English (GCSE Core Subject)

Belong   

The English curriculum provides an inclusive and cohesive education that enriches lives and builds community. It advances education so that young people lead happy and fulfilling lives and make positive differences through the power of communication and understanding.   

The curriculum is ambitious in scope and sequenced to secure progression from Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 4. Students develop a secure knowledge of literary heritage and language structure. Grammar, vocabulary and oracy are systematically taught to support fluency and precision. Learners are challenged to interpret, evaluate and create texts that demonstrate critical thinking and creative expression. Tailored support ensures that all students - regardless of starting point - achieve excellence and confidence in English.   

Resilience is built through drafting and analysis; Responsibility through independent reading and self-reflection; Empathy through exploring diverse perspectives in literature; and Respect through valuing different interpretations and voices.   

Thrive 

Teaching incorporates retrieval practice to secure vocabulary, concepts and analytical frameworks. Schema-building connects themes across texts and periods, helping students see patterns of language and idea. Spaced practice supports retention of terminology and writing structures, while cognitive load theory guides lesson design so that complex skills - such as close analysis and extended writing - are introduced in manageable steps.   

Lessons are underpinned by clear sequencing, explicit instruction, and responsive teaching. Teachers model excellence in reading and writing, scaffold learning for access and challenge, and use formative assessment to identify misconceptions and inform feedback. Vocabulary instruction and structured discussion develop oracy and critical thinking. Professional collaboration and CPD sustain high standards and pedagogical coherence.   

Resilience is enhanced through sustained writing tasks; Responsibility through independent revision; Empathy through dialogue and interpretation; and Respectthrough evaluating ideas with integrity and open-mindedness.   

Achieve   

Students leave Edgar Wood Academy as confident and articulate communicators who read widely and think deeply. They can analyse texts with precision, construct informed arguments and write for a range of purposes and audiences. Impact is monitored through assessment data, student voice, and work scrutiny to ensure that learning is embedded and progress is sustained.   

The English curriculum embodies Resilience, Responsibility, Empathy and Respect, reflecting the Trust’s mission to advance education that enables young people to lead fulfilling lives and make positive contributions to their communities. Students understand that language is a force for connection, expression and change.   

Through English, students learn to find their voice, to see through another’s eyes, and to shape the world with words.

GCSE English

GCSE English is split into two separate subjects, English Language and English Literature. In order to be successful in both papers, we highly recommend that you read as widely as possible. Twenty to thirty minutes of reading each day will benefit you greatly and ensure that you have the appropriate reading age of 16 years in order to access all papers. 

English is broken down into two different subjects with some overlapping elements: English Language and English Literature. 

For more information on what will be studied and how it will be assessed in English in years 10 and 11, please refer to our Year 9 GCSE Options Booklet.

Learning Journeys in English