English

Our Vision

The study of English has a unique role to play in developing engaged and compassionate young people. Our subject underpins every aspect of academic study, vocation and life. Its flexibility allows students to see themselves in texts, develop their own voices and find joy in the written and spoken word.

Our ambitious curriculum seeks to develop students’ understanding of themselves, the world, and its people. The content of our curriculum is designed to inspire students through the texts that they encounter, encouraging and challenging their thoughts and perspectives on a range of topics. Students are exposed to many different voices: from those in the literary canon to those that have, historically, been marginalised. Everyone's voice – including our students’ - matters in the English classroom. As a mixed-ability, untiered subject, all students access the same knowledge and skills. Our mantra is to ‘Teach to the top’ with high challenge for all, with tailored strategies built into support.

Our goal is for all English students to leave Wymondham High feeling confident in their reading, writing and spoken language skills. We want them to read with a high level of interpretation, to write in a broad range of writing styles, and to speak with confidence. We endeavour for our students to have a wide vocabulary that they can apply across these disciplines, and the tools and strategies to support the careful checking and improvement of their spelling, punctuation and grammar. Above all, we hope they leave school with a lifelong appreciation and enjoyment of the English language.

In classrooms, our experienced teachers - all English specialists – employ varied strategies to support the learning of our students. Our strong teachers consistently endeavour to become better and are willing to try new strategies as part of their evolving and reflective practice. We want our students to view English as interesting and enjoyable, as well as an environment where they think hard, make progress and feel pride.

Reading for pleasure is of high importance to us – research shows that reading for pleasure has been associated with increases in reading attainment, writing ability, text comprehension, grammar, breadth of vocabulary, self-confidence, pleasure in reading in later life, general knowledge, a better understanding of other cultures, a greater insight into human nature and decision-making.

Everyone can experience success in English. It's not a binary ‘right or wrong’ subject; everything is a process. Equally, we want to create young people who are fearless and resilient, always willing to try something new, recognising that mistakes help us learn. Through English, we hope our young people develop emotional intelligence, empathy and an inquisitive mind about the world in which we live.

Our curriculum:

The English curriculum at Wymondham High Academy embodies the wider vision and values of the school by providing a broad, inclusive curriculum that promotes choice and recognises diversity, enabling all to fulfil their learning potential. The study of English has a unique role to play in developing engaged and compassionate citizens. By fostering a love of language and reading, our ambitious curriculum seeks to develop students’ understanding of themselves, the world, and its people. The design of the English curriculum cultivates and develops students’ literacy skills, in order to equip them to converse and express themselves confidently in a demanding and ever-evolving world. 

As knowledge is the key to academic reading - and therefore vital to academic success - the English curriculum is knowledge rich. Students study a broad range of challenging and diverse texts and genres, exploring prose, poetry, fiction, drama and non-fiction. The English curriculum demonstrates great breadth by enabling students to delve into the history of English Literature as well as promoting an appreciation for contemporary, influential texts. However, English is also a subject that should inspire students through the texts that they encounter, encouraging and challenging their thoughts and perspectives on a range of topics. Accordingly, we ensure students are exposed to many different voices: from those in the literary canon to those that have, historically, been marginalised. 

The English curriculum aims to enhance students’ enthusiasm for the subject with a varied enrichment offer which includes opportunities to experience: visiting authors and performers, writing workshops, creative writing competitions, theatre trips, public speaking events, and more. 

The English department work closely with our school librarian and the literacy co-ordinator to ensure our students have opportunities to explore beyond the curriculum, with regular library lessons in the core curriculum phase. Reading for pleasure is of high importance to us – research shows that reading for pleasure has been associated with increases in reading attainment, writing ability, text comprehension, grammar, breadth of vocabulary, attitudes, self-confidence as a reader, pleasure in reading in later life, general knowledge, a better understanding of other cultures, community participation, a greater insight into human nature and decision-making.

Key stage 3: Years 7 - 9

Our Yr7-9 Curriculum aims to shape a strong working knowledge of the origins and development of English language and literature. Taking a broadly chronological approach, students encounter a varied range of writers and texts, from classical mythology to modern classics. By the end of this phase, students will have engaged with the literary contexts and concepts, as well as developed the reading, writing and oracy skills that they will need for success in the ‘focused curriculum’. 

In year 7, units include:
Autumn 1: Myths and Legends
Autumn 2: Fairytale and Folklore
Spring 1: An Introduction to Shakespeare
Spring 2: Victorian fiction
Summer: Modern Novel (A choice from Wolf Hollow and The Boy at the Top of the Mountain)

Non-fiction reading is embedded across the curriculum.


In year 8, units include:
Autumn 1: Crime Fiction
Autumn 2: Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Spring 1: Romanticism
Spring 2: The Gothic
Summer: Modern Novel (A choice from The Bone Sparrow, Star by Star, Dark Matter and The Giver)

Non-fiction reading is embedded across the curriculum


In year 9, units include:
Autumn: Modern Novel (A choice from Where the Crawdads Sing, The Great Gatsby and The Woman in Black)

Spring: Silenced Voices – Poetry and non-fiction from World War I and the Harlem Renaissance.

Summer: Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing and Transactional writing and speaking

Key stage 4: Years 10 - 11

For GCSE, all students follow the AQA English Language (8700) and English Literature (8702) courses, broadly following the curriculum programme below:


AQA specifications:

GCSE English Language: GCSE English 8700 | Specification | AQA

GCSE English Literature: GCSE English 8702 | Specification | AQA

Text choices:
For Literature, Wymondham students study:

Shakespeare – Macbeth or Romeo and Juliet
Nineteenth-century novel – A Christmas Carol
Modern prose or drama – An Inspector Calls
Poetry anthology – Love and Relationships or Power and Conflict cluster

Key Stage 5 (years 12-13)

For A level study, we offer AQA English Literature (specification B/7717AA) and AQA English Language and Literature (7707).

Through the expertise of our A level teachers, students will explore and engage with a variety of texts, developing their critical thinking and analytical reading.


Link to English Literature specification: A-level English 7717 | Specification | AQA
For English Literature, Wymondham students will study Paper 1 (Tragedy) in year 12, reading Othello, Death of a Salesman and Tess of the D’Urbervilles, as well as reading and researching for the NEA (non-examined assessment).
In year 13, students will study the texts for Paper 2 (Crime), reading When Will There Be Good News, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, alongside a variety of Crime extracts for the Unseen element. The NEA will be written during the Autumn term.

Link to English Language and Literature specification: A-level English 7707 | Specification | AQA
For English Language and Literature, Wymondham students will study Paper 1 in year 12, reading The Handmaid’s Tale, Duffy poetry and Non-fiction texts on the theme of Paris, as well as reading and researching for the NEA (non-examined assessment).

Year 13

In year 13, students will study the texts for Paper 2, reading A Streetcar Named Desire and The Kite Runner. The NEA will be written during the Autumn term.