English

All pupils study English and English Literature at KS3 and GCSE. There are five lessons per week at KS3 and six at GCSE. English Literature only is offered at GCE, with six lessons per week at AS and seven per week at A2.

Year 7 pupils are taught in forms or teaching groups, depending upon the size of the year group; Years 8 - 11 are taught in sets. There are three, or four, sets in each year, depending on the size of the year group. Pupils are setted according to individual need as there is no ceiling of achievement, at GCSE, associated with any particular set; in most years, students from each set attain A grades.

The department invariably attains 100% A*-C at GCSE and 100% A-C at GCE.

GCSE: AQA Specifcation A: English Language AQA 3702; English Literature AQA 3712 [These specifications expire in 2010]
A Level: AQA English Literature B

English Department Aims:

• to develop, through exposure to, and study of, a wide range and variety of sources an increasingly confident and discriminating understanding and use of language; a greater degree of self-awareness and the ability to convey thoughts and feelings effectively in speech and writing.
• to develop confidence, enjoyment and expertise in all aspects of Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening.
• to foster growth and development of each student's intellect and sensitivity to texts.
• to prepare pupils to play a full part in the adult community by becoming fluent in the conventions of transactional speech and writing.
• to make pupils aware of the range of possibilities inherent in the English language, helping them to be conscious of its manipulative possibilities, whilst enabling them to use it confidently as a tool or creative medium.
• to introduce pupils to the richness of English Literature through a range of prose, drama and poetry, both as a source of pleasure as well as a means of extending their experiences and sympathies.

There are three main strands to the teaching of English:

• Speaking and Listening [Individual; Group and Drama-focused]
• Reading [literary: prose, poetry and drama; media texts; non-fiction, including literary non-fiction]
• Writing [to: argue, persuade, advise, inform, explain, describe, analyse, review, comment, explore, imagine, entertain]

In practice the strands are interdependent. The skills required for successful study of English Literature are comparable to those of Reading.

English Staff:
Head of English: Ms. Monaghan: B.A. [Hons.]; PGCE.  Teaches: GCE, GCSE, KS3. [Full-time]
Mr Reynolds: B.A. [Hons.]; PGCE    Teaches: GCE, GCSE, KS3. [Full-time]
Mrs Stedman: M.A. [Art & Film Theory]; B.A. [Hons.]; PGCE.  Teaches: GCE, GCSE, Yr 9. [Part-time]
Ms. Holloway: BA; PGCE. Teaches: Yr 11, KS3. [Part-time]

To See Year 7 Sylllabus Click here
To See Year 8 Sylllabus Click here
To See Year 9 Sylllabus Click here
To See GCSE Sylllabus Click here
To See A-Level Syllabus Click here

English KS3 Coursework Nov 2011

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