Welcome to English at The Henry Beaufort School, where we ignite the imagination, foster critical thinking, and explore a diverse range of literature and non-fiction texts from the 19th century to the present day over the course of our students’ 5-year journey.
Our intention is to cultivate students’ creativity through writing, encouraging them to unleash their imaginations and craft narratives that resonate. We aim to nurture a passion for reading while honing the ability to critically evaluate and analyse texts, empowering students to engage thoughtfully with diverse ideas and perspectives.
At The Henry Beaufort School, our 5-year curriculum map ensures that students in Year 7 & 8 are well-prepared to begin the study of GCSE English from Year 9 onwards. Our 5-year curriculum map includes the study of a comprehensive range of literature and non-fiction texts that span centuries. From year 7 onwards, students’ study both timeless classics (such as ‘Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ in our Year 7 ‘Glance at the Gothic module’ and Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in Year 8) alongside contemporary works from influential figures such as Malala Yousafzai and Emma Watson, in our Year 7 ‘Inspirational People’ module and Marcus Rashford’s ‘You are a champion!’, allowing students to draw inspiration from the achievements of these modern-day icons, as well as exploring the impact of social activism through literature. To view our full 5-year Curriculum Map, please click on the link below.
Our commitment is not only to academic excellence but also to nurturing well-rounded individuals with a profound appreciation for literature’s power to inspire, challenge, and provoke thought.
What will be assessed and when?
In Year 7 and Year 8, students will be assessed on comprehension, analysis and creative writing skills. This will be at the data drop points in the year – Y7 will be assessed in January, and Y8 will be assessed in both October & May.
In Y9, we begin the GCSE content. The English Literature assessments will be as follows:
The Y11 English Literature final GCSE exams are on the following dates:
Interventions
In order to support all students, reach their full potential, we run several interventions – particularly in Year 11 – to aid reading and writing skills. They are as follows:
Staff List:
Ms V Gist – Academic Leader of English (Working Days Mon/Tues/Wed)
Miss C Knight – Academic Leader of English
Mrs S Fradley – Subject Leader of English (Working Days Mon/Tues/Thurs)
Mr H Cameron – Subject Leader of English
Miss H Brown – English Teacher
Mrs V Herbert – English Teacher (Working Days Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri)
Mrs A Hartfield – English Teacher
Miss R Bean – English Teacher & Head of Year 10
Ms S Howard – English Teacher (Working Days Tues/Wed/Fri)
Links to Future Careers
Where Can English Literature Take You?
English Literature is more than just reading books. It is about exploring ideas, understanding perspectives, and developing empathy and insight. Through studying literature, students learn to analyse complex texts, think critically, and express themselves with clarity and confidence. These skills are highly transferable and valued across a wide range of careers, including:
English Literature nurtures emotional intelligence and cultural awareness, helping students become thoughtful, articulate individuals ready to thrive in any professional environment.
‘English at The Henry Beaufort School allows me to develop my understanding of other people’s perspectives due to the diverse range of Literature we study.’ – Jasmin W, Year 11
‘I like English as it can teach you vital life skills transferable to your career, such as collaboration and empathy.’ – Evie C, Year 11
‘In English, there’s an inviting atmosphere, where everyone is encouraged to share their views.’ – Isaac D, Year 11
‘The English Department go above and beyond to help students aim high for the grade that they want to achieve.’ – Emily T, Year 11
The subject content of the syllabus relates directly to the programme of study for Years 10 and 11 of the National Curriculum.
Students will be expected to study 3 literature texts: a 19th century text, a modern prose and a Shakespearean play. They will also be expected to study a cluster from the AQA poetry Anthology ‘Poems past and present’ and respond to unseen poetry.
Examinations:
Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel
Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry
Both papers will assess the skills of: understanding and responding to texts; maintaining a critical style within a personal response; using textual references appropriately; analysing language and structure using subject terminology; showing understanding of relationships between texts and the contexts they were written in; writing accurately and with a clear sense of purpose.
AQA English Literature – exams 2017 onwards
Set Texts:
For all set texts, the CGP Revision Guides are available on the school website.
Results:
We are very proud of our 2025 English Literature results which show an upward trajectory in our 5-year trend:
AQA
100% terminal examination
9-1
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