English at Monkton Wood Academy aims to develop students’ skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening, while fostering a love for literature and language. Each Key Stage incorporates a range of engaging texts, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and plays, to enhance students’ understanding and appreciation of English. We dedicate time to exam preparation, with students practicing exam-style questions using past papers and revising key content. The curriculum emphasises ongoing class feedback to support students’ progress and address individual needs.
In Key Stage 3, students explore various literary genres and develop their analytical and creative writing skills. They engage with texts such as autobiographical extracts from different backgrounds, poems about the animal kingdom, and novels like “The Girl of Ink and Stars” and “The Tempest.” The curriculum also covers elements of non-fiction, including newspaper articles and debates. Students undertake summative assessments which focus on writing, close analysis of texts, and evaluation of characters.
Key Stage 4 builds upon the skills acquired in Key Stage 3 and prepares students for external examinations. The curriculum includes the study of texts like Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” and crime fiction stories. Students analyse themes, characters, and evaluate the texts in detail. They also explore war and conflict poetry, gothic fiction, and the power of the media. Assessments involve imaginative writing, research essays, and discursive evaluative essays. Speaking and listening skills are honed through debates and speeches.
