English
Teachers:
Mrs. Jackson (HoD), Mr
Graham Mr Hunniford and Mr McDowell
The Head of Department,
Mrs Jackson, is currently off school on Maternity leave. Over the
Christmas period she gave birth to a baby girl.
In her place is Miss Murphy who has come from Belfast Royal
Academy. Mrs Jackson is expected back at school next year.
Key Stage Three
A wide range of literature is read, from
the sad truth of “The Diary of Anne Frank” to the frightening
“Lord of the Flies”. We are constantly changing the books and
including fresh material. Our new novel for Year 8 next year is
“Montmorency” by E. Updale which has won many awards. In
addition we explore a wide range of non-fiction and media texts
and this is supported by a lot of interactive and group work in
which pupils are encouraged to express opinions and debate
contemporary issues including bullying and family life.
GCSE
At GCSE pupils have the opportunity to
study English Literature as well as English Language thus giving
some pupils the opportunity to delve further into various and
contrasting works of literature including Blood Brothers by
Willy Russell, To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee and Macbeth
by William Shakespeare. At GCSE three main skill areas are
focused on; Reading, Writing, and Talking and Listening
A-Level
In lower sixth the study of Shakespeare is
continued with an in-depth analysis of King Lear and pupils read
and complete their coursework module on Hawthorne’s novel; The
Scarlett Letter or Shelly’s Frankenstein. Students are also able
to increase their knowledge of poetry with the study of Robert
Frost’s collective works as well as this pupils are given the
chance to study a twentieth century drama of T. Williams’s
Street Car Names Desire.
In upper sixth the pupils are able to
develop their analytical and critical skills with the study of
Edith Wharton’s 19th Century look at a late 18th
century society in Age of Innocence. In contrast to this novel
the students are encouraged to compare and contrast the modern
tragedy of Millar’s “Death of a Salesman” with the classic Greek
tragedy “Oedipus.” They also broaden their knowledge with the
varied study of unseen poetry supported by the study of “The
Wife of Bath” by Chaucer.
Our numbers at AS and A2 are very
encouraging. Studying at this level develops the pupils’
analytical, critical, empathetic and communication skills.
Links
CCEA – English at GCSE specification -
www.rewardinglearning.org.uk
CCEA – English Literature at GCSE and
A-Level -
www.rewardinglearning.org.uk
