ENGLISH LITERATURE

Studying literature ensures that our students will learn not only how to analyse a text, but also how to gain experience of a wide range of analytic and critical thinking skills, as well as a broad understanding of the development of philosophical and political movements throughout the ages. The study of literature enables students to broaden their horizons through the development of cultural capital, as well as apply a fresh and creative quality to their studies and, it could be said, to life as a whole.

Not only does our curriculum include seminal texts, it also uses a thematic study for students to make connections between texts and ideas as they have developed over time. Furthermore, our students are encouraged to make connections between the differences in expression and construction by studying and comparing different forms and genres. For example, our Year 8 students study the exploration of the theme of war through the novel War Horse and study a range of war poets to consider a range of perspectives and understand how to analyse in a nuanced manner. Our students have access to Bedrock in order to not only support their reading and literacy, but also to use a range of engaging technologies to encourage love of language and literature.

At Key Stage 4, our students conduct in depth studies of the 19th Century text: Jekyll and Hyde, the AQA Anthology of Poetry (Power and Conflict), JB Priestley’s An Inspector Calls, Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and a range of unseen poems. Students begin by understanding the texts and quickly develop their studies into the themes and perspectives in order to furnish them with the key knowledge and skills to achieve.

Key areas of development will be as follows:

• Reading critically
• Writing personal responses
• Speaking and listening
• Analytical skills
• Contextualising key texts
• Developing the use of expression

Students will study the following key areas:

• Shakespeare
• 19th century novels
• Modern texts
• Various types and styles of poetry
• Seminal world texts
• Childrens’ literature
• The literary canon

Curriculum Overview – English Literature