English - Key Stage Three

Our Key Stage Three curriculum encourages students to read widely, to write in a range of different styles and to develop speaking and listening skills in a range of different contexts while exploring a diverse range of topics and issues.

We pride ourselves on our flexible grouping arrangements and will make decisions to teach either mixed ability or ability groups depending on the profile and needs of each year group of students. 

Our provision at Key Stage Three encourages each student to enter a range of regional and national writing competitions, offering the opportunity for every student to become a published writer. For those who enjoy public speaking and drama we enter groups and individuals into the Devon Performing Arts festival every year. In recent years we have hosted author visits from Darren Shan, Julie Hearn, Sophie Mackenzie and John Townsend, which has given our students the chance to access a range of fiction and non-fiction texts on a whole new level of exploration, while collecting some cherished autographs at the same time! 

 

Year 7

Other Worlds

Beginning with a focus on writing and then moving to independent reading projects, students will create and discover whole new worlds through a range of literary texts.

Write a Life

A non-fiction unit which explores the ingredients of life writing.

Crooked castles and mystery manors

Delving into the world of gothic writing and radio adverts.

A ‘novel’ experience

Dramatic responses to ‘Coraline’ by Neil Gaiman or ‘Skellig’ by David Almond.

Great Expectations

Discover key media terms that will make you sound like an instant expert!  Be enchanted by the classic Dickens tale of the orphan Pip, brought to life and screen by legendary director David Lean.

Slammin’ and jammin’

Explore a number of key poetic texts and techniques, write your own and deliver them with attitude at the poetry slam.

What’s your point?

Learn how to use a range of different persuasive techniques to make your point and get your own way!

Create a Storm

…quite literally with our drama unit exploring Shakespeare’s play ‘The Tempest’. 

 

Year 8

Every Picture tells a story

Writing stories from images

Make yourself heard!

The art of persuasive speech writing

A Christmas Carol

Discover the magic of Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas tale

Playing with words

Explore how poets play with words to create their poetry.  Have a go at writing a range of different poetry styles.

Reviewing fiction

Read ‘The Tulip Touch’ by Anne Fine or ‘Weirdo’s War’ by Michael Coleman.  Learn how to share your responses by writing a book review.

Magazines

Learn the ingredients and skills behind good magazine design and article writing.  Have a go at creating your own magazine.

The Terrible Fate of Humpty Dumpty

Drama and discussion based responses to David Calcutt’s gripping play.

 

Year 9

‘Stone Cold’ by Robert Swindells

Discussion work surrounding homelessness and morality of the press. Learn how to write scripts for drama work.

‘Much Ado About Nothing’

Comparing Shakespeare’s play with a modern film version.

Charities

A unit based on issues surrounding the theme of charity which will lead to writing to analyse outcomes and speaking & listening discussions.

Poetry preparation

Build your skills of poetry analysis ready for the challenge of GCSE.  Learn how to write about unseen poems and how to compare poems on similar themes.

English Today

An introduction to the GCSE skills required for this media and non-fiction based unit.

One of the Greats

A close study of a literary heritage prose text in preparation for GCSE study.