The English Department at
Mark Rutherford

The Department

There are currently eight full-time teachers in the department.

The Department is housed in eight dedicated teaching rooms which are well equipped with interactive whiteboards or projectors and whiteboards, as well as TV monitors in each room. In addition, the Department has access to a dedicated Media Suite with up-to-date computer hardware, software, cameras and printers.

The Curriculum

Key Stage 3-Year 9

The programme of study for year 9 is based on the National Curriculum requirements and follows on from work covered in the local feeder Middle Schools. Over the year, students will be expected to

• read a range of literary and non-literary texts
• learn to write in a variety of styles to suit different audiences and purposes
• study a Shakespeare play

Key Stage 4-Years 10 and 11

In years 10 and 11 all students follow the AQA GCSE English Specification A course.

English and English Literature

 This combined course requires students to

• produce five pieces of written and/or oral coursework
• take part in a range of speaking and listening activities
• analyse a range of non-literary and media texts
• read and compare a range of poems from Different Cultures
• learn to write in a variety of forms for different audiences and purposes
• read and respond to a range of literary texts including a Shakespeare play, a post 1914 play, and  pre-1914 prose
• read and analyse a post-1914 novel
• read and compare a selection of  poetry by Carol Ann Duffy, Simon Armitage and pre-1914 poets

Assessment

English  GCSE : 20% coursework
                           20% speaking and listening
                           60% examination

English Literature GCSE: 30% coursework
                                          70% examination

Key Stage 5 - Years 12 and 13

At Key Stage 5, students taking English Literature at AS and A2 level follow AQA English Literature Specification B.

Students may also choose Film Studies which is offered at AS and A2 level.

Extra Curricular

Currently the Department organises regular theatre visits for all students, an annual visit to ‘GCSE Poetry Live!’ and visits to TV studios.