English
Subject leader |
Sarah Kerridge: |
Curriculum IntentAt The Turing School, the English curriculum plays a vital role in promoting high standards of language and literacy. English has a pre-eminent place in education and in society. It equips students with a strong command of the spoken and written language, and fosters a love for literature through reading a wide range of diverse texts. English is not just a gateway to success in other subjects but a subject that opens the eyes of students to the human experience, encouraging them to explore meaning and ambiguity, and to appreciate the beauty and power of language. Through reading in particular, pupils have a chance to develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually. Our curriculum emphasises the importance of developing communication skills, a wide vocabulary, and understanding of grammar and linguistic conventions. Mastery of these skills is crucial for students to be able to participate fully as a member of society, to achieve success in all areas of life, including future careers. Our vision is to empower our students to become confident, creative, and critical thinkers, who possess cultural capital and are respectful, innovative, and aspirational. |
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Curriculum implementation |
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KS3Each year of Key Stage 3 has a clear focus and theme attached to it. Skills and knowledge are sequenced so that by the end of Year 9, students are fluent and competent readers and writers. Students have five English lessons per week, with one of these taking place in the Learning Hub. The Learning Hub lessons are dedicated to reading a whole class novel for pleasure and completing Bedrock lessons as part of our literacy provision. Bedrock Vocabulary is used throughout Years 7-9 to ensure that all students progress with their literacy skills. This is an online platform designed to help students extend and learn important and relevant vocabulary. As students progress through the Bedrock curriculum, they study hundreds of new words, improving their attainment across all subjects. |
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Year 7Year 7: Establish and Refine The purpose of the Year 7 curriculum is to establish expectations and a foundation of knowledge for Key Stage 3, and refine the skills students have developed over Key Stage 2. Students will explore a full range of texts around the theme of resilience. |
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Year 8Year 8: Embed and Practice The purpose of the Year 8 curriculum is to embed the key skills that were introduced in Year 7, and practice applying these to a whole range of Literature and Language texts. Students will explore a full range of texts around that link to empathy. |
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Year 9Year 9: Confidence and Independence Throughout Year 9, students will continue to develop their reading and writing skills, developing confidence in applying them to a wide range of genres and crafting a clear voice. They will approach tasks with more independence and have a successful foundation to commence Key Stage 4. Students will explore a full range of texts around that link to identity and voice.
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KS4At Key Stage 4, students commence studying their GCSEs in both English Language and English Literature following the AQA specifications:
Students have five English lessons per week with specialist teachers.
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Year 10 and Year 11 |
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English Language
English Literature Over the course of the GCSE, students will study:
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HomeworkAt Key Stage 3, homework is set weekly and takes the form of Bedrock Learning tasks and independent reading.
At Key Stage 4, homework tasks are focused around retrieval and revision. A range of resources are used including GCSEPod and Seneca Learning. |
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Enrichment and CareersEnrichmentThere are many extracurricular opportunities available to students through the English department including our fantastic student newspaper The Turing Times.
Students are also encouraged to take part in various competitions and opportunities throughout the year including reading challenges and celebration days.
CareersThe skills you gain through studying English will open the doors to many exciting careers in most sectors.
These include, but are not limited to: |
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Additional websites and resources
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