English
Curriculum intent
The English department aims to foster literate, articulate, and creative students who can effectively communicate with their peers and the modern world. We have a strong focus on mastering spelling, punctuation and grammar and high expectations of the vocabulary they use. As pupils learn to talk and write as literary scholars, we celebrate their successes through creative opportunities. We provide every opportunity to help children read with confidence, thereby nurturing a lifelong love for learning. We are unapologetically ambitious in our determination to ensure all children read ambitious texts and enjoy analysing language.
Curriculum implementation
At Christ Church Secondary Academy, we are committed to equipping our students with the tools to build a brilliant future for themselves. Within our English curriculum, we provide our students with a wealth of knowledge and access to cultural capital through well-considered, diverse texts. We develop students’ compassion as we explore various contextual backgrounds and significant historical events.
Our curriculum is designed to be inclusive and unapologetically ambitious. We build courage in all our students because, regardless of their starting point or background, they engage with the same ambitious texts. We have implemented a 'spiral curriculum' approach and have carefully mapped core knowledge and skills which we revisit and revise frequently. This strategy supports students to apply their acquired knowledge in fresh contexts, thus deepening and refining their understanding.
We assess students’ knowledge and understanding using formative and summative assessment tasks in every unit of work and provide time for children to reflect on their feedback and make necessary improvements. In addition to this, we place a special emphasis on teaching grammar throughout Key Stage 3. Our goal is to foster a purposeful and creative relationship between grammar and writing. This is achieved through explicit instruction on grammatical concepts relevant to the writing process, developing students' awareness of language choices in the texts they read, and enhancing their understanding of the language choices they can make in their own writing.
Beyond the classroom, we continually aim to develop our students’ curiosity through a range of activities, including theatre trips to see productions such as 'Noughts and Crosses,' 'Matilda,' 'The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe,' 'The Woman in Black,' and 'Romeo and Juliet'. We even had the pleasure of hosting the ‘Rubbish Shakespeare Company’, who performed 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream' in our school Theatre. Additionally, our Creative Writing club, led by a member of the Maths department, provides students with a creative outlet. We also host engaging assemblies with guest speakers, including 'Blind Dave,' who shared insights from his book 'From Light to Dark,' and a representative from our local food pantry at Yardley Wood Baptist Church. Furthermore, we also offer an after-school intervention workshop for selected students to help them increase their reading age.
Our academy's library plays an important role in our Home Learning strategy, encouraging all students read for 30 minutes every day. To demonstrate how much we value books, we gift Year 6 students a novel on their Induction Day to read during the summer holiday and gift Year 7 students with another book for their Christmas holiday, this ensures books are in the homes of all our families.
Learning journey at KS3
You can download a copy of this curriculum overview using the link below:
CCSA English Learning Journey Key Stage 3
KS4 Curriculum & Exam
AQA English Literature
Course Title: AQA GCSE English Literature (8702)
Exam Board: AQA
Exam Board Website: AQA | English | GCSE | GCSE English Literature
Specification: AQA | English | GCSE | GCSE English Literature
Course Overview: The AQA English Literature course allows students to study a range of literature, from classic texts to contemporary plays and poetry. Students will engage with key themes like morality, power, and conflict, developing a deep understanding of both the written word and the world around them. Key texts include An Inspector Calls, Macbeth, A Christmas Carol, and the Power and Conflict poetry anthology.
Why is studying English Literature important? English Literature helps students develop critical thinking, empathy, and an understanding of diverse perspectives. By studying different genres and time periods, students explore how literature reflects society and human experiences, shaping their own views of the world. English Literature fosters analytical skills, creativity, and the ability to communicate ideas clearly and persuasively—skills valued across many future careers.
How the course is examined: The course is examined through two written papers:
Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel (Macbeth and A Christmas Carol)
Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry (An Inspector Calls and the Power and Conflict poetry anthology)
Both papers test students on their understanding of the texts, including character analysis, thematic discussion, and context.
Recommended Revision Guides:
CGP An Inspector Calls Revision Guide
CGP Macbeth Revision Guide
CGP A Christmas Carol Revision Guide
CGP Power and Conflict Poetry Guide
Future Careers: Studying English Literature opens doors to careers in journalism, law, teaching, publishing, advertising, and the creative industries. Strong analytical and communication skills are sought after in many sectors, including business, media, and government.
AQA English Language
Course Title: AQA GCSE English Language (8700)
Exam Board: AQA
Exam Board Website: AQA | English | GCSE | GCSE English Language
Specification: AQA | English | GCSE | GCSE English Language
Course Overview: The AQA English Language course focuses on developing students' reading, writing, and communication skills. It covers both creative and transactional writing, with a strong emphasis on analytical reading and responding to a range of unseen texts. This course encourages students to express their ideas fluently and confidently, equipping them with skills necessary for many academic and professional fields.
Why is studying English Language important? English Language is the foundation of effective communication. It helps students articulate their ideas clearly, interpret meaning from different texts, and engage with the world around them. English Language is key to success in almost every career path, as strong writing and reading skills are fundamental to professional and personal communication.
How the course is examined: The course is examined through two written papers:
Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing (fiction texts and descriptive/narrative writing)
Paper 2: Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives (non-fiction texts and transactional writing)
Both papers test students’ ability to analyse and compare texts, write creatively, and express viewpoints effectively.
Recommended Revision Guide:
CGP GCSE English Language Complete Revision Guide
Future Careers: English Language provides a strong foundation for careers in journalism, media, advertising, law, public relations, teaching, and any role that requires effective communication. The skills developed through English Language are essential for success in business, technology, and many other industries.
You can download a copy of this curriculum overview using the link below:
