We like all members of the department to have the opportunity to teach A’ level. Both Literature and Media Studies on the OCR syllabus are extremely popular courses that now require us to run two large groups in English Literature and 4 in Media Studies.

The rapid rise of Media Studies has enabled us to build up our resources and in terms of practical work we consider our strengths to be print, film and radio. We currently have two analogue video editing suites and one digital editing suite as well facilities for desk top publishing and radio productions. At AS there are opportunities for students to research new and innovative media practices in the New Media Technologies Unit. At A2, for the theoretical elements of the course we have now developed units in areas such as British Television Soaps, News Production, the Concept of Genre in film, Advertising, British Cinema, and Violence in the Media.

English Literature offers students opportunities to study a range of texts and contexts from Chaucer to Twentieth Century American Literature. Students are taught to research the social, historical and literary contexts of texts and are encouraged to read beyond the prescribed texts. Coursework now forms 30% of both AS and A2 courses

Links

Curricular Activities

Staff Development

The future for the department

www.bbcbitesize.co.uk

www.sparksnotes.com      

www.gillianclarke.co.uk  

Curricular Activities

As part of strategies to raise achievement we participate in the whole school study support programme. We also regularly run theatre and cinema trips, and workshops. Together with the school librarian we organise celebrations for World Book Day and National Poetry Day. We recently organised a selection of activities for international Women’s Day. Each term we organise for Year 7 to receive work shops led by writers and poets. Recent speakers include Jacqueline Wilson, Pauline Stewart and Denis Bond.

There is currently a film club for sixth form students and a debating society, which recently won a Newham competition, giving the students the opportunity to compete in a heat of the All England debating tournament. Several of our best students each year attend a debating Boot Camp run by Mace and The English Speaking Union. One student in particular was so exceptional at debating that she was offered a Year’s Debating Residency by The English Speaking Union.

We have recently introduced Public Speaking events to Gifted and Talented students at Key Stage 3 and will be involved in a borough led event in October 2003.

We would like to extend our extra curricular provisions, and ideas being discussed include a school magazine, Amnesty International groups, Key Stage school debating societies and reading clubs.

Staff Development

We are keen to share good practice within a department with a range of experience and interests. Via the department development plan staff are encouraged to take on a variety of initiatives and responsibilities within the department. In addition staff are encouraged to further their professional development by attending externally run INSET. In the past year staff have attended courses at Newham INSET, The English and Media Centre, The British Film Institute, and The Institute of Education. We have a strong NQT mentoring programme providing effective ongoing support for teachers beginning their career.

Continuing Professional Development is something we take very seriously and not something achieved solely through external training events. Peer observation, marking and planning as well as sharing best practice are all means of extending our professional careers.

The future for the department

We strive to be forward thinking and innovative. The department plan for the coming year reflects our main priorities – including improving achievement at all key stages; extending our use of accelerated learning methodology; improving our links with our partnership schools. Our AST is currently working on projects with Rokeby School and Elmhurst Primary School, sharing her expertise of teaching Shakespeare.