Their lessons will provide exposure to texts which are not only relevant to our world today, but explore the way our world has evolved through carefully chosen, rich literature texts, from 19th Century to modern authors.
Our KS3 curriculum follows the ARK Mastery programme and develops 3 main skills: reading for pleasure, Mastery writing and Literary Heritage. The way these skills are spiralled and developed over the 3 years means that pupils are able to grasp and advance them before applying them to the GCSE. By the end of KS3, pupils will have experienced and studied several Shakespeare texts and understood the context surrounding his writing. Pupils will have read a variety of fiction texts as a class and independently. The focus here is to develop a solid grasp of vocabulary and explore genres of texts to encourage lifelong readers. In KS3 English, our vision is to develop pupils’ ability to articulate their thoughts and opinions with clarity through reading and discussing a rich array of literature: fiction, non-fiction and poetry. We encourage learners to engage with and explore a range of texts so that they have a secure understanding of historical, cultural and current affairs.
By KS4, pupils study Literature and Language with equal importance placed on both. We use Literature to open doors in thinking and to connect students to the issues, ideas and feelings which shape our lives. We want to support students to be able to develop empathy and emotional intelligence where they can form and express logical arguments, both verbally and in written form. The importance of craft and planning is taught at KS4 to show pupils the value of precise vocabulary choices and structured responses. As part of the GCSE, pupils have to complete an independent presentation which is a vital component in developing them as articulate and confident speakers which will lend itself to any job role they may hold in the future. The rigour of the GCSE exams in both English Literature and Language provides us with a platform to encourage time-management and effective use of time to maximise their time to fully write their answers. We build timed practice into lessons throughout KS4 to consolidate this skill.
We truly believe that the skills we teach throughout secondary school will provide a solid platform for the rest of the pupils’ lives. They will be articulate, both verbally and in writing, to be able to express their thoughts and feelings in a logical and clear way. Their study of a wide variety of texts across KS3 and KS4 will have improved their empathy, emotional intelligence and understanding of the wider world, which they are not always able to experience in day to day life. We want our pupils to be passionate, lifelong readers.