Our vision for English at HEA
Our English curriculum is designed to inspire a lifelong passion for literature and the power of words; fostering empathy, tolerance, and a profound understanding of the world with a core emphasis on social responsibility and challenging intolerances.
By linking literature with real-world experiences, we aim to cultivate thoughtful, knowledgeable, and open-minded individuals who are equipped to engage meaningfully with society. We strive to develop our students' abilities to communicate their ideas effectively and confidently in various contexts, understanding that language is power and that enriching their vocabulary enriches their lives. Through a deep study of diverse texts and ideas, our curriculum encourages students to practice empathy and to appreciate literature as a continual source of wisdom and consolation.
Our vision is for students to leave our school not only with a deep love of reading and an appreciation for literature but also with the skills and confidence to communicate successfully in any situation. By studying English, they will explore the intricacies of humankind, relationships, different cultures, and societal norms - enabling them to grow into well-rounded members of society who understand and can navigate the world around them with insight and compassion.
Subject Vision by Year
| Academic Writing | Creative Writing | Non-Fiction Writing | |
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| Year 7 |
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| Year 8 |
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| Year 9 |
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| KS4 |
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Curriculum Overview
Year 7
| Year 7 | |
| Autumn 1 |
The Girl of Ink and Stars To inspire a love of reading and English skills around reading and writing about texts. There will be a significant focus on creative writing as well. |
| Autumn 2 |
A Midsummer Night’s Dream A challenging text but one that will encourage and enjoyment of Shakespeare through a comedy. Expose students to the rigor of Shakesperean language. |
| Spring |
Oliver Twist Challenge of a 19th century novel. Abridged to allow students to get through the whole text but using original extracts to challenge. Exploration of social responsibility and a platform towards the study of Dickens at KS4. |
| Summer |
Anthology: Conflict (Non-fiction & Poetry) Using topical texts related by theme to analyse and as stepping stones to students developing their own voices. Year 7 will develop spoken language skills through class and group discussion activities as well as performance poetry. |
Year 8
| Year 8 | |
| Autumn 1 |
Gothic Using a variety of gothic texts, themes will explore gender and the power of friendship. Importantly, this is a study of the gothic genre and exposure to challenging texts which will support the study of the gothic/supernatural in KS4. |
| Autumn 2 |
Animal Farm: Introduction to Allegory A whole text study with a focus on context and explicit teaching of why writers write certain texts. A platform towards the study of KS4 social responsibility texts. |
| Spring |
Noughts and Crosses play Teaching the conventions of a play. Explores themes around corruption and race. |
| Summer |
Anthology: Identity (Non-fiction & Poetry) Using topical texts related by theme to analyse and as stepping stones to students developing their own voices. Year 8 will present in and to small groups to build on the skills learned in year 7. |
Year 9
| Year 9 | |
| Autumn 1 |
The Crucible A challenging play to explore characterisation and allegory. Study of a playwright and how they achieve their aim. Themes of hysteria, greed, forgiveness, self-respect and reputation. Introduces the 17th century beliefs in witchcraft as a foundation for KS4 study of Macbeth. Students will learn to comment on symbolism and allegory as a precursor to KS4 ACC. |
| Autumn 2 |
Lord of the Flies Students will read the full text with close analysis of key extracts. Students will reflect on what would happen to them if they were removed from society's rules and expectations. Students will learn how the social, political and historical backdrop impacted on how Golding chose to present humanity and how this is portrayed through the language and structural choices throughout the novel. |
| Spring |
King Lear Challenging Shakesperean text as a foundation for KS4 study of Macbeth. Explore themes of power and the conventions of a tragedy. Examination of the cyclical nature of suffering which are themes within the KS4 GCSE texts. |
| Summer |
Anthology: Resistence, Revolution and Rhetoric Using topical texts related by theme to analyse and as stepping stones to students developing their own voices. Students will build on their skills from year 7 and 8 to deliver to a formal presentation which serves as a platform for Spoken Language element of KS4. |
Year 10
| Year 10 | |
| Autumn |
A Christmas Carol (English Literature Paper 1) English Language paper 1 - reading and writing |
| Spring 1 | Power and Conflict Poetry anthology |
| Spring 2 |
Macbeth (English Literature Paper 1) English Language Paper 2 – Reading and Writing |
| Summer 1 |
Macbeth (English Literature Paper 1) English Language Paper 2 – Reading and Writing |
| Summer 2 |
English Language and Literature Paper 1 revision for End of Year exams Spoken Language |
Year 11
| Year 11 | |
| Autumn 1 |
An Inspector Calls Poetry revision English Language Paper 2 revision |
| Autumn 2 |
Year 11 mocks A Christmas Carol revision |
| Spring 1 |
Macbeth revision English Language Paper 1 revision |
| Spring 2 |
Year 11 mocks Revision of whole course |
| Summer | Revision and exams |
Year 12
| Year 12 | |||
| English Language | English Lanugage & Literature | English Literature | |
| Autumn |
Teacher 1: Language Levels through Language & the Individual Teacher 2: Language change |
Teacher 1: Genre, Audience, Purpose, Voice NEA Writing to suit genre Teacher 2: Dracula |
Teacher 1: A Streetcar Named Desire Teacher 2: In Cold Blood |
| Spring |
Teacher 1: Accent and Dialect NEA: Original Writing Teacher 2: Language and Gender NEA: Language Investigation |
Teacher 1: Comparison Language Levels NEA Non-Fiction Teacher 2: Wide Sargasso Sea |
Teacher 1: Hamlet Teacher 2: Lady Audley’s Secret |
| Summer |
NEA: Original Writing NEA: Language Investigation EoY Assessment Prep Essay Skills NEA |
EoY Assessment Prep Essay Skills NEA: Fiction |
Teacher 1: HT1 – Hamlet HT2 - Romantics
Teacher 2: HT1 – Men Without Women HT2 – NEA prep |
Year 13
| Year 13 | |||
| English Language | English Language & Literature | English Literature | |
| Autumn |
Teacher 1: Child Language Acquisition Teacher 2: Social & Occupational Ground Both: NEA |
Teacher 1: A Streetcar Named Desire NEA Teacher 2: Revision Dracula and Wide Sargasso Sea NEA Commentary |
Romantics Poets of the Decade NEA |
| Spring | Revision |
Teacher 1: A Streetcar Named Desire Teacher 2: Unseen texts |
Poems of the Decade Critical perspective NEA Revision |
| Summer | Revision | Revision | Revision |
Assessment
| Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | |
| Year 7 |
Girl of Ink and Stars end of Unit writing assessment AMND Knowledge Checks |
Oliver Twist end of unit reading assessment | End of Year reading and writing assessments |
| Year 8 |
Gothic Horror writing assessment Animal Farm reading assessment |
Noughts and Crosses Knowledge Checks |
End of Year reading and writing assessments |
| Year 9 |
The Crucible reading assessment Lord of the Flies writing assessment |
King Lear Knowledge Checks | End of Year reading and writing assessments |
| Year 10 | ACC Knowledge Checks |
English Language Paper 1 mock in January Macbeth Knowledge Checks |
English Language paper 1 and English Literature paper 1 in EoY exams |
| Year 11 |
AIC Knowledge Checks English Language paper 2 and English Literature paper 2 Year 11 mock 1 |
English Language paper 1 and English Literature paper 1 Year 11 mock 2 | GCSE exams |
| Year 12 | Fortnightly formative assessment | Fortnightly formative assessment |
English Language:
English Literature:
English Lang & Lit:
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| Year 13 |
English Language: Complete paper 1 and 2 English Literature: Paper 2 Prose Paper 3 Poetry English Lang & Lit: P1A P2B |
English Language: Full set of exams English Literature: Full set of exams English Lang & Lit: Full set of exams |
GCE Exams |
Exam Board Link(s)
KS4
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english
KS5
English Language: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/a-level/english-7702/specification/specification-at-a-glance
English Literature: https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/english-literature-2015.html
English Language and Literature: https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/english-language-and-literature-2015.html
Extracurricular Opportunities
- KS5 Book club
- Essay Club
- Creative Writing club
- SPARX reader
Careers
Where can English qualifications take you?
- Journalist
- Writer
- Copywriter
- Editor
- Web content
- Advertising
- Marketing
- English Teacher
- Public relations
- Librarian
Learning Beyond the Curriculum
Revision Guides:
- CGP KS3 workbook
- CGP KS3 Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar
- CGP Macbeth text guide and workbook
- CGP A Christmas Carol text guide and workbook
- CGP An Inspector Calls text guide and workbook
- CGP Power and Conflict poetry text guide and workbook
- Other Links (social media, YouTube)
- GW English: GW English - YouTube
- Mr Bruff: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM2vdqz-7e4HAuzhpFuRY8w
Academic Reading:
- A Short History of Literature, John Sutherland
- How to Read Like a Professor, Thomas C Foster
- The Connell Guides to Macbeth, An Inspector Calls
- Reading Lessons, Carol Atherton
- The Norton Anthology of English Literature
Wider Reading:
- Try to read material from the ‘prizes’ e.g. The Man Booker prize or the Orange prize
- Try to get into reading a broadsheet newspaper weekly
- Try to read a range of non-fiction writing such as travel writing (Bryson, Palin),
- autobiography (Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela), biography etc.
