English Department
SPECIFIC AIMS OF THE DEPARTMENT
In the English department, we believe that students can develop and empower themselves through the study of language and literature. We aim to help our students:
• cultivate empathetic skills for other people and cultures through literature
• become critical thinkers and readers
• become life-long readers and learners with a love for literature
• equip students with linguistic skills necessary for success in life
• develop communication skills, confidence and self-expression in writing and speaking
• explore and confidently analyse a range of texts: fiction, non-fiction and media
EXAM BOARD
CCEA
OVERVIEW OF KEY STAGE 3 CURRICULUM
At Key Stage 3, the students in Aquinas Grammar school, experience a wide range of exciting and immersive activities which are focused on developing the key skills of reading, writing and speaking and listening. These include an active exploration of Shakespeare’s plays in year 9; creative writing in year 8 with workshops from the local writing centre and reading to analyse texts in year 10. A wide range of texts are used to develop the students including: Prose, Poetry, Drama, Media and Non-fiction. Explicit literacy classes at KS3 and Accelerated Reader are also included in our programmes of study.
Each student will have five periods of English per week. Four data tracking marks are communicated to parents every year (three in year 8) from the English department. Teachers use a variety of teaching methods to deliver the curriculum to KS3 which aim to create an atmosphere where all leaners can achieve their full potential and develop their Thinking Skills, Personal Capabilities and Digital Skills.
At Key Stage 3, each class has explicit AR classes in English and this is also promoted at a whole school level where students will have an AR class every week in a different subject to promote the value of reading across the curriculum. National Poetry Day is also celebrated in KS3 when students write and perform their poetry.
Year 8
Unit 1: Getting to Know me
Unit 2: Introduction to texts (fiction, poetry, media)-reading skills and learning to structure responses
Unit 3: Studying the Novel
Unit 4: Speaking and Listening-My Favourite Hobby
Unit 5: Creative Writing
Unit 6: Presentational Features-creating a book cover
(Throughout the year the students have explicit literacy and AR classes)
Year 9
Unit 1: Gothic writing
Unit 2: Group discussions
Unit 3: Shakespeare play-analysing language and performance (Shakespeare Festival)
Unit 4: Study of the Novel and Poetry linked on theme
Unit 5: Media and Non-fiction: article writing
Unit 6: Analysing and reading film
(Throughout the year the students have explicit literacy and AR classes)
Year 10
Unit 1: Study of the Novel
Unit 2: Persuasive speeches
Unit 3: Speaking and Listening- deliver a persuasive speech
Unit 4: Study of Poetry linked on theme
Unit 5: Speaking and Listening-role plays
Unit 6: Media and Non-fiction-paraphrasing and analysing presentational features
Unit 7: Introduction to Unseen Prose
Unit 8: Introduction to Spoken Language
(Throughout the year the students have explicit literacy and AR classes)
OVERVIEW OF KEY STAGE 4 CURRICULUM
https://ccea.org.uk/key-stage-4/gcse/subjects/gcse-english-language-2017
Overview of the GCSE curriculum
Overview for Year 11
English Language:
Unit 1: Writing for Audience and Reading to Access Non-Fiction and Media texts
External written examination-30% (1hr 45mins)
In this unit, students engage with writing and reading tasks. There are two sections in the examination paper. Section A is writing and there is one task. Section B is reading and there are four tasks.
Unit 2: Speaking and Listening – Controlled Assessment
Internal Assessments -20%
In this unit, students are assessed in three controlled assessment tasks: an individual presentation and interaction, group discussion and a role play. In year 11, students engage in a variety of group discussions and role-plays.
Unit 3: Studying Spoken and Written Language -Controlled Assessment
Internal Assessments -20%
In this unit, students complete two controlled assessment tasks.
In The Study of Spoken Language, they complete one written response that enables them to investigate the characteristics of, and influences on, two pieces of spoken language. (10%)
In The Study of Written Language, students complete one written response that enables them to demonstrate knowledge of characters, themes or genre in a literary text or texts. (10%)
English Literature:
Unit 1: The Study of Prose
External written examination: 30% (1hr 45mins)
Section A: Novel
In this section, students explore and respond to a modern novel they have studied. They communicate their knowledge and understanding of the novel. The Section A part of the examination lasts 1 hour and is worth 20 percent of the marks for this qualification. Students answer one question from a choice of two on each novel.
Section B: Unseen Prose
In this section, students explore, respond to, and learn how to analyse and evaluate an unseen nineteenth-century prose extract. The Section B part of the examination lasts 45 minutes and is worth 10 percent of the marks for this qualification. Students should spend 15 minutes reading the extract and 30 minutes writing their response to the set question.
Overview for Year 12
English Language:
Unit 4: Personal or Creative Writing and Reading Literary and Non-Fiction Texts (30%)
External written examination: 30% (1hr 45mins)
In this Unit, pupils engage with Writing and Reading. There are two sections in the examination paper. Section A is Writing and there is one task. Section B is Reading and there are three tasks.
Unit 2: Speaking and Listening – Controlled Assessment
Internal Assessments -20%
In this unit, students are assessed in three controlled assessment tasks: an individual presentation and interaction, group discussion and a role play. In year 12, students engage in an individual presentation and interaction.
English Literature:
Unit 2: The Study of Drama and Poetry
External written examination: 50% (2hrs)
Section A: Drama
In this section, students explore and respond to a play they have studied. They communicate their knowledge and understanding of a play by a modern dramatist. The Section A part of the examination lasts 1 hour and is worth 25 percent of the marks for this qualification. Students are permitted to bring an unannotated copy of their chosen play into the examination. They answer one question from a choice of two on each play.
Section B:
Poetry In this section, students explore and respond to a collection of poems they have studied in one of the three anthologies we provide. They learn how to analyse, evaluate, and compare and contrast. The Section B part of the examination lasts 1 hour and is worth 25 percent of the marks for this qualification. Students are permitted to bring an unannotated copy of their chosen anthology into the examination. There is a choice of two questions on each anthology and students must answer one. Each question involves analysing two poems from their chosen anthology.
Unit 3: The Study of Shakespeare
Internal Assessment -20%
In this unit, students explore and respond to a Shakespeare play they have studied. They communicate their knowledge and understanding of the play. Assessment for this section is a controlled assessment task that lasts 2 hours.
OVERVIEW OF KEY STAGE 5 CURRICULUM
https://ccea.org.uk/post-16/gce/subjects/gce-english-literature-2016
Overview of the GCE English Literature curriculum
The CCEA GCE Specification is followed in Aquinas.
The AS and A2 Units are as follows:
• AS 1: The Study of Poetry 1900 - Present and Drama 1900–Present
• AS 2: The Study of Prose Pre 1900
• A2 1: Shakespearean Genres
• A2 2: The Study of Poetry Pre 1900 and Unseen Poetry
• A2 3: Internal Assessment
The AS Units make up 40% of the full A Level qualification.
The A2 Units make up 60% of the full A Level qualification.
Overview for Year 13
Unit AS 1: The Study of Poetry 1900–Present and Drama 1900–Present
External written examination-(2hrs) 60% of AS; 24% of A level
Section A: The Study of Poetry 1900–Present
In Section A, students explore and respond to a range of poetry by two poets they have studied. Students learn to analyse, evaluate, and compare and contrast.
Section B: The Study of Drama 1900–Present
In Section B, students communicate their knowledge and understanding of a play by a modern dramatist.
(Section A lasts one hour and Section B lasts one hour.)
Unit AS 2: The Study of Prose Pre 1900
External written examination- (1hr) 40% of AS; 16% of A level
In this unit, students communicate their knowledge and understanding of a novel.
Overview for Year 14
Unit A2 1: Shakespearean Genres
External written examination-(1hr 30mins) 20% of A level
In this unit, students will analyse a single play from the Shakespearean genre of Tragedy. Each question offers an extract as a basis for answering the question on the play as a whole.
Unit A2 2: The Study of Poetry Pre 1900 and Unseen Poetry
External written examination-(2hrs) 20% of A level
Section A: The Study of Poetry Pre 1900
In Section A, students explore and respond to a range of poetry by a poet they have studied. They draw on the skills developed in their AS study of poetry.
Section B: Unseen Poetry
In Section B, students demonstrate critical skill and personal engagement in response to an unseen poem. Students analyse poetic methods to determine how poets shape meaning. In this section, students experience poems from different time periods and poems with various themes, forms and poetic styles.
(Section A lasts one hour and Section B lasts one hour.)
Unit A2 3: Internal Assessment 20% of A level
In this unit, students draw on skills developed in their AS study, in particular the study of prose pre 1900 in Unit AS 2, to communicate effectively their knowledge and understanding of the novel form. The unit encourages independent study, wider reading and enjoyment of modern literature. Students engage in a detailed study of two novels, one of which must be a twenty-first-century novel.
Students are allowed to select their own novels, with teacher guidance and support. They explore a theme and analyse how authors shape meaning. They also explore the contexts in which each novel was written and analyse connections across the texts. In writing the internally assessed essay, students develop their research abilities and writing skills.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Extra-curricular activities
In Aquinas Diocesan Grammar, the English Department enriches the lives of the students with many extra-curricular experiences. These include:
• National Theatre’s New Views Playwriting Programme (all key stages)
• The Irish News Young News Readers Project (KS3)
• Soroptimist Public Speaking Competition (Key Stage 4 and 5)
• BBC Young Reporter
• Irish Federation of University Women Public Speaking Competition
• Poetry Aloud Competition
• Visiting Writers/Authors/Poets
• Visits to Seamus Heaney Homeplace (KS3 and KS5)
• Senior Book Club/Reading Group
• Junior Book Club/Reading Group
• Annual Theatre Trips
• Theatre Workshops
• London Trip-biennial (KS5)
• Sovereign Education A level Lectures in Stranmillis (KS5)
• National Poetry Day
Careers:
An A-Level in English literature opens many career opportunities in areas such as: law, media, social sciences, administration and government, public relations, writing or editorial work, teaching and journalism.
