Welcome to St. Edmund’s English Department. As a team we attempt to foster in our students an appreciation of the subject, an ability to communicate in a wide variety of ways, and the confidence to express themselves fluently and coherently. The main elements of the subject; reading, writing and speaking and listening are not confined to the English classroom alone. They are, of course, vital skills which every facet of life demands and, consequently, are supported across the curriculum. Students of all abilities are encouraged and challenged to fulfil their potential in all these areas.
The department is in a relatively new, purpose-built block where we have 3 specialist rooms located next to the Library Resource Centre. We have access to the latest technology with the provision of an Interactive Whiteboard, and to an ICT Suite providing 32 computer terminals, linked to the school network.
Within the department there are English specialists supported by part-time members of staff and trainee graduates.
This year the department are highlighting the importance of reading; both reading for pleasure and independent reading and see it as crucial to success.
Key Stage 3
At St. Edmund’s the English Department follows The Key Stage 3 National Strategy. This promotes teaching and learning that is informed by clear, challenging and progressive objectives. Teachers produce purposeful, creative and imaginative tasks which are interactive, motivating and able to challenge and inspire all students. The year is divided into modules of work in which the national curriculum objectives are the focus of the teaching.
- Module 1 Creative Writing (Imagine/ Explore/ Entertain)
- Module 2 Poetry
- Module 3 Modern Novel (Analyse, Comment , Review)
- Module 4 Non-Fiction 1(Persuade/ Argue/ Advise)
- Module 5 Non-Fiction 2(Inform/ Explain/ Describe)
- Module 6 Summer Term (Shakespeare, Film Studies, Drama, Project and display work – opportunities to read for pleasure)
ICT, Drama, Speaking and Listening opportunities span all modules.
Assessment at Key Stage 3
Assessment takes place at end of each module and will spring directly from work done and skills learnt during that module.
Year 7 and 8 sets 1 and 2 take part in National Optional Reading and Writing Assessment Tests in Term 4.
Year 9 work towards completing Sats Assessment Tests which examine reading, writing and a Shakespeare text.
Key Stage 4
At St. Edmund’s key stage 4 students follow the AQA B English and English Literature course.
- This course requires both coursework and final exams. There are 2 tiers of entry - Foundation (Grades G - C) and Higher (Grades D - A*).
- Speaking and Listening is an integral part of the course and students are assessed through various activities and stimulus materials. Assessment includes an individual extended contribution, group interaction and Drama-focused activity.
- Students complete a number of coursework assignments and are expected to keep to deadlines set and build a portfolio, which will contribute to their GCSE. Examples of coursework – Letters from the Front, Young People Today, The role of the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet
- English Coursework - 40% of Total Marks
- English Exam - 60% of Total Marks. For the exam a Pre-Release booklet which includes 6-8 media texts on a particular topic e.g. Transport and 6-8 poems from different cultures is sent to schools in February. The students and Teachers work on this booklet together in preparation for the English Examinations. In the exam students will be given clean copies of the booklet.
English Literature Coursework and Examination
- Six texts must be studied - 3 texts for coursework and 3 texts for the examination.
- Literature Coursework - 30% of Total Marks
- The coursework texts must show an understanding of literary tradition, appreciation of social and historical influences and cultural contexts and explore relationships and comparisons between texts. Examples of texts – Of Mice and Men, Wuthering Heights, An Inspector Calls
- Literature Exam - 70% of Total Marks - 2 1/4 hours (including reading time)
- Candidates may take copies of the texts studied into the examination. These texts must be clean and not annotated.
Key Stage 5
At St. Edmund’s key stage 5 students follow the AQA A Literature course. The AS /A2 is an Exam – Based Course.
There are 3 Modules at AS Level:
- Module 1 – The Modern Novel – An introduction to the study of one modern novel. Closed book exam.(2006 Spies – M. Frayn)
- Module 2 – Shakespeare Play. Open book exam.(2006 – Richard 111)
- Module 3 – Texts in Context. One Poetry text and One Drama text. Open book exam. (2006 – High Windows – Philip Larkin and A Woman of No Importance – Oscar Wilde)
There are 3 Modules at A2 Level:
- Module 4 – Texts in Time – One Pre-1770 Drama Text and one Romantic Poetry Text. Closed Book Exam.(2006–Measure for Measure - Shakespeare and Songs of Innocence and Experience - Blake)
- Module 5 – Literary Connexions. Comparison of 2 texts. Open Book Exam. (The French Lieutenant’s Woman – J. Fowles and Tess of the D’Urbervilles – T. Hardy)
- Module 6 – Synoptic Unit – detailed study of War In Literature. This final Exam tests all genres
