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English

Northcroft School – English Curriculum 

Aligned with Oak Academy Scheme • SEN “Depth not Breadth” • AQA Literature & Language Pathway

Intent

The English curriculum at Northcroft School aims to inspire a love of reading, writing and communication while equipping pupils with the literacy and language skills needed to access the wider curriculum and prepare for adult life. It develops confident communicators who can express themselves clearly, interpret the world around them and engage thoughtfully with others.

The curriculum provides a carefully sequenced journey through high-quality texts that reflect a range of voices, cultures and perspectives. It ensures pupils learn to read for meaning, write for purpose and audience, and speak and listen with confidence and empathy.

English at Northcroft is taught through a “Depth not Breadth” model. Pupils spend longer exploring fewer, carefully chosen units so that they can secure core knowledge and vocabulary before extending their learning. Each unit builds cumulatively towards the analytical and evaluative skills required for AQA English Literature , ensuring ambition while maintaining accessibility for all SEN learners.

Our sequence is aligned with Oak National Academy 2025–2026, providing national consistency and rigour. Every Oak unit is adapted for our learners through simplified language, visual scaffolds and therapeutic pacing. The curriculum promotes Northcroft’s Golden Threads: Identity, Empathy, Power, Change and Morality — which connect reading, writing and oracy across key stages.

Implementation

English is delivered through a structured sequence of lessons which combine Oak Academy resources, explicit vocabulary teaching and consistent SEN scaffolds.

  • Curriculum Sequencing: Units move logically from foundational narrative and poetry in KS3 to analytical and comparative work in KS4. Texts such as Myths and Legends, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Wonder prepare pupils for deeper study of An Inspector Calls, A Christmas Carol, Macbeth and Power and Conflict Poetry.

  • SEN Adaptation: All lessons are differentiated using B² (Bsquared) learning outcomes for Reading, Writing and Speaking and Listening. Visual cues, sentence stems, keyword banks and oral rehearsal support access for all learners.

  • Pedagogical Approach – Rose and Shine:
    Teaching follows the Northcroft “Rose and Shine” cycle — a consistent framework used across the curriculum to support clarity, retrieval and independence.

    1. Revisit – recall prior learning through quick retrieval and discussion.

    2. Observe – teacher models and demonstrates new skills or knowledge.

    3. Support – guided practice with scaffolds and peer collaboration.

    4. Extend – independent application and challenge in writing or discussion.

    5. Shine – celebrate learning, share outcomes and reflect on progress.
      This approach ensures secure understanding and builds confidence before new learning is introduced.

  • Cross-Curricular and Therapeutic Links: English is reinforced through PSHE, Thrive and Forest School experiences which offer real contexts for empathy and communication — such as performing Shakespeare outdoors or linking creative writing to emotional regulation.

  • Stable Futures Provision: The Stable Futures and Paddocks provision complements the classroom curriculum by providing a therapeutic outdoor environment for pupils who find collaborative work challenging. In this space, students build the communication, teamwork and resilience skills needed to engage successfully with others. Activities are deliberately structured to create carefully navigated opportunities for collaboration, offering quick wins of success that restore confidence and strengthen readiness for classroom participation. Literacy and storytelling are woven into these sessions to ensure continuity with the English curriculum.

  • Literacy Across the Curriculum: English leads whole-school literacy through reading interventions, vocabulary enrichment and modelling of high-quality writing in every subject.

  • Professional Collaboration: Teachers and support staff co-plan using shared Oak-based templates and regularly moderate writing and reading evidence to ensure consistency and accuracy.

Impact

The impact of the English curriculum is measured through academic progress, engagement and personal development. Evidence is gathered through B² data, formative assessment, retrieval quizzes and observation of confidence and participation.

As a result of this curriculum, pupils:

  • Read with fluency and comprehension, showing curiosity and perseverance when approaching complex texts.

  • Write with clarity, structure and purpose, using accurate grammar and vocabulary to convey ideas.

  • Speak and Listen with confidence, respect and empathy in both formal and informal settings.

  • Understand how literature reflects social and moral themes, connecting their learning to personal experiences and wider world issues.

  • Demonstrate readiness for accreditation through AQA English Literature or Functional Skills pathways.

Through the “Rose and Shine” approach  supported by the Stable Futures and therapeutic enrichment programmes  pupils not only make measurable academic progress but also grow in confidence, empathy and self-expression. They leave Northcroft equipped with the communication skills to succeed in learning, relationships and life.