At Mercia Northridge, a strong foundation of knowledge is central to English. We believe the subject is vital in improving life chances and empowering students to understand and challenge the world around them.
Our curriculum is carefully sequenced so that key knowledge is revisited and embedded through a spiralling approach. This allows pupils to build understanding, develop confidence, and think with increasing analytical precision.
We place a strong emphasis on explicit vocabulary teaching, ensuring pupils acquire and confidently use ambitious, subject-specific language. This means pupils can develop their ability to communicate clearly, both in speech and extended writing, across a range of audiences and purposes.
Through reading a diverse range of texts, pupils develop as critical readers who can analyse language, form independent viewpoints, and engage with social and moral issues. We aim to nurture articulate, thoughtful individuals with a genuine enjoyment of reading, preparing them for GCSE success and life beyond school.
Year 7
Half Term 1 – Ancient Greek Myths
Half Term 2 – ‘A Christmas Carol’
Half Term 3 – Poetry Through Time
Half Term 4 – Narrative Poems
Half Term 5 – ‘Romeo and Juliet’ – non-fiction focus
Half Term 6 – ‘Romeo and Juliet’ – study of the play
Year 8
Half Term 1 – Introduction to the Gothic
Half Term 2 – ‘The Woman in Black’
Half Term 3 – Power Poetry
Half Term 4 – Short Stories
Half Term 5 – Renaissance and Romantic Poetry
Half Term 6 – ‘Twelfth Night’
Year 9
Half Term 1 – Introduction to Dystopian Literature
Half Term 2 – ‘Animal Farm’
Half Term 3– ‘The Tempest’ – study of the play
Half Term 4 – ‘The Tempest’ – creative writing focus
Half Term 5 – Conflict Poetry
Half Term 6 – The Power of Rhetoric
Year 10
Term 1 – ‘An Inspector Calls’ and Introduction to Language Paper 1
Term 2 – ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ and Introduction to Language Paper 2
Term 3 – ‘Macbeth’ and Language Linked to Key Themes in Macbeth
Year 11
Term 1 – Literature Paper 2 and Language Paper 2
Term 2 – Literature Paper 1 and Language Paper 1
Term 3 – Revision
Exam board
AQA GCSE English Language (8700)
GCSE English 8700 | Specification | AQA
AQA GCSE English Literature (8702)
GCSE English 8702 | Specification | AQA