Year 7

Term 1

Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by author John Boyne, is an opportunity for Year 7 students to explore the concept of identity whilst developing their inference skills. This development is partly facilitated through the teaching of historical context in relation to cultural and religious identity, but also via the encouragement of students to explore and understand the text from their own perspective. A focus on building creative writing skills allows students to consider additional viewpoints in order to help develop empathy and compassion. In addition to this students are expected to be apply subject specific knowledge through analysis. A concentration on narrative conventions and character archetypes provide a strong foundation onto which other KS3 units will build.

Term 2

Poetry Anthology

Following on from the first unit the Poetry Anthology allows students to continue their exploration into identity and the different ways in which this is presented. Throughout the unit students consider works from a number of different poets and the variety of contextual factors that influenced them. A focus on knowledge and the application of poetic technique (including form and structure) will enable students to further hone their analytical writing skills. The overall aim of this unit is to provide pupils with a foundational knowledge of poetry, whilst also encouraging them to appreciate the importance of tolerance and understanding in a societal context.

Term 3

Richard III

The works of William Shakespeare are intrinsically embedded within the study of English. With this in mind it is vitally important that we are familiarising students with these texts throughout their time at Robert Smyth Academy – starting with Richard III in Year 7. This unit focuses on dramatic form and historical context, which will ultimately support students in their study of Romeo and Juliet in Year 9. Whilst providing a foundational knowledge of Shakespearean language, this historical play also enables students to further explore the concept of identity. With regard to writing skill, the students focus primarily on the application of descriptive technique and use this knowledge to add to their understanding of character archetypes.

Year 8

Term 1

Sherlock Holmes

The Sherlock Holmes unit focuses on the presentation of crime and discrimination in the form of mystery writing, whilst also incorporating elements of media studies. This allows students to consider different forms, purposes and styles of writing. There is a focus on using language to create tension and to persuade; developing some of the key skills later needed in Key Stage 4 study. Emphasis on characterisation and descriptive technique will also allow knowledge and skills acquired in previous study to be applied and embedded.

Term 2

Animal Farm

Democracy is at the heart of British culture, and it is fundamental to an understanding of society; Animal Farm allows students to engage with and build an understanding of these ideas. In conjunction with this, studying the novella also allows students the opportunity to consider and understand their identity within their own society. Animal Farm is filled with symbolism, used to present the story and ideas about morality. Understanding and decoding symbolism is a key skill that students will build upon in later years and which will allow students to fully engage with texts throughout their lives.

Term 3

Blood Brothers

The Blood Brothers unit focuses on society and the class system whilst also taking the opportunity to familiarise students with modern plays and their features. Students are able to further develop their knowledge of conflict and apply it to a different story and form in order to strengthen their understanding. Key themes within this modern play are social class, family ties and our individual impact on society. These themes will be returned to and developed whilst studying An Inspector Calls at GCSE level.

Year 9

Term 1

Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies presents an opportunity for literary instruction that challenges students’ reading and writing skills. As a narrative with layers of meaning, the text challenges students to build on their exploration of symbolism in Animal Farm in Year 8. The text allows the teacher to model close reading skills, decoding unfamiliar vocabulary and leading discussions about how layers of meaning in key sections can be interpreted. Students are encouraged to experience the challenge of leading or following their peers, through empathy with the characters’ journey.

Term 2

Romeo and Juliet

Whilst studying Romeo and Juliet, students will apply and develop the knowledge of dramatic forms and historical context learnt in their previous study of Richard III in Year 7. The text provides an opportunity to consider the conflicting emotions of romantic and familial relationships. There is also the opportunity to encourage resilience and tolerance as students navigate Shakespearean language and form.

Term 3

Conflict Poetry

The poetry unit has been designed to enhance the knowledge and empathy of students regarding aspects of power and conflict in different societies and cultures around the world. The poetry selection affords the students vast opportunity to apply prior poetic and contextual knowledge, and equips them with the skills needed to critically evaluate how the world they live in has been influenced and shaped by the events of the past. Students’ writing skills will be extended to incorporate comparative and analytical writing as well as narrative writing.

GCSE Study English Language and Literature: Years 10 and 11

All students study for two GCSES in English Language and English Literature

Year 10

Macbeth

Students will build on prior knowledge of Shakespeare’s dramatic form and context from their study of Romeo and Juliet in Year 9. Macbeth will allow students to study the tragic form in more detail, to extend their knowledge of the social, moral and religious context and to develop their ability to analyse Shakespearean language and structure. In Year 10, students will develop an understanding of plot, character and context. The text provides opportunity to discuss moral issues such as greed, guilt and the corrupting nature of power.

Jekyll and Hyde

Students will build on prior knowledge of the prose form from their study of Lord of the Flies in Year 9 and their knowledge of the Victorian context from their study of Sherlock Holmes in Year 8. Jekyll and Hyde allows students to extend their knowledge of narrative form and point of view as they navigate and explore the structure and language of the text. In Year 10, students will develop an understanding of plot, character and context. The text provides opportunity to discuss moral issues such responsibility, hypocrisy and the duality of humankind.

English Language (Paper 1 Focus) Year 10

Students will focus on unseen extracts in order to explore creative reading and writing. Texts will be prose fiction texts. Students will learn to identify and interpret information and select evidence from the texts. They will develop the ability to identify and name writers’ methods and analyse the effects. They will be required to write analytically, exploring the writer’s use of language and how texts are structured, developing their ability to evaluate texts critically. By studying short prose extracts texts, students will develop their ability to write imaginatively, creatively and accurately.

Conflict Poetry

This unit builds on the study of the poetic form in Year 7 and the exploration of conflict and power themed poetry in Year 9. Students will study 12 poems from the GCSE Power and Conflict anthology, some of which they will be familiar with. They will develop their knowledge of poetic techniques and structures whilst exploring poetic intentions and the influence of context on the writing. Themes such as the human experience of conflict and inequalities of power will be discussed an considered. Students will be required to write analytically and comparatively in response to the texts.

English Language (Paper 2 Focus)

Students will focus on unseen extracts in order to explore writers’ viewpoints and perspective. Texts will be non-fiction texts drawn from two time periods and thematically linked. Students will learn to identify and interpret information and select evidence from the texts. They will develop the ability to identify and name writers’ methods and analyse the effects. They will be required to write both analytically and comparatively, developing their ability to evaluate texts critically. By studying non-fiction texts, students will develop their ability to express their viewpoints clearly, effectively and imaginatively in different forms and for different purposes and audiences.

Year 11

An Inspector Calls

This unit builds on the study of modern drama from Year 8. Students will build on prior knowledge of the dramatic form and context from their study of Blood Brothers. An Inspector Calls will allow students to study the structure of a play and the specific genre of a mystery; to extend their knowledge of the social, moral and historical context and to develop their ability to analyse language and structure. In Year 10, students will develop an understanding of plot, character and context including the class system and political ideology. The text provides opportunity to discuss moral issues such as social responsibility and social inequality.

Jekyll and Hyde

Having studied the play in terms of plot, character and context, Year 11 will allow students to explore themes in greater depth. Students will be required to think more deeply about ‘big ideas’ and to develop a personal response to the text and themes. In particular, students will develop an understanding of how Stevenson uses language, structure and form to explore wider themes such as the duality of human beings. Students will also develop their analytical writing skills and the ability to apply their knowledge in order to respond to exam style questions.

Conflict Poetry and Unseen Poetry

Having studied poetry in Year 10, students will study the final poems from the anthology and deepen their understanding of the collection. Year 11 will allow the students to explore connections between the poems and the big ideas in depth. Students will be required to think more deeply about comparisons and to develop a personal response to the poems. Students will develop an understanding of how language, structure and form are used by poets to explore themes and will be required to apply this understanding to unseen texts. Students will also develop their analytical and comparative writing skills and the ability to apply their knowledge in order to respond to exam style questions. As part of this unit, students will be required to complete a speaking and listening task as part of their revision of previously learned poems.