English Department
Faculty of English and Media in depth look…
Aims of the English and Media Faculty
- To develop every pupil's ability to use language with competence and confidence
- To foster a love of reading and to stimulate interest and enjoyment of literature
- To enable pupils to speak confidently and articulately with sensitivity to the needs and interests of particular audiences
- To help pupils to make sense of themselves and the world around them by giving them access to creative ways in which to articulate their own experiences
- To provide opportunities for pupils and teachers to explore and appreciate cultural literacy and linguistic diversity
- To encourage pupils to work independently and as part of a team and to provide support for each other
- To consider the relationship between language and power by exploring concepts such as media bias and representation
- To help pupils develop skills of literary analysis and evaluation and to prepare students for the study of literature and language at university level
Staffing
Ms J McQuaid (Head of English)
Ms S Butler
Ms P Constantinou (Extended Schools)
Mr J Danaher
Mr D Fairhurst (Head of Media Studies
Ms J Johnson
Ms S Jones
Ms R Kaur Grewal (KS4 Coordinator)
Ms H Pallet (KS5 Coordinator)
Ms N Sahu
Ms R Smith (Assistant Head teacher)
G Wisher
Ms T Uddin
Mr D Ingman
KS 3
At Key Stage 3 pupils follow a broad and balanced curriculum which relates directly to the requirements of the National Curriculum.
Speaking and Listening
Pupils develop their speaking and listening skills both individually and in groups. They take part in discussion work as well as engaging in improvisations and role play. Pupils are encouraged to develop their performance skills through presenting work to other students and adults.
Reading
Pupils read widely from a range of fiction and non-fiction texts and are taught how to understand and interpret the explicit and implicit meanings of texts. The enjoyment of literature is emphasised through multisensory and interactive engagement with newspaper extracts, autobiographies, diaries, poetry, prose and drama, including at least one play by Shakespeare.
Writing
Pupils write in a variety of ways including narrative, discursive essays, diary entries, letters and newspaper report. Both technical accuracy and creativity are a key focus and pupils are encouraged to write about their own experiences and those of their community. Emphasis is placed throughout KS3 on legible, fluent handwriting and neat presentation.
Language
Pupils’ language skills are developed through the study of differences between standard and non-standard forms, as well as exploration of the ways in which English is influenced by globalisation and the impact of modern technology.
KS 4
GCSE English language and literature: Course map
Edexcel English Language and Literature GCSE requirements
Edexcel English Literature Specification
At Key Stage 4 pupils follow a broad and balanced curriculum which relates directly both to the requirements of the National Curriculum and the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). At the current time, the faculty follows the Edexcel ‘A’ syllabus for both English and English Literature.
The course requirements are as follows:
Speaking and Listening coursework
Pupils complete three assessed assignments including a formal presentation, group discussion and drama activity. Twenty per cent of the final English GCSE marks are awarded for this aspect of the course.
Written coursework
Pupils complete five written assignments including the study of texts from diverse cultures, pre-1914 prose and poetry, modern fiction or drama and a Shakespeare play. Twenty per cent of the marks for GCSE English and thirty per cent of marks for GCSE English Literature are awarded for this aspect of the course.
External examinations
Pupils are examined on their ability to analyse media texts, to write for a range of audiences and purposes and to discuss a collection of modern poetry. For most pupils, these examinations take place at the end of Year 11 although a small number may be entered earlier for some aspects of the course. Sixty per cent of the marks for GCSE English and seventy per cent of marks for GCSE English Literature are awarded for this aspect of the course.
KS 5
OCR English Literature Specification
Sixth Form pupils study for Advanced Subsidiary (AS) and Advanced Level (A2) English Literature. The faculty currently follows the OCR H071 syllabus, which was introduced in place of the AQA ‘A’ syllabus in September 2008.
The course requirements are as follows:
AS
Written coursework
Pupils complete two written assignments focusing on the critical analysis of a selection of texts written since 1900. Forty per cent of the marks for AS and twenty per cent of the marks for A2 are awarded for this element of the course
External examinations
Pupils are examined on their ability to analyse in depth a selection of texts written between 1800 and 1945. Sixty per cent of the marks for AS and thirty per cent of the marks for A2 are awarded for this element of the course.
A2
Written coursework
Pupils complete one extended individual assignment focusing on the comparative analysis of three related texts. Twenty per cent of the total A2 marks are awarded for this element of the course.
External examinations
Students are examined on their ability to analyse a Shakespeare play and on their study of drama and poetry written before 1800. Thirty per cent of the total marks for A2 are awarded for this element of the course.
Special Features
The second annual Bookweek was held at Mulberry in November. The event involved many exciting activities to promote literacy across the school, including creative writing workshops for students in Year 7 to 9. Famous children's authors, Stuart Roth, Catherine Johnson, Penny Kendal and Josephine Feeney visited the school to read from their novels and encourage pupils to develop their own writing skills.
Bookweek 2008 was a phenomenal success with members from all year groups sharing in the magic of words and stories. The book fair allowed all of Mulberry's bookworms to feast on the wonderful books on offer. Everywhere you turned, teachers were encouraging students to delve into the wonderful worlds of mystery and fun and give the coursework a breather!
