Aims

To develop all pupils’ communication skills, ensuring they experience success in reading, writing, and speaking and listening
For pupils to grow in confidence as they achieve mastery in English, and become equipped with the skills necessary to succeed in future study and employment.
To develop their independence and their ability to think critically.

To develop develop the ability to analyse and respond meaningfully to the views of others, ranging from points of view they encounter during peer discussions in class, to those of published authors and speakers.

Staff

Mrs L Warren
Mrs Chesnutt
Miss Farquhar
Mrs Farr
Mrs Jouanny
Mrs Laverty
Mrs McDowell
Miss McLaughlin
Miss Watson
Mrs Scullion
Mrs Williamson

Key Stage 3

All pupils study English at Key Stage 3. The department makes use of ICT including multimedia in the delivery of an exciting curriculum. The skills required at GCSE are introduced and developed throughout Key Stage 3.

Year 8

All About Me
The Study of Written Language: “Holes” by Louis Sachar
The Study of Spoken Language: Accent and Dialect
Shakespeare: “Julius Caesar”
Poetry
Reading Media Texts: Comic Covers
Reading Non-Fiction
Creative Writing

Year 9

Heroes
The Study of Written Language: “Private Peaceful” by Michael Morpurgo
The Study of Spoken Language: Interviews
Shakespeare: “Romeo and Juliet”
Poetry
Reading Media Texts: Film Posters
Reading Non-Fiction
Creative Writing

Year 10

Social Media
The Study of Written Language: “Blood Brothers” by Willy Russell
The Study of Spoken Language: Motivational Speech
Shakespeare – “Macbeth”
Poetry
Reading Media Texts: DVD covers
Writing for Audience and Purpose and Reading Non-Fiction
Creative Writing
Introducing “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck

Key Stage 4

All pupils study the CCEA GCSE English Language specification which is assessed through four units:

Unit 1: Writing for Purpose and Audience and Reading to Access Non-Fiction and Media Texts (an external written examination worth 30% of the GCSE)
Unit 2: Speaking and Listening (a controlled assessment unit worth 20%)
Unit 3: Studying Spoken and Written Language (a controlled assessment unit worth 20%)
Unit 4: Personal or Creative Writing and Reading Literary and Non-Fiction Texts (an external written examination worth 30% of the GCSE)

CCEA GCSE English Literature is offered to selected English groupings. This specification is comprised of three units:

Unit 1: The Study of Prose (an external examination worth 30% of the GCSE)
Unit 2: The study of Drama and Poetry (an external examination worth 50% of the GCSE)
Unit 3: The Study of Shakespeare (a controlled assessment worth 20%)

Post 16

Any pupil who does not achieve a grade C in English Language by the end of year 12 is given the opportunity to re-sit the CCEA GCSE or work towards the Cambridge iGCSE in English Language.

Skills Developed

Communication skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening.
Time management
Working with others
ICT skills
Managing information
Reading for pleasure

Careers

Publishing
Politics
Translation Services
Presenting
Journalism
Speech Therapy
Forensic Linguistics
Social Work
TEFL
Multi-Media
Lexicography