English
The English Faculty at Ridgeway Academy deliver an engaging, varied and challenging curriculum that is designed to inspire, build on students’ cultural capital and support them to reach their full potential. We aim to foster a love of reading and literature and provide opportunities for students to develop skills in media and film throughout their time at Ridgeway Academy.
The curriculum is designed to broaden and enhance students’ knowledge and understanding of the world through the study of a wide range of literature, including texts in a range of forms, and from a range of genres, authors and eras. We also aim to ensure that, through the study of language and literature, students leave Ridgeway with the confidence to develop and share informed opinions through writing, reading and speaking. Our curriculum allows students to build on their previous year’s learning and ensures that all students are challenged and motivated. Our curriculum study at Key Stage Three and Four offers opportunities for students to experience other GCSE and A Level qualification offered at Ridgeway including GCSE media studies, A Level English Literature and A Level Film Studies.Welcome to the English Department – Subject Leader: Miss E Gray
Key Stage 3
The Key Stage 3 curriculum allows for students to develop a love of learning, reading and exploring texts whilst developing confidence in the skills necessary for successful study at GCSE and beyond. Students complete a variety of reading, writing and speaking and listening tasks.
In Year 7, students develop and enhance skills learned at Key Stage 2 through the study of:
- Myths and legends.
- Short stories with a twist
- The Giver by Lois Lowry
- An introduction to Shakespeare’s World
- The Tempest by William Shakespeare.
In Year 8, students will build on their previous knowledge through the study of:
- The Art of Rhetoric
- Dickens’ world
- The Gothic Movement
- Frankenstein
- Disturbing characters – Poetry
- Stone Cold by Robert Swindells
In Year 9, students continue to study a wide range of texts with some focus on the skills required at GCSE. Units of study include:
- Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
- Multimedia unit The Power of Voice
- Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
- Poetry study: Words that burn
Towards the end of Year 9 students are introduced to GCSE curriculum texts. Students study their first text, An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley. Students are taught through a wide range of learning activities, ensuring they are accessible and stimulating.
At Ridgeway we recognise the importance of reading and vocabulary acquisition as essential in enhancing students’ understanding of the curriculum in all subjects. Therefore, we aim to broaden students’ reading horizons by exposing them to a wide range of engaging and interesting texts. It is an expectation that Key Stage Three students have a reading book with them at all times as students are given time to read during form time and within library lessons. Students in Year 7 and Year 8 have a fortnightly library lesson where they are encouraged to explore and engage with a variety of texts available within our well-resourced library. Students in Key Stage 3 are also encouraged to read at home and will be expected to complete a weekly reading journal which will be set via Google Classroom. In addition, all students in Key Stage 3 complete reading tests at the start and end of the academic year. This information is shared with teaching staff to help tailor lessons to suit the needs of students in the classroom, and is used to identify students who may benefit from targeted intervention. At Ridgeway, with support students to become confident readers by: Students who are identified as developing readers may be offered the following interventions:Ridgeway Readers
Learning Journey Map
