 |
|
email:
corunum@btconnect.com
|
telephone:
02837 522023
(Main School Building)
02837 523665
(Barat Building) |
fax:
02837 510034 |
 |
|
| |
|
The English Department is currently staffed by nine teachers, six of whom are English specialists. The Department is mainly housed in a suite of four adjacent classrooms in the Main School Building and in two additional English rooms in the Barat Building. The two main English stores are close to the suite of rooms as is the English office. All rooms are equipped with audio-visual resources. Teachers in the English Department have completed the Learning Schools Programme computer training. The English Department has one main noticeboard outside Room B39. All Departmental meetings are held in Room B 36. English forms part of the statutory curriculum for pupils in Years 8 - 12 and English Literature GCSE is offered to some pupils, usually two classes, when they reach Key Stage 4. AS/A2 level English Language and Literature is also on offer and a successful arrangement of shared teaching of AS/A2 level classes has developed over recent years. The English Department is part of Cohort 1 of the Northern Ireland Literacy Strategy and has completed ten days of training in implementing the Key Stage 3 Language Framework. It engages in an extensive range of theatre trips and other co-curricular activities and runs regular competitions. It is a busy welcoming department which is receptive to new suggestions to improve the quality of its provision.The Department consists of: N Tiffney - Senior Teacher, HOD and Teacher Responsible for Language Across the Curriculum L Kelly - Learning Support Co-ordinator M Martin - Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 English S Black - Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 English
D MacDhaibhéid - Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 English (with GNVQ) L McGilly - Key Stage 3 and 4 English with other subjects S McCoubrey - Year Head, Teacher responsible for Key Stage 3 English
The Department meets regularly and Agenda and Minutes are available from the Principal and HOD.The delivery and content of the Key Stage 3 English Programme is based on the POS for English and on the Northern Ireland Literacy Strategy Language Framework for Key Stage 3. Schemes of Work are issued at the start of each academic year. Units of Work, produced by all members of the Department are available from the HOD. Progress at Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 is discussed at special meetings with the relevant members of the Department.There has been very significant investment in Key Stage 3 resources in recent years and additional resources became available as a result of our participation in SELB Summer Literacy Schemes and the Northern Ireland literacy Strategy.The content of the Key Stage 4 English and English Literature Programmes is determined by teachers' responses to the demands of the OCR syllabuses. Teachers of English provide GCSE Course Planners for the HOD and to help the Key Stage 4 Academic Board monitor levels of coursework facing pupils at different times. All OCR Guidelines are followed regarding Internal Standardisation and the Department consistently achieves very pleasing results at GCSE level, easily surpassing whole school percentage pass targets for Grades A-C. The Key Stage 4 team of English teachers collaborate in all matters - cross-marking, sharing resources, reporting back on INSET etc. An 'Open Door' policy exists within the English Department at all levels.Three teachers share responsibility for A level work (OCR Board). Students have been taking the coursework option since 1997 and results have been very satisfactory. Set texts are thoroughly taught and the Assessment Objectives are met. Some A level English Literature students are successful in interviews and applications for Oxbridge and a number of students each year move on to study English Literature at university. The Department has identified as its main targets for Post-16 pupils:
1. Maintaining 100% pass rate at A level.
2. The encouragement of wider reading by A level students.
|
|
|
|
