English Curriculum Intent

A student of English is curious and inquisitive; they engage with the world around them and want to delve deeper. They read about those from other cultures, worlds and eras with an enquiring mind and develop a respect for diversity. They engage with the beauty of poetry; they read novels with open minds; they have a thirst for knowledge that is quenched by exploring a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction texts. Through writing, they develop their creative flair and their independent voice, learning how to write for a myriad of audiences and purposes whilst retaining their own idiosyncratic style. They become articulate participants in the world, understanding how to convey meaning in both writing and speech. The overarching intent of the English curriculum is to develop more confident, more independent, more thoughtful and better informed students whose experiences are enhanced due to the provision provided.  

The English curriculum will: 

• encourage the development of the Academy’s values: wisdom, curiosity, generosity, courage and passion. 

• ensure that pupils are challenged, engaged and motivated to be able: 

• at a personal level, to develop increasing levels of self-worth and cultural capital 

• at an economic level, to contribute to the increasingly complex world of work 

• at a societal level, to play a meaningful role in their local, national and international communities. 

• provide a coherent knowledge base that is appropriately powerful, transferable and intelligently sequenced, thereby enabling pupils to retain and recall knowledge, develop understanding and apply skills. 

• provide a meaningful experience that can be used to build wider cultural capital and cognitive ability. 

• celebrate pupil activities within and beyond formal timetabled arrangements that are memorable, inspiring and life-changing. 

Implementation 

To implement the intended curriculum, a number conceptual and organisational frameworks are used: 

• Curriculum flightpaths identifies key knowledge and skills throughout KS3-5 

• Departmental SOWs balance knowledge and skills, carefully building components to create composite learning  

• Departmental curriculum review frameworks which supports the review of the curriculum offer and assessment practice. 

• Maximising Learning provides a supportive framework for the wider development of effective pedagogical approaches. 

• Language for Learning provides a framework to create and refine successful approaches to the teaching of Reading, Writing and Speaking.  

• Maximising Effectiveness provides a suite of CPD opportunities for staff within the academy to further generate an enthusiasm for and enjoyment of their professional practice. 

Impact 

The department’s continued focus on the curriculum improves: 

• the quality of education for all learners and groups of learners 

• the personal development and well-being of learners 

• the chances for pupils to move successfully onto the next stage of their lives. 

• The cultural, economic and societal capital to become citizens of the world 

Please click on the link below in order to access the KS3-5 curriculum:

English Curriculum