THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

The RBAI English Department has a long tradition of excellence.  Each boy is encouraged both to express their creativity and fulfil their academic potential.  The state-of-the-art Library is an excellent facility which works alongside the Department to encourage an enjoyment of reading in all boys.  For more information please see the Library website. 

The Department consists of 8 full-time teachers. Year 8 and Year 9 are taught in a House System, in six sets of mixed ability.  On the basis of their progress in literary subjects, pupils currently enter a streamed Year 10.  At the beginning of Year 11, The Department is able to stream its pupils, largely on their performance in English during Year 10.  Continuity is observed between Years 11 and 12. 

In the Junior School there is sustained emphasis on spelling, punctuation and grammar and pupils are encouraged to develop creativity and to enjoy reading. All Junior School classes have a Library Timetable of one period per week and are provided with opportunities to apply basic IT skills within the subject. There is a Junior Drama Club and a Junior Debating Society.  Individual Tuition is provided for pupils with learning difficulties.

 In Years 11 and 12 all pupils are entered for GCSE English and English Literature and the Department has had notable success in both subjects.  

Approximately 35 pupils continue their study of English Literature at GCE AS and A2 level. At these levels, also, the examination results have been outstanding. 

The English Department also provides a General Studies class in Communication Skills for students in the Upper Sixth and those pupils who wish to enter Oxford or Cambridge are given extra lessons in the Sixth Form.

The Staff of the English Department make a significant contribution to the extra-curricular life of the School. There is, for example, a major drama production every two years, usually in collaboration with Victoria College, and members of the Department are currently responsible for duties as diverse as running the Community Service Group, editing “School News”, organising Cricket, Badminton and Fencing and acting as tutors within the pastoral system. 

Media Studies was introduced as an A Level subject in 2004 and has been extremely popular with students who have achieved well in the subject (95% A-C in 2008).  Media Studies is taught at AS and A2 level (WJEC Board specification).  The A Level course consists of 2 units at AS level:  MS1 – Media representations and responses; MS2 – Media Production Processes; and 2 units at A2 Level: MS3 – Media Investigation and Production and MS4 – Media: Text, Industry and Audience.  One unit each year focuses on developing and analytical approaches to media tests and the other on developing pupils’ research, creative and technical skills via a practical production portfolio.  At A2 level, pupils study 3 key industries in depth, undertake a research investigation and develop a practical production.

FAMOUS ALUMNI 
Michael Longley, Forrest Reid and Derek Mahon are just three of the famous writers that spent their formative years in the ‘W’ block.  Indeed, the current Head of English, Mr F Ormsby, is a celebrated poet and critic.

KEY PERSONNEL 

Head of the English Department: Mr F.A. Ormsby,
M.A. Teachers of English: 
Mr R. G.  Pattison, B.A., P.G.C.E.
Mrs V. H.  McCord, B.A., P.G.C.E. M.Ed.
Miss Z Huston, M.A., P.G.C.E.
Mr S. McMillan, B.A., P.G.C.E.
Mrs G Horner, B.A., P.G.C.E.
Miss K Walsh, B.A., M.A., P.G.C.E.
Miss K Harrison, B.A., P.G.C.E. 

COURSE CONTENT ENGLISH (LANGUAGE) GCSE 
The course in English language aims to develop the ability to communicate meaning using spoken and written language, and to develop the ability to read and understand texts and to understand how ideas are developed and expressed. The terminal examination consists of two 2-hour papers, with a total weighting of 60%.  Candidates will be entered for one of two tiers: a Foundation Tier (Grades C-G), or a Higher Tier (Grades A*-D).  To this is added an Internally Assessed Component (coursework) with a total weighting of 40% (20% for Talking and Listening, 10% for Reading, and 10% for Writing. Talking and listening is assessed by teachers and is based on three oral assignments.  In addition, each candidate will be expected to compile a coursework folder comprising four assignments, two for Reading (A & B) and two for Writing (C & D).  The assignments are:(A)-Response to poetry from other cultures.(B)-An assignment based on Shakespeare or any other pre-1914 dramatist.(C)-A piece of writing designed to argue, persuade, advise.(D)-A piece of writing designed to explore, imagine, entertain. Note that assignments A and B may also be included in the coursework folder for English Literature.

ENGLISH LITERATURE GCSE
The course aims to develop the ability to read, understand and respond to a range of literary texts.  Candidates are made aware of the social, historical and cultural contexts that shape works of literature. The terminal examination consists of a single 2 ½ hour paper, with a total weighting of 70%.  Candidates will be expected to answer three questions: one on drama, one on prose and one on poetry.  Entry will be for one of two tiers: a Foundation Tier (c-G), or a Higher Tier (Grades A*-D). The Internally Assessed Component has a total weighting of 30%.  Each candidate will be expected to complete a coursework folder for English Language. Teachers will mark each assignment out of 50 and give an overall mark out of 50 for each coursework folder.

ENGLISH LITERATURE AS/A2 (available in September 2009) 
The course aims to give students the opportunity to enjoy the study of a range of texts, to respond to a variety of methods and forms of expressions and to learn how texts can be interpreted and valued. The AS Level English Literature course consists of two modules: 

MODULE 1 
The study of (a) Shakespeare (1 text) and (b) one 20^th century dramatist (2 texts), leading to two pieces of written coursework (3000 words in total), one on each section.  (20% of full A Level) 

 MODULE 2 
The Study of Poetry written after 1800 (selections from the work of two poets), and the Study of Prose 1800-1945 (2 texts).  There will be one two hour written exam; open book for poetry, closed book for prose.(30 % of full A Level) Candidates who progress to the A2 scheme of assessment will cover two additional modules: 

MODULE 3 
The Study of Poetry 1300-1800 and Drama.  Closed book examination.  Two questions, one on a poetry text, one on a pair of drama texts.(25% of full A Level)

MODULE 4 
The Study of Prose-theme based.  Examination: two questions, one requiring close analysis of an extract chosen on a given theme, one on a pair of novels on the same theme as that chosen for Question 1.  (25% of full A Level) The prescribed texts for all these modules are listed in the full syllabus.

CAREER OPTIONS 
The study of English Literature is suitable for a whole range of careers including the theatre, journalism, Law, the Civil Service, but in particular the ability to communicate effectively has many applications and advantages.

RECENT RESULTS 

English Literature – A Level results