English

Ms Katy Hart – Subject Leader 

Mr Andrew Dethick – Teacher & Literacy Coordinator

Ms Chloe Hewitt – Teacher 

Ms Joanne Warburton – Teacher

Mrs Mikaela Fallon – Teacher

Mrs Danielle Kyaligonza – Teacher 

English Curriculum Intent

“Our curriculum demonstrates high aspirations, and is designed to build students’ knowledge, skills and confidence as they work towards their GCSE exams in English Language and Literature in year 11. We also ensure that all students encounter a wide range of poetry, drama, prose and non-fiction, in order that they can appreciate and understand different styles and viewpoints of diverse writers from the Elizabethan and Victorian eras to the modern age.”

For more details about the English curriculum, please email katy.hart@macclesfieldacademy.org

English is vital to everyday life and we strive to ensure that each student at The Macclesfield Academy is ready to face their future with excellent communication skills. We are an energetic and committed team, with a wide range of specialisms and experience.

Intent

The English curriculum is designed to equip our students with the reading, writing and speaking and listening skills that they will need for life and to enable them to build a lifelong love of literature.

We aim to provide students with an experience of a broad range of texts from diverse writers in order to expand their understanding of different cultures as well as building their awareness of British culture and our literary heritage.

Our curriculum demonstrates high aspirations, and is designed to build students’ knowledge, skills and confidence as they work towards their GCSE exams in English Language and Literature in year 11.

With literacy skills woven throughout, our Key Stage 3 curriculum aims to ensure that all students are able to access the GCSE syllabus by the time they start year 10. We also ensure that all students encounter a wide range of poetry, drama, prose and non-fiction, in order that they can appreciate and understand different styles and viewpoints of diverse writers from the past to the modern day.

Our aim is that students leave The Macclesfield Academy as well-qualified, well-read, confident and responsible young people, who are able to understand the world that they live in and to contribute positively to it, especially through their oracy and through their written words.

Implementation

Our Key Stage 3 curriculum is designed to meet the requirements of the National Curriculum. Knowledge acquisition and skills development are carefully sequenced to ensure that we build upon students’ prior knowledge and carefully prepare them for the next stage of their English journey.  Through our teaching of reading, through both Language and Literature lessons, we aim to develop students’ ability to read fluently, understand, analyse and interpret texts, as well as building critical thinking skills. We also teach a range of writing skills in both fiction and non-fiction, allowing students the scope to write imaginatively for a range of purposes and audiences.

Key knowledge and vocabulary is outlined on an overview document (“Red Dot Sheet”) for each unit of work and this knowledge is tested fortnightly, in an attempt to embed key knowledge in students’ long-term memories and to improve their ability to retain and recall information.

Our year 7 curriculum is designed to introduce students to the rigours of Key Stage 3 and to enthuse them about literature. We start with a novel and use this to teach a range of reading and writing skills, whilst also establishing our expectations for English lessons.

In year 8, we build the complexity of the texts we study, whilst year 9 consolidates the knowledge and skills already gained and finalises the foundations for the study of English at GCSE.

Key Stage 3 classes also have fortnightly library lessons where they can browse and borrow books.

Speaking and listening skills are covered throughout the three years, through debates, discussion, presentations, role-play and other dramatic pieces.

In years 10 and 11 we cover the necessary set texts for GCSE Literature, whilst also working on the required skills for English Language. We follow the syllabus for AQA in both Language and Literature.

The English department at The Macclesfield Academy also offers GCSE Media Studies, which gives students the chance to develop their understanding of media institutions and how the media represents different ideas and sectors of society. This qualification has a non-exam assessment element, allowing students to create a media product for an intended audience.

The English team is made of up 6 enthusiastic and knowledgeable specialist teachers, who have a valuable blend of experience (at the Academy, at other schools and as examiners) and the new approaches and ideas of those nearer the start of their career. Teachers work openly and honestly together on the design and implementation of the curriculum and moderate work together in order to ensure that assessment is as accurate and robust as possible.

Assessment

Students are tested on their knowledge and vocabulary each fortnight at Key Stage 3.  They receive regular feedback on their classwork and complete a summative assessment at the end of each unit.

At Key Stage 4, students have fortnightly Mastery Tasks where they can practise demonstrating the skills they are learning for the course and receive feedback on their progress and next steps.

Impact

Through English lessons, students can enter national competitions, such as BBC Radio 2’s 500 word story contest. We also take part in events for National Poetry Day and World Book Day, as well as running trips to the theatre. Students can also become part of a team who help to run the library. Some students in years 9-11 support younger students in the Academy with their reading.