At Leigh Academy Minster, our English curriculum embodies the mission “Where ambition takes flight” by nurturing students into confident, articulate, and critically aware global citizens. Our aim is to cultivate a deep-seated love of learning and literature, empowering students to navigate and engage with the complexities of the wider world.
Through an enriching and dynamic learning environment, students will explore a diverse range of texts spanning various time periods, cultures, and social issues. This comprehensive exposure not only reflects our school’s context but also illuminates global challenges and perspectives. By engaging with these diverse narratives, students will hone their reading, writing, and oracy skills, building confidence and fostering a strong sense of self.
Our curriculum is designed to equip students with developed critical thinking skills and a profound understanding of the world around them. We believe that education is a gateway to life, and our English studies will provide students with a broad spectrum of options for a positive future. Students will leave Leigh Academy Minster with the drive and ambition to be successful contributors to the global community, prepared to engage with diverse ideas and contribute meaningfully to society.
Students will be able to analyse, evaluate and critically engage with a range of fiction and non-fiction texts and identify writer’s methods. Students will develop not only their analytical writing skills but also their creative writing skills in a broad scope of scenarios and contexts with resilience and confidence.
In English, we take a thematic approach to the curriculum which we thread through the MYP and into Key Stage 4 and 5.
In Year 7, students focus on the importance of relationships and identity, with students identifying the impact of life-changing events on characters and articulating their personal identities through poetry and transactional writing. In Year 8 students study the impact of social injustice within “The Tempest” and a range of extracts from across the globe and time periods. Students will be exploring the writers’ perspectives, with an emphasis on what they are criticising. In Year 9 students identify and critique the use of power and how writers use literature to protest the abuse of power in not only the texts studied but also in real life events across the globe. These themes form the foundation of learning for Key Stage 4 and allow students to develop the skills they require to access English Literature. Students will be studying “Macbeth”, “A Christmas Carol” and “An Inspector Calls”, with a lens of why these texts were written and how context has influenced writing. Moreover, students will have developed their critical analysis skills of writers’ use of language techniques which is crucial at Key Stage 4. Students will have been introduced to analysing a range of poetry across Key Stage 3 which will allow students to have a strong foundation of how to analyse poetry and to apply the poet’s context and background to the poems.
Alongside their studies of literature, students will advance their understanding and application of creative and transactional writing. Students are supported in their journey to produce cohesive and structured texts using explicitly taught frameworks. Students will build the framework of this throughout Key Stage 3 and develop their knowledge across the years, before applying it to GCSE in Key Stage 4.
KS5
In sixth-form our students will follow GCSE study with International Baccalaureate English language and Literature and/or Film Studies A-Level. Building on the foundational skills and thematic understanding developed in Key Stage 3 and 4, Key Stage 5 students delve into the nuances of literary analysis and independent critical thought. In Year 12, students will explore how authors construct meaning, challenge societal norms, and engage with philosophical concepts and critical interpretations through their writing. Students will grapple with diverse critical interpretations, applying these frameworks to a wide range of challenging texts.
Moving into Year 13, the focus shifts to deeper specialised areas of literary study and independent project work. Students will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of specific literary periods, genres, or authors, engaging in more autonomous inquiry and extended critical essays. There’s a strong emphasis on synthesising diverse perspectives and formulating original interpretations, culminating in substantial independent projects. Throughout Key Stage 5, students will continuously refine their analytical vocabulary, precision in expression, and ability to construct highly coherent and persuasive arguments, both in literary essays and in their own advanced creative and transactional writing. The skills cultivated in these two years are crucial for navigating complex academic discourse and for success in higher education and beyond.
We believe all pupils deserve access to high-quality literature and the ability to produce excellent extended writing. Our teaching adapts to individual needs through pre-teaching and vocabulary support. Lessons feature scaffolded tasks, empowering every student to independently create high-quality written work. This comprehensive approach ensures all students thrive.
Within our curriculum, we believe cultural capital and enrichment is paramount to developing well-rounded individuals. This extends beyond the classroom through initiatives like dedicated library lessons, which cultivate a love for reading and independent learning. We will facilitate trips to theatres, offering invaluable exposure to live performances and different dramatic interpretations. By incorporating author visits we will provide unique opportunities for students to engage directly with writers, helping them gain insights into the creative process and the literary world.
Furthermore, a dynamic curriculum that thoughtfully incorporates local and global events and contexts ensures students develop a broad understanding of diverse perspectives and their place within a wider cultural landscape, enriching their understanding of literature and the world around them.
