English

Curriculum Overview

At Louth Academy, our English curriculum is carefully sequenced and knowledge-rich, designed to develop confident, analytical readers, writers and speakers. We ensure that all students acquire the core knowledge, cultural capital and disciplinary understanding needed to interpret, critique and engage with a wide range of literary and non-fiction texts.

At Key Stage 3, we follow the Ark Mastery English curriculum, which provides a strong foundation in literary heritage, vocabulary development and analytical thinking through a structured and ambitious programme of study. Students encounter a broad range of texts, including Shakespeare, pre-1914 literature and modern voices, enabling them to explore key ideas such as power, identity and morality in increasing depth and complexity. Core knowledge, including context, vocabulary, writer's methods and key concepts, is explicitly taught, revisited and embedded over time.

Reading is placed at the heart of the curriculum. Through high-quality whole-class teaching and targeted interventions, including Reading Plus and Sparx Reader, we develop students' fluency, comprehension and independence, reflecting the National Curriculum's emphasis on reading widely and often.

At Key Stage 4, the curriculum builds coherently towards success in external examinations. Students study Eduqas GCSE English Language, including the Spoken Language Endorsement, and AQA GCSE English Literature. They develop the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, construct critical arguments, and evaluate writers' methods with precision and independence.

Our curriculum is underpinned by principles of cognitive science, ensuring that knowledge is carefully sequenced, regularly revisited, and securely embedded in long-term memory. By the end of Year 11, students are equipped not only for examination success, but with the knowledge, skills and confidence to participate thoughtfully and critically in the wider world.

Key Skills Developed

Through our English curriculum, students develop a wide range of transferable skills that align with the expectations of the National Curriculum:

Reading

Fluent, confident reading across a wide range of texts
Analytical skills to interpret themes, ideas and writer's methods
Understanding of context, literary traditions and cultural influences
Ability to compare texts and evaluate interpretations

Writing

Writing clearly and accurately for a range of purposes and audiences
Crafting creative, descriptive and argumentative pieces
Using grammar, punctuation and vocabulary with increasing control
Structuring extended writing effectively

Oracy (Speaking and Listening)

Communicating ideas clearly and confidently
Participating in discussion and debate
Presenting and performing
Developing formal spoken language skills (including GCSE Spoken Language Endorsement)

These skills are developed cumulatively and revisited over time to ensure strong retention and application.

How Parents and Carers Can Support

We believe that strong partnerships with parents and carers are essential in helping students succeed in English. Reading regularly at home is one of the most powerful ways to support progress.

Supporting Reading at Home

Encourage your child to read, or listen to an audiobook, for at least 15 minutes each day.
Discuss what they are reading by asking questions. Support your child in reading a wide range of texts, including fiction, non-fiction, news articles and poetry.

Encouraging Writing and Vocabulary

Encourage your child to:

Keep a reading journal or diary
Learn and use new vocabulary in conversation
Practise writing for different purposes (e.g. stories, letters, opinions)

By supporting reading and discussion at home, parents and carers play a vital role in helping students develop the confidence and skills needed to succeed in English and beyond.

Useful Websites

Sparx Reader – supports reading practice, comprehension and vocabulary development
Reading Plus – develops fluency, stamina and understanding through structured reading sessions
BBC Bitesize – revision support for key skills and GCSE texts
National Literacy Trust (www.literacytrust.org.uk) – advice and resources for supporting reading at home

English

Curriculum Overview

Key Skills Developed

How Parents and Carers Can Support

Useful Websites

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