English | Framwellgate School Durham

Overview

As a subject, English is the foundation of young people’s participation in society. It interweaves a wealth of knowledge (of vocabulary, history, society, the literary canon, and modern texts) and skills (the ability to infer and analyse meaning, to evaluate and compare texts, to explain ideas verbally and in writing, and to be creative). In short, the study of English is incredibly wide-ranging.

In order to support all of our students on their journey, our Key Stage Three spiral curriculum allows them to incrementally build, practise and refine their knowledge and skills so that they become confident, articulate and creative readers and writers who can impactfully express thoughtful ideas. On this leg of the journey, students will engage with a diverse range of text types and writers, from Shakespeare to Orwell to Malala Yousafzai to Taylor Swift.

As students progress to Key Stage Four, they will use their knowledge and skills to tackle four Literature set texts in greater depth, whilst also exploring a wide range of extracts for their Language qualification.

Our A Level course extends students’ success at Key Stages Three and Four, as we encounter more conceptually and linguistically challenging texts – from Shakespeare’s Othello to Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, students will once again travel through time and across the globe, deepening their understanding of Literature and their ability to read and research independently. Our A Level students’ journey culminates with two pieces of independent coursework, in which they have the opportunity to showcase everything they have learned along the way.

Autumn Term

Content and Skills

Reading: Mythology

Students will read and discuss a diverse range of myths from around the world. They will develop inference and analytical skills, as well as deepening knowledge of ambitious vocabulary.

Writing: Describing the Natural World

Students will use a range of prompts and extracts to develop their descriptive writing skills, working on vocabulary, language methods, structural methods, and technical accuracy.

How is it assessed?

Reading assessment:

14 short knowledge and inference questions, based on the knowledge organiser.

2 extended questions in response to an extract (18 marks each), assessing students’ inference and analysis skills.

Writing assessment:

14 short knowledge questions, based on the knowledge organiser.

1 extended question (36 marks). Students will craft a piece of descriptive writing in response to a prompt. This will assess language methods and ideas, structural methods, and technical accuracy.

Spring Term

Content and Skills

Reading: Romeo and Juliet

Students will explore Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy with a focus on symbolism and understanding drama in performance. They will develop analysis skills.

Reading: Animal Farm

Students will read Orwell’s allegory of power and rebellion, considering how the pigs use language to persuade others. They will further develop inference and analysis skills.

How is it assessed?

Reading assessment (Animal Farm):

14 short knowledge and inference questions, based on the knowledge organiser.

2 extended questions in response to an extract (18 marks each), assessing students’ inference and analysis skills.

Summer Term

Content and Skills

Writing: Animal Farm

Students will use Animal Farm as a springboard for their own persuasive writing. They will write a speech in character, attempting to persuade the other animals to follow them. As they do so, they will develop vocabulary, language methods, structural methods, and technical accuracy.

Oracy: Performing Poetry

Students will read a wide range of poems on the theme of growing up. Alongside developing inference skills, they will use these texts as a starting point for their own poetry. They will then perform their poems in front of a small audience.

How is it assessed?

Writing assessment:

14 short knowledge questions, based on the knowledge organiser.

1 extended question (36 marks). Students will craft a piece of descriptive writing in response to a prompt. This will assess language methods and ideas, structural methods, and technical accuracy.

Autumn Term

Content and Skills

Reading: Gothic extracts

Students will read a range of Gothic extracts, from traditional stories (such as “The Red Room”) to modern reinterpretations (such as “Uncle Montague’s Tales of Terror”). As they read, students will not just encounter gripping narratives, but they will develop inference and analysis skills.

Writing: Gothic

Having studied a range of Gothic extracts, students will write their own. The will develop their ability to craft language methods, structural methods, and develop technical accuracy.

How is is assessed?

Reading assessment:

14 short knowledge and inference questions, based on the knowledge organiser.

2 extended questions in response to an extract (18 marks each), assessing students’ inference and analysis skills.

Writing assessment:

14 short knowledge questions, based on the knowledge organiser.

1 extended question (36 marks). Students will craft a piece of descriptive writing in response to a prompt. This will assess language methods and ideas, structural methods, and technical accuracy.

Spring Term

Content and Skills

Reading: I am Malala

Malala is one of the world’s best-known activists and writers. Students will read her autobiography, exploring the challenges she faced and how she overcame them. Students will develop inference and analysis skills.

Writing: Persuasive Writing about Social Media

Social media is a topic that students often discuss, and in this unit they can harness their ideas to write either a persuasive speech or article expressing their views. They will further develop their ability to craft language methods, structural methods, and develop technical accuracy.

How is it assessed?

Writing assessment:

14 short knowledge questions, based on the knowledge organiser.

1 extended question (36 marks). Students will craft a persuasive speech or article in response to a prompt about social media. This will assess language methods and ideas, structural methods, and technical accuracy.

Summer Term

Content and Skills

Reading: Much Ado About Nothing

Students will read extracts from Shakespeare’s iconic comedy, developing their ability to understand the complexities of his language. Students will also hone their inference and analysis skills.

Oracy: Performing Poetry

Students will read a wide range of poems on the theme of relationships. Alongside developing inference skills, they will use these texts as a starting point for their own poetry. They will then perform their poems in front of a small audience.

How is it assessed?

Reading assessment:

14 short knowledge and inference questions, based on the knowledge organiser.

1 extended questions in response to an extract (36 marks), assessing students’ inference and analysis skills.

Autumn Term

Content and Skills

Reading: Protest Poetry

Students will study 8 poems, grouped in 4 themes: protest against war, protest against racial injustice, celebration of gender equality, and protest against social hierarchy. They will develop inference and analysis skills, as well as learning how to compare texts.

Writing: Persuasive Writing about the Environment

Caring for our environment is becoming a more pressing issue, and in this unit students will explore arguments for and against various related issues. They will then write either a persuasive speech, letter, or article expressing their views. They will further develop their ability to craft language methods, structural methods, and develop technical accuracy.

How is it assessed?

Reading assessment:

14 short knowledge and inference questions, based on the knowledge organiser.

1 extended questions in response to two poems (36 marks), assessing students’ inference, analysis, and comparative skills.

Writing assessment:

14 short knowledge questions, based on the knowledge organiser.

1 extended question (36 marks). Students will craft a persuasive speech or article in response to a prompt about the environment. This will assess language methods and ideas, structural methods, and technical accuracy.

Spring Term

Content and Skills

Reading: Salt to the Sea

Set in East Prussia in 1945, this young adult novel explores World War Two from the perspective of refugees. Students will develop inference and analysis skills, whilst linking their ideas to historical context and exploring structural analysis in more depth.

Writing: Describing Journeys

Students will learn how to write and structure a piece of writing about a journey. They will also hone their ability to craft language methods and use punctuation/sentence structures for effect.

How is it assessed?

Writing assessment:

14 short knowledge questions, based on the knowledge organiser.

1 extended question (36 marks). Students will craft a piece of descriptive writing in response to a prompt about a journey. This will assess language methods and ideas, structural methods, and technical accuracy.

Summer Term

Content and Skills

Reading: Julius Caesar

Students will explore the concept of the tragic hero and the tragic victim as they read one of Shakespeare’s Roman plays. As they do so, they will hone their inference and analysis skills, as well as becoming more comfortable in tackling Shakespeare’s language.

Drama: Educating Rita

Students will discuss the context of 1980s England as they embark on reading Educating Rita. Students will explore how Russell using staging and other dramatic conventions to bring his critique of social hierarchy to the stage.

How is it assessed?

Reading assessment:

14 short knowledge and inference questions, based on the knowledge organiser.

1 extended questions in response to an extract (36 marks), assessing students’ inference and analysis skills. Note that students will also need to learn and use quotations from the rest of the play.