English

The limits of my language means the limits of my world.

Ludwig Wittgenstein

Welcome to English! Here you will meet a vast range of exciting and varied texts which we delve into in class. You will have the opportunity to discuss interesting topics, to write challenging essays and to create your own characters and stories. You will also be able to take part in competitions and go on exciting theatre and poetry trips. At ABS we offer a rich and diverse curriculum to inspire you to find your own voice amongst powerful voices from literature. We will support you in achieving a high standard of literacy and engender a deep appreciation of reading both for pleasure and as part of cultural exploration and inclusion. The study of English Literature and Language at Acland Burghley aims to help you shape your identity as an individual and as contributors to society.

Curriculum

Curriculum Intent and Maps

English Curriculum Intent

KS3

The KS3 English curriculum develops our students as critical and creative readers, writers, speakers and listeners. We provide students with a diverse range of interesting and challenging texts across time and place, introducing them to powerful literary voices and allowing them to shape their own voice in response. Throughout KS3, we teach students that English is a question not an answer. They learn to be inquisitive about the texts they encounter, collaborative in their exploration of them and imaginative in their response to them. If you have any queries about the curriculum, please contact me at owild@aclandburghley.camden.sch.uk

Develops pupils’ skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening
Develops proficiency of spelling, grammar and punctuation
Develops a habit of reading widely and independently
Develops pupils as individuals and contributors to society

Y7

Autumn term: In the Sea There Are Crocodiles; Greek Myths

Y7.1 MTP In the Sea

Y7.2 MTP Greek Myths

Spring term: Poetry – Finding A Voice; Frankenstein

Y7.3 Poetry – Finding a Voice MTP

Y7.4 Frankenstein MTP

Summer term: The Art of Persuasion; The Immersive Read - Oh My Gods

Y7.5 The Art of Persuasion MTP

Y8

Autumn term: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time; The Tempest

Y8.1 Curious Incident MTP

Y8.2 The Tempest MTP

Spring term: Place and Culture in Poetry; The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Y8.3 Place and Culture in Poetry MTP

Y8.4 Jekyll & Hyde MTP

Summer term: Writing About Change; Dystopian Fiction

Y8.5 Writing about change MTP

Y8.6 Dystopian Tales MTP

Y9

Autumn term: Of Mice and Men/Hamlet/Macbeth

Y9.1 Of Mice and Men MTP

Y9.2 Hamlet MTP

Y9.2 Macbeth MTP

Spring term: Global Perspectives on Conflict; An Inspector Calls

Y9.3 Global Perspectives on Conflict MTP

Y9.4 An Inspector Calls MTP

Summer term: Iridescent Adolescent; GCSE English Language Paper 2

Y9.5 Iridescent Adolescent MTP

Y9 Exams English Literature AIC Revision Pack 2025

Reading list

Skills developed at KS3

Develops students’ ability to read increasingly ambitious texts with greater fluency and comprehension, including novels, short stories, plays and poems.
Develops students’ ability to read critically, and identify and comment on a writer’s choices.
Develops students’ ability to write imaginatively and effectively in a range of forms for different purposes and audiences.
Develop students’ ability to express their ideas in speech and listen to others.
Develops students’ technical accuracy in spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Develops students’ understanding of British and global literature across time.

Homework

Students in Years 7, 8 and 9 complete weekly Sparx Reader homework.
Students in Years 7 and 8 complete a homework project each half-term linked to the unit of work they are studying. Examples include research tasks, creating a poster or presentation and creative writing.
Students in Year 9 complete pieces of writing homework as decided by their teacher to support learning in lessons and revision.

Extra-curricular activities and club

Creative Writing Club – every Wednesday 1:35-2pm (during lunch) in Y1A

KS4

The demands of the new English Curriculum at KS4 mean that students will be prepared throughout the course by completing extended timed writing with a high level of accuracy. The cultural experience of students and their relationship with reading is integral in creating successful outcomes so all our schemes of learning are enriched with independent learning opportunities.

If you have any queries please contact me at tvakil@aclandburghley.camden.sch.uk

Skills developed at GCSE:
Wide and varied reading of whole texts for pleasure and knowledge
Refines drafting skills and develops resilience in writing at length for a variety of purposes and audiences
Practise of formal and academic writing as well as writing imaginatively
Conscious control and aware of how writers craft meaning through language

Y10

Autumn term: Romeo and Juliet; Modern Text
Y10 Autumn 1 Shakespeare Y10 Autumn 2 Modern Text

Spring term: Language Power Poetry; Paper 1
Y10 Spring 1 Language P1 Y10 Spring 2 Power Poetry

Summer term: Conflict Poetry
Y10 Summer 1 Conflict Poetry Y10 Flying Start Language P2

Y11

Autumn term: 19^th Century Novel; Romeo and Juliet, Language Paper 1
Y11 Autumn 1 19th Century

Spring term: Unseen Poetry; Modern Text; English Language Paper 2
Y11 Spring 1 19th Century

Summer term: Revise all

GCSE Subject Specification

Please click through to the links to view more information on the AQA website.

English Language - AQA Exam Board

https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/english/specifications/AQA-8700-SP-2015.PDF

English Literature - AQA Exam Board

https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/english/specifications/AQA-8702-SP-2015.PDF

English Entry Level Step up - AQA Exam Board

https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/english/specifications/AQA-5970-SP-2015.PDF

Useful websites

Things to see and do

The Globe Theatre, The National Theatre, Southbank Centre poetry collection and events, History Walks in London Charles Dickens Museum, Sherlock Holmes Museum, British Library exhibitions, The Foundling Museum

Extra-curricular activities and clubs

We run English intervention classes for KS4 and regular opportunities for trip events. Look out for Poetry LIVE! and theatre excursions as well as visiting authors and practitioners.

Reading lists

Y11 Revision materials

GCSE English Language Timing of questions

English Language paper 1

English Language paper 2

English Literature paper 1

A Christmas Carol

Romeo and Juliet

Great Expectations

English Literature paper 2

Animal Farm

Conflict Poetry

Unseen Poetry

This area will show all documents uploaded to the /docs/CURRICLULUM/ENGLISH_LITERATURE_PAPER_2_UNSEEN_POETRY folder.

Documents in folders containing the word 'letter' or 'minute' are listed in the order they were uploaded, most recent upload at the top. Otherwise, documents are listed alphabetically.

KS5

Welcome to English A level at Acland Burghley School!

As part of the LaSWAP sixth form consortium, we offer two A Level English courses: English Literature (OCR) and English Language & Literature (AQA).

In English Literature, we read iconic British and American literature, developing your critical voice in response to them. We study Hamlet, The Great Gatsby, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Grapes of Wrath, A Doll’s House, and Christina Rossetti poetry. For coursework, students write a close reading essay and a comparative essay about texts studied in class.

In English Language & Literature, we read a fascinating range of fiction and non-fiction texts, exploring them from literary and linguistic perspectives. We study Frankenstein, The Great Gatsby, A Streetcar Named Desire, Carol Ann Duffy poetry, and a nonfiction anthology about Paris. For coursework, students conduct a comparative investigation into a literary text and non-literary material of their choice.

If you have any questions about A Level English at Acland Burghley School, feel free to contact me at lgoodacre@aclandburghley.camden.sch.uk. For more information on the LaSWAP website, please click the links below.

Reading list

KS5 Reading list

English

Head of Faculty

Second in charge

Subject Leads

Teachers

Curriculum

Curriculum Intent and Maps

KS3

Y7

Y8

Y9

Reading list

Skills developed at KS3

Homework

Extra-curricular activities and club

KS4

Y10

Y11

Suggested reading

GCSE Subject Specification

Useful websites

Things to see and do

Extra-curricular activities and clubs

Reading lists

Y11 Revision materials

KS5

Reading list