English Language Curriculum Plan.
Key Stage: KS3 and KS4
Year Groups: Years 7 to 11
Curriculum Intent:
Our English Language curriculum aims to develop students’ confidence and skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening through a therapeutic, inclusive, and flexible approach. The curriculum is tailored to the diverse needs of our learners, many of whom experience barriers in mainstream education. It focuses on engagement, expression, and functional literacy, supporting both GCSE outcomes and personal development.
Core Aims
· To build functional and creative literacy skills
· To support confidence in communication through reading, writing, speaking, and listening
· To develop a love of reading and storytelling
· To help students express themselves clearly and appropriately in a range of contexts
· To prepare students for GCSE English Language (AQA) or EntryLevel pathways
· Curriculum Structure by Year
Year 7
Foundations of Language and Expression
Focus
Building confidence, basic grammar, sentence structure, introduction to descriptive writing
Key texts
Short stories, fables, poems
Skills
Reading comprehension, punctuation, basic paragraph writing, expressing opinions
Main Outcomes
Write a descriptive paragraph
Participate in a group discussion
Year 8
Developing Voice and Understanding
Focus
Expanding vocabulary, writing for different purposes, understanding character and theme
Key texts
Modern fiction extracts, articles, poetry from diverse voices
Skills
Writing to persuade and inform, identifying techniques, structured writing
Main Outcomes
Write a persuasive letter
Analyse a character from a story
Year 9
Building Analytical and Functional Skills
Focus
Non-fiction and media texts, analysis, personal writing, preparation for GCSE format
Key texts
Newspaper articles, adverts, speeches, autobiographies
Skills
Comparing texts, recognising bias, using quotations, editing work
Main Outcomes
Write an autobiography extract
Compare two media texts
Year 10
GCSE English Language Preparation (AQA)
Focus
Paper 1 and Paper 2 skills; fiction and non-fiction reading and writing
Key texts
GCSE-style extracts from 19th–21st century fiction and non-fiction
Skills
Inference, evaluation, structural analysis, writing to describe/narrate/argue
Main Outcomes
Practice papers
Timed writing
Self/peer-assessment
Year 11
Consolidation and Exam Readiness
Focus
Consolidating all skills, mock exams, revision strategies
Key texts
Past paper source documents
Skills
Full GCSE paper practice, proofreading, formal speaking and listening
Main Outcomes
Final assessments
Recorded presentations
Readiness for GCSE
Differentiation & Support
Visual aids and scaffolding for reading and writing tasks
Sentence starters, writing frames, and vocabulary banks
Phonics support for emergent readers (KS3)
Alternative assessment formats (e.g., oral presentation instead of written essay)
Therapeutic writing activities for emotional expression
Cross-Curricular Links
PSHE: Identity, expression, relationships
Animal Care: Report writing, care logs, information posters
Life Skills: Functional writing (emails, letters, forms)
Resources Needed
AQA English Language GCSE materials
Differentiated reading texts and worksheets
Literacy support software (e.g., Lexia, Clicker)
Visual storyboards and writing prompts
This curriculum is designed to be flexible, therapeutic, and responsive, ensuring all students—regardless of their background or starting point—can progress in English and feel confident in their communication.