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

There are no documents to display at present.

Y9 English assessment revision pack

Y9 Exams English Literature AIC Revision Pack 2025

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 aahmed@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

Spring term: Poetry – Finding A Voice; Frankenstein

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

Y8

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

Spring term: Place and Culture in Poetry; The Woman in Black

Summer term: Writing About Change; Dystopian Fiction

Y9

Autumn term: Of Mice And Men/Things Fall Apart; Hamlet

Spring term: Global Perspectives on Conflict; An Inspector Calls

Summer term: Iridescent Adolescent; GCSE Modern Text

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.

Extra-curricular activities and club

Creative Writing Club – every Wednesday 3.30-4.15pm in the Library/Y1C during Autumn and Spring terms
Young Reporters Club every Wednesday 1.30-2pm in Y2C during Autumn and Spring terms

Past Present Future Creative Writing Anthology 2023

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; Language Paper 1

Spring term: Modern Text; Language Paper 2

Summer term: 19th Century Novel

Y11

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

Spring term: Unseen Poetry; Modern Text; English Language Paper 2

Summer term: Revise all

Suggested reading

Scroll down for our recommended reads and revision resources!
19^th Century novels; modern 20^th century short fiction short stories; The Day and non-fiction news articles, modern drama, modern American literature, Shakespeare, contemporary war poetry collections, poetry from the Enlightenment and Romantic eras, reading for pleasure.

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

Frankenstein

Jane Eyre

Jekyll and Hyde

Romeo and Juliet

Great Expectations

English Literature paper 2

Animal Farm

Conflict Poetry

Unseen Poetry

A Taste of Honey

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.