeted feedback and robust assessment, they prepare with confidence for final exams and life beyond them. 

Impact

Assessments take into consideration a holistic view of Reading, Writing and Spoken Language.

At KS3: 

  • Progress is tracked through Key Performance Indicators, tied to mastery of key skills. 

  • Every half term includes Quality Marked Formative (QMF) and Summative (QMS) assessments, with clear success criteria. 

  • Marking focuses on literacy, with actionable feedback via WWW, EBI, and DIRT (Directed Improvement and Reflection Time). 

  • Misconceptions are addressed promptly, ensuring responsive teaching and targeted support. 

At KS4: 

  • Regular data drops and Pre-Public Examinations (PPEs) inform interventions and ensure no pupil falls behind. 

  • A rigorous process of standardisation and moderation guarantees consistency across all assessment points. 

  • Class teachers remain at the centre of student progress, using data intelligently to support and stretch learners. 

Cultural Capital Opportunities linked to Personal and Character development

Character Development Through Reading 

Our English curriculum is not only an academic journey but a character-building experience. Through a carefully designed, specialised reading curriculum, students explore a wide range of literature that nurtures their emotional, social, and moral development. Each text is chosen not only to develop core reading and literacy skills but also to build the values, habits, and understanding young people need to thrive in the wider world. 

Character and Respect 

From classic novels to contemporary voices, our curriculum introduces students to characters and communities that model integrity, fairness, and compassion. By analysing character motivations and moral dilemmas, students learn to reflect on their own values and choices — developing respect for themselves and others. 

Community and Relationships 

Literature provides a powerful lens through which students examine the complexity of human relationships — between friends, families, and communities. Through discussion and reflection, they develop a deeper understanding of trust, loyalty, empathy, and the importance of connection within society. 

Active Citizenship and Tolerance 

By engaging with texts that explore global conflicts, social justice, and cultural identity, students learn what it means to be an active, informed citizen. Exposure to diverse perspectives builds tolerance and open-mindedness, encouraging students to challenge prejudice and contribute positively to their communities. 

Health and Community 

Texts dealing with themes of mental health, personal struggle, and societal wellbeing give students a language to discuss sensitive issues and explore the connection between personal resilience and community care. Reading becomes a tool for building emotional literacy and self-awareness. 

Relationships and Responsibility 

Narratives involving complex personal dynamics — including family conflict, loyalty, betrayal, and forgiveness — enable students to explore the emotional consequences of choices. These discussions help them reflect on their own responsibilities in relationships, developing maturity and emotional intelligence. 

Emotional Intelligence and Tolerance 

Our reading curriculum encourages students to empathise with characters across time, place, and culture. By stepping into another’s experience, they build emotional resilience and compassion, and learn to approach others with tolerance, patience, and understanding. 

Aspirations and Active Citizenship 

Students read stories of transformation, resistance, ambition, and change — helping them see their own potential and the importance of taking action in the face of injustice or adversity. These texts help shape young people who are not only ambitious for themselves, but also committed to making a difference in the world. 

Careers and Finance 

Our curriculum includes non-fiction and transactional texts that build practical literacy — understanding workplace communication, media, persuasive writing, and budgeting. By connecting literacy skills to real-world contexts, we prepare students to be career-ready, financially aware, and articulate contributors to society. 

Revision

www.sparknotes.com – revision for literary texts

www.cliffnotes.com – revision for literary texts

Secondary Homework Help | Online subjects – BBC Bitesize

Mr Bruff – YouTube– English expert on Youtube