English
Back to Subjects MenuWhat is the Intent of the English Curriculum?
At The Marsh Academy, our English curriculum is ambitious, knowledge-rich and inclusive. We believe that every pupil should leave school as a confident reader, thoughtful writer and articulate communicator, equipped with the knowledge, skills and cultural understanding to succeed in further education, employment and life beyond school.
Our curriculum is carefully designed and sequenced to develop pupils’ knowledge of language and literature alongside the disciplinary skills of reading, writing and oracy. Through the study of increasingly challenging literary and non-fiction texts, pupils build secure knowledge of literary traditions, genre, context, language, grammar and vocabulary, enabling them to think critically, communicate effectively and engage thoughtfully with the world around them.
Our experienced and passionate teachers share a commitment to inspiring a lifelong appreciation of English. We encourage pupils to become independent readers who read widely and with curiosity, recognising literature as both a source of enjoyment and a means of understanding different perspectives, cultures and historical contexts. Pupils encounter a diverse range of authors and voices alongside significant works of literary heritage, allowing them to appreciate the richness and diversity of the English literary tradition.
Writing is developed through explicit teaching of grammar, vocabulary and writer’s craft. Pupils learn to write accurately, creatively and purposefully for a range of audiences and purposes, making deliberate choices about language, structure and style. Through regular opportunities to discuss, debate, present and collaborate, pupils also develop the confidence and precision to express their ideas through spoken language.
The curriculum is built upon high expectations for every pupil. Knowledge and vocabulary are explicitly taught, revisited and connected across Key Stages to strengthen long-term memory and enable pupils to make increasingly sophisticated links between texts, ideas and concepts. By securing both substantive knowledge and disciplinary understanding, pupils are empowered to become analytical, reflective and independent learners who are fully prepared for the next stage of their education and beyond.
RATIONALE
The English curriculum has been deliberately planned to ensure that knowledge and skills are introduced, revisited and deepened over time. Learning is carefully sequenced so that pupils progressively develop their understanding of increasingly complex texts, ideas and literary concepts, enabling them to know more, remember more and apply their learning with confidence.
Throughout their journey at The Marsh Academy, pupils study a broad range of literature and non-fiction from different historical periods, including Classical, Shakespearean, Victorian and contemporary texts, alongside works from diverse writers and cultures. This breadth enables pupils to understand how literature reflects and shapes society, while developing an appreciation of how historical, social and cultural contexts influence meaning and interpretation.
Reading sits at the heart of the curriculum. Pupils are explicitly taught the knowledge required to become confident, fluent and critical readers. They develop increasingly sophisticated understanding of language, structure, form, genre and authorial methods, while continually extending their vocabulary through carefully planned explicit instruction. Reading for pleasure is actively promoted so that pupils develop positive reading habits alongside the confidence to access increasingly demanding texts.
Writing is taught as a carefully sequenced process. Pupils develop secure knowledge of grammar, punctuation, sentence construction and vocabulary before applying this knowledge creatively and analytically across a range of forms, audiences and purposes. As they progress through the curriculum, pupils become increasingly confident in crafting coherent, accurate and ambitious extended writing while making deliberate choices to achieve intended effects.
Oracy is woven throughout the curriculum, providing regular opportunities for pupils to discuss, debate, justify opinions and present ideas using increasingly sophisticated language. These experiences strengthen pupils’ confidence, deepen understanding and support success across the wider curriculum.
Knowledge is deliberately cumulative. Core concepts, literary terminology, vocabulary and analytical approaches are revisited regularly through retrieval practice and purposeful curriculum sequencing so that learning becomes embedded in pupils’ long-term memory. Each unit builds upon prior learning, allowing pupils to make meaningful connections between texts, writers, contexts and ideas while developing greater independence as readers, writers and thinkers.
At Key Stage 4, pupils apply the knowledge and understanding developed throughout Key Stage 3 through the study of English Language and English Literature. The curriculum prepares pupils for success in public examinations by ensuring they possess secure knowledge, sophisticated analytical skills and confident communication, while also equipping them with the literacy, critical thinking and cultural understanding required for further study, employment and active participation in society.
KS3 (Year 8)KS4 (Years 10 - 11) English Literature
