KS3 English Curriculum Support for Parents
This page is designed to help you support your child with English at home. Across the year, students develop confidence in reading, writing, speaking, analysis and creative expression.
Each week includes a short overview of what students are learning, why it matters, and helpful BBC Bitesize and YouTube search links so you can explore topics together at home.
Weekly Learning Resources
Jump to: Autumn 1 ⬇ | Autumn 2 ⬇ | Spring 1 ⬇ | Spring 2 ⬇ | Summer 1 ⬇ | Summer 2 ⬇
Autumn 1: All About Me, Identity and Poetry
Week 1: Introduction to Identity and Baseline
Students explore identity, personal strengths and goals, then complete a short baseline writing task.
Week 2: Introduction to Poetry and Expression
Students learn how poetry can express ideas and feelings, including line breaks, repetition and imagery.
Week 3: Developing Poetic Techniques
Students use adjectives, repetition and simple imagery to write creatively about identity.
Week 4: Structuring Extended Writing
Students turn ideas into structured paragraphs with an opening, detail and a clear closing sentence.
Week 5: Editing and Improving Writing
Students improve spelling, punctuation, clarity and sentence control through editing and redrafting.
Week 6: Final Assessment, Identity Profile
Students write a final “All About Me” profile, applying structure, description and accuracy.
Autumn 2: War and Conflict
Week 7: Introduction to War and WW1 Context
Students explore basic WW1 context and consider how historical events influence writing.
Week 8: War Poetry and Language
Students read war poetry and explore how writers use language to convey emotion and tone.
Week 9: Diary Writing from a WW1 Soldier Perspective
Students write from a soldier’s perspective, using first person, sequence and descriptive detail.
Week 10: WW2 and Propaganda
Students compare WW1 and WW2, then explore how propaganda uses media to influence people.
Week 11: Writing a News Article
Students learn the features of a news article, including headline, facts, structure and formal tone.
Week 12: Editing, Redrafting and Final News Article
Students edit and redraft their news article, improving accuracy, tone, structure and clarity.
Spring 1: Of Mice and Men
Week 13: The American Dream and The Great Depression
Students learn about 1930s America, the Great Depression and the idea of the American Dream.
Week 14: Setting and Symbolism
Students explore how Steinbeck creates setting and uses symbolism to develop meaning.
Week 15: Chapter 1 Reading and Comprehension
Students read Chapter 1, retrieve key information and explore the relationship between George and Lennie.
Week 16: George and Lennie Language Analysis
Students analyse how language presents George and Lennie, using evidence and simple analytical paragraphs.
Week 17: Chapter 2 and Character Development
Students meet key ranch characters and explore hierarchy, power and status.
Week 18: Curley’s Wife, Language, Context and Assessment
Students analyse how Curley’s Wife is presented, including loneliness, gender roles and context.
Spring 2: Persuasive Writing
Week 19: Audience, Purpose and Tone
Students learn how audience, purpose and tone shape persuasive writing.
Week 20: DAFOREST Techniques
Students identify and use persuasive techniques such as direct address, facts, opinions, rhetorical questions and repetition.
Week 21: Structuring a Persuasive Argument
Students organise persuasive arguments with a clear opening, developed points and conclusion.
Week 22: Writing a Full Persuasive Text
Students plan and write a full persuasive speech, letter or article for a clear audience.
Week 23: Editing, Redrafting and Final Persuasive Text
Students edit, redraft and produce a final persuasive text with improved clarity, impact and accuracy.
Summer 1: Creative Writing, Heroes and Villains
Week 24: What Makes a Hero?
Students explore real and fictional heroes and create their own hero profile.
Week 25: What Makes a Villain?
Students explore villain traits, motives and backstories, then compare heroes and villains.
Week 26: Show, Don’t Tell
Students improve descriptive writing by showing emotions through actions, dialogue and sensory detail.
Week 27: Building a Scene, Setting and Conflict
Students use setting, sensory language and conflict to create atmosphere and tension.
Week 28: Writing the Hero vs Villain Story
Students plan and write a full story using character, setting, conflict and narrative structure.
Week 29: Editing, Improving and Final Story
Students edit and improve their hero versus villain story before producing a polished final version.
Summer 2: Myths and Legends
Week 30: What Are Myths and Legends?
Students explore the key features of myths and legends, including heroes, gods, morality and lessons.
Week 31: Heroes, Gods and Creatures
Students explore archetypal characters in myths and create their own hero, god or creature.
Week 32: Myth Settings and Atmosphere
Students create vivid myth settings using sensory detail, mood and atmosphere.
Week 33: Quest and Conflict
Students plan a myth using a quest, challenge, conflict and resolution.
Week 34: Writing a Myth
Students write an extended mythological story using character, setting and conflict.
Week 35: Editing, Performance and Reflection
Students edit their myths, share or perform their work, and reflect on their progress across the year.