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Members of Department

Mrs C. O’Donnell (Head of Department)

Mrs D. Marlow

Mrs A. Murphy

Mrs R. Mellon

Mrs C. McGirr

Mrs S. McMahon

Mrs M. O’Hagan

Miss C. Rafferty

Books

Key Stage 3

During Key Stage 3 we encourage students to study a range of fiction texts by Irish writers, including Seamus Heaney, Frank O’Connor, Roddy Doyle, Bernard Mac Laverty, Frank McCourt and Marita Conlon-McKenna.

Novels are chosen with a view to engaging all students, and with an emphasis on motivating boys.

Year 8

Pupils complete a recount based on the transfer to their new school.

They undertake a series of tasks based around the class novel, including role play activities.

A media unit is studied and the year finishes with the study of fiction reading in preparation for the summer test.

Year 9

Pupils complete a literary essay based on the study of Heaney’s poetry.

They complete a series of activities in response to the class novel, including talking and listening assessment.

A film unit enables the students to engage in ICT activities and the year is completed with fiction reading to prepare for the summer test.

Year 10

The year commences with non-fiction writing, before the class novel is studied, involving a focus on fiction writing and comprehension work, in preparation for the winter test.

Debating skills are developed in conjunction with the RE department and the summer term ends with the study of non-fiction writing.

Key Stage 4

English Language

Unit 1: Writing for Purpose and Audience and Reading to Access Non-Fiction and Media Texts.

External written examination

Untiered

1 hour 45 mins

Students respond to five tasks

30%

Unit 2: Speaking and Listening

Controlled assessment

Untiered

Teachers assess the tasks, and we moderate the outcomes

20%

Unit 3: Studying Spoken and Written Language

Controlled assessment

Untiered

Teachers assess the tasks, and we moderate the outcomes

20%

Unit 4: Personal or Creative Writing and Reading Literary and Non-Fiction Texts

External written examination

Untiered

1 hour and 45 mins

Students respond to four tasks

30%

Key Stage 4

English Literature

Unit 1: The Study of Prose

External written examination

Untiered

1 hour 45 mins

Students answer two questions, one from Section A and one set question in Section B.

Section A is closed book

30%

Unit 2: The Study of Drama and Poetry

External written examination

Untiered

2 hours

Students answer two questions, one from Section A and one from Section B.

Section A is open book

Section B is open book

50%

Unit 3: The Study of Shakespeare

Controlled assessment

Untiered 

2 hours

Students complete on task an extended writing question based on a theme. 

20%

Key Stage 5

English Literature

AS1:

The Study of Poetry 1900 - Present and Drama 1900 - Present

External written examination 

2 hours

Students answer two questions, one from Section A and one from Section B.

Section A is open book.

Section B is closed book.

60% of AS

24% of A Level

AS 2:

The Study of Prose Pre 1900

External written examination 

1 hour

Students answer one question.

Closed book

40% of AS

16% of A Level

A2 1:

Shakespearean Genres

External written examination

1 hour 30 minutes

Students answer one question.

Closed book

20% of A Level

A2 2:

The Study of Poetry Pre 1900 and Unseen Poetry

External written examination 

2 hours

Students answer two questions, one from Section A and the question set in Section B.

Closed book.  

20% of A Level

A2 3:

Internal Assessment

Internal assessment

Students complete a 2500 word essay

20% of A Level

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