English

KEY STAGE 3 SET TEXTS

The following novels and plays are taught in Years 7, 8 and 9 to develop students' knowledge and understanding of themes and characters, as well as to foster enthusiasm and a passion for reading.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a novel about Bruno, the young son of a Nazi officer, who befriends a Jewish boy named Shmuel during World War II.



Martha is very different from other kids, because of her parents. Strict members of a religious group - their rules dominate Martha's life. And one rule is the most important of all: she must never ever invite anyone home. If she does, their shameful secret - Abomination - could be revealed.


Animal Farm is a novel about a group of animals who take control of the farm they live on. ... However, trouble brews as the pigs, Napoleon and Snowball, fight for the hearts and minds of the other animals on the farm. Napoleon seizes power by force and ends up exploiting the animals just as Farmer Jones had done.


A story of order and disorder, reality and appearance, and love and marriage. Theseus, Duke of Athens, and Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons are to be married and great celebrations are planned.


Of Mice and Men is centred around two ranch workers, George and Lennie, in California in the 1930s as they start work in a place called Soledad (a Spanish word meaning ‘solitude’). While at the ranch, George and Lennie meet other characters, who emphasise the loneliness and difficulty of life for the people living and working in these places.


Macbeth by William Shakespeare tells the story of one man's violent rise to a position of power as king of his country and of his even more violent downfall.


KEY STAGE 4 SET TEXTS

The following texts novels and plays are taught in Years 10 and 11 for the English Literature GCSE examination. Students will develop their knowledge and understanding of the plot, themes, characters and language.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an old man who transforms his miserly ways after four ghostly visits one Christmas Eve.


An Inspector Calls by J B Priestley centres on Inspector Goole’s interrogation of the Birling family, following the death of a young girl called Eva Smith. Are they to blame?


Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet tells the tale of a young man and woman, who fall in love but are destined for tragedy due to their warring families - the Montagues and the Capulets.


This guide is presented in a helpful and entertaining way to make study and revision easier. There are clear notes on the plot, characters, themes and historical background,



This guide is presented in a helpful and entertaining way to make study and revision easier. There are clear notes on the plot, characters, themes and historical background.


This guide is presented in a helpful and entertaining way to make study and revision easier. There are clear notes on the plot, characters, themes and language.



Reading Non-Fiction

First News

First News is a weekly newspaper aimed at 7 to 14-year-olds that aims to get kids talking about the news in an easy to understand and non-threatening way.

The pupil friendly newspaper covers issues which are relevant to children and which specifically affect them. Inside you’ll find a mix of world news and UK news, but also loads of fun stuff, such as entertainment, games, animals, sport and puzzles.

Copies of First News are available to read in the LRC.


Useful Links


In the link below, you can access free online reading materials.
Don't forget that you can take accelerated reader quizzes from home. The link is below. If you need your username/password, please ask and we will get this to you. #keepreading