Head of Department

Mrs C Mayo

Subject Staff

Mr J Banks, Mrs L Barnes, Mrs B Harvey, Miss R Rowlands, 

Mrs Watkins, Miss S Ovenden (2^nd i/c)

Description of Subject

To maintain and/or stimulate lasting pupil curiosity, interest and enjoyment in English.

To create an atmosphere where pupils wish to learn so that they come to enjoy English because they are active participants in it and where staff enjoy teaching so that pupils give of their very best. This will enable each pupil to achieve his/her potential.

To develop the habit of reading and encourage pupils to value it as an important skill for life, as well as fostering a lasting appreciation of literature.

To enable pupils to be familiar with a body of knowledge, principles and vocabulary in Standard English.

To allow pupils to develop informed opinions and to be able to support them by reasonable arguments free from prejudicial intolerance.

By exposing pupils to a wide range of material (both literary and media) we aim to enable them to consider critically the way language is used and abused by writers and the mass media and to develop the ability to analyse, evaluate and discriminate this use of language.

To encourage and support all pupils to enable them to fulfil their potential in all aspects of the subject and to encounter success at all levels of achievement.

To value each individual and so encourage each pupil to feel the value and worth of others.
In doing so, to encourage empathy so that each pupil approaches issues of race, gender and ability with tolerance and insight.

To enable pupils to develop a range of desirable personal qualities such as safety awareness, politeness, perseverance, concern for others, initiative and independence.

To develop an awareness in pupils of the implications of English (past and present)  for the individual and the local, national and international communities.

Accommodation and Resources

5 permanent classrooms each with projector and screen; 3 interactive whiteboards

Key Stage 3

• Outline of Course
• Homework
• Assessment
• Equipment Required

Year 7  Autobiography

             Author Study: Dickens,

             Pre 1914 Prose – Character: ‘A Christmas Carol’

             Pre 1914 Drama -  Intro to Shakespeare

             Drama: ‘Frankenstein’

             Novel Study; eg ‘Skellig’/’I Was a Rat.’

             Poetry – Literary Devices (Incl. Pre 1914)

             Reading for Meaning

Year 8  Structure in Prose (incl. Pre 1914)

             Atmosphere and Setting in Prose

             Media – Newspapers

             Novel Study – eg ‘Holes’/’Witch Child’

             Poetry:  Ballads

             Chaucer: ‘Canterbury Tales’

Year 9  Contemporary/pre-1914 Poetry

             Pre 1914 Drama: The Tempest

             Novel Study – eg ‘Private Peaceful’/’Stone Cold’

             Start GCSE course – prose text eg ‘Of Mice and

            Men’

            Homework is set weekly for each year group.

            All pupils need pen, pencil and ruler. Highlighters

           are also helpful.   

Key Stage 4

• Outline of Course
• Exam boards
• Homework
• Coursework
• Assessment
• Equipment Required
• Resources
• Important Dates

English GCSE

Edexcel -Exam board

The GCSE comprises three components:

Unit 1 (20%) Controlled Assessment

• reading to analyse key points including writer’s choice of presentation and language
• writing for an identified purpose and audience.

Unit 2 (40%) Examination

• response to Different Cultures prose text
• response to Shakespeare text
• writing task for specified audience

Unit 3 (40%) Controlled Assessment

• 3 Speaking and Listening tasks
• reading response to poetry
• imaginative writing task

English Language GCSE

The GCSE comprises three components:

Unit 1 (20%) Controlled Assessment

• reading to analyse key points including writer’s choice of presentation and language
• writing for an identified purpose and audience.

Unit 2 (40%) Examination

• response to Different Cultures prose text
• writing task for specified audience

Unit 3 (40%) Controlled Assessment

• 3 Speaking and Listening tasks
• spoken Language Study
• writing task  with focus on spoken word

English Literature GCSE

The GCSE comprises three components:

Unit 1 (50%) Examination

• response to Literary Heritage text
• response to Different Cultures text

Unit 2 (25%) Examination

• response to unseen poem
• response to two poems from Edexcel Anthology

Unit 3 (25%) Controlled Assessment

• response to Shakespeare
• response to contemporary drama (eg An Inspector Calls)

Departmental Successes

2011:   82% A* - C grades at GCSE English

            86% A* - C grades at GCSE Literature

            44% of pupils achieved grade A or A* for

            English    

Extra –Curricular Activities

• Paired Reading Scheme Y7 and Y10 mentors
• Theatre Trips including to the Globe Theatre,London
• Poets and Authors – visits to school and external visits arranged
• Shakespeare workshop and performance in school
• Film club
• After school revision classes
• Magistrates’ Mock Trial Competition

Key Web Sites:

1. http://www.s-cool.co.uk/

2. http://bbc.co.uk/education/revision

3. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/bitesize/