English Department
English is an innovative and highly valuable subject. The department is fully resourced with the latest equipment and texts and staffed with imaginative and enthusiastic teachers. The department offers an exciting and modern approach to the subject, with an increasing use of ICT and multimedia.
.jpg)
Staff and responsibilities
- Miss N McLean – Head of Department
- Ms M Holian – Key Stage 4 Co-ordinator
- Mrs A Rutherford – Head of York House
- Ms J Sweeting – Head of Ripon House
- Mrs C Johnston
- Miss L Tait
- Mr J Goodwill
- Miss A Carter
- Miss K Faloona
- Miss C Laverick
- Mrs J Poole
- Mr M Smith
The department believes that variety is the key to full and valuable learning. Pupils are also encouraged to learn independently. We offer several activities, including educational visits and participating in ‘Readathon’ and ‘Creative Writing’ competitions. Students are offered a broad and diverse curriculum, developing and expanding skills through both Key Stages.
Key Stage 3
Pupils are formally assessed at the end of each year. Pupils are assessed every half term at KS3 and progress in tracked and monitored in each teaching group.
Learning includes:
- Pre and Post 20th Century Prose and Poetry
- Media – newspapers, internet, magazines, television, film and advertising
- Shakespeare
- In depth studies of both fiction and non-fiction texts
- Writing techniques, styles and purposes, including creative writing
- Speaking and Listening
- Drama
Key Stage 4
Pupils are assessed in both English Language and English Literature specifications, culminating in the award of two separate GCSE qualifications.
Current Year 11 learning includes:
- Response to Media and Non-fiction texts
- Shakespeare
- Pre and Post 20th Century Prose
- Pre and Post 20th Century Poetry and Poetry from other cultures and tradition Writing techniques, style and purposes, including original writing
- Analysis of Media texts
- Speaking and Listening
Current Year 9 and Year 10 students are following a new English Language and English Literature specification. This will also culminate in two separate GCSE qualifications.
AQA 2010 includes:
- Response to Media and Non-fiction texts
- Spoken Language Study
- Shakespeare and Literary Heritage
- Drama/Prose Study
- Prose from other cultures – extended text study
- Pre and Post 20th Century Poetry
- Writing techniques, style and purposes, including creative writing
- Analysis of Media texts
- Speaking and Listening
The main difference in the new specification is that pupils will no longer complete coursework at home. Essays are written in controlled assessment conditions in school time.
English New Term Update - January 2010
This term your children will be studying:
|
Year |
Shakespeare An introduction to Shakespeare - Mrs Rutherford An introduction to Shakespeare - Miss Carter Shocking Shakespeare - Mrs Wilkinson An introduction to Shakespeare - Miss Holian An introduction to Shakespeare/Macbeth - Miss Faloona Elizabethan theatre and Macbeth - Mrs Poole Macbeth- Mr Goodwill Romeo and Juliet- Miss Sweeting |
|
Year 8 |
Media ‘The Truman Show’ and the impact of reality television - Miss Holian Moving image and advertising - Mr Goodwill Advertising and ‘Shrek’ - Mrs Poole Advertising - Miss Carter ‘Shrek’- Miss Faloona Moving image media/’Goldmember’ - Mrs Wilkinson Advertising ‘Dragon’s Den’ - Miss Bell |
|
Year 9 |
Drama Creative writing and drama - Mrs Rutherford Rabbit Proof Fence - Mr Goodwill Rabbit Proof Fence - Mrs Poole Rabbit Proof Fence - Miss Carter Our Day Out - Miss Faloona Bugsy Malone - Mrs Wilkinson Rabbit Proof Fence - Miss Sweeting |
|
Year 10 |
Literature Poetry Year 10 will sit their Year 10 English exam – Paper 1 & 2 only. |
|
Year 11 |
Revision skills All year 11 pupils will analyse their performance in the Yr 11 mock exams and will focus their revision on the areas that need it most. PAPER 1 – media and nonfiction and writing to argue, persuade or advise PAPER 2 – other cultures poetry and writing to inform, explain or describe LITERATURE – Of Mice and Men or Lord of the Flies or Heroes and Duffy, Armitage and PRE 1914 poetry. Pupils will be allocated an appropriate revision guide in time for the EASTER holidays. All year 11s should be revising at least 4-5 hours a week for this subject. |
Also this term…
- World Book Day Thursday 4th March 2010.
- Year 8 pupils will have the opportunity to compete in a national story competition in association with Young Writers.
- All KS3 pupils will have the chance to listen to authors reading their work live on the internet.
- Year 9 will go and see ‘The Woman in Black’ on March 11th 2010.
- All pupils will have the chance to see their work published on the school website.
- All pupils will be asked to contribute to the upcoming English Department Magazine.