English

At Golborne, English is a place of exploration, discovery, and personal growth. Pupils are immersed in a range of captivating texts, from canonical classics to trailblazing modern offerings. Our curriculum aims to give pupils a mirror through which they can reflect upon their own opinions and experiences, whilst providing a window into other cultures and lived experiences.

Building upon their learning at Key Stage 2, pupils will continue to develop their reading, writing, and technical accuracy as they progress throughout our Key Stage 3 programme of study. Our curriculum spirals by design, fostering ambition for all learners as they develop and articulate their own beliefs and ideas. In accordance with the Key Stage 3 National Curriculum, our pupils will delve into a carefully chosen range of texts. Pupils will be taught to appreciate the nuances of the texts they study, exploring authorial intent, writer’s craft, and developing their own creativity.

Our curriculum provides exposure to influential British writers alongside a range of diverse and global texts. By broadening pupils’ understanding of literature, past and present, we aim to enhance their cultural and social literacy in preparation for life beyond the classroom. Pupils are provided with extra-curricular opportunities to take our subject further: visiting our school library, attending the annual book fair, engaging in public speaking events, or visiting the theatre.

A passion for reading is fostered throughout our curriculum journey, with an appreciation of the spoken and written word underpinning its design. Our teachers strive to ignite an enthusiasm for reading and support our pupils to find their own voices.

As our pupils enter Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11), they solidify and build upon their Key Stage 3 knowledge in preparation for their AQA English Literature GCSE and AQA English Language GCSE. In English Literature, pupils continue to study many well-loved classics, specifically: Shakespeare’s cautionary tale ‘Macbeth’, Golding’s dystopian novel ‘Lord of the Flies’, Dickens’ social commentary ‘A Christmas Carol’, and a captivating collection of ‘Power and Conflict’ poetry. In preparation for their English Language GCSE, our pupils will also study a myriad of extracts from fiction, non-fiction texts, and other media.