Year 9 English
What students learn this year: (2–4 sentences, parent-friendly overview of the year)
In Year 9 English pupils build on ,and further develop, skills and knowledge established in Years’ 7 and 8 in preparation in KS4(GCSE). The overall theme in Year 9 is Love and Relationships. How meaning is created through reading a variety of texts and through the pupils’ own writing.
Term overview
|
Term / Half-term |
Main topics / units |
Key knowledge & skills |
|
Autumn 1 |
Love and Relationships poetry |
Metaphorical Language, structure, writers’ choices, context,what? How? Why? Analysis writing.Linked fiction/non-fiction texts. Creative/descriptive writing. Transactional writing. SPAG/sentence structures. As with Years 7 and 8 the boys are issued with a poetry anthology which they annotate. Poems studied are a wide range about love and relationships through the ages. They include the sonnets Who So List To Hunt by Sir Thomas Wyatt, Sonnet 116 by William Shakespeare , Love After Love by Dereck Walcott and Valentine by Carol Anne Duffy. |
|
Autumn 2 |
Love and Relationships poetry |
Metaphorical Language, structure, writers’ choices, context,what? How? Why? Analysis writing.Linked fiction/non-fiction texts. Creative/descriptive writing. Transactional writing. SPAG/sentence structures. |
|
Spring 1 |
Romeo and Juliet(The whole play) |
Metaphorical Language, structure, writers’ choices, context,what? How? Why? Analysis writing.Linked fiction/non-fiction texts. Creative/descriptive writing. Transactional writing. SPAG/sentence structures. Character/plot/themes The whole play is read. Themes studied: conflict,love,violence, parent/child relationships,masculinity, fate. |
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Spring 2 |
Romeo and Juliet |
Metaphorical Language, structure, writers’ choices, context,what? How? Why? Analysis writing.Linked fiction/non-fiction texts. Creative/descriptive writing. Transactional writing. SPAG/sentence structures. Character/plot/themes |
|
Summer 1 |
Animal Farm |
Metaphorical Language, structure, writers’ choices, context,what? How? Why? Analysis writing.Linked fiction/non-fiction texts. Creative/descriptive writing. Transactional writing. SPAG/sentence structures. Character/plot/themes Themes studied that are linked to the novella: conflict, capitalism,socialism, co operation,society, class, hypocrisy,friendship etc |
|
Summer 2 |
Animal Farm |
Metaphorical Language, structure, writers’ choices, context,what? How? Why? Analysis writing.Linked fiction/non-fiction texts. Creative/descriptive writing. Transactional writing. SPAG/sentence structures. Character/plot/themes |
How learning and progress are checked
Teaching approach (1–2 sentences):
Lessons combine short teacher explanations with discussion , regular retrieval practice, extended writing and the reading of a wide range of texts (culturally as well as in content.) We aim to keep students thinking hard but supported, so that key English skills and knowledge are embedded over time.
Assessment in this year group
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Type of assessment |
Approx. frequency / when |
What it is used for (e.g. reports, targets) |
|
Classwork / quizzes |
Short retrieval quizzes most lessons. Do Now Tasks. |
To check recall of key facts and address misconceptions quickly |
|
Homework tasks |
Once per week |
To develop independent learning skills. |
|
End-of-topic assessments |
Approximately once per term at the end of a unit. |
To judge understanding of each unit and inform progress data |
|
End-of-year assessment |
Summer term |
To give an overall picture of progress across the year |
Homework and Independent study
How often is homework set? Once per week (Educake quiz)
Typical length per task: Around 30 minutes
Suggested independent study:
The following websites are useful for revising topics we have covered:
Massolit for the more ambitious/able pupil.
How parents and carers can support
- Ask your child to explain one thing they learned in English today in their own words.
- Check that homework is completed on time.
- Encourage a quiet, distraction-free space for homework and revision.
- Help your child to revise little and often rather than leaving everything to the night before a test.
- Read to your child at least twice per week.
- Choose a word of the week to discuss with your son.
- Discuss what you are reading with your child.
- Discuss topical and cultural events/ideas.
- Put the subtitles on the TV(this helps with fluency of reading)
- Audio books in the car and before bed at night are also recommended.
Support, stretch and enrichment
Support for students who need extra help:
We use writing frames, scaffolding and 1:1 support, where needed.
Stretch & challenge:
More confident students are given extension questions and opportunities to make better any work they think they have completed. You have never finished in English!
Clubs / trips / extra opportunities:
Theatre trips and author visits. Creative writing and Debate clubs(subject to staff availability)