CURRICULUM SUBJECT

English

“Today a reader, tomorrow a leader” 

– Margaret Fuller (Journalist, Editor, Feminist) 

At Kew House, we believe studying English is fundamental, and we aim to create a life-long love of literature and language, in all its forms, through reading, writing, speaking, performing and listening. The English curriculum is designed to help students hone and develop their ability to analyse character, theme and structure in a variety of mediums. A key focus at the early stage is understanding how literature has adapted across time and because of societal change. The curriculum also develops students’ ability to create a literary argument though embracing and dissecting their opinions using precise, structured, and engaging writing. This learning is pivotal in forming the desired skills for success at GCSE English Language & Literature. 
 

During GCSE years, the study of English is split into two categories: English Language and English Literature and are examined separately. 

English Language GCSE (AQA) asks students to read a range of non-fiction and fiction texts spanning 19th, 20th, and 21st century. The syllabus also draws on ‘unseen’ extracts which encourages pupils to read, write and analyse independently. The writing component of English language requires students to write with specificity; they may be asked to write a diary entry, review, or an advertisement. At Kew House School we focus on developing students’ ability to write with a critical eye to evolve their understanding of different styles of writing. The language course also emphasises proper grammar, vocabulary, and spelling. Final assessments take the form of two separate examinations. 

 
The English language is nobody’s special property. It is the property of the imagination; it is the property of the language itself.”

– Sir Derek Walcott Nobel Prize for Literature 1992, Poet and Playwright) 

 The GCSE English Literature course has three strands: play, poetry and novel. Specifically, students will study a 19th century novel, a Shakespeare play, and a series of poems dated from the 19th-21st centuries. Students also study an additional British novel or play from 1914 onwards. In previous years texts included: William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, An Inspector Calls by J.B Presley and a Power and Conflict poetry collection by an assortment of poets. There are two English Literature examinations, both of which are closed book, meaning pupils are not provided with a copy of any of the texts during examinations. Students will learn how to compare two unseen extracts together, synthesising their similarities and differences to create a succinct and well-developed argument.