Header Image 1

English

Choose a subject

From the early traditions of storytelling, through medieval poetry and the wonder of Shakespeare, to the birth of the novel and the development of its current diversity, the Langton English curriculum encourages students to delve into new worlds and discover the magic of Literature.  

Through the English Curriculum Pathway, students become creative thinkers, independent learners, discerning speakers, and judicious evaluators; they learn to contribute positively to society and develop an understanding of the place they will hold within it, as well as the value and power of their own voice. The diversity of the Literature studied enables students to gain an appreciation and understanding of the world around them, and to discover more about those that inhabit it and their own place within it.  

Throughout their Langton Journey, students will be encouraged to find joy in exercising their creativity and developing their written and verbal communication skills; they will be taught not just to understand and use language, but to be able to craft and manipulate it for any purpose.  

Alongside reading and writing, discussion and debate is a key part of the learning experience in English; this facilitates growth in students’ abilities to communicate clearly and assertively, as well as enabling them to build conviction in their own ideas.  

In igniting passion and excitement for Literature and unlocking the joy in forming a perfectly-crafted sentence, the English curriculum - and extensive opportunities offered beyond the classroom - foster creativity in writing and a love for reading that will extend beyond their Langton Journey and feed students’ intellectual curiosity, cultural understanding, and personal development throughout their lives. 

KS3

Year Group

Areas of Study

7

Unit 1: Exploring Language

Unit 2: Poetry Across Time

Unit 3: Introduction to Shakespeare

Unit 4: The Evolution of the Novel

Unit 5: Stories on Stage

Unit 6: Literary Non-Fiction

8

Unit 1: Traditional Tales

Unit 2: Short Stories

Unit 3: Texts in Context (play)

Unit 4: World Poetry

Unit 5: The Art of Rhetoric

Unit 6: Shakespearean Comedy

9

Unit 1: Coming of Age (novel)

Unit 2: Becoming a Journalist

Unit 3: Shakespearean Tragedy

Unit 4: Gothic Literature

Unit 5: Relationship Poetry

Unit 6: An Inspector Calls – GCSE Study

GCSE

English Language

Board

AQA

Outline of the Course

English Language is taught alongside English Literature as the skills are transferable and complement each other well.  Learners will draw upon a range of texts as reading stimulus and engage with creative as well as real and relevant contexts. There will be opportunities to develop higher-order reading and critical thinking skills that encourage genuine enquiry into different topics and themes, as well as opportunities to develop both creative and transactional writing skills.

Students will:

  • Read a wide range of texts fluently and with good understanding
  • Read and evaluate texts critically, using knowledge gained from wider reading to inform and improve their own writing
  • Write effectively and coherently using Standard English appropriately
  • Use grammar correctly, punctuate and spell accurately
  • Acquire and apply a wide vocabulary, alongside a knowledge and understanding of grammatical terminology and linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
  • Listen to and understand spoken language and use spoken Standard English effectively

Assessment

 

Type of Assessment

Duration

Weighting

1

Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing

Written Examination – 80 marks
Reading Section: Four questions on one literature fiction text (1 short form question, 2 longer form questions and 1 extended question)
Writing Section: One extended writing task from a choice of description or narrative writing

1 hour 45 minutes

50%
(80 marks)

2

Paper 2: Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives
Reading Section: Four questions on two non-fiction texts (1 short form question, 2 longer form questions and 1 extended question)
Writing Section: One extended transactional writing task

1 hour 45 minutes

50%
(80 marks)

 

English Literature

Board

AQA

Outline of the Course

English Literature is taught alongside English Language as the skills are transferable and complement each other well.  Through the close study of set texts, developed discussion and exploration of Literature, learners will:

  • Read a wide range of literature fluently and with good understanding, and make connections across their reading to help them appreciate the depth and power of the English literary heritage
  • Read in depth, critically and evaluatively to enhance discussion, explanation and understanding of ideas
  • Develop the habit of reading widely and often
  • Write accurately and analytically using Standard English; acquiring and using a wide range of vocabulary, including the grammatical terminology and other literary and linguistic terms to analyse and evaluate texts with precision

Assessment

 

Type of Assessment

Duration

Weighting

1

Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel
Written examination – closed text – 64 marks

Section A: Shakespeare (Macbeth). One question where students will write in detail about an extract from the play and link this thematically to the rest of the text.
Section B: The 19th-century novel (Jane Eyre). One question where students will write in detail about an extract from the novel and link this thematically to the rest of the text.

1 hour 45 minutes

40%

2

Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry
Written examination – closed text – 96 marks

Section A: Modern text (An Inspector Calls). Students will answer one essay question from a choice of two.

Section B: Poetry (Love and Relationships). One comparative question where students compare a given poem from their chosen anthology cluster to another of their choosing.
Section C: Unseen poetry. Students will answer one question on one unseen poem and one question comparing this poem with a second unseen poem.

2 hours 15 minutes

60%

A Level

English Literature

Minimum Entry Criteria

Desired: 7 in English Literature and Language

Essential: 6 in English Literature and Language

Board

OCR

Outline of the Course

The OCR A Level in English Literature allows learners to undertake independent and sustained studies to deepen their appreciation and understanding of literature, including its changing traditions. Students will explore a range of poetry, prose and drama, with a focused exploration of Gothic Literature.

 

Learners are encouraged to develop their interest in and enjoyment of literature and literary studies as they:

  • read widely and independently both set texts and others that they have selected for themselves
  • engage critically and creatively with a substantial body of texts and ways of responding to them
  • develop and effectively apply their knowledge of literary analysis and evaluation in writing
  • explore the contexts of the texts they are reading and others’ interpretations of them

Assessment

 

Type of Assessment

Duration

Weighting

1

Drama and Poetry Pre 1900

Written Examination – closed text – 60 marks

Section A: Shakespeare (Hamlet) (2 extended questions)

Section B: Comparison of poetry (Milton’s Paradise Lost) and drama (Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi)

2 hours 30 minutes

40%

2

Comparative and Contextual Study (The Gothic)

Written Examination – closed text – 60 marks

Section A:  Close analysis of unseen extract

Section B: Comparison of Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

2 hours 30 minutes

40%

3

Literature Post 1900

Non-exam assessment – 40 marks – two tasks

A close reading or re-creative task with commentary focused on Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire

A comparative essay on one prose and one drama text (student choice)

4 weeks

6 weeks

20%
Back