English

Through the study of English we believe that students are able to develop their confidence, empathy and morality whilst becoming effective communicators and citizens of the world.

Through the study of English at Chingford Foundation School, we will:

• Develop students’ speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in order to allow them to effectively communicate with others and better understand and express themselves. Effective communicators are more confident and able to face the world in which they live.
• Academically, students will be more successful across a range of subjects should they be able to confidently express their ideas and understand information they are presented with.
• Instil a love of reading in our students, with all the benefits that brings. Literature enables students to develop an understanding of the human experience, of diversity and of the world beyond that which they currently inhabit.
• Students should also learn to be critical of what they read so that they are better able to understand the information they are given and the world around them.
• Foster the curiosity and creativity of students which leads them to further enjoy their studies in English.
• Students should be creative in their use of language and also be given opportunities to imagine worlds and situations beyond their own experiences.

We link our curriculum to the school values:

• Care – through English, students develop empathy and morality, better understanding the world around them and the situations of others. This will lead to a more caring student body.
• Ambition – developing skills in English will open doors for students: it will better enable them to access and achieve in other subjects and will give them key skills required to succeed in life after education.
• Respect – within classrooms, we use dialogic learning strategies that necessitate students showing respect for each other and the teacher. Additionally, by experiencing a broad range of human experience through their English studies, students are more able to understand and respect others.
• Equality – through the study of literature, students explore a range of discriminatory concepts, such as racism, misogyny and classism. Students develop their own understanding of ethical ideas as they respond to the ideas presented to them in literature.

The English Curriculum

Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9)

Each year students will study:

• At least one novel
• Shakespeare
• Poetry
• Non-fiction texts
• Creative writing

We choose texts which both challenge and enthuse students and which also prepare them for the next stage of their education. For example, in Year 9 students learn GCSE level texts in order to better prepare them for their Year 10 GCSE studies. We regularly review the texts we study in order to ensure students get the best experience possible through their English studies. 

A full list of the texts studied each year can be seen in our Curriculum Plans.

We recognise reading as a key to students’ academic progress. Each week, students in KS3 will have thirty minutes of English lesson time dedicated to independent reading. This supplements the twenty-five minutes per week students have during tutor time. We also expect students to read at home for at least thirty minutes every day.

Key Stage 4 (GCSE)

We enter students for the AQA English Language and the AQA English Literature GCSEs. In Literature, students study the following set texts:

• The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
• Macbeth
• An Inspector Calls
• Love and Relationships Poetry (AQA anthology)

Key Stage 5 (A-Level)

We offer English Language and English Literature A-Levels. Both of these qualifications are academically rigorous and are recognised by universities as prestige subjects. Students develop their analytical and writing skills, preparing them for a number of university courses and also giving them essential life-skills which will prove invaluable in a number of future career choices.

Extra-curricular

Our dedicated team of English teachers offer a number of clubs for our students. These include:

• Reading clubs
• Reading mentoring
• Poetry club
• Young Writers Club

We encourage students with particular interests to let us know about them and we will endeavour to create clubs which they show an interest in being a part of.

Further information:

Please see below links for further information on the Learning Journey within English:

English Learning Journey Key Stage 3

English Learning Journey Key Stage 4