English
Teaching Staff:
English @ Sperrin
The English Department is a highly successful department, consistently achieving well above the Northern Ireland average for GCSE English Language, GCSE English Literature and A Level English Literature. We are recognised by ETI for successfully using "a range of teaching, learning and assessment strategies to engage and challenge the pupils". All pupils are given the opportunity to actively participate in the review of Plans for Learning to ensure that their learning is enjoyable and relevant to their lives.
We are a forward-thinking, dynamic department and have participated in various projects to fully engage students in their learning. Some of these include: Promoting Creativity through Poetry- My Place in the Landscape Project in conjunction with the Seamus Heaney HomePlace, the Lough Neagh Partnership and RSPB; Digital Media Storytelling with the Nerve Centre; The Peer Mentoring and Paired Reading Project in conjunction with CCEA and Queen's University Belfast and the KS3 Visual Literacy Project with CCEA.
KS3 English
KS3 students have a minimum of 6 periods of English across the fortnight, including a dedicated library lesson.
Reading regularly, and for enjoyment, is an integral part of the study of English language and literature, as well as contributing to the development of literacy skills across the curriculum. Teachers work alongside students to foster a love of reading, to establish good reading habits and are recognised by ETI as providing "appropriate opportunities to stretch and challenge the more proficient readers".
Key Stage 3 Plans for Learning incorporate the statutory demands of the Northern Ireland Revised Curriculum and place a strong emphasis on all modes of Communication (Talking and Listening, Reading and Writing) in order to build a strong foundation for GCSE study. Progression is integral to our Plans for Learning, ensuring that pupils are working to their full potential.
Year 8 Plans for Learning include:
MySelfie
The Novel
Me, My Poetry and Poetry in my Community Media
Year 9 Plans for Learning include:
The Study of Genre and Creative Writing
Changing Northern Ireland: The Study of Fiction and Non-fiction Texts
Media: The Place of Media in the Working World Us, Our Poetry and Poetry in the World Around Us
Year 10 Plans for Learning are currently under review, incorporating the Pupil Voice and the demands of the revised GCSE Specifications for English Language and Literature.
Topics include:
Creative Writing on a theme that is relevant to society (e.g. homelessness)
The Novel
Exploring Media and Non-Fiction Texts
Newcomer Students
Newcomer Students attend extra English classes on a regular basis, to allow for their full participation in the curriculum. Pastoral care is also at the heart of this provision, and provided by a qualified English teacher.
GCSE English
All students study GCSE English Language (CCEA).
The revised specification for first examination in 2018 is assessed in the following units:
Unit 1: External examination - 20%
Section A: Writing for purpose and audience Section B: Reading to access non-fiction and media texts
Unit 2: Speaking and Listening Controlled Assessment - 20%
Unit 3: Controlled Assessment Portfolio - 20%
Task1: The study of spoken language
Task 2: The study of written language
Unit 4: External examination - 20%
Section A: Personal or Creative Writing
Section B: Reading literary and non-fiction texts
All students in the Grammar band study GCSE English Literature (CCEA). This subject is assessed as follows: 80% examination and 20% controlled assessment.
Unit 1: The Study of Prose
Unit 2: The Study of Drama and Poetry
Unit 3: The Study of Shakespeare (controlled assessment)
A Level English
Students follow the CCEA specification for A Level Literature.
AS Level: 100% examination.
AS Unit 1 A: The Study of Poetry 1900 - Present (selected poems by Robert Frost and Seamus Heaney)
AS Unit 1 B: The Study of Drama 1900 - Present ('The Crucible' by Arthur Miller)
AS Unit 2: The Study of Prose Pre 1900 ('Wuthering Heights' by Emily Bronte)
A2 Level:
Unit A2 1: Shakespearean Genres ('The Taming of the Shrew' by Shakespeare)
Unit A2 2: The Study of Poetry Pre 1900 and Unseen Poetry ('The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale' by Chaucer and one unseen poem will be selected by CCEA for examination)
A2 3: Internal Assessment. Pupils will independently study and compare two novels in one coursework essay, one of which must be published in the 21st century. This is worth 20% of the course.
Extracurricular English
The English Department offer a range of enrichment and extra-curricular activities, which change depending on the expressed interests of students. These have included:
Pupils should express their interest in any of these opportunities to their English teacher. New ideas are always welcome!
- Miss L Dempster BA Hons, MSc, PGCE - Head of Department
- Mrs S Mulholland BA (Joint Hons) English and German; PGCE,
- Mrs A Kobos Reilly MA, PGCE
- Miss N Kelly BA Hons, PGCE
- Mrs A Hyndman MA, PGCE
English @ Sperrin
The English Department is a highly successful department, consistently achieving well above the Northern Ireland average for GCSE English Language, GCSE English Literature and A Level English Literature. We are recognised by ETI for successfully using "a range of teaching, learning and assessment strategies to engage and challenge the pupils". All pupils are given the opportunity to actively participate in the review of Plans for Learning to ensure that their learning is enjoyable and relevant to their lives.
We are a forward-thinking, dynamic department and have participated in various projects to fully engage students in their learning. Some of these include: Promoting Creativity through Poetry- My Place in the Landscape Project in conjunction with the Seamus Heaney HomePlace, the Lough Neagh Partnership and RSPB; Digital Media Storytelling with the Nerve Centre; The Peer Mentoring and Paired Reading Project in conjunction with CCEA and Queen's University Belfast and the KS3 Visual Literacy Project with CCEA.
KS3 English
KS3 students have a minimum of 6 periods of English across the fortnight, including a dedicated library lesson.
Reading regularly, and for enjoyment, is an integral part of the study of English language and literature, as well as contributing to the development of literacy skills across the curriculum. Teachers work alongside students to foster a love of reading, to establish good reading habits and are recognised by ETI as providing "appropriate opportunities to stretch and challenge the more proficient readers".
Key Stage 3 Plans for Learning incorporate the statutory demands of the Northern Ireland Revised Curriculum and place a strong emphasis on all modes of Communication (Talking and Listening, Reading and Writing) in order to build a strong foundation for GCSE study. Progression is integral to our Plans for Learning, ensuring that pupils are working to their full potential.
Year 8 Plans for Learning include:
MySelfie
The Novel
Me, My Poetry and Poetry in my Community Media
Year 9 Plans for Learning include:
The Study of Genre and Creative Writing
Changing Northern Ireland: The Study of Fiction and Non-fiction Texts
Media: The Place of Media in the Working World Us, Our Poetry and Poetry in the World Around Us
Year 10 Plans for Learning are currently under review, incorporating the Pupil Voice and the demands of the revised GCSE Specifications for English Language and Literature.
Topics include:
Creative Writing on a theme that is relevant to society (e.g. homelessness)
The Novel
Exploring Media and Non-Fiction Texts
Newcomer Students
Newcomer Students attend extra English classes on a regular basis, to allow for their full participation in the curriculum. Pastoral care is also at the heart of this provision, and provided by a qualified English teacher.
GCSE English
All students study GCSE English Language (CCEA).
The revised specification for first examination in 2018 is assessed in the following units:
Unit 1: External examination - 20%
Section A: Writing for purpose and audience Section B: Reading to access non-fiction and media texts
Unit 2: Speaking and Listening Controlled Assessment - 20%
Unit 3: Controlled Assessment Portfolio - 20%
Task1: The study of spoken language
Task 2: The study of written language
Unit 4: External examination - 20%
Section A: Personal or Creative Writing
Section B: Reading literary and non-fiction texts
All students in the Grammar band study GCSE English Literature (CCEA). This subject is assessed as follows: 80% examination and 20% controlled assessment.
Unit 1: The Study of Prose
Unit 2: The Study of Drama and Poetry
Unit 3: The Study of Shakespeare (controlled assessment)
A Level English
Students follow the CCEA specification for A Level Literature.
AS Level: 100% examination.
AS Unit 1 A: The Study of Poetry 1900 - Present (selected poems by Robert Frost and Seamus Heaney)
AS Unit 1 B: The Study of Drama 1900 - Present ('The Crucible' by Arthur Miller)
AS Unit 2: The Study of Prose Pre 1900 ('Wuthering Heights' by Emily Bronte)
A2 Level:
Unit A2 1: Shakespearean Genres ('The Taming of the Shrew' by Shakespeare)
Unit A2 2: The Study of Poetry Pre 1900 and Unseen Poetry ('The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale' by Chaucer and one unseen poem will be selected by CCEA for examination)
A2 3: Internal Assessment. Pupils will independently study and compare two novels in one coursework essay, one of which must be published in the 21st century. This is worth 20% of the course.
Extracurricular English
The English Department offer a range of enrichment and extra-curricular activities, which change depending on the expressed interests of students. These have included:
- Debating Society
- Public Speaking Competitions
- Film Club
- Lunchtime Quiz
- Book Club
- Writers' Workshop
- English Surgery ('drop in' sessions with a teacher for advice/ target setting on a specific area of focus) Revision Sessions (dedicated to exam technique and study skills at KS4 and KS5) Creative Writing competitions (prose and poetry) School Magazine BBC School Report
Pupils should express their interest in any of these opportunities to their English teacher. New ideas are always welcome!