Our KS3 Curriculum Overview can be found below. 

KS3 English Curriculum Overview 

Throughout KS3, English Literature and English Language skills are interleaved within a broad, balanced and engaging spiral curriculum, designed to build and revisit the foundational knowledge required for success at GCSE level and beyond. The curriculum develops students’ reading, writing and oracy skills through a wide range of rich and challenging texts, alongside opportunities for creative, analytical and transactional writing.

Students are encouraged to develop a love of reading through exposure to diverse literature and regular opportunities for independent reading. Vocabulary development is explicitly taught to strengthen comprehension and expression.

Once a fortnight, students engage in a dedicated reading and literacy lesson in the library, supporting wider reading and fostering a strong reading culture.

Within our English Curriculum, a strong emphasis is placed on the development of academic vocabulary, which equips students to engage with complex texts and communicate their ideas with clarity and sophistication.

In Year 7, 8 and 9, all students undertake weekly Bedrock Grammar homework to support language development and literacy skills.

Across Key Stages 3 and 4, this vocabulary is systematically integrated, tested and applied within each unit of study, allowing students to apply their knowledge with confidence and precision.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Bedrock Curriculum cover?

Bedrock Vocabulary teaches thousands of Tier 2 words (these are challenging, ambitious words that don’t usually crop up in day-to-day conversation), through interactive lessons that all begin with a rich and authentic text.

Bedrock Grammar is a knowledge-rich curriculum that explicitly teaches grammar through videos and a variety of engaging activities. As with Bedrock Vocabulary, every lesson begins with an authentic text that demonstrates the grammar item in context, before learners embark on an interactive learning journey, learning a whole host of grammar tools and techniques.

How long should my child spend on Bedrock each week?

Each week, students in Year 7, 8 and 9 should complete 2 lessons on Vocabulary lessons and 1 lesson on Grammar. We estimate this will take about one hour.

This is the minimum expectation; however, students are encouraged to complete additional lessons to further develop their skills and confidence.

Where can I find more information about Bedrock?

For more information about understanding Bedrock as a Parent or Guardian, please visit the link below : 

Bedrock Information for Parents/Carers/Guardians 

For further information about our Bedrock programme at Burnham Grammar, please email Ms Siggins (Whole School Literacy Co-ordinator).

We begin our GCSE course in Year 9, providing a transition year that allows us to refine and develop key skills to fully prepare students for the demands of the GCSE course.

English Literature and English Language are taught by the same teacher, with each half term alternating between the two qualifications.

Our KS4 Curriculum Overview can be found below. 

BGS English KS4 Curriculum Overview 

Our exam board for GCSE English Language is Eduqas. The specification can be found via the link below. 

GCSE English Language Eduqas 

The English Language qualification comprises of two examinations, which evaluate both reading and writing skills.

Component 1: 20th Century Literature Reading and Creative Prose Writing
This examination assesses reading and writing skills in response to literary prose from the 20th century. Students analyse how writers use language and structure to create effects, as well as complete a creative writing task.

Component 2: 19th and 21st Century Non-Fiction Reading and Transactional Writing
This examination assesses reading across non-fiction texts from both the 19th and 21st centuries. Students compare and analyse writers’ perspectives and viewpoints, as well as producing their own transactional writing for a variety of purposes and audiences.

In addition, students complete a separate Spoken Language Endorsement, which assesses their ability to communicate effectively in spoken English and is reported as a separate component.

We begin our GCSE course in Year 9, providing a transition year that allows us to refine and develop key skills to fully prepare students for the demands of the GCSE course.

English Literature and English Language are taught by the same teacher, with each half term alternating between the two qualifications.

Our KS4 Curriculum Overview can be found below. 

BGS English KS4 Curriculum Overview 

Our exam board for GCSE English Literature is Edexcel. The specification can be found via the link below. 

GCSE English Literature Edexcel 

The English Literature qualification comprises of two examinations, which assess students’ understanding of set texts and their ability to analyse writers’ methods, themes and contexts.

Component 1: Shakespeare and Post-1914 Literature
Students study Macbeth by William Shakespeare and Boys Don’t Cry by Malorie Blackman, developing their ability to analyse writers’ methods, themes and contexts, and to write critically about whole texts.

Component 2: 19th-century Novel and Poetry since 1789
Students study A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens alongside the Edexcel Conflict Poetry Anthology, exploring a range of poetic voices and perspectives and comparing how writers present ideas across texts.

Copies of set texts will be provided by the English Department.

The Edexcel A Level English Literature course offers an engaging and challenging exploration of prose, drama, poetry and independent study, developing students’ critical thinking, analytical writing and contextual understanding.

The specification for the course can be found via the link below. 

A Level English Literature Specification 

In Prose, students study The Lonely Londoners by Sam Selvon and Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, developing their ability to analyse writers’ methods closely, explore meanings at word, sentence and structural level, and engage with interpretations in relation to relevant social, historical and literary contexts.

In Drama, students study A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams and Othello by William Shakespeare, focusing on critical analysis of dramatic techniques, form and structure, while evaluating different interpretations and considering the significance of contextual influences on meaning.

In Poetry, students study the poetry of Christina Rossetti alongside the Poems of the Decade anthology, engaging with a wide range of poetic voices, forms and ideas from the Victorian period to contemporary poetry.

The Non-Exam Assessment (NEA) is a self-directed comparative study, in which students explore A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini alongside a second text of their choice, allowing them to pursue independent lines of enquiry and develop extended academic writing skills.

Our English Department provides a range of opportunities for students to develop their creativity, confidence and individual voice beyond the classroom. Creative Writing Club takes place every Tuesday lunchtime and is open to all students, offering a supportive and inspiring environment in which to experiment with language, explore ideas and develop their writing.

We regularly launch creative writing competitions, encouraging students to challenge themselves and celebrate their achievements as writers.

Students with a passion for writing can also apply to contribute to the BGS Chronicle, our school newsletter, gaining valuable experience of writing for a real audience and developing their skills as writers, editors and journalists.