English (Literature and Language)

Intent

At the heart of our English curriculum is the belief that language is power: it enables self-expression, fosters empathy, and provides the foundation for lifelong learning and success. We aim to cultivate a love of reading and writing by exposing students to a rich and diverse range of texts from classic and contemporary, local and global, that reflect a broad spectrum of voices and experiences. Our intent is to develop confident, articulate, and thoughtful communicators who can understand and respond to the world around them with clarity and critical awareness.

The intent of our English Literature curriculum is to cultivate a lifelong appreciation for the power of literature in shaping human experience, identity, and culture. We aim to challenge students to engage deeply with texts from a diverse range of authors, time periods, and traditions, enabling them to become thoughtful, critical, and empathetic readers and communicators. Students will explore texts that span centuries and continents, developing an understanding of how literature reflects and challenges the social, political, and moral contexts in which it is written.

Learning hours

Knowledge, understanding and skills

English Language

Our creative and ambitious KS3 curriculum will develop students' reading skills through a diverse range of texts, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama. By engaging with a variety of genres, students will enhance their ability to interpret meaning, analyze structure, and appreciate different literary styles. Alongside reading, the curriculum fosters strong writing skills by exposing students to various forms of expression, such as descriptive, persuasive, transactional, and imaginative writing.

In addition to reading and writing, students will build their spoken language skills through class discussions, presentations, and debates. These activities will encourage confidence in verbal expression while refining their ability to articulate ideas clearly and persuasively. The curriculum also places a strong emphasis on vocabulary and grammar knowledge, enabling students to use and decode language with accuracy and effectiveness. By reinforcing fundamental skills in a spiraled approach, students will develop independence and a love of reading and writing, setting them up for lifelong learning.

In KS4, students will study AQA English Language Paper 1 and 2, further developing their analytical skills in fiction and non-fiction texts. They will deepen their understanding of a writer’s purpose, audience, and form while honing their ability to analyse language and structural techniques. Students will learn to construct meaningful evaluations of texts, using references and method analysis to support their interpretations. Additionally, they will refine their writing abilities across various forms, including descriptive, persuasive, transactional, and imaginative writing, ensuring they can communicate effectively and creatively.

English Literature

Our creative and ambitious KS3 Curriculum will challenge students to think critically about language and its use, helping them understand its impact on society. It will foster an appreciation for literature by deepening their understanding of the cultural, historical, and social contexts of the texts they study. Additionally, the curriculum promotes and celebrates diverse perspectives and cultures, both within the UK and globally, to encourage inclusivity. By inspiring a love of reading and writing, it equips students with the skills for lifelong learning.

A key focus of KS3 is to develop students' independence by strengthening fundamental skills through a spiralled approach. This method allows students to revisit and refine their knowledge over time, building confidence and mastery in reading, writing, and analytical thinking. Through engaging and challenging lessons, students will cultivate their ability to express themselves effectively, laying a strong foundation for future success.

In KS4, students will study AQA English Literature Paper 1 and 2, developing their analytical skills by exploring set texts, including Shakespeare, 19th-century literature, modern texts, and poetry. They will deepen their understanding of the social and historical contexts of plays, novels, and poems to enhance their interpretations. Students will also refine their ability to analyse a writer’s methods and how they create meaning. Additionally, they will strengthen their skills in responding to unseen texts, including poetry, by supporting their opinions with references and analysis. A key focus will be embedding comparative skills, particularly in Power & Conflict and Unseen Poetry

5 year learning journey

Specification

AQA English Language Specification- Link

AQA English Literature Specification- Link

Specification Summaries

 

Careers

The skills you gain through studying English are marketable in most sectors. The major strength of studying English is the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Some of the careers linked to the study of English are:

• Teacher 
• Journalist
• Public Relations
• Publishing
• Marketing
• Media
• Lawyer
• Linguistics

Extra curricular opportunities

• Trip to Harry Potter World
• Trip to watch Macbeth in theatre
• Trip to watch Jekyll & Hyde in theatre
• Poetry Live! Trip
• The Globe Players performances of set GCSE texts
• Witness for the prosecution trip

 

For supporting your creative writing:

The Thinking Shed - THE LITERACY SHED  A great website full of ideas to inspire your creative writing

For helping you to choose a good book:

School reading list - recommended books for children and teens. Reading is such an important part of English and at Meridian we encourage students to read independently and widely - this is a great site for ideas for year 7-11 students. So... Keep Reading!

Sparx reader

Useful Websites to support your learning 

Website	How it supports students
AQA English Language	The official examination-board page for English Language, including the specification, updated examination information and assessment guidance.
AQA English Language Assessment Resources	Official past papers, updated sample papers, mark schemes, examiner reports and example student responses.
AQA English Literature	The official examination-board page for English Literature, providing the specification, set-text information and assessment guidance.
AQA English Literature Assessment Resources	Official Literature papers, mark schemes, examiner reports and example responses covering Shakespeare, the 19th-century novel, modern texts and poetry.
Seneca – AQA English Language	Interactive revision covering language and structural techniques, reading skills, writing skills and key terminology.
Seneca – English Literature	Interactive activities covering the plots, characters, themes, quotations and contexts of many AQA set texts and poetry clusters.
Physics & Maths Tutor – AQA English	Revision notes, character profiles, thematic guides, essay-writing guidance, flashcards and past papers for Language and Literature.
Save My Exams – AQA English Language	Question-by-question guidance, model approaches, practice questions and specific information about the examination changes introduced in 2026. Some resources require a subscription.
Save My Exams – AQA English Literature	Text-specific notes covering plot, characters, themes, context, writers’ methods, quotations and exam-style questions. Some resources require a subscription.
Mr Bruff	Clear videos explaining AQA Language questions, writing tasks, Literature texts, poetry and examination technique. His newer videos cover the 2026 English Language changes.
Mr Salles Teaches English	Detailed Literature analysis, key quotations, essay planning and advice for developing higher-level interpretations.
Quizlet – AQA English Language	Flashcards covering terminology, structural methods, vocabulary and approaches to reading and writing questions.
Quizlet – AQA English Literature	Expert-verified and user-created flashcards for characters, themes, quotations, context and poetry. Students should select the exact texts studied at school.
MASSOLIT – AQA English Literature	Short lectures from university academics providing deeper interpretations of Literature texts and their contexts. Full access may require a school subscription.