Staff
Miss H M Brien MA (Head of Department)
Mrs C Cooke BA
Mr L W Robinson BA
Mrs E A Tollitt BA
Mr D J Gordon MA
Aims
In short, we would like to develop the wordplay skills that will empower us, realising "fence" to be a rewarding, pleasurably active verb, not a dull imprisoning noun that we just sit on, getting nowhere.
Methods
We aim to study a wide range of novels, plays and poems during the course and by a variety of methods. Most of the texts will be modern, but some will be selected from previous centuries. We also study some factual writing and some films.
Outline of work
All students take English and English Literature to GCSE. All First Formers have two periods in addition to the normal five period allocation for English and that enables them to undertake both an induction course in the facilities available in the Learning Resource Centre and a course on spelling, punctuation and grammar. English Literature is a popular A Level subject, taken by about a quarter of our Sixth and Seventh Formers.
GCSE
GCSE English and English Literature are taught in five forms of equal ability. We follow the AQA Specification A. We aim to offer a course of study that treats English and English Literature as happily married, rather than as estranged entities who want nothing to do with each other.
AS and A2
We offer the AQA English Literature Specification A for AS and A2. Around 20 students study the subject in each year in two sets, with each set shared between two teachers. All the units of study are assessed by examination; there is no coursework.
Resources
The department occupies a suite of classrooms all equipped with televisions and adjacent to the Learning Resource Centre.
Not only will you work in your class, but also in smaller groups and in pairs. You can expect to work in the LRC as well as in the classroom.
Extra-curricular activities
We aim to offer a wide range of activities:
- Senior and Junior Plays which we organise jointly with the girls’ school next door. Our last production was ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream’ and our next ‘A Christmas Carol’.
- Public Speaking Competitions. Most recently we entered the Rotary Club "Youthspeaks".
- Theatre Trips. Mostly recently we attended a performance of ‘Journey’s End’ at The Lowry in Salford.
- Visiting speakers. Most recently we have enjoyed visits from novelists Alan Gibbons and Andy McNab, and from poets Terry Caffrey and David Horner.