Curriculum Intent, Implementation, and Impact – English Intent

At the Rubicon Centre, we believe that English is fundamental to students’ academic achievement and personal development. Our curriculum is designed to equip learners with the literacy skills, critical thinking abilities, and confidence in oracy required to succeed both within and beyond the classroom. We aim to cultivate a lifelong appreciation of literature and language while ensuring students develop the resilience and ambition needed to meet the demands of GCSE English Language. Our vision is to foster confident, articulate, and enthusiastic learners who can engage meaningfully with a wide range of texts from diverse time periods and cultural contexts.

Implementation

Our curriculum is structured to provide a clear progression from Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 4.

• ·Key Stage 3 (KS3): Learners revisit and strengthen core literacy skills, including spelling, punctuation, grammar, inference, and interpretation. Schemes of learning build sequentially towards GCSE, supporting learners in mainstream schools. A wide range of texts is studied to broaden cultural capital and deepen critical engagement.
• Key Stage 4 (KS4): Students engage with 19th, 20th, and 21st century texts in preparation for GCSE English Language. They develop proficiency in creative, descriptive, and transactional writing while analysing and responding to a variety of non-fiction texts. Oracy is embedded across all units, providing structured opportunities for debate, discussion, and formal presentation in readiness for the Spoken Language Endorsement.
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Throughout both key stages, reading, writing, and oracy are integrated into all schemes of learning. Rigorous assessment practices, alongside targeted reading interventions, ensure that teaching is responsive to individual needs.

Impact

The impact of our curriculum is evident in the growing confidence, resilience, and enthusiasm of our learners. Students demonstrate measurable progress in literacy, with targeted interventions leading to significant improvements in reading fluency and comprehension. They are able to express themselves with increasing sophistication, both in writing and through spoken language, and are well-prepared for the demands of GCSE English Language.

Beyond academic outcomes, pupils develop a positive relationship with reading and an appreciation of literature that enriches their cultural understanding and personal growth. By the end of their journey with us, students are equipped with the communication skills and self-assurance necessary for success in education, employment, and life.

Careers Education in English

The English curriculum for both KS3 and KS4 addresses Careers education throughout its delivery. The introduction of a variety of careers takes place during KS3 with topics such as Travel Writing and Dystopian Fiction. It continues into KS4 with the Non-Fiction unit and explorations into Journalism.