School Life
Discover academic excellence, personal development, and a vibrant community at Ernest Bevin Academy.
English
The English curriculum at Ernest Bevin Academy is designed to develop students' confidence and competence in reading, writing, speaking and listening. Our aim is to foster a love of literature while ensuring students develop the literacy skills needed for success across the curriculum and in later life.
Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9)
Year 7
Autumn Term
- Novel Study: 'Private Peaceful' or 'Boy in the Striped Pyjamas'
- Poetry: Introduction to poetic forms and language
- Transactional Writing: Letters and articles
Spring Term
- Shakespeare Introduction: 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
- Non-fiction: Persuasive techniques
- Creative Writing: Short stories and descriptions
Summer Term
- Modern Play: 'Our Day Out'
- Poetry from Other Cultures
- Speaking and Listening: Presentation skills
Year 8
Autumn Term
- Gothic Fiction: 'The Woman in Black' extracts
- Non-fiction: News reports and articles
- Creative Writing: Descriptive techniques
Spring Term
- Shakespeare: 'The Tempest'
- Poetry: Romantic poetry
- Transactional Writing: Reviews and reports
Summer Term
- Modern Novel: 'Stone Cold' or 'Holes'
- Media Analysis: Advertising and marketing
- Speaking and Listening: Debates and discussions
Year 9
Autumn Term
- Modern Novel: 'Of Mice and Men' or 'Animal Farm'
- War Poetry: Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon
- Speaking and Listening: Formal presentations
Spring Term
- Shakespeare: 'Romeo and Juliet'
- Non-fiction: Speeches and articles
- Transactional Writing: Formal and informal letters
Summer Term
- Modern Drama: 'An Inspector Calls'
- Poetry: Power and conflict
- GCSE Preparation: Introduction to GCSE skills
Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)
At Key Stage 4, students follow the AQA GCSE English Language and English Literature specifications. This provides a rigorous and engaging curriculum that prepares students for their GCSE examinations and beyond.
English Language
Students develop skills in:
- Reading and understanding a range of texts from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries
- Critical analysis of language and structure
- Comparison of texts
- Writing for different purposes and audiences
- Technical accuracy in spelling, punctuation and grammar
- Speaking and listening skills through formal presentations
English Literature
Students study:
- Shakespeare: 'Macbeth'
- 19th Century Novel: 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens
- Modern Drama: 'An Inspector Calls' by J.B. Priestley
- Poetry: AQA Anthology - Power and Conflict cluster
- Unseen Poetry
How Parents Can Help
- Encourage regular reading for pleasure at home
- Discuss books, films, news and other media with your child
- Support with homework tasks and revision
- Visit libraries, theaters and other cultural venues when possible
- Ensure your child has copies of set texts for annotation and study
- Make use of online resources such as BBC Bitesize and SparkNotes for additional support
Useful Resources
Reading Lists
- KS3 Recommended Reading List (Download PDF)
- KS4 Recommended Reading List (Download PDF)
- Classics and Modern Classics List (Download PDF)