English
What does the English Curriculum at Aureus strive to achieve?
Our English curriculum affords those in our educational care the key skills they need in English to be well-rounded, fully fledged members of society when they leave us in year 11. As part of this, we seek to expose them to a range of different text types, published across a large time span - from Enheduanna, the first known poet from circa 23rdC BC, to Ghost Boys published in 2018 - from a diverse range of writers, addressing a variety of topic matters: from toxic masculinity to ecological and environmental issues, to Marcus Rashford’s letter to parliament on the topic of free school meals.
How do students study English at Aureus?
Students are taught English literature and language as two discrete subjects, using separate books for literature and language lessons. We do this as we believe it helps prepare our students for their GCSEs, where they are awarded two different qualifications. In year 11, students are taught the different subjects by two different teachers to allow students to further hone the different skills but, by studying both literature and language alongside each other, students are able to interleave their learning.
Additionally, all year 7 and 8 students have a library lesson once a week, where there is a strong focus on ensuring students read for pleasure regularly, but read a range of sustained and challenging texts.
Why is studying English important?
Other than having to sit exams at the end of year 11 in both English subjects, we seek to support our students in developing their cultural capital, equipping them with the knowledge about the world around them, to allow them to fully appreciate, engage, interpret and evaluate the adult world in which they will find themselves. Within our curriculum, we strive to give our learners the opportunities, experience, knowledge and analytical skills to speak, write and read confidently. We hope that our curriculum will act as a gateway to achievement and intellectual curiosity.
