English

Our intention is to provide an English education which creates “creative, curious and independent students of English with the ability to analyse, evaluate, and communicate their ideas clearly. Students should understand the significance of the study of English and appreciate its importance - not only in terms of exam requirements, but also its relevance to their lives beyond school.”

Throughout their time at St Benet Biscop, our learners develop skills in critical reading, analysis and evaluation, learning to appreciate and engage with non-fiction texts as well as those from our rich and varied literary heritage. They learn to appreciate writers’ choices and engage with multiple perspectives and viewpoints, as well as seeking evidence to support their own views.

Students learn to write clearly, accurately and coherently, acquiring a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammatical, linguistic and structural conventions and the ability to adapt their writing for varied purposes and audiences.

Our students also learn to be proficient in the use of spoken language, both in presentation and discussion, asking perceptive questions and making clear contributions to demonstrate their understanding.

These following skills will allow students to progress and succeed in English at St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy:

• read easily, fluently and with good understanding

• develop the habit of reading widely and often, both for pleasure and information

• acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and linguistic convention

• appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage

• write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting language and style for purpose and audience

• be proficient in the use of spoken language, both in presentation and discussion.

Curriculum Organisation

In order to provide a broad and balanced curriculum, students in Year 7-11 cover units across the following categories in each year:

• reading fiction

• reading non-fiction

• reading poetry

• Shakespeare and modern drama

• writing fiction

• writing non-fiction

Teaching is designed to expose students to the best that has been thought and written, with highly ambitious texts facilitating the teaching of carefully sequenced substantive and disciplinary knowledge.

Key Stage 3

The curriculum embraces the richness of the English literary canon providing students with exposure to diverse and culturally significant texts in order to:

• instil a love of literature and reading within every student

• equips students with essential lifelong skills in reading, writing and oracy

• enrich the lives of our students through developing cultural capital

We are compliant with KS3 National Curriculum expectations for prose, poetry and drama.

Key Stage 4

The Key Stage 4 curriculum embraces the richness of the English literary canon whilst students are exposed to diverse and culturally significant texts. 

Our aims include:

• developing students’ insights into how writers present a range of viewpoints and perspectives, both contemporary and historical

• engaging students in creative texts, both descriptive and narrative, and using them to inspire independent creative writing

• learning how to better express themselves, through written and spoken contributions, for specific purposes and audiences in a way which displays technical accuracy

• enabling students to appreciate and respond critically to culturally and historically significant texts, understanding how these texts are placed within the canon of Literature

Students sit formal examinations in Year 11: GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature. The exam board for both is AQA.

Key Stage 5

The department offers 3 subjects at A Level:

English Language

Students are taught to:

• evaluate linguistic perspectives and respond to debates within language study with insight and perception

• evaluate and respond to spoken, written and multi-modal texts, recognising and exploring subtle aspects of meaning and demonstrating implicit understanding of the links between producer, receiver, mode and purpose

English Literature

Students are taught to:

• understand the conventions of the crime and tragedy genres, exploring how these are presented across a range of texts

• critique and evaluate texts through the lens of tragedy and crime

Media Studies

Students are taught to:

• apply critical approaches to media texts, understanding how they generate meaning and elicit emotional responses, as well as how different audiences react according to their perspectives

• create media products which are suitable for a specific target and audience, and to meet a given brief