At Highworth Warneford School, our aim is for students to leave as critical readers, confident writers and successful speakers. During students’ time with us, they will experience what we believe is the most varied subject on the curriculum. They will learn to write in many voices, to read an enormous range of texts and to speak to varied audiences. We aim for all students to make swift progress in terms of their literary skills and their confidence. This requires a secure and deep understanding and appreciation of the written and spoken word from the perspective of the deliverer and receiver, but, unlike many other subjects, it also requires students to understand people. Books, letters, poems, reports – all forms of writing – are written for people, by people, and, often, about people. As such, we intend to enhance our students’ skills of empathy, sympathy and understanding, developing their character, their emotional intellect and their cultural capital. Students of English learn how to evaluate, analyse, compare and express freely and eloquently their opinions in a range of forms and contexts. As such, students also develop skills of critical thought, self-reflection, resilience and creativity. Most importantly, students enjoy their journey through the literary world and the progress they make along the way. 

Key Stage 3

In Year 7 we explore Heroes & Villains in: 

• Fairy Tales 
• The Thief of Always 
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream  
• Real Life Heroes 
• The Origins of Morality  

In Year 8 we cover Right & Wrong in: 

• Animal Farm 
• War Poetry 
• The Tempest 
• Persuasive Speaking 
• Travel Blogging  

In Year 9 we cover The Individual & Society in: 

• Long Way Down 
• The Written Press 
• Macbeth 
• Protest Poetry 
• Gothic Texts 

Key Stage 4  

At Key Stage 4, pupils take two GCSEs – English Language and English Literature.   

English Language GCSE

• Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing
• Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives

English Literature GCSE

• Shakespeare – Romeo & Juliet
• 19th-century novel - A Christmas Carol
• Modern texts - An Inspector Calls
• Poetry - Power & Conflict

 

Curriculum Leader:

Andrew Barton

bartona@warnefordschool.org.uk