KS3 English
Course Overview
Our aim at Key Stage 3 is to enthuse and inspire students to enjoy reading and writing. We strive to develop inquisitive and imaginative learners while also giving students the opportunity to study a range of texts from the Literary Canon as well as exploring more contemporary texts. Students will be encouraged to develop independence and insight while exploring a wide variety of topics and texts.
Year 7/8 Topics:
• Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson:
This unit aims to introduce students to a 19th
century text to allow them to start developing
the skills to interpret and analyse this type of
literature independently and confidently. It
also aims to encourage an appreciation for
English literary heritage texts and provide
students with the opportunity to focus in
depth on one author.
• Shakespeare’s Heroes and Villains:
Students will be developing the skills required to be able
to interpret and analyse Shakespeare
independently and confidently. This unit also
aims to foster an appreciation of English
literary heritage and expose students to
different forms of texts, as well as providing
opportunities to combine drama into the KS3
curriculum.
• Gothic Fiction:
This unit aims to broaden students knowledge of different genres and encourage them to read more widely. By using extracts from well known Gothic texts we hope to foster an appreciation of classic literature by exploring works by authors like Shelley and Bronte.
• The Windsinger by William Nicholson or The Boy In Striped Pyjamas By John Boyne Through the themes of the novel, students will be able to explore a range of challenging social and emotional themes, like oppression, power and injustice, and apply these to their own lives.
• Shakespeare’s Hamlet:
Students will be developing the skills required to be able to interpret and analyse Shakespeare independently and confidently. This unit also aims to foster an appreciation of English literary heritage and expose students to different forms of texts, as well as providing opportunities to combine drama into the KS3 curriculum.
• Introduction to Poetry:
Students will be given the opportunity to study poetry from other cultures and get the chance to engage with this mode of writing.
• Inspirational Speeches:
Students will have the opportunity to explore significant speeches throughout history and use them as inspiration for their own debates and speeches.
• Great Expectations by Charles Dickens:
This unit aims to introduce students to a 19th century text to allow them to continue developing the skills to interpret and analyse this type of literature independently and confidently. It also aims to encourage an appreciation for English literary heritage texts and provide students with the opportunity to focus in depth on one author.
• The Chrysalids by John Wyndham or The Giver by Lois Lowry:
Through the themes of these novels, students will be able to explore a range of challenging social and emotional themes, like oppression, power and injustice, and apply these to their own lives.