English Literature & Language

Overview of the English Department

The English Department at Crayford Academy comprises a passionate and well-qualified team of professionals that has expertise in a number of specialist areas of study and a broad range of interests.  We are dedicated to the study of English Language and Literature, believing that our classrooms can empower students as they secure the skills needed to thrive in society as well-rounded, responsible and productive individuals.    

Meet the English teachers

English Department Vision Statement

At Crayford Academy, our vision is for all of our students to recognise the value of English Literature and Language not merely as academic disciplines, but as a means to make sense of the world, relate to other people and better understand ourselves. We engage with the world through words, so we want our students to appreciate the powerful potential of language as a tool that will empower them to articulate their own ideas and challenge those with which they disagree with sensitivity and respect.   

Our curriculum is designed to be engaging, inclusive and relevant; English will serve students beyond the classroom and emphasise the value of exploring the opinions of others in order to better define their own.  We look at literature through the classic English canon in order for students to develop their own ideas about taste and to be able to critique from the position of knowledge rather than ignorance.  This foundation is enriched with diverse texts from a variety of cultures, genres, authors, and time periods to advance critical thinking, which in turn enables eloquent verbal expression, both in discussion and writing.  

Oracy plays a pivotal role in our subject: students don’t simply learn to talk; they learn through talk and, more importantly, they learn to listen. We believe that English teaching should recognise, and value, the many varieties of spoken English but also acquaint students with the appropriate use of Standard English in discourse.   

All of these skills coalesce in writing and our fundamental ambition is for all our students to produce reflective, crafted writing, whether that be analysing the work of others or producing their own original work.   

English National Curriculum

Key Stage 3

Our KS3 curriculum is designed to enable all students to flourish and graduate Year 9 as confident and literate readers and critical and accurate writers.  It offers a traditional study of prominent English Literary texts by major British writers such as Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bronte and William Shakespeare as well as a variety of complementary texts.  Our curriculum is cumulative and integrated building on connected content and knowledge so that students form a firm foundation of literary and linguistic knowledge that enables them to read and write accurately and critically.   

The curriculum shares fully the guiding principle of the National Curriculum: to develop a deep appreciation and love of reading and writing.  We help students develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually and socially through the texts they study and the activities they complete.  Our curriculum enables our students to master the skills and knowledge needed to provide a solid foundation for future study at GCSE and beyond.   

View our Key Stage 3 English Curriculum Map

Key Stage 4

The curriculum at Key Stage 4 is designed to meet the criteria of AQA’s GCSE English Literature and Language specifications.  Literature and Language are studied separately to ensure that each exam is understood in its own context.  The literary texts studied at GCSE English Literature build on the students’ prior knowledge of Dickens, Shakespeare, poetry and a modern, post-war play.  The core skills of GCSE English Language will have been practised throughout Key Stage 3 and especially through the study of satellite texts.  Students will also have the opportunity to further develop their speaking and listening skills as they also complete a non-examined assessment which requires them to deliver a formal presentation to an audience.

View our Key Stage 4 English Curriculum Map 

Key Stage 5

For those who wish to pursue English Literature at A-Level, we offer a popular and engaging sixth form course.  Students explore Southern Gothic through the drama of Tennessee Williams, the speculative fiction writing of both Mary Shelley and Margaret Atwood, discrimination and cultural differences through Shakespeare as well as a range of Romantic and contemporary poetry. This course also affords the opportunity for students to devise their own coursework assignments based on their own reading and research.   For those who are passionate about literature or what it means to be human, English Literature at A-Level is the perfect course.

View our Key Stage 5 English Curriculum Map

Underpinning all English study is the understanding of ideas, methods and context, from KS3 through to A Level. We have been keen to ensure that the curriculum and assessment cycle leads to progression, with students gaining knowledge and honing skills through the progression of texts and concepts in each year.  We are confident our provision ensures students cultivate their understanding of key concepts and build the skills required for not only future English study, but also across all subjects.

What qualifications can be gained?

Students who take English at Key Stage 4 will gain two GCSE qualifications:  English Language and English Literature.

Students who take English Literature at Key Stage 5 will gain an A-Level qualification.

How does English prepare students for the next stage of their education or employment?

English is a core skill and a fundamental part of all we learn at school. Our aim is to ensure that Crayford students are literate and articulate when taking their place in the wider world. We want them to be able to express themselves with clarity and confidence so that all doors are open to them.  Our curriculum provides students with a wide range of skills useful for either their next stage of education or future employment. These skills include being to read a number of challenging texts and also being able to write in a range of forms accurately.  Students are also able to build confidence through demonstrating that they can present their ideas clearly to an audience.

English can be a pathway into many careers such as:

• Literacy agencies 
• Law
• Marketing 
• Public relations 
• Film, theatre or television production 
• Screenwriting 
• Author
• Editing
• Publishing
• Website design
• Politics and local government
• Journalism 
• Civil service 
• Business 
• Advertising and copywriting 
• Education 
• Language therapy
• Human resources

More Information

More information about our curriculum can be found by looking at our curriculum overviews