Learning

English

The study of English is a core requirement in NSW from Kindergarten through Year 12.  

Throughout their education, students engage with a variety of written, spoken, and visual texts, each increasing in complexity. This comprehensive approach fosters essential skills in communication, intellectual growth, and emotional development. 

Our English curriculum is designed to inspire a love for literature and learning, making the study both challenging and enjoyable. It encourages students to experiment with ideas and expressions, become independent and lifelong learners, collaborate with peers, and reflect on their educational journey. 

In Years 11 and 12, English remains a mandatory subject. The courses available include: 

  • English Advanced 
  • English Standard
  • English Studies 
  • English Extension 1 
  • English Extension 2 
  • English Life Skills 

English at St Paul’s Catholic College 

At St Paul’s Catholic College, our curriculum integrates future-focused learning, empowering students to become critical thinkers and effective communicators in a global context. Our dedicated and innovative teaching staff deliver student-centred programs that equip learners with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. Students are encouraged to think creatively and critically, analyse and evaluate real-world scenarios. 

We utilise the latest educational technologies to enable students to respond to and craft their responses across various forms and media. The curriculum for Years 7-12 includes a diverse range of texts, from classic literature to contemporary works, encompassing novels, plays, poetry, films, documentaries, and multimodal texts. 

Our teaching and learning programs are informed by cutting-edge educational research, ensuring high-quality instruction and academic enrichment. Our classrooms and technology support diverse forms of student expression, from creative writing to analytical work. 

As we continue to implement the new syllabus, students benefit from a flexible and forward-thinking approach to education, helping them achieve a deep understanding of themselves and the world around them. 

Year 7 

Stage 4 Mandatory 

  • Myths and Legends 
  • Introduction to Poetry 
  • Fantasy genre 
  • Novel and drama study 

Year 8

Stage 4 Mandatory 

  • Film study 
  • The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas 
  • Place and Poetry 
  • Introduction to Shakespeare

Year 9

Stage 5 Mandatory 

  • Advertising 
  • Dystopian Genre novel study 
  • Romeo and Juliet 
  • Gender in Film 

Year 10

Stage 5 Mandatory 

  • Animal Farm 
  • Dramatic Monologues 
  • Macbeth 
  • Documentaries 

Year 11

Stage 6 Mandatory  

English standard 

  • Common module – Reading to write 
  • Module A - Contemporary possibilities - multimodal texts 
  • Module B – Boy Swallows Universe

English Advanced 

  • Common Module – Reading to Write 
  • Module A – Narratives that Shape our World- Othello and The Dark Knight 
  • Module B – Critical Study of Literature 

Extension 1 

  • Texts, values and culture – Encounters with ‘the other” 

Advanced and extension placements are by invitation. Academic performance in Stage 4 and 5 English and involvement in extra-curricular activities are considered during the application process.

Year 12

Stage 6 Mandatory 

English Standard 

  • Common Module – Texts and Human Experience – The Crucible 
  • Module A – Language, Identity and Culture – The Castle 
  • Module B – Close Study of Text - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time 
  • Module C – The Craft of Writing 

English Advanced 

  • Common Module – Texts and Human Experience – The Crucible
  • Module A – Textual Conversations – The Tempest and Hag-Seed
  • Module B – Critical Study – Goodnight and Goodluck
  • Module C – The Craft of Writing 

Extension 1    

Advanced and extension placements are by invitation. Academic performance in Stage 4 and 5 English and involvement in extra-curricular activities are considered during the application process.

  • Common Module – Literary Worlds 
  • Module B – Elective 2 – Worlds of Upheaval – Frankenstein, Metropolis, Seamus Heaney poetry

Extension 2 

  • Major work