English
Why Study English?
At Beaulieu Convent School, we aim to develop students who communicate confidently and fluently across a variety of audiences and forms, while fostering a lifelong love of reading diverse texts that reflect multiple cultures and eras. Our English curriculum prioritises the core skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing, empowering students with vocabulary, analytical skills, and the ability to construct coherent arguments.
Across Key Stage 3 and beyond, students engage with a wide range of fictional and non-fictional genres, complete regular extended writing, and benefit from enrichment activities such as author visits. Deliberately sequenced over five years, the curriculum builds on primary knowledge, revisits key vocabulary and literary concepts, and develops confident writers, informed readers, and articulate speakers ready for GCSEs and lifelong learning.
Year 7
English students follow a rich and varied curriculum that takes them from the ancient world to modern media. They begin with Homer’s Iliad, exploring epic heroes, mythology and the foundations of storytelling, before moving to Dickens’ Gothic tale The Signalman, where they analyse suspense, atmosphere and Victorian context. In spring, they study the film Shrek to develop media literacy, learning how camera work, character representation and fairy-tale conventions shape meaning. They then encounter Shakespeare through A Midsummer Night’s Dream, engaging with themes of love, magic and mistaken identity while building confidence with dramatic performance and language. Later in the year, students analyse William Blake’s poetry, focusing on imagery, symbolism and contrasts between innocence and experience. The year concludes with a unit on transactional writing, where they learn to craft clear, effective letters, articles, speeches and other real-world texts.
Year 8
English students explore a diverse range of texts that develop their analytical skills, cultural understanding and confidence as writers. They begin with H. G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds, examining science fiction conventions, narrative tension and the anxieties of a rapidly changing society, before moving to Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, where they study Victorian social issues, character transformation and moral messages. Students then experience Shakespeare’s comedy Much Ado About Nothing, engaging with themes of deception, reputation and love while deepening their appreciation of dramatic structure and language. Later in the year, they read Coleridge’s The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, analysing its supernatural elements, poetic imagery and exploration of guilt and redemption. They also investigate a selection of texts centred on female resistance to oppression, comparing how different writers challenge inequality and give voice to marginalised perspectives. The year concludes with a focus on transactional writing, where students refine their ability to communicate clearly and persuasively through letters, speeches, articles and other real-world formats.
Year 9
English students engage with a challenging and varied curriculum designed to prepare them for GCSE-level study. They begin by developing their descriptive and creative writing, learning how to craft vivid imagery, effective structure and engaging narrative voice. They then study the Gothic novel The Woman in Black, analysing atmosphere, tension and the genre’s exploration of fear and the supernatural. In drama, students explore Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers, focusing on themes of class, fate and family while examining how characters and relationships are shaped through performance. Their Shakespeare study, Macbeth, deepens their understanding of tragedy, ambition and moral corruption, and strengthens their ability to interpret complex language and dramatic techniques. Later in the year, students analyse poetry on power and conflict, comparing how different poets present authority, resistance, violence and human struggle. The year concludes with a unit on transactional writing, where students refine their ability to argue, persuade and inform through a range of real-world forms such as speeches, letters and articles.
Years 10 and 11
At Key Stage 4, students follow a programme designed to prepare them for both their iGCSE English Literature (Edexcel) and iGCSE English Language (CIE) qualifications. They begin with an in-depth study of Romeo and Juliet, analysing Shakespeare’s dramatic structure, themes of love and conflict, and the play’s presentation of fate. Alongside this, students complete coursework on J. B. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls, developing sustained analytical essays that contribute to their final literature grade. They then move on to Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, exploring its social and historical context, the portrayal of friendship and isolation, and Steinbeck’s narrative craft. Throughout the course, students also study the Edexcel Poetry Anthology, comparing how poets express ideas about identity, relationships, society and human experience. To prepare for the CIE English Language examination, they work with a wide range of fiction and non-fiction extracts, building skills in close reading, inference, analysis and summary, as well as practising different forms of transactional and creative writing. By the end of Key Stage 4, students have developed strong critical thinking, communication and interpretative skills across both literature and language.
Years 12 and 13: (A Level)
At Key Stage 5, students follow the AQA English Literature Specification B, developing advanced analytical, comparative and critical skills through the study of both tragedy and social–political writing. For the Elements of Tragedy component, students focus on either King Lear or Othello, exploring Shakespeare’s presentation of power, corruption, suffering and the tragic hero. They also study the works of John Keats, examining how his poetic language, form and Romantic ideals contribute to tragic intensity, alongside Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, which offers a modern perspective on downfall, ambition and disillusionment. For the Elements of Social and Political Protest Writing component, students analyse The Kite Runner, investigating themes of guilt, redemption, and political upheaval; Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, exploring gender, autonomy and societal expectations; and a selection of William Blake’s poetry, focusing on his critique of oppression, inequality and institutional power. Across KS5, students refine their essay writing, develop their understanding of literary theory and contextual interpretation, and learn to form sophisticated, independent arguments that prepare them for both examination and further study.