English:

Subject Information Overview

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Curriculum
Area Staff Curriculum
Information Curriculum
Overview Exam information for GCSE
qualifications in this Subject Area Knowledge
Organisers

Curriculum Area Staff

Curriculum Director – Chris Wales (AAP)
Rowena Pickering (ACAL English)
Ed Kisby (Progress Leader, Year 9)
Deborah Leach
Nichola Mather
Nick Ogle (English Curriculum and Instructional Coach)

Isobel Sewell
Nicola Welsh (T&L: Literacy and SEN)
Kathryn Whitaker (Pastoral Director, Key Stage 3)
Joe Williams (Pastoral Director, Key Stage 4)
Ben Patchesa (CAL Media Studies/Literacy Leader)

Should you require more information about this subject area please contact:

Name: Mrs Rowena Pickering
Position: Curriculum Area Leader
Email: rp@selbyhigh.co.uk

Curriculum Information

English has a huge role to play in both your current education and your future life. Every career path and job you can think of is shaped by English and your ability to communicate effectively. Success in English will not only develop you within this subject, it will also act as a springboard for your success in every other area too. Your ability to be a critical reader, crafted writer and confident orator will give you the key skills to flourish in all aspects of school life. In addition, it naturally provides you with opportunities to develop your understanding of the world around you and key issues in the society we live in.

Beyond the range of texts you study, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your ability to explain, debate, persuade and challenge. You’ll consider the key themes that run through our lives as much now as they did in the times of Shakespeare or Dickens: relationships, conflict within the world, the importance of equality and tolerance, and of course your own identity. Ideas around love and death, friendship and family, respect and understanding – all of these will be integral to your understanding of the world in which we live.

In Year 7, you will have the opportunity to explore the theme of Identity and Experience. This will allow you to consider your own experiences through autobiographical and travel writing, whilst also considering a range of cultures and experiences through the novel Iqbal and a range of poetry. In the final term, you will then look at a timeline of literature to develop your knowledge of how texts (and people’s lives and experiences) have developed over time.

Year 8 then considers big ideas around ‘Justice and Oppression’. Themes of equality, injustice and prejudice are all considered through a range of different literary forms: the play Noughts and Crosses, Shakespeare’s Othello and the novel Animal Farm. Alongside this, you will have the opportunity to learn about real-life inspirational people who have challenged inequality and made a positive difference to the world by influencing change. In the summer term, you will focus on a range of Victorian literature, a time of huge social change.

In Year 9, you will study how literature considers ‘Power and Conflict’. Starting with Gothic literature, you have the opportunity to study a range of texts such as Dracula and Frankenstein, leading into the study of Macbeth. The reasons and consequences of conflict are then brought into the 20th century through a range of war poetry and short stories. As your knowledge and skills continue to develop towards GCSE study, the final term of Key Stage 3 then studies the musical Blood Brothers alongside a range of non-fiction texts.

At GCSE, you will take all the skills you have developed, along with the knowledge of how to study a range of literary forms and your understanding of a wide range of texts, and apply these across our key texts: Romeo and Juliet, An Inspector Calls, A Christmas Carol and a range of poetry from different time periods. You will also continue to develop your skills as a crafted writer in narrative and transactional forms, as a critical reader of both fictional and non-fictional texts, and as a crafted orator who is able to deliver and debate your own opinions on a number of key topics and societal issues.

Our curriculum is designed to allow you to reflect on and take pride in your own experiences whilst also preparing you for your future by broadening your knowledge of wider social and cultural contexts. We want you to continue a love of reading and a thirst for knowledge that you can take forward. Our aim is to equip you with the transferable skills and resilience that will enable you to be successful in your next steps. We want you to be able to adapt and excel in an ever-changing world, and our broad and balanced curriculum is designed to enable you to do just that.

Curriculum Overview

Below is a summary overview of the topics and their content that will be studied in each term by each year group. For more information about each topic, get your child to visit learning journeys and resources on the school online learning platform - Ready Steady Learn.

Year Group	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4	Term 5	Term 6
7	Identity and experience
7	Me, Myself and I Reading ‘Know how to…’ Identify and understand the style and purpose of a text Select references and quotations Synthesise and summarise information Analyse character and theme Writing ‘Know how to…’ Use features of form: narrative and descriptive writing Establish character, voice and setting in narrative writing Use descriptive devices appropriate for form, audience and task. Craft language choices and sentences for effect Shape whole texts through effective planning. Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Wider Links Emotional wellbeing British values and authors Identity and self	Iqbal - characterisation Reading ‘Know how to…’ Link text to context where appropriate Select references and quotations Synthesise and summarise information Track plot, analyse character and theme Explore symbolism and moral messages Writing ‘Know how to…’ Write with critical style; write with accuracy and fluency Track meanings across whole texts Analyse impressions of character Evaluate writer's language and structure choices Select references and quotations Use features of form: letters, newspaper articles Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Read aloud to peers and teacher Wider Links Tolerance and morality Wider cultures Slavery and Bonded Labour Emotional wellbeing Diversity Active citizenship and community values Liberty and freedom of speech	Travel Writing Reading ‘Know how to…’ Identify, understand and analyse the style and purpose of a text Select references and quotations Synthesise and summarise information Link to context where appropriate Access different forms of literature from a variety of writers Identify and understand conventions of persuasive travel writing Writing ‘Know how to…’ Write with critical style; write with accuracy and fluency Track meanings across whole texts Analyse viewpoints of the writer Evaluate writer's language and structure choices Select references and quotations Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Wider Links Geography and the wider world British Values - Individual liberty and the freedom to express feelings, beliefs, value Identity and diversity including women Emotional wellbeing Active citizenship and community values	Identity poetry Reading ‘Know how to…’ Track meanings across whole texts Select references and quotations Synthesise and summarise information Compare view points across poems Make evaluative comments supported by the poem Understand the use of figurative language and its effect Writing ‘Know how to…’ Write with critical style; write with accuracy and fluency Track meanings across whole texts Analyse impressions of key ideas Evaluate writer's language and structure choices Select references and quotations Use figurative language Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Perform speeches in front of peers. Wider Links British values and British authors Identity and diversity including women Emotional wellbeing Liberty and freedom of speech Active citizenship and community values	Myths and Legends: Stories That Shaped Society. Timeline of Literature Reading ‘Know how to…’ Link text to context where appropriate Select references and quotations Synthesise and summarise information Track plot, analyse character and theme Writing ‘Know how to…’ Use features of form: narrative and descriptive writing Establish character, voice and setting in narrative writing Use descriptive devices appropriate for form, audience and task. Craft language choices and sentences for effect Shape whole texts through effective planning Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Read aloud to peers and teacher Wider Links Morality Identity and diversity (cultures and genders) Active citizenship Wider cultural history and context.	An introduction to Shakespeare. Timeline of Literature Reading ‘Know how to…’ Link text to context where appropriate Select references and quotations Synthesise and summarise information Analyse character and theme Understand and explain Shakespeare’s intentions Writing ‘Know how to…’ Use features of form: narrative and descriptive writing Establish character, voice and setting in narrative writing Use descriptive devices appropriate for form, audience and task. Write with critical style; write with accuracy and fluency Track meanings across whole texts Analyse impressions of character Evaluate writer's language and structure choices Select references and quotations Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Wider Links British Values and Culture: Shakespeare and theatrical performance Active citizenship & community values History - Jacobean era
Assessment details	Reading - Insight assessment Writing - NMM - national baseline In Class Assessment End of unit milestone	In Class Assessment End of unit milestone - NMM format	In Class Assessment End of unit milestone - NMM format Reading - Insight assessment	In Class Assessment End of unit milestone - NMM format	In Class Assessment End of unit milestone - NMM format Writing NMM - national baseline	In Class Assessment End of unit milestone - NMM format Reading - Insight assessment NMM - National baseline - writing
8	Justice and Equality
8	Crime and Punishment Reading ‘Know how to…’ Synthesise and summarise information Access challenging texts from a variety of authors Identify and understand conventions of crime writing Writing ‘Know how to…’ Use features of form: narrative and descriptive writing Establish character, voice and setting in narrative writing Use descriptive devices appropriate for form, audience and task. Craft language choices and sentences for effect Shape whole texts through effective planning Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Wider Links Geography and the wider world British Values - Individual liberty and the freedom to express feelings, beliefs, values	Social injustice and the power of poetry: reading Reading ‘Know how to…’ Access challenging texts from a variety of authors Identify and understand conventions of poetry Select references and quotations Synthesise and summarise information Writing ‘Know how to…’ - Write with critical style; write with accuracy and fluency - Track meanings across whole texts - Analyse key ideas - Evaluate writer's language and structure choices - Select references and quotations Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Wider Links British Values - Individual liberty and the freedom to express feelings, beliefs, values Active citizenship & community values Emotional Wellbeing Identity and voice	Noughts and Crosses: transactional writing Reading ‘Know how to…’ Identify and understand conventions of a playscript Link text to context where appropriate Select references and quotations Synthesise and summarise information Track plot, analyse character and theme Writing ‘Know how to…’ - Use features of form: transactional writing - Use rhetorical devices appropriate for form, audience and task. - Craft language choices and sentences for effect - Shape whole texts through effective planning Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Wider Links Emotional Wellbeing Identity and voice Active citizenship & community values Diversity including women and other cultures Morality Racial segregation and diversity	Shakespeare: The Tempest Reading ‘Know how to…’ Identify and understand conventions of the Jacobean era Link text to context where appropriate Identify and understand conventions of a playscript Select references and quotations Synthesise and summarise information Writing ‘Know how to…’ - Write with critical style; write with accuracy and fluency - Track meanings across whole texts - Evaluate writer's language and structure choices - Select references and quotations - Follow the conventions of a playscript Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Wider Links Ancient history links Identity and diversity including women and other cultures Morality	Animal Farm: Reading - writing - oracy Reading ‘Know how to…’ Identify and understand conventions of politically driven literature Link text to context where appropriate Select references and quotations Synthesise and summarise information Writing ‘Know how to…’ - Write with critical style; write with accuracy and fluency - Track meanings across whole texts - Analyse impressions of character - Evaluate writer's language and structure choices - Select references and quotations Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Wider Links British values and British authors Identity including women and other cultures Morality Identity and voice Active citizenship & community values power and justice	Animal Farm: Reading - writing - oracy Reading ‘Know how to…’ Identify and understand conventions of politically driven literature Link text to context where appropriate Select references and quotations Synthesise and summarise information Writing ‘Know how to…’ - Write with critical style; write with accuracy and fluency - Track meanings across whole texts - Analyse impressions of character - Evaluate writer's language and structure choices - Select references and quotations Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Wider Links British values and British authors Identity including women and other cultures Morality Identity and voice Active citizenship & community values power and justice
Assessment details	In Class Assessment End of Unit Milestone - NMM Reading - Insight assessment NMM - National baseline	In Class Assessment End of Unit Milestone - NMM	In Class Assessment End of Unit Milestone - NMM	In Class Assessment End of Unit Milestone - NMM Reading - Insight assessment	In Class Assessment End of Unit Milestone - NMM Oracy - speech	In Class Assessment End of Unit Milestone - NMM Oracy - speech Reading - Insight assessment NMM - National baseline - writing
9	Power and conflict
9	Gothic Literature Reading ‘Know how to…’ Track plot, analyse character and theme Identify and understand conventions of Gothic writing Access challenging texts from a variety of authors and eras Writing ‘Know how to…’ Use features of form: narrative and descriptive writing Establish character, voice and setting in narrative writing Use descriptive devices appropriate for form, audience and task. Craft language choices and sentences for effect Shape whole texts through effective planning Develop an understanding of characterisation, tropes and writing styles. Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Wider Links British values and british authors Identity and diversity including women RSE themes explored	Macbeth Reading ‘Know how to…’ Track plot, analyse character and theme Understand and explain Shakespeare’s intentions Annotate, track and plan for responses Link text to context where appropriate Select references and quotations Synthesise and summarise information Writing ‘Know how to…’ Write with critical style; write with accuracy and fluency Use features of form: letters, newspaper articles Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Wider Links History - Jacobean era Emotional wellbeing (Macbeth and Lady Macbeth) Religion and the connection to monarchy	War Poetry Reading ‘Know how to…’ Understand meaning of each poem; discuss poets’ use of form, structure and language; apply contextual knowledge to poems Make comparisons between poems Create effective annotations to facilitate learning Select references and quotations Writing ‘Know how to…’ Write with critical style; write with accuracy and fluency Use features of form: letters, diary entries, articles Use features of form: transactional writing Establish character, voice and setting in narrative writing Use descriptive devices appropriate for form, audience and task. Craft language choices and sentences for effect Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Read poetry with a consideration for pace, tone and meaning Wider Links WW1 poetry links to British Values Identity and diversity including women and LGBTQ+ community Direct links to history study (WW1)	Short Stories Reading ‘Know how to…’ Track meanings across whole texts Select references and quotations Synthesise and summarise information Compare view points across texts Make evaluative comments supported by the text language analysis Writing ‘Know how to…’ Use features of form: transactional writing in line with GCSE specification Establish tone, purpose and formality Write with accuracy and fluency Consider the structuring of a text to make it purposeful and impactful Craft language choices and sentences for effect Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Wider Links Identity and diversity Tolerance and morality Global, national and local issues	Blood Brothers Reading ‘Know how to…’ Track plot, analyse character and theme Understand and explain Russel's intentions Annotate, track and plan for responses Link text to context where appropriate Select references and quotations Understand conventions of a playscript Writing ‘Know how to…’ Write with critical style; write with accuracy and fluency Use features of form: letters, newspaper articles Use descriptive devices appropriate for form, audience and task Craft language choices and sentences for effect Use features of form: descriptive writing, playscript Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Wider Links Tolerance (class, capitalism, socialism, family) Identity and diversity Historical context of class and society RSE Themes explored
Assessment details	NMM - National baseline - writing In Class Assessment End of Unit Milestone - Writing - NMM	In Class Assessment End of Unit Milestone - NMM	In Class Assessment End of Unit Milestone - NMM	In Class Assessment End of Unit Milestone - NMM	NMM - National baseline - writing In Class Assessment End of Unit Milestone - NMM
10	A Christmas Carol Reading ‘Know how to…’ Track plot, analyse character and theme Understand and explain Priestley’s intentions Annotate, track and plan for responses Link text to context where appropriate Writing ‘Know how to…’ Write with critical style; write with accuracy and fluency" "Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Plan speech effectively for audience and purpose Present ideas effectively for class debate Wider Links British Values - mutual respect and tolerance; friendships; family relationships Identity, equality and diversity explored Active citizenship & community values	Language C1 and Narrative writing Reading ‘Know how to…’ Track meanings across whole texts Analyse impressions of character Evaluate writer's language and structure choices Select references and quotations Synthesise and summarise information Writing ‘Know how to…’ Use features of form: narrative and descriptive writing Establish character, voice and setting in narrative writing Use descriptive devices appropriate for form, audience and task. Craft language choices and sentences for effect Shape whole texts through effective planning Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Wider Links British Values - Individual liberty and the freedom to express feelings, beliefs, values	Poetry War Cluster; C2 Language and Transactional Writing Reading ‘Know how to…’ Understand meaning of each poem; discuss poets’ use of form, structure and language; apply contextual knowledge to poems Make comparisons between poems Create effective annotations to facilitate learning Track whole texts Develop and consolidate comment/evidence Writing ‘Know how to…’ Write with critical style; write with accuracy and fluency Use features of form: transactional writing - letters and speeches, review, article Use rhetorical devices appropriate for form, audience and task. Craft language choices and sentences for effect Shape whole texts through effective planning Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Wider Links WW1 poetry links to British Values Identity and diversity including women Direct links to history study (WW1)	Poetry Cluster 2 & 3 Reading ‘Know how to…’ Understand meaning of each poem; discuss poets’ use of form, structure and language; apply contextual knowledge to poems Make comparisons between poems Writing ‘Know how to…’ Write with critical style; write with accuracy and fluency" "Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Wider Links RSE themes explored through poem choice Identity, equality and diversity explored	An Inspector Calls and Spoken Language (C3) Reading ‘Know how to…’ Track plot, analyse character and theme Understand and explain Priestley’s intentions Annotate, track and plan for responses Link text to context where appropriate Writing ‘Know how to…’ Write with critical style; write with accuracy and fluency Transational writing - rhetorical devices, speech writing Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Present ideas effectively for class debate Wider Links British Values - respect for the law; responsibility RSE themes explored Active citizenship & community values History - Edwardian era	An Inspector Calls & C1 Trial Reading ‘Know how to…’ Track plot, analyse character and theme Understand and explain Shakespeare’s intentions Annotate, track and plan for responses Link text to context where appropriate Track meanings across whole texts Analyse impressions of character Evaluate writer's language and structure choices Select references and quotations Synthesise and summarise information Writing ‘Know how to…’ Write with critical style; write with accuracy and fluency Use features of form: narrative and descriptive writing Establish character, voice and setting in narrative writing Use descriptive devices appropriate for form, audience and task. Craft language choices and sentences for effect Shape whole texts through effective planning Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Wider Links British Values - respect for the law; responsibility RSE themes explored Active citizenship & community values History - Edwardian era
Assessment details	Assessment ACC end of unit exam response (in class)	Assessment In class C1 assessment	Assessment In class assessment - C2 Language Poetry Comparison exam response	Assessment Poetry exam response	Assessment End of unit AIC exam response (in class) Spoken Language presentation	Assessment Internal mock exams English Language C1 mock End of unit AIC (in class)
11	Romeo and Juliet Reading ‘Know how to…’ Track plot, analyse character and theme Understand and explain Shakespeare’s intentions Annotate, track and plan for responses Link text to context where appropriate Writing ‘Know how to…’ Write with critical style; write with accuracy and fluency Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Organise information and ideas effectively for an informative presentation Plan speech effectively for audience and purpose Wider Links British Values - Democracy and the role of the government (the Prince); age of consent RSE themes explored Active citizenship & community values History - Jacobean era	English Language C2 And Poetry Cluster 4 Reading ‘Know how to…’ Track meanings across whole texts Select references and quotations Synthesise and summarise information Compare view points across texts Make evaluative comments supported by the text Writing ‘Know how to…’ Use features of form: review, article, report Use rhetorical devices appropriate for form, audience and task. Craft language choices and sentences for effect Shape whole texts through effective planning Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Plan speech effectively for audience and purpose Organise ideas persuasively for a speech Wider Links British Values - Individual liberty and the freedom to express feelings, beliefs, values	English Language C1 and C2 Revisits and C1 and C2 Literature revisits Reading ‘Know how to…’ Track meanings across whole texts Analyse impressions of character Evaluate writer's language and structure choices Select references and quotations Synthesise and summarise information Compare view points across texts Make evaluative comments supported by the text Writing ‘Know how to…’ Use features of form: narrative and descriptive writing Establish character, voice and setting in narrative writing Use descriptive devices appropriate for form, audience and task. Craft language choices and sentences for effect Shape whole texts through effective planning Use features of form: review, article, report, speech, letter Use rhetorical devices appropriate for form, audience and task. Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English Wider Links British Values - Individual liberty and the freedom to express feelings, beliefs, values	TBC in accordance with necessary run in to exams. Reading ‘Know how to…’ Revision of analysis, CED, retrival, inference, evaluation, comparison Writing ‘Know how to…’ Revison of narrative writng, transactional writng, analytical writing (CED) Oracy ‘Know how to…’ Spoken langauge and listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback Express ideas using Standard English
Assessment details	Assessment Mocks - C1 Literature paper	Assessment Internal mock exams C2 Language mock exam and C1 Literature mock	Assessment Internal mock exams C2 Literature and C1 Language	Assessment Final Exams

KNOWLEDGE ORGANISERS

A Knowledge Rich Curriculum at Selby High School

Research around memory suggests that if knowledge is studied once and not revisited or revised, it is not stored in the long-term memory. This means that after one lesson, or revising for one test, the knowledge will not be retained unless it is studied again. It won’t be recalled unless it is revisited frequently, which will embed it in the long term memory. In the long term this makes recall far easier. As part of home learning, students should be revising what they have been taught recently but also content they were taught previously. Therefore as part of our strategy to embed learning over time we have started to develop knowledge organisers across all year groups and curriculum areas. These will provide key content and knowledge allowing students to pre-learn and re-learn, a vital part of processing all the information required to be successful in the new style GCSE’s.

Instructions for using your knowledge organisers

KS3 = Years 7, 8 & 9
KS4 = Years 10 & 11

Below are the knowledge organisers for each topic in this subject. These knowledge organisers will become embedded in the Learning Journeys for each topic as they are created on Ready Steady Learn.

Year 7
IQBAL

Year 8
The Tempest

Year 9
Gothic
Macbeth
Of Mice and Men
Of Mice and Men Citation of Images
WW1 Poetry

Years 7, 8 & 9
KS3 Writing skills
Spelling, Punctuation & Grammar

KS4
English Language: Reading
English Language: Writing

A Christmas Carol
An Inspector Calls
Power & Conflict Poetry
Romeo & Juliet
Spotlight on Language & Structure