Through the study of English, we aim to create scholars who are critical, responsible and articulate, allowing them to ‘meet every citizen as an equal’. 

To achieve this, the English curriculum embeds the principle of what influences authors to write, allowing students to understand authorial intent through a writer’s choice of genre, form and writing style. We teach texts by contemporary writers, both fiction and non-fiction and from ‘the canon’ and we teach students to challenge and criticise the viewpoints of writers to support their development as well-rounded citizens who are able to confidently develop and articulate their own perspectives of texts. We support students to emulate and manipulate these styles in their own writing.  

We impart the understanding that all reading and writing is underpinned by the human condition and our Big Ideas: nature, power, conflict, identity, love.

We endeavour to nurture their independence, imaginations and creativity, ensuring students have a clear voice and opinion and a repertoire of tier two vocabulary at their disposal for all their writing. As oracy and communication skills are fundamental for success in society and are skills valued by employers, we prioritise a classroom rich in talk, elevating the status of oracy to that of reading and writing to develop higher thinking. Through reading and discussion, we aim to equip students with the knowledge to help them to consider the viewpoints of others, challenge the status quo and prepare them for a fantastic future. 

At Key Stage 3 students follow our adapted versions of the Ark English Mastery Curriculum, a curriculum built on four pedagogical pillars:

• A knowledge rich curriculum 
• Dedicated teaching of grammar
• Explicit vocabulary instruction 
• Assessing for Mastery 

English Mastery is the traditional study of English Literature, reading and writing skills. Texts are selected because they have defining messages which will support students, not just in all their future study of English, but in all subjects. In order for students to be able to read and understand a text, they need to be experts in its domain, or context. Having a strong understanding of this, together with the text’s plot, purpose and author, enables students to make connections and solidify their understanding, so lessons put a high value on developing and testing this knowledge.  

Similarly, grammar and writing are taught in isolation so that students gain the foundational knowledge from which creativity can emerge.  The more words students know, the more word-rich they become, so students receive explicit instruction in high-utility tier-two vocabulary to make them better readers. To support students’ functional literacy in the real world, in addition to continuous promotion of cultural capital, non-fiction writing lessons and comprehension lessons have been developed and embedded within the Ark Literary units. These lessons are linked to the themes and context of the literature texts which they are studying.  

Reading for Pleasure is carried out at least once a fortnight, which helps to nurture a love of reading, with access to a range of texts which again supports literacy and cultural capital. These lessons also develop vocabulary which instils the craft of storytelling and impact of individual word-choices.  All the content and knowledge at Key Stage 3 is connected so that students form a firm foundation of literary and linguistic knowledge that enables them to read and write accurately and critically, not just in English, but across the curriculum. 

Year 7 English Curriculum

Year 8 English Curriculum

Year 9 English Curriculum

At Key Stage 4, students will build upon the foundations of knowledge that they acquired during Key Stage 3.

Students master writing precisely and accurately and have a wealth of knowledge surrounding specific genres and contexts from literary classics, the human condition and the Big Ideas, to further develop students’ understanding of authorial intent, and how writers present this, by focusing on the principles of context, experience and form and genre. 

Alongside their study of classic Literature, students explore a diverse range of writers and contemporary fiction and non-fiction. They  make links between what they have read in the canon and the societal issues that have transcended time.  

Finally, students construct their own creative pieces rooted in their knowledge of grammar and using their understanding of writers’ craft, which they have gained through their breadth of reading and study. Students craft their own creative writing, manipulating form and structure and will have the ability to convey their own thoughts and perspectives in a confident and engaging manner. The study of English is valued by all career pathways as it prepares students for further education and equips them for life beyond academia. Through a scholarly study of English Language and Literature, a fantastic future is accessible for all students. 

Year 10 English Curriculum

Year 11 English Curriculum