Approaches to teaching and learning in English
Whilst students are in Years 7 & 8, we have the ethos that every student is
progressing from Key Stage 2 and preparing for KS4. Throughout Years 7 and 8,
every student will acquire and enhance the vital skills needed for their GCSE
studies. Every aspect of the schemes of work is tailored to ensure that each
student is making progress each lesson whilst being fully prepared for the skills
needed for GCSE. Students are enriched in English by taking part in activities such
as ‘Punctuation Rocks’, ‘Get Caught Reading’, ‘Shakespeare Symphony’, ‘Read for
my School’, Debating and a Shakespeare based trip to London.
Curriculum Overview
Year 7 Content
AUTUMN HALF TERM 1
READING
WRITING
Non Fiction Reading Skills






Descriptive Writing
Point, Evidence, Explanation & Link
Purpose, Audience & Format
Skimming & Scanning Skills
Highlighting & Selecting Relevant
Evidence
Focussed development of individual
reading AFs
Analysis of a wide range of Non-Fiction
texts (considerable range of different
purposes, audiences and formats)








Descriptive Devices
Planning & Developing ideas
Punctuation
Vocabulary Extension
Sentences Types
Focus: Technical weaknesses
highlighted in baseline assessment
Importance of Accuracy
Emphasis on planning, drafting, editing
and proofreading writing
SPOKEN ENGLISH: Group Discussion (Debate Focus)
AUTUMN HALF TERM 2
READING
Fictional Reading Skills






Wide Range of texts (Modern & Literary
Heritage) (Extracts & Short Stories)
Development of Point, Evidence,
Explanation & Link
Close analysis of extracts
Reading of Abridged Heritage Text with
extracts of the original text
Grammar Terms
Author’s Craft
WRITING
Creative Writing: Short Story







Revision of Descriptive Devices
Story Structure
Genre Features: Gothic, Science
Fiction, Adventure, Fantasy, Detective
& Romance
Character Description
Setting Description
Narrative Hooks
Vocabulary Extension






Analysis of Seasonal Poetry – Language
Skills Focus
At least 2 authors in depth (preferably
Literary Heritage)
Social & Historical Context of Heritage
Texts (High Quality Works)

Dialogue Punctuation
Importance of Accuracy
Sentence Types for effect
Emphasis on planning, drafting, editing
and proofreading writing
SPOKEN ENGLISH: Role Play
SPRING HALF TERM 1
READING
WRITING
Reading Skills based on Novel/Play
Persuasive Writing & Article Format

Narrative Openings & Predictions








Language Analysis
Themes
Characters
Author’s Craft
Narrative Endings
Social and Historical Context (High
Quality Works)





Rhetorical Devices
Connectives & Structure for Non
Fiction
Planning & Developing Points
Formal Vocabulary
Importance of Accuracy
Newspaper / Magazine Article Format
Emphasis on planning, drafting, editing
and proofreading writing
SPOKEN ENGLISH: Individual Presentation
SPRING HALF TERM 2
READING
WRITING
Shakespeare






Writing to Inform & Explain &
Features of the Globe Theatre
Biographical Context
Elizabethan Context
Abridged version of play with analysis
of at least 1 extract from the original
text.
Language analysis
Author’s craft
Presentational Devices





Features of Writing to Inform & Explain
Presentational Devices
Leaflet Format
Analysis of leaflets
Emphasis on planning, drafting, editing
and proofreading writing
SPOKEN ENGLISH: Role Play
SUMMER HALF TERM 1
READING
Non-Fiction Reading Skills – Including
Literary Non Fiction






Focussed development of individual
reading AFs
Wide range of Non-Fiction texts (range
of different purposes, audiences and
formats)
Analysis of Literary Non-Fiction text:
travel writing, autobiographies,
biographies & diary entries
Textual analysis skills
Writer’s viewpoint
Language Analysis
WRITING
Writing to Argue & Letter Format








Development of Rhetorical Devices
Letter Layout
Developing Arguments & Counter
Arguments
Sentences types
Importance of Accuracy
Connectives & Structure
Formal Vocabulary
Emphasis on planning, drafting, editing
and proofreading writing
SPOKEN ENGLISH: Group Discussion (Debate Focus)
SUMMER HALF TERM 2
READING
WRITING
Analysis of Non-Fiction Texts Revision,
Poetry Anthology & Unseen Poetry










Revision of Non-Fiction textual analysis
skills
Revision of Point, Evidence,
Explanation & Link
Poetic Devices
Language Analysis
Structural Analysis
Development of Point, Evidence,
Explanation & Link
Comparative skills
Social & Historical context of anthology
poetry (High Quality Works)
Themes
Unseen poetry skills
Descriptive Writing Revision, Poetry
Writing & Writing to Review






Revision of Descriptive Devices
Importance of Accuracy
Create own poem based on theme from
poetry anthology (Poetic Devices)
Writing to Review features
Revision of Purpose, Audience &
Format
Emphasis on planning, drafting, editing
and proofreading writing
Year 8 Content
AUTUMN HALF TERM 1
READING
WRITING
Fictional Reading Skills








Descriptive Writing & Gothic Narrative
Wide Range of texts (Modern & Literary
Heritage) (Extracts & Short Stories)
Development of Point, Evidence,
Explanation & Link
Close analysis of extracts
Reading of Abridged Heritage Text with
extracts of the original text
Grammar Terms
Author’s Craft
At least 2 authors in depth (preferably
Literary Heritage)
Social & Historical Context of Heritage
Texts (High Quality Works)













Revision of Descriptive Devices
Planning & Developing ideas
Punctuation
Vocabulary Extension
Focus: Technical weaknesses
highlighted in baseline assessment
Story Structure
Development of Gothic Genre features
Character Description
Setting Description
Narrative Hooks
Dialogue Punctuation
Importance of Accuracy
Sentence Types for effect
SPOKEN ENGLISH: Group Discussion (Debate Focus)
AUTUMN HALF TERM 2
READING
Shakespeare



Revision of features of the Globe
Theatre
Development of Biographical Context
Development of Elizabethan Context
WRITING
Writing to Inform & Explain &
Newspaper Article Format


Features of Writing to Inform & Explain
Connectives & Structure for Non



Abridged version of play with analysis
of at least 2 extracts from original.
Language analysis
Author’s craft





Fiction
Planning & Developing Points
Formal Vocabulary
Importance of Accuracy
Newspaper Article Format
Emphasis on planning, drafting, editing
and proofreading writing
SPOKEN ENGLISH: Role Play
SPRING HALF TERM 1
READING
WRITING
Non-Fiction Reading Skills – Including
Literary Non Fiction






Writing to Argue & Leaflet Format


Focussed development of individual
reading AFs
Wide range of Non-Fiction texts -(range
of different purposes, audiences and
formats)
Analysis of Literary Non-Fiction text:
travel writing, autobiographies,
biographies & diaries
Textual analysis skills
Writer’s viewpoint
Language Analysis







Development of Rhetorical Devices
Developing Arguments & Counter
Arguments
Sentences types
Importance of Accuracy
Connectives & Structure
Formal Vocabulary
Presentational Devices
Leaflet Format
Analysis of leaflets
SPOKEN ENGLISH: Individual Presentation
SPRING HALF TERM 2
READING
WRITING
Reading Skills based on Novel/Play







Narrative Openings & Predictions
Language Analysis
Themes
Characters
Author’s Craft
Narrative Endings
Social and Historical Context (High
Quality Works)
Writing to Persuade & Letter Format








Letter Layout
Rhetorical Devices
Connectives & Structure for Non
Fiction
Planning & Developing Points
Formal Vocabulary
Importance of Accuracy
Newspaper / Magazine Article Format
Emphasis on planning, drafting, editing
and proofreading writing
SPOKEN ENGLISH: Group Discussion (Debate Focus)
SUMMER HALF TERM 1
READING
Reading Skills based on Novel/Play







Narrative Openings & Predictions
Language Analysis
Themes
Characters
Author’s Craft
Narrative Endings
Social and Historical Context (High
WRITING
Writing to review & magazine format





Writing to Review features
Importance of Accuracy
Emphasis on planning, drafting, editing
and proofreading writing
Connectives & Structure for Non
Fiction
Planning & Developing Points
Quality Works)



Formal Vocabulary
Magazine Article Format
Emphasis on planning, drafting, editing
and proofreading writing
SPOKEN ENGLISH: Role Play
SUMMER HALF TERM 2
READING
Analysis of Non-Fiction Texts Revision,
Poetry Anthology & Unseen Poetry










Revision of Non-Fiction textual analysis
skills
Revision of Point, Evidence,
Explanation & Link
Poetic Devices
Language Analysis
Structural Analysis
Development of Point, Evidence,
Explanation & Link
Comparative skills
Social & Historical context of anthology
poetry (High Quality Works)
Themes
Unseen poetry skills
WRITING
Descriptive Writing Revision & Poetry
Writing





Revision of Descriptive Devices
Importance of Accuracy
Create own poem based on theme from
poetry anthology (Poetic Devices)
Revision of Purpose, Audience &
Format
Emphasis on planning, drafting, editing
and proofreading writing