English & Drama
At The Royal, our English curriculum is built on a simple but powerful foundation: a deep love of literature paired with rigorous preparation for academic success. We believe that English should inspire curiosity, creativity, and confidence—equipping students with the skills they need for both GCSEs and life beyond the classroom.
Our curriculum is ambitious, engaging, and inclusive, designed to reflect diverse voices, real-world experiences, and powerful themes. At the heart of our approach is a series of carefully selected vehicle texts that act as gateways into a wider literary, cultural, and social understanding. These texts allow us to make rich cross-curricular connections and explore timeless human experiences.
Key Stage 3
In Years 7–9, students are immersed in a spiralised curriculum, where key ideas and skills are revisited and deepened over time. Each unit blends fiction and non-fiction study, encouraging students to develop their reading, writing, speaking, and analytical skills in a structured, supportive environment.
Key Stage 3 lessons are designed to inspire students to connect with texts both creatively and independently. Lessons include:
- Exposure to classic and contemporary fiction
- Creative and narrative writing opportunities
- Analytical writing with a focus on comparison, evaluation, and inference
- Non-fiction and persuasive writing linked to real-world issues
We aim to build confident, articulate readers and writers who are ready for the demands of Key Stage 4.
Key Stage 4
At GCSE, students follow the AQA English Language and English Literature specifications. They benefit from five lessons per week, taught by two specialist teachers. This ensures high-quality, consistent delivery and tailored support.
Literature texts include:
- Macbeth by William Shakespeare
- An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley
- The Power and Conflict poetry anthology
- Either Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde or A Christmas Carol
Students are challenged to think critically, write with precision, and express thoughtful, well-supported ideas—skills essential for success in English and across the curriculum.
Beyond the Classroom
We are proud to offer a wide range of enrichment experiences that build cultural capital and truly bring English to life for our students. These opportunities extend beyond the classroom and include creative writing activities such as Lesson 6 workshops, whole-school creative writing competitions, and engaging World Book Day events. We also regularly host author talks that inspire students and provide unique insights into the craft of writing.
Our commitment to cultural enrichment is further demonstrated through theatre visits at Key Stage 4, where students have the chance to experience live performances of Macbeth and An Inspector Calls. For Key Stage 3, we organize rewarding trips such as visits to Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon, offering students a tangible connection to literary history.
Throughout the year, we run author visits, reading challenges, and library events that motivate students to read widely and deepen their love of literature. These experiences complement our rigorous curriculum by fostering creativity, critical thinking, and a lifelong passion for English.
Whether students are analysing a Shakespearean tragedy or crafting a piece of persuasive writing, our goal remains the same: to develop curious, confident, and capable learners, ready to thrive in school and beyond.