English
We are currently redesigning our curriculum implementation documents. Links to previous implementation documents that contain OLD KS3 and current KS4 are still available. KS4 will be updated shortly.
Intent:
Aims and Vision:
Our aim is to empower all students to communicate confidently and effectively through their reading, writing and oracy, equipping them with the skills necessary to be successful in an ever-changing world. Equally, we foster an interest in literature and reading that encourages students to look outside their own worlds and develop characteristics that will enhance their own lives and the lives of those with whom they have relationships.
Knowledge and Skills:
Reading – Our curriculum has been designed to engage, inspire and challenge readers. We are proud of the breadth and variety of texts available to students and teach texts that explore issues and topics that are relevant and important to our young people. Reading skills are revisited and embedded through reading lessons and a sequenced curriculum that introduces a range of genres and variety of texts at KS3. Students are encouraged to read challenging materials both in the academy library and at home. Additionally, all students are expected to complete Sparx Reader online homework each week. This is a personalised programme that helps develop reading skills over time. We also offer an after-school club for students that require support. At KS4, students use the knowledge and skills embedded at KS3 to study GCSE texts.
Writing – Our curriculum supports and ensures that students write confidently and fluently, preparing them for the world of work. Through their study of various genres and texts, students develop their writing skills for a range of purposes and audiences. Through the teaching of genres such as gothic and dystopian, students analyse excellent models of writing and learn how to craft their own writing effectively. Throughout their journey at BBG, students learn how to craft both creative and viewpoint writing, preparing them for their GCSE English Language exam. Extracurricular opportunities to write and perform for pleasure include The Creative Writing Club and our BBG Literature Festival. These opportunities have led to
Oracy – Students are encouraged to think, articulate their ideas, build on and challenge those of others in an appropriate register and style. Some texts studied, such as Pygmalion in Year 9, explicitly explore Standard English, Dialect and accent, developing students' understanding of English language. In Years 8 and 9 students have a fortnightly Oracy lesson. Lessons are linked to the topic they are studying. For example, in Year 9 Dystopian, students discuss the idea of national identity. Students are taught specific roles for discussion and debate and build confidence in speaking about current issues and the world that they live in. At KS4 students prepare for their Spoken Language Endorsement by delivering a speech on a topic of their choice.
Coherent Sequencing:
The English curriculum has been designed to ensure that our students’ journey whilst at BBG is engaging, thought-provoking and allows them to build on knowledge and skills as they progress through the Key Stages. Students build on knowledge and develop skills in reading and writing year-on-year, gaining confidence and skill. For example, in KS3, students study three Shakespearean tragedies: Romeo and Juliet, Richard III and Julius Caesar. Subsequently, students are confident discussing the genre, language, structure and context when they begin their KS4 study of Macbeth. For example, in Year 7, students will develop crafting descriptions of setting and introduce a description of a character. By the end of Year 9, students will have developed a four-part structure, additionally building tension and suspense and concluding with a cyclical structure.
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