English

In the English department at Liverpool College we aim to teach every student to communicate effectively in both speech and writing, to appreciate literature and to develop keen skills of analysis. We teach all years from 7 to 13 and run a variety of exciting extra curricular activities that enhance the work we do in the classroom.

Key Stage 3

In years 7 to 9 English is taught in mixed ability form groups. Our Key Stage 3 curriculum is broadly based on the National Curriculum and the National Literacy Strategy. Pupils study a variety of different texts, from poetry to novels and from newspapers to websites. They also write for different purposes and audiences and have plenty of opportunities to argue, discuss and debate with their peers. The curriculum is organised into half termly units of work, which are supplemented by skills lessons and reading lessons. Pupils will have a class reader but will also be expected to read independently and to complete a reading diary. At the end of each year we will use the KS3 Optional Tests to assess pupils' progress.

GCSE

Specifications AQA English Language (4705) English Literature (4710)
Controlled Assessment 60% 25%
Examination 40% 75%

GCSE English and English Literature develop skills and aptitudes that support a wide range of subsequent courses and careers. We currently follow the specifications offered by AQA, leading to two separate GCSE awards: one for English Language and one for English Literature. The course itself, however, is fully integrated, with all students being entered for both subjects.

60% of your final GCSE English Language grade is made up of written and oral controlled assessment. This will involve two pieces of your own writing, an essay about a novel, and a study of an aspect of spoken English. These written tasks make up 40% of your English Language grade while a further 20% comes from Speaking and Listening activities. You will be assessed speaking in groups, individually and in role. You will also be required to sit one final examination paper, which will assess your reading and writing skills which counts for 40% of the total marks.

25% of the marks for English Literature are awarded for controlled assessment. You will produce one essay which links a Shakespeare play with another text from the English Literary Heritage. There will be two final examination papers; Paper 1 on two modern texts and Paper 2 which explores poetry from the AQA anthology. The first accounts for 40% of the total marks, the second 35%. Set texts may be taken into the examination, but may not be annotated.

Sixth Form

IB
In the sixth form all IB students follow the Language A1 course, either at higher or standard level. Despite the name, both courses focus on the study of literature and will offer the opportunity to study a wide range of exciting and challenging texts. We read novels, plays and poetry, some originally written in English, including Shakespeare, and some international texts in translation. Much of the assessment for the course takes place during the two years, in the form of coursework assignments and oral activities. There are then two examinations at the end of the course - one paper on set texts and one on an unseen passage. Our students enjoy the experience of exploring how writers communicate their ideas to us; how they entertain, educate and sometimes even shock us with their words.

A Level English Language

We follow the AQA English Language B specification. If you choose to study English Language you will have the opportunity to explore the words we use while building on your creative skills. You will do some creative writing but many of the topics will be completely new to you. You will discover how young children learn to speak, how and why men and women speak differently and look at the history of the English Language. During the course you will develop your own written skills, through both creative and analytical writing. You will also improve your ability to discuss and present your ideas. We hope that you will grow more confident in communicating your opinions and in decoding the hidden meanings in the language used all around you.

You will enjoy this subject if you have enjoyed English Language at GCSE. You should be someone who likes both creative writing and analysing texts. We won't be reading books or poems but instead looking at a wide variety of media texts, different kinds of writing and even speech. You will learn about all the different ways in which people communicate with each other and, in the process, improve your own communication skills. English Language combines well with most other subjects and is popular with universities and employers as it shows that you can express yourself clearly in both speech and writing. The course offers a unique insight into the way that we communicate and the power of language.
AS Level:

Unit

What is it worth?

Assessment

Content

Unit 1: Categorising Texts

60% of AS, 30% of A Level

2 hour written exam

Introduction to the study of language, focussing on three specific social contexts: Language and Power, Language and Gender, and Language and Technology.

Unit 2: Creating Texts

40% of AS, 20% of A Level

Coursework

Candidates produce writing in different genres and for different audiences and purposes (2500-3500 words).

A2 Level

Unit

What is it worth?

Assessment

Content

Unit 3: Developing Language

30% of A Level

2 hour 30 minutes written exam

Builds on AS knowledge and skills, with an additional focus on two new areas of language study: Child Language Acquisition and Language Change.

Unit 4: Investigating Language

20% of A Level

Coursework

Candidates produce two pieces: a language investigation and an informative media text (2500-3000 words).

At AS level we will start by exploring texts - are they spoken or written, formal or informal and how are they affected by audience, purpose and context? You will need to learn lots of new terms and get to grips with grammar! You will also produce a coursework folder of original writing based on topics that you choose. At A2 level we will study the history of the English Language and look at how young children learn to speak. The coursework is a research project into an area of language that interests you, giving you the chance to explore an area of personal interest and preparing you well for the more independent style of work which you will encounter at university.

Course: AQA English Language Specification B: http://store.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/pdf/AQA-2705-W-SP-10.PDF

A Level English Literature

We follow the AQA English Literature B specification. You will study a wide range of plays, poems and prose about a variety of different themes, written in many different styles. During the course you will develop your written skills through the essays that you write, but also your ability to analyse and to discuss and present your ideas to others. We hope that you will become more confident in communicating your opinions and that you will have a better understanding and knowledge of our great literary heritage.
You will enjoy this subject if you have enjoyed English Literature at GCSE and love reading novels, plays and poetry. You should be someone who likes discussing, analysing and writing about literary texts. You will read a wide variety of literature on the course and we want you to be someone who has opinions about what you are reading. We will look at how writers communicate their ideas to us; how they entertain, educate and sometimes even shock us with their words. English Literature combines well with most other subjects and is popular with universities as it shows you can communicate well in both speech and writing.
AS Level:

Unit

What is it worth?

Assessment

Content

Unit 1: Aspects of Narrative

60% of AS, 30% of A Level

2 hour written exam - open book

Four texts for study: two novels (at least one post 1990) and two poetry texts 1800-1945. The paper has two sections. Candidates answer one question from each section

Unit 2: Dramatic Genres

40% of AS, 20% of A Level

Coursework

Minimum of two texts for study within dramatic genre of Tragedy. A portfolio of two pieces of written coursework (one may be re-creative) each 1200-1500 words.

A2 Level:

Unit

What is it worth?

Assessment

Content

Unit 3: Texts and Genres

30% of A Level

2 hour written exam - closed book

Three texts for study including at least one text 1300-1800. Candidates choose one topic area: Elements of the Gothic, or Elements of the Pastoral.

Unit 4: Further and Independent Reading

20% of A Level

Coursework

Three texts for study including one anthology of critical material. A portfolio of two pieces of written work: comparative study of two texts; application of an aspect of pre-released critical anthology to a literary text.

At AS level the current texts include poetry by Browning and Tennyson as well as the novels 'Birdsong' by Sebastian Faulks and 'The Great Gatsby' by F Scott Fitzgerald. The coursework unit is entitled Dramatic Genres and we will be looking at the genre of tragedy through Shakespeare's King Lear and Anouilh's Antigone. At A2 you will study two units, one looking closely at The Gothic and the other based on your own wider reading.
Course: AQA English Literature Specification B: http://store.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/pdf/AQA-2745-W-SP-10.PDF

Extra Curricular Activities

The English department at Liverpool College has a strong tradition of debating and public speaking, which is still maintained today. Senior and junior debating clubs meet regularly and we enter teams for a variety of national competitions such as The Schools' Mace, run by the English Speaking Union. We often take trips to the theatre and to lectures to enhance our teaching of set texts and topics. There is an annual trip to either Stratford upon Avon or London for the sixth form. We also run a sixth form newspaper entitled 'The College Chronicle'. There is a lively film club and a number of literary clubs for different age groups. Every year we run a paired reading scheme where sixth formers are paired with weaker readers in Key Stage three. This has not only academic but also social advantages for our school community.

Website created by Rippleffect