English
Welcome to Hellesdon High School's English Department!
Our aim is to support all of our students to achieve the very best that they are able to in terms of their reading, writing and self-expression. The department is staffed by ten teachers, all of whom are subject specialists. All our classrooms are equipped with visualisers, digital projectors and A/V equipment. iPads are available for use in lesson time and we make regular use of the school's excellent library.
English is a popular subject and we are pleased to offer students the opportunity to study Literature and Language & Literature at A-Level.
OTHER USEFUL LINKS
- Read On - Free online fiction ebooks - independent reading at the with AR Book Level. Also includes news archive appropriate daily news articles. Audio reading of all texts available and some additional features for Non-Fiction.
- Culture in Quarantine on BBC iPlayer - Free stream of Shakespeare plays
- BBC Bitesize: Romeo and Juliet
- Royal Shakespeare Company: Romeo and Juliet
- Spark Notes: Romeo and Juliet
- BBC Bitesize: KS3 English
- Seneca
- BBC Teach Youtube Channel: English Language Playlist
- Audible Stories
- National Centre for Writing
- DYT for literacy
- BBC Bitesize - Information, quizzes and tasks on a range of topics including SPaG, reading skills, non-fiction
English at Key Stage 4
The department delivers two statutory qualifications at Key Stage 4. Please click on the items below for more information.
AQA GCSE English Literature - 2 exams, no coursework
PAPER 1 - Shakespeare and the 19th Century novel (1 hour 45 minutes) (64 marks):
Romeo and Juliet – William Shakespeare (34 marks)
A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens (30 marks)
PAPER 2 – Modern Texts and Poetry (2 hours 15 minutes) (96 marks)
An Inspector Calls – J.B. Priestley (34 marks)
Power and Conflict Poetry Anthology – Various (30 marks)
Unseen Poetry (32 marks)
AQA GCSE English Language - 2 exams, no coursework
Paper 1 – Explorations in creative reading and writing (1 hour 45 minutes) (80 marks)
Paper 2 – Writer’s viewpoints and perspectives (1 hour 45 minutes) (80 marks)
English at Key Stage 5
The department currently offers two A-Levels for study at Sixth Form
Edexcel A-Level English Literature (9ET0) - 3 exams, 1 coursework essay
Component 1: Drama – two texts
Othello, and A Streetcar Named Desire
Component 2: Prose – two texts
Dracula and Beloved
Component 3: Poetry - various
Geoffery Chaucer a poetry anthology
Coursework:
A comparison of 2 core texts , e.g. two dystopian novels
EdExcel GCE English Language & Literature (9EL0): 2 exam, one coursework project
Component (exam) 1: 40% of A-Level
Study one anthology of non-fiction texts
Study one drama text (currently A Streetcar Named Desire, but subject to change)
Component (exam) 2: 40% of A-Level
A wide range of non-fiction texts, related to a defined theme (e.g. Loss, Journeys etc.)
A comparative study of 2 fiction texts
NEA (coursework): 20% of A-Level
2 pieces of original writing - one fiction, one non-fiction - and a reflective analysis.
Approximately 3500 words.
