Key Stage 3 English Language

CURRICULUM: CAMBRIDGE LOWER SECONDARY

A programme built around nine thematic units, each pairing a rich variety of text types — from classic and contemporary fiction to poetry, travel writing, blogs and articles — with purposeful reading, writing and language work.

We use an active-learning approach in which every unit weaves together three parallel threads: exploration of diverse text types, creative and analytical content and skills, and a targeted language focus. Varied speaking and listening opportunities run throughout the course, building the confidence and craft students will carry into their IGCSE studies.

Units of Study

Unit & Topic text types content & skills language focus
Unit 1Adventure Contemporary fiction; travel writing; poetry; novel Summarise genre features; write a monologue; analyse a poem’s meaning; write a story Sentence types; alliteration and sibilance; powerful verbs
Unit 2‘Hey, You Down There’ Short story (science fiction) Write a spoken drama; write informally; write a story with an unusual ending Sentence openings; compound-complex sentences; formal and informal language
Unit 3Film & Fame Contemporary fiction; informative article; film review Write a section of a story; an article; a film review; speech writing Direct speech; types of noun/adjective combinations
Unit 4Small but Perfect Flash fiction; haiku and imagist poetry; informative article; explanatory text; magazine article and interview Write flash fiction; analyse a poem; write poems; write an interview Time connectives; prefixes
Unit 5Unusual Education Descriptive accounts; blogs; discussion article and account; contemporary fiction and drama Write an account about school; write a letter; write a script Connectives; colons
Unit 6Life Stories Thematic poetry; autobiographies; diary; persuasive speech Justify poetry choices; write an account of family life and a monologue; analyse a letter; analyse language; write a poem and a speech Rhythm and rhyme; voice; embedded clauses
Unit 7‘The Travel Agency’ Short story (fantasy) Write about characters, events and settings; write a narrative piece and a brochure introduction; analyse character; write a diary entry; write about a theme Word choice and order; voice and excitement
Unit 8In the City Contemporary fiction; informative article; classic fiction; thematic poetry; argument articles Write a travel article; continue a story; write a poem about a city Using punctuation; personification; related word forms; perspective
Unit 9Dangers of the Sea Contemporary fiction; informative article; classic fiction and poetry Describe a sea snake; analyse characters; continue a story; analyse poetic language Choosing words and phrases; poetic language
 

Progression to Key Stage 4
The reading, writing, speaking and listening skills developed across these units lay the foundations for the Cambridge IGCSE courses in English Language that follow at Key Stage 4.