English

"One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world."

– Malala Yousafzai

At Tile Cross Academy, we believe that English has the power to transform lives. Through reading, writing, discussion and debate, we develop confident communicators who are equipped with the knowledge, skills and cultural understanding needed to succeed both within school and beyond.

Our curriculum is carefully designed to inspire a love of reading, foster curiosity about the world and develop students as thoughtful, articulate and empathetic individuals. Through the study of challenging and diverse texts, students encounter a wide range of perspectives, experiences and ideas that help them to better understand themselves, others and the society in which they live.

Key Stage 3

Our Key Stage 3 curriculum is built around three conceptual lenses that allow students to explore increasingly complex ideas as they progress through the curriculum:

• Year 7 – Identity
• Year 8 – Internal and External Conflict
• Year 9 – Societal Impact

Students study a rich range of novels, poetry and drama, including works by writers such as Benjamin Zephaniah, John Steinbeck, Robert Louis Stevenson, William Shakespeare and Arthur Miller. Through these texts, students develop their understanding of important themes, contexts and perspectives whilst building the knowledge required for future success.

Alongside literary study, students explicitly develop key reading and writing skills. Reading skills include selecting evidence, inference, exploring writers’ intentions, understanding context, evaluation and comparison. Writing skills focus on accuracy, vocabulary development, sentence construction, organisation and writing for a range of purposes and audiences.

Knowledge is deliberately revisited and built upon throughout the curriculum to strengthen long-term memory and enable students to make meaningful connections between texts, concepts and ideas.

Key Stage 4

At GCSE, students study both English Language and English Literature throughout Years 10 and 11.

In English Literature, students study:

• Macbeth
• A Christmas Carol
• An Inspector Calls
• AQA Power and Conflict Poetry
• Unseen Poetry

Alongside Literature, students continue to develop the skills required for English Language, including descriptive and transactional writing, language analysis, structural analysis, comparison and evaluation.

Our curriculum ensures students leave school as confident readers, skilled writers and critical thinkers who can communicate effectively in a wide range of contexts.

Reading, Literacy and Oracy

Reading is at the heart of everything we do. Students are encouraged to read widely, develop ambitious vocabulary and engage critically with a range of texts and viewpoints. Through carefully planned opportunities for discussion, debate and presentation, students also develop the confidence to communicate their ideas clearly and respectfully.

By studying English at Tile Cross Academy, students develop not only the qualifications needed for future success, but also the literacy, confidence and cultural understanding that will support them throughout their lives.