What to Expect in KS3 English: A Parent’s Guide to Years 7–9
Coming to the end of a school year and looking to the next, many parents wonder what their child will be covering in English, especially in those important KS3 years (Years 7, 8 and 9). These are the years where students build the skills they’ll need for GCSE, and the sooner those foundations are secure, the smoother the next stages of learning will be.
As a former Head of English and GCSE examiner, I’ve put together this simple guide to help parents understand what to expect in KS3 English and how you can support your child at home.
📚 What Does KS3 English Cover?
KS3 English focuses on developing three core areas:
Reading: Understanding and analysing a wide range of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and plays.
Writing: Crafting clear, structured, and engaging writing in different forms — stories, essays, letters and descriptions.
Speaking and Listening: Building confidence in discussion, debate and presenting ideas clearly.
📖 Typical Texts and Topics
Students at KS3 will study a mixture of classic and contemporary literature, Shakespeare, poetry and non-fiction texts. Commonly taught texts include:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream or Much Ado About Nothing (Year 7 or 8)
Of Mice and Men, Animal Farm or The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Contemporary poetry or themed poetry collections
Non-fiction articles and speeches
This variety helps students develop empathy, vocabulary and critical thinking.
✏️ Assessments and Expectations
Throughout KS3, your child will complete a mixture of:
Reading assessments (analysing how writers use language and structure)
Writing assessments (both creative and transactional, such as letters or speeches)
Speaking tasks (individual and group presentations)
Schools set regular targets and levels to track progress, and students are expected to act on feedback to improve.
💡 How You Can Support at Home
Encourage regular reading - novels, articles, or blogs on topics they enjoy.
Discuss books, films or news stories to build confidence in expressing ideas.
Check your child’s spelling, punctuation and grammar in homework tasks.
Use writing prompts to spark creativity at home.
If you notice your child struggling with reading comprehension, spelling, or confidence in writing, early support makes a real difference.
Final Thoughts
KS3 is about exploration, skill-building and growing confidence in English. It’s the perfect time to nurture good habits and close any gaps before GCSE topics begin.
If you’d like expert support for your child this academic year, I have a limited number of tutoring slots available both online and in-person across Stockport, South Manchester and surrounding areas. Contact me today for a private tutoring quote, whether it’s confidence-building, reading comprehension or writing skills.
Visit my Contact page to get in touch.