The English Department
Welcome to the English Department
English is a successful and popular subject which is taught
by seven keen, committed and experienced specialists. Within
the English department are Drama, offered at GCSE and A Level,
and Media Studies, offered at A Level.
We aim to combine a love
of literature with an understanding of the importance of practical
uses of communication, and try
to provide real-life situations for using English skills wherever
possible.
We have 5 dedicated teaching rooms, all of which have
digital projectors and PCs. One room has an interactive whiteboard,
and
one room has a suite of PCs used exclusively for work in English.
The department also has a range of media production equipment
and a well-resourced drama studio.
Key Stage 3 (Years 7/8/9)
Year 7 students complete a piece of transition
work on the theme of autobiography which is started on Year 6 day
with the aim
of helping students to settle into school. After this initial
unit, students learn about advertising and study units based
on a novel, poetry, drama and stories and myths. Students are
taught in tutor groups to help them settle in Year 7, and taught
in ability groups thereafter.
In Year 8 students study another
novel, War Poetry, pre-20th Literature and drama, and look in depth
at newspapers and travel
writing. In Year 9 students study a novel, a Shakespeare play
and learn to write for real audiences before beginning their
GCSE courses for the last term.
The department was one of those
involved in the APP (Assessing Pupil Progress) pilot, and the department
is now adept at
using ongoing assessment to precisely identify students’ areas
for development to maximise their progress.
To maximise enjoyment
and engagement the department offers trips and visits and organises
successful cross-curricular
activities
such as last year’s Murder Mystery day which combined
English skills with those of a range of different subjects.
Students
who struggle with their literacy skills are supported by
extra English lessons, one-to-one assistance and peer Buddying
from Year 11 students.
Key Stage 4 (Years 9/10/11)
Students study GCSE over two and a half
years beginning in the later part of year 9. From September 2010
the majority of students
will take two GCSEs, in English Language and English Literature.
The rest will take a single GCSE in English. GCSE is offered
at two-tiers:
Higher – awarding grades A*- D
Foundation – awarding grades C - G
For those students who
find the demands of GCSE challenging, we offer Entry Level Certificate.
Students build up a portfolio
of evidence together with unit tests. These students have the
opportunity to be dual entered for both the Entry Level Certificate
and GCSE in year 11.
GCSE Drama is a popular option choice for
many students.
Key Stage 5 (Years 12/13)
The English Department offers a range
of four different A levels, all of which are very popular. We offer
the separate English
Language and English Literature A levels (which can also be taken
as AS levels only), and also offer A Level Media Studies and
Drama and Theatre Studies.
Drama
Drama runs extremely popular after school clubs, and puts on
a spectacular production each year, and well as a number of
other performance evenings. The production, which rotates between
a musical and a Shakespeare play, gives our talented youngsters,
whether they are actors, musicians or backstage staff, the
chance to really shine. Around 100 students are involved in
each production from across all years, making it a real team
effort.
Media Studies
This popular A level allows students to analyse media texts
and produce their own using video, web-based and print-based
technology.
A range of outside speakers are used to give students the skills
and knowledge to move into this area after they leave school – an
advertising creative, a renowned nature filmmaker, a newspaper
journalist and an educational film production group have all
visited during the last year. |
