- Departments - English
Members of Department
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Mrs C. O’Donnell (Head of Department)
Mr D. Donnelly
Miss K. Hughes
Mrs D. Marlow
Mrs A. Murphy
Mrs R. Mellon
Mrs S. McMahon
Mrs M. O’Hagan
Mrs K. Quinn
Miss C. Rafferty
​Mr C. Sherry
Key Stage 3
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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.
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Novels are chosen with a view to engaging all students, and with an emphasis on motivating boys.
Year 8
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Pupils complete a recount based on the transfer to their new school.
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They undertake a series of tasks based around the class novel, including role play activities.
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A media unit is studied and the year finishes with the study of fiction reading in preparation for the summer test.
Year 9
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Pupils complete a literary essay based on the study of Heaney’s poetry.
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They complete a series of activities in response to the class novel, including talking and listening assessment.
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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
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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.
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Debating skills are developed in conjunction with the RE department and the summer term ends with the study of non-fiction writing.
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Key Stage 4
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English Language
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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
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English Literature
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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
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English Literature
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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
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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
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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