At Christ Church Academy we aim to ensure our English curriculum is as engaging and exciting as possible for our students. Over Key Stage 2, pupils are prepared fully for their SATs examinations through interesting units focused on both developing their skills and widening their reading and writing experiences. These include the explorations of modern poetry, drama and non-fiction as well as enjoying texts from our literary heritage and from other cultures and traditions. Key Stage 3 students build on the important work done in the lower school, developing their ability to analyse and infer in texts, and varying their writing techniques: all vital skills as they move towards high school. Pupils in Year 7 and 8 explore a range of challenging texts including a full novel, drama text and poetry collection based around chosen themes.
In addition to our classroom-based work, students and staff at Christ Church involve ourselves in activities to celebrate key dates in the literary calendar such as ‘Roald Dahl Day’, ‘World Book Day’ and ‘National Poetry Week’. We also offer various extra-curricular opportunities including theatre trips and visits from local authors. Every class enjoys time in our school library and we also have close links with Stone library and visit regularly.
The English Team have put together a list of 100 books for pupils to try and read before they leave middle school.
How many of these have you read/can you read before you finish Christ Church Academy?
2024-2025
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Year 5 |
Year 6 |
Year 7 |
Year 8 |
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Autumn 1 |
Review/Recap Y3 &Y4 GPS skills Novel Study (conflict): Oranges in No Man's Land |
Classic fiction novel study |
Novel Study: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas |
Animal Farm (Cold Read/ Comprehension/SPAG Skills |
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Autumn 2 |
Introduction to non-fiction text types |
Classic fiction novel study and associated writing tasks |
Novel Study: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas |
POWER - Animal Farm |
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Spring 1 |
Texts from other cultures linked to text types |
Mystery stories- reading and writing SATS prep |
The Art of Rhetoric/Don't Get Me Started On .... |
CONFLICT - Conflict Poetry |
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Spring 2 |
Texts from other cultures and traditions |
SATs prep & Key Stage 2 writing tasks |
Poetry from other cultures and traditions |
PREJUDICE - Twelve Angry Men |
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Summer 1 |
Novel Study (conflict): When The Sky Falls |
Wonder Novel Study |
Shakespeare 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' |
Of Mice and Men |
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Summer 2 |
Novel Study (conflict): When The Sky Falls |
Wonder Novel Study |
Heroes and Villains |
Travel Writing |
There are 2 main web links you will need to support yourself with your KS2 Home learning:
SPAG Tests Online - Practice Grammar & Punctuation Tests Online
Spelling Shed - Spelling Shed - The Science of Spelling
Your English teacher will have your username and password, they will also be sent out to your parent/carer at the beginning of the year. Keep it safe!
Click the Image below for help with the Year 6 SATs...!
To support your child's SATs attainment it is vital that they learn as many of the following words as possible as they will be assessed during the exams.
Year 3 & 4
accident(ally) actual(ly) address answer appear arrive believe bicycle breath breathe build
busy/business calendar caught centre century certain circle complete consider continue decide
describe different difficult disappear early earth eight/eighth enough exercise experience
experiment extreme famous favourite February forward(s) fruit grammar group guard guide
heard heart height history imagine increase important interest island knowledge learn length
library material medicine mention minute natural naughty notice occasion(ally) often opposite
ordinary particular peculiar perhaps popular position possess(ion) possible potatoes pressure
probably promise purpose quarter question recent regular reign remember sentence separate
special straight strange strength suppose surprise therefore though/although thought through
various weight woman/women
Year 5 & 6
accommodate accompany according achieve aggressive amateur ancient apparent appreciate
attached available average awkward bargain bruise category cemetery committee communicate
community competition conscience conscious controversy convenience correspond
criticise (critic + ise) curiosity definite desperate determined develop dictionary disastrous
embarrass environment equip (–ped, –ment) especially exaggerate excellent existence
explanation familiar foreign forty frequently government guarantee harass hindrance identity
immediate(ly) individual interfere interrupt language leisure lightning marvellous mischievous
muscle necessary neighbour nuisance occupy occur opportunity parliament persuade physical
prejudice privilege profession programme pronunciation queue recognise recommend relevant
restaurant rhyme rhythm sacrifice secretary shoulder signature sincere(ly) soldier stomach
sufficient suggest symbol system temperature thorough twelfth variety vegetable vehicle yacht
A guide to support you in helping your child prepare for their KS2 English SATs.
Ed Shed
Which are you working towards? Check out your next target certificate below!
- Ready Reader
- Independent Reader
- Rising Reader
- Super Reader
- Advanced Reader
- Star Reader
- Classic Reader
- Honours Reader
To help improve students' spelling in a fun and engaging way, we use EdShed.com throughout Key Stage 2.
EdShed offers a range of educational tools, with Spelling Shed being a standout feature designed to help students improve their spelling abilities. In particular, the Spelling Shed provides engaging and interactive spelling practice that can be accessed both at school and at home. Through a combination of structured word lists, games, and competitive challenges, students can practice key spelling patterns and improve their vocabulary.
Teachers can assign tailored spelling tasks during lessons, while students can continue their learning independently at home, earning points and climbing the leaderboards. This dual approach makes Spelling Shed a fun and effective way for students to boost their spelling skills anytime, anywhere.