At Ormiston Denes Academy, we value the importance of reading. Our robust curriculum is designed to help students become more curious and engaged with the world around them. English plays an unparalleled role in giving young people the tools to navigate and flourish in whatever future they choose. All students deserve to be given every opportunity to be excited and enthused about the world.
Over our three-year Key Stage 3 curriculum, students engage with key texts from the literary canon, developing their cultural capital, their confidence engaging with increasingly challenging texts, and their understanding of how to use their own voice to advocate for themselves and their beliefs. Students also develop their writing, focusing on academic essays, prose, poetry and non-fiction texts. We place great value on growing students’ literacy skills and developing a love of reading for pleasure, with all students in Key Stage 3 taking part in library lessons.
Our Key Stage 4 curriculum follows the AQA English Literature and English Language GCSE courses. In English Language, students develop their understanding of both fiction and non-fiction texts from the 19th century to present day through close extract analysis. They also learn how to apply these skills practically as we practise both creative and transactional writing, equipping students with the core skills needed to express themselves formally and with clarity.
Our English Literature GCSE text choices spiral with the ideas and topics studied throughout KS3, helping students to understand the change and continuity in literature across cultures and time. Students study Macbeth, An Inspector Calls, A Christmas Carol, Power and Conflict Poetry and unseen poetry.
We understand how critical a strong foundation in English is to enable students to secure the futures they deserve. We supplement our ambitious and challenging curriculum with enrichment activities, such as theatre trips, poetry workshops and engagement with high-quality performances. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to discuss our curriculum and aims.