English
At Burnley High, English sits at the heart of our curriculum and plays a leading role in nurturing not only a love of literature, but the literacy skills students need across all subjects. We don’t just teach English—we build readers, thinkers, and writers for life. Through carefully selected texts, exciting writing tasks, and a school-wide focus on powerful reading strategies, we help every learner develop the skills to understand, interpret, and enjoy the written word.
The five key reading strategies of reciprocal reading, explicit vocabulary instruction, guided reading, annotation, and choral reading are embedded within the teaching and learning of our subject and used consistently across lessons to support reading confidence, deepen comprehension, and promote high-quality classroom discussion.
Our curriculum is ambitious, engaging, and inclusive. From Year 7 to Year 11, students experience a rich variety of genres, voices and ideas—from Greek myths and Gothic horror to political allegory, Shakespearean tragedy and modern social issues. They explore poems, stories, speeches, and non-fiction from across centuries and cultures, and they craft their own writing in response to the big questions literature poses. Each year builds on the one before, deepening understanding and sharpening expression. Students grow not only in skill, but in confidence—learning to read with curiosity, write with precision, and speak with conviction.
As students step into Key Stage 4, they embark on an exciting journey toward two distinct GCSEs: Eduqas English Language and English Literature. In Literature, powerful and timeless texts like Macbeth, A Christmas Carol, and An Inspector Calls come alive, exploring gripping themes of conflict, power, love, and identity. This inspires deep thinking and sharpens the ability to analyse language, structure, and meaning with confidence. English Language hones the art of clear, persuasive communication. Through a vibrant mix of fiction and non-fiction, students learn to interpret and compare ideas, while creative and transactional writing unlock their unique voice—equipping them with the skills and confidence to express themselves powerfully in any situation.
Both qualifications build essential skills that stretch far beyond the classroom: the ability to interpret complex ideas, construct arguments, write fluently, and communicate confidently. Whether applying for a college place, entering the workplace, or simply making sense of the world, our students leave with the tools to succeed—and a deep appreciation for the power of language. At Burnley High School, English is more than a subject—it’s a gateway to opportunity, understanding, and personal growth. We’re proud to lead the way in helping students not only read better, but think deeper and aim higher.
Road Maps:
Please note, every subject exercise book your child has contains a subject ‘Burnley High Road Map’ that outlines the content covered, timelines and assessment points for the current year.
