English & Media Studies
Staff:
- Mr T McCartney (Head of Department)
- Miss K Boyle
- Miss S McAuley
- Miss N. Hatchell (Literacy Coordinator)
- Miss L Mateer
- Mr N Rowntree
- Ms J Swift
Key Stage 3
The Key Stage 3 Strangford College English programme is designed to cater for all abilities, promoting high standards and instill confidence in handling the different modalities of English. Across Key Stage 3, students encounter a range of literary texts across a plethora of genres and context designed to challenge their views and perspectives on the world around us, thinking about issues and dilemmas as critical thinkers in English. Each in unit, students work on pivotal skills to provide a bedrock of skills for GCSE.
At Key Stage 3, across the units of study, emphasis is placed on developing pupils’ confidence and skills in the core areas of:
- Reading
- Writing
- Speaking and Listening.
- Literacy skills: sentencing, punctuation, spelling and grammar
Year 8
In Year 8 our units of study are as follows:
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Unit 1 Novel Study |
8S/8T - The Silver Sword 8R/A/N - Buddy |
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Unit 2 Media Study |
8S/T - Newspaper study 8R/A/N - Film study unit: Onward and the conventions of Disney |
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Unit 3 Talking and Listening Study |
All students deliver an individual presentation and Q & A on a given topic:
8S/T - Primary or Secondary? Which do you prefer and why? 8R/A/N - Promoting Strangford to P7 students |
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Unit 4 Poetry Study |
8S/T - School poetry anthology 8R/A/N - The Highwayman |
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Unit 5 Multi-modal Study |
All students develop their multi-modal skills looking at concepts like:
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Year 9
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Unit 1 Novel Study |
9S/9T - Trash 9R/A/N - Ghost Boys
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Unit 2 Shakespeare Study |
9S/T - Antony and Cleopatra 9R/A/N - Introduction to Shakespeare and Shakespearean tragedy |
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Unit 3 Talking and Listening Study |
All students deliver an individual presentation and Q & A on a given topic:
9S/T - What is the one thing in the world you could change? 9R/A/N - Is social media and technology harmful for teenagers? |
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Unit 4 Poetry Study |
9S/T - War poetry anthology 9R/A/N - Animal poetry anthology |
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Unit 5 Media Study |
9S/T - Sci-fi – War of the World and Back to the Future 9R/A/N - Film study – My Girl |
Year 10
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Unit 0 Baseline |
All students complete a baseline assessment on the Iron Giant, an extract which is designed to provide a platform and snapshot of their Year 8 and Year 9 developed English skills. |
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Unit 1 Novel Study |
10S/9T - Animal Farm 10R/A/N - Stone Cold
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Unit 2 Drama Study |
10S/T - Blood Brothers 10R/A/N - Hairspray |
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Unit 3 Talking and Listening Study |
All students deliver an individual presentation and Q & A on a given topic:
10S/T - Is the world a fair place that we live in today? 10R/A/N - Do video games have a corrupting influence on teenagers? |
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Unit 4 Poetry Study |
10S/T - Heaney poetry anthology 10R/A/N - Journeys poetry anthology |
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Unit 5 Shakespeare Study |
All students engage in a Shakespeare and Media unit on the Shakespearean tragedy: Romeo & Juliet |
Tasks and assessments are based on the Communication Levels of Progression at Key Stage 3: Talking and Listening, Reading and Writing.
Key Stage 4 English Language
We are proud of the outstanding GCSE English Language curriculum we offer that is bespoke in catering to our students and maximising their opportunities for success in the different units of study in GCSE English Language.
Across their 2 years of study, students will work on different units and tasks which collectively shapes and moulds their final “cash-in” grade in the August of their Year 12.
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Unit |
Expectations |
When will I complete this? |
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1 Writing for Purpose and Audience |
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2 Speaking and Listening |
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3 Controlled Assessment |
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4 Personal Writing and Analysing Fiction/ Non-Fiction |
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GCSE English Literature
A number of students will study CCEA GCSE in English Literature, alongside their study of English Literature. Year 10 in the curriculum provides a wealth of opportunities and tracking of their assessments to ensure GCSE English Literature enriches their GCSE profile of subjects.
Across their 2 years of study, students will work on different units and tasks which collectively shapes and moulds their final “cash-in” grade in the August of their Year 12.
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Unit |
Expectations |
When will I complete this? |
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1 Prose |
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2 Drama and Poetry |
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3 Shakespeare Study |
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Key Stage 5
Our GCSE provision provides a springboard for students embarking on A Level English Literature, an advanced level qualification that is designed to spark criticality, perspective and challenge to students.
In Year 13, students complete 2 AS examinations. The AS qualification can be cashed in at the end of Year 13, worth: 40% of an overall A Level.
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Unit |
Expectations |
I will study |
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AS1
External exam module
The Study of Poetry and Drama 1900 to present |
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Section A: an anthology of two poets:
Section B: study of a 20th Century drama text:
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AS2
External exam module
The Study of Prose Pre-1900 |
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Students will prepare and consider the early 19th Century novel:
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Unit |
Expectations |
I will study |
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A21
External exam module
Shakespearean Genres |
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Students will look into the codes and features of a Shakespearean Tragedy with the focus on the iconic:
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A22
External exam module
Poetry Pre-1900 and Unseen poetry
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Students will study the 18th and 19th Century poet:
Students will partake in a study of a range of poetry types and styles in order to upskill their ability to critically interpet an unseen poem in the exam. |
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A23
Non-examination assessment |
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Set Text: The Road Genre of focus: Dystopia Students select a novel from a suite of novels in our College Library on the genre of Dystopia |
Extra Curricular
- We offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities including the after-school classes; theatre visits; visits and workshops from guest speakers
- We run a series of House Competitions throughout the year, including a poetry competition to celebrate National Poetry Day in October, and a series of activities to celebrate World Book Day in March.
- We also seek to provide enrichment opportunities through different initiatives across the year to provide students with a range of CV building successes in the modality of English.
Homework & Core Assessments
- At Key Stage 3 each student is given regular homework to complete with both weekly spelling tasks and a bi-weekly extended homework assignment.
- Core assessments take place four times a year.
- At Key Stage 4, students are given regular homework which includes research, reading, preparation for controlled assessment tasks and examination practice questions.
- At Key Stage 5, students are expected to undertake personal study and use their time effectively to consolidate their learning. They are given a range of tasks related to the course, including research, reading and written tasks, preparation and delivery of presentations, and practice examination questions.
Media Studies
Media and Film is an important part of everyone’s lives, with media evolving at a rapid and exciting rate. The department’s vision is to galvanise an enthusiasm and passion for Media Studies; through exploration of varying forms of media in both a historical and contemporary context.
In Media Studies, students study set products in the following forms of media:
- Advertising and marketing
- Music video
- Radio
- Newspapers
- Video games
- Film
- TV
- Online media
Across these platforms, students develop their understanding of the five pillarstones of Media which frames the products we study and also that students regularly consume in their own daily life.
- Pillar 1 – Media Language – the key terminology of media including: visual/audio/technical
- Pillar 2 – Representation – how media re-presents reality and how groups can be subjected to stereotypes
- Pillar 3 – Industry – the business side of media, how companies have power and product their products to enhance revenue/profit
- Pillar 4 – Audiences – how media products target, attract and reach audiences
- Pillar 5 – Contexts – the social/historical/cultural world surrounding a media product.
Media studies is an intensive and academic subject, with a field of study with a specific media terminology and a plethora of theorists’ ideals to explore.
Commitment, drive, ambition and high expectations are the key motivators to inspiring, achieving and excelling within this exciting area of study.
Staff: Mr T McCartney (Head of Department)
Miss L Mateer
Key Stage 4 Media Studies
GCSE Media Studies is an exciting opening chapter in the study of Media Studies and provides students with the adequate bedrock of skills which aids study if interested in pursuing A Level and complements other KS4 subjects.
The GCSE involves the following units of study and products covered in class:
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Component 1
Exploring the Media |
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Section A:
Section B:
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Set products for component 1:
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Component 2 Understanding Media Forms and Products |
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Section A: Television
Section B: Music video
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Set products for component 2:
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Component 3
Non-exam assessment
[Coursework] |
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Students are expected to:
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Key Stage 5 Media Studies
Media Studies builds upon the expertise attained at GCSE level, alongside introducing a more expansive range of media language and theoretical perspectives.
The study of A Level Media Studies is expansive and investigates the media forms embedded in GCSE further and with greater theoretical investigation. The A Level is a linear qualification with all examinations and non-examination assessments completed for submission in the Year 14 study.
At both levels of study, students will complete 2 examinations [worth 70%], as well as completing an coursework based [30%] original production pieces using ICT packages such as: Canva and wix.com
As an academic AS and A Level, there is an expectation of dedication to independent study and revision.
Across the Year 13 and Year 14 programme students will complete the following components and set products under the five pillarstones of media:
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Component 1
Media Products, Industries and Audiences |
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Section A: Media Language and Representation
Section B: Media Industries and Audiences
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Set products for component 1:
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Component 2 Media Forms and Products in Depth |
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Three sections:
Section A: Television
Section B: Magazines
Section C: Online Media
There will be four questions in the examination:
30 marker essays will require consideration of the paired section set texts.
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Set products for component 2:
Section A: Television:
Section B: Magazines:
Section C: Online Media
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Component 3
Non-exam assessment
Cross-Media Production
[Coursework] |
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Students are expected to:
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