KEY STAGE 3 CURRICULUM OUTLINE

The English team are very passionate about English and have strong academic backgrounds in English Language and English Literature.                    

As we are all avid readers, we commit to ensuring that your child, too, reads passionately and widely. We have recently updated our KS3 programme of study to ensure that the texts we study cover a range of topics, eras and cultures. We strongly believe in the importance of students’ experience of classics, as well as more modern texts and with this in mind, pupils at Winifred Holtby Academy are able to enjoy fiction such as Oliver Twist, Treasure Island and A Christmas Carol, as well as studying current authors such as David Walliams and Annabel Pitcher. 

To involve Parents/Carers in students’ reading and to ensure rapid progress is made by students in their reading, we encourage KS3 and KS4 students to read with their teachers and Parents/Carers.

Reading, of course, is only one strand of English and our commitment to students’ writing and Literacy skills is also apparent in our English curriculum. With Literacy skills embedded into our curriculum, we cover writing for a variety of purposes, audiences and forms. We teach these writing skills within exciting topics such as; Hull's culture, Murder Mystery and Superheroes.

KEY STAGE 4 CURRICULUM OUTLINE

We know that what your child achieves at KS4 is of significant importance to you as Parents/Carers and how it can impact their future beyond Winifred Holtby Academy. With this in mind, whilst fostering our students’ love of English, we ensure that your child is also fully prepared for their examinations in English Language and English Literature by teaching them transferable skills to be able to access and flourish in any English exam. English Literature allows students to continue to study texts from across a range of cultures and eras, building upon their knowledge from KS3; students will study plays, poems and prose. English Language will ensure that your child is able to write confidently for a number of purposes and audiences and will test their ability to read for meaning.

Students’ spoken language skills will also be assessed at KS4, as students participate in a number of speaking and listening tasks designed to improve their confidence in presenting to an audience and discussing sensitive issues.

FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES AND PATHWAYS POST 16

We love to hear that our students have gone on to study English at A Level and degree level. Students who achieve their targets at GCSE will be able to continue studying English Language and Literature at KS5. We organise workshops for students with local colleges and students from The University of Hull. Work in English lessons is set to challenge and inspire our younger learners.

EXTRA CURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES

A range of visits are organised for your child to participate in throughout their time with us. Some visits are rewards for excellent attitudes to learning and progress and some are to further their understanding of topics covered. Such trips include a visit to the Harry Potter studios in London, theatre visits to Hull Truck and Hull New Theatre, to see plays such as The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time and a revision residential for KS4 students.

We have very strong links with our Academy’s librarian who organises fantastic opportunities to meet and work with authors and poets in workshops in the Learning Resource Centre (LRC). The LRC also facilitates a children’s book award group who meet each week to read, discuss and critique each year’s contenders.