Taught by: Mrs Michelle Berry BA (Hons), Essex; BA (Hons) Econ., Wales; PGCE·

At KS3 a programme of units of work has been drawn up and is regularly reviewed, keeping them lively, interesting and engaging. New material, in a variety of formats including: film and theatre clips, pod casts and educational DVDs, is being added to embellish the experience of studying English literature.

Units of work include:

Year 7

The Genre of Fantasy - based around Neil Gaiman’s text Coraline.

Poetry - engaging with poems from anthologies, making choices, exploring poet’s techniques and writing poems.

Year 8

Contemporary Novel - The Kite Rider Geraldine McCaughrean

Autobiographical Writing - The Chinese Cinderella Adeline Yen Mah

Year 9:

To Kill a Mockingbird - GCSE text –Harper Lee.

GCSE English 2010

New specification - Edexcel English Literature. (75% exam & 25% controlled assessment)

Unit 1

Understanding Prose – 50%
Exam 1 hr 45

1. Essay on Animal Farm – George Orwell
2. Essay on To Kill a Mocking Bird – Harper Lee

Unit 2

Understanding Poetry- 25%
Exam 1 hr 45

1. Response to an unseen poem
2. Response to two poems from collection of 15 studied

Unit 3

Shakespeare and Contemporary Drama - 25%
Controlled Assessment

1. Essay on An Inspector Calls  - Priestley
2. Essay on The Merchant of Venice

Additional Activities:

The department views class visits to the theatre and relevant places of interest as an integral part of the English programme. Attempts are made, every year, for years 9, 10 & 11 to watch a professional performance, of the plays, which are being studied. Year 9 also benefits from a trip to The Globe Theatre, time permitting. Additionally, the department tries to secure at least one theatre trip, per year, for each class; this is often supplemented by a backstage tour of a theatre such as Drury Lane.

Recent Department Visits Include:

• RSC The Tempest - Novello Theatre
• The Tempest - Aldwych Theatre
• GCSE Poetry Live with Edexcel
• The Tempest - Young Shakespeare Company - Wyllotts Theatre
• Watership Down - Lyric
• Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
• The Magic Carpet - Lyric Theatre
• Theatre Museum Covent Garden