The English Department is vibrant and exciting offering students the chance to explore their creativity and develop their critical skills. Students are encouraged to write imaginatively in a wide range of styles and for a variety of purposes, to read a wide range of texts and to speak with confidence and assurance in a range of different situations and contexts.
The department’s schemes of work are built around the National Curriculum and Key Stage 3 Literacy Strategy in Years 7 to 9 and in Years 10 and 11 pupils follow the AQA GCSE syllabuses for English, English Language and English Literature.
Aims
Our aims are:
•to enable our pupils to function effectively as individuals within an increasingly complex and demanding society through their understanding and use of language.
•to develop in our pupils an understanding and appreciation of language in its many uses through the examination of a wide range of literary and non-literary materials.
•to encourage our pupils to use language to develop an understanding of the culture of all members of our multi-cultural society.
•to enrich the lives of our pupils by introducing to them writers from the past and present whose writing has won general admiration and esteem, and by encouraging them in the development of their own imaginative and thoughtful responses in speech and writing.
Extra-Curricular Opportunities
World Book Day
Last year we were delighted to host a World Book Day event with the theme of “Alice in Wonderland”. This involved a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party as well as a viewing of the Tim Burton film as well as quizzes and other activities. This year’s theme will be “The Wizard of Oz”.
Year 7
All students in Year 7 are encouraged to attend our annual trip to The West Yorkshire Playhouse in December. This is an exciting trip that happens at the end of the Autumn Term providing some Christmas fun for all involved! This year’s production was the fabulous “Annie”.
Year 8
Every year our Year 8 students take part in the Carnegie Shadowing Event. This involves working with other schools reading the books that are shortlisted for the prestigious Carnegie Medal. The Carnegie Medal is awarded to the best children’s fiction of the year. Year 8 students meet up with students from other schools to discuss the shortlisted book and take part in drama activities with local author Dave Cryer.
Year Nine
In the Summer term Students in Year 9 went on a trip to Whitby as part of their studies on “Dracula”. This involved a trip to “The Dracula Experience” as well as drama activities in Whitby Abbey.
Key Stages Four and Five
We endeavour to attend as many theatre trips involving set texts as possible. These have included “To Kill a Mockingbird”, “Much Ado about Nothing” and “Romeo and Juliet”. In March 2012 Year 11 students are going to see the award winning National Theatre production of “An Inspector Calls”. Year 10 students are also invited to a Media Museum visit involving Media production to assist them with their English GCSE.
How to succeed
•Take careful notice of the advice that your teacher gives you. This may come in the form of comments to the class as a whole, or in your exercise book, or your preparation for Controlled Assessment. Use this advice to shape your approach to the next piece of work. Above all, don’t be afraid to ask what you need to do to reach the next grade.
•Remember your target for GCSE and make sure you strive to achieve it in all your work •Complete all work in the given time, whether that is a week, a lesson or twenty minutes. Some pupils find it difficult to work to a time limit and have problems in exams, so you need to train yourself to show your skills in the available time.
•Keep up your general reading, not only fiction but also non-fiction including newspapers, magazines, travel writing, autobiographies etc. Analyse adverts on television or leaflets. All of these will hone your comprehension skills and also improve your writing. Look at the recommended reading list for suggestions of reading material.
English in Year 7
You have just started the English National Curriculum course in Key Stage 3 at St. Joseph’s Catholic College and we look forward to reading your responses to our “Literacy Through The Summer” booklet.
The first half term sees everyone completing a series of core tasks. These tasks enable us to get an up to date assessment of your English skills.
The Key Stage 3 National Curriculum is divided into 3 key areas: Speaking and Listening, Reading and Writing. They Year 7 course develops all of these skills. Speaking and Listening involves you in a range of activities including reading aloud, working with a partner, working in a group, contributing in front of the whole class, preparing an individual speech and drama activities. You will be shown how to be effective communicators and sympathetic listeners.
A wide variety of texts will be reading Year 7, including novels, plays, poetry, advertisements, leaflets and newspapers articles. You will develop your understanding skills by analysing the way in which things have been written. Independent reading at home plays a vital role. You are encouraged to make use of the school library on a weekly basis.
