English

Trinity’s English mission is to enable all students to flourish in English. We have designed the programme so that students graduate from Year 9 as confident and literate readers and critical and accurate writers. By the end of Key Stage 3, they will know more about the foundational texts in literature, will be able to remember more about English Literature’s social and historical context, and will be able to do more creative and critical writing.

Students study the foundational texts of English Literature such as ‘Oliver Twist’ and ‘The Tempest’. The defining messages of these texts, such as Dickens’ desire for a fairer society, will support their future study of English and other subjects. In order for students to be able to read and understand a text, they need to be experts in its domain. Having a strong understanding of the text’s context, plot, purpose and author enables them to make connections and solidify their understanding. Knowing that the Metropolitan Police was an emerging force during the writing of ‘Sherlock Holmes’ helps students understand the significance of Holmes’ position in Victorian London, and how attitudes and approaches to crime and policing have evolved over time. Creativity and originality emerge from a deep understanding of a subject’s foundations. By studying grammar and writing in depth, students gain the foundational knowledge from which creativity can emerge. Being able to use subordinate clauses accurately enables students to compose multi-faceted narratives, articles and essays in English and other subjects. Students need explicit instruction in Tier 2 vocabulary to make them better readers. Reading ability is strongly correlated with vocabulary knowledge. If students know more words, they will be able to understand and access more literary and challenging texts across the curriculum and be able to do more with them. Our curriculum is cumulative and integrated. All the content and knowledge is connected so that students form a firm foundation of literary and linguistic knowledge that enables them to read and write accurately and critically.

 

How to use a Knowledge Organiser

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

TBC

Year 10

Year 11