Welcome to the Magherafelt High School English department homepage.

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Key Stage 3 English
GCSE English
GCSE English Literature
A Level English Literature

Key Stage 3

All pupils in Years 8-10 follow the revised Northern Ireland curriculum and complete Key Stage 3 examinations at the end of Year 10. Year 8 pupils are streamed to ensure that each pupil is working at a pace commensurate with their ability.

Parental Guide to Key Stage 3 English

Poetry Anthology

GCSEs

All students are entered for GCSE English and students have the option of studying GCSE English Literature as well.

GCSE English [Top]

Pupils study English because it is a compulsory part of the Common Curriculum.  Moreover, the ability to communicate effectively, either in written or oral form, is central to success in the majority of subjects.
All pupils will follow the GCSE syllabus.  Pupils unable to attain a worthwhile grade at GCSE will be entered for a Certificate of Educational Achievement.  
The course will be assessed through the 3 attainment targets:

1. (i) Talking and Listening
2. (ii) Reading

(iii) Writing
The final subject level will be awarded following the review of performance of candidates in each attainment target at the end of the course.

Written Terminal Examination (60%)
There are 2 tiers of entry for this examination.
Foundation Tier -Grades C - G Higher Tier -Grades A* - D (E)
In both tiers there are 2 papers in the terminal examination.

Paper 1 (30%) 2 hours Paper 2 (30%) 2 hours

Coursework (40%)
Students will be provided with opportunities to read, write and talk about a wide range of material based on 3 areas of study: prose, drama and poetry.

Reading and Writing
4 written assignments will be required as evidence of attainment in Reading and Writing, with an overall word limit of approximately 2,500 words.

Talking and Listening
Talking and listening is an intrinsic part of GCSE English enabling pupils to receive credit for the ability to respond orally as well as in written form.
This will be assessed by the teacher throughout the course, in a variety of situations.  The final assessment will be based on the candidates’ 3 best performances within the contexts specified.

Career Opportunities
Achievement in English is a vital requirement for entry into almost all careers.
A grade C or more is considered essential for all students wishing to proceed to university.
Further Education colleges may be more flexible in their requirements, depending on the course selected, but a grade D would usually be regarded as the minimum for many courses.

GCSE English Literature [Top]

GCSE English Literature has been designed to be compatible with GCSE English. Coursework submitted for the reading component in English could also be submitted for English Literature.
The English Literature syllabus will allow students to experience a wide range of Literature from different periods and cultures.  The final subject level will be awarded following the review of performance of candidates in both coursework and the terminal examination.

Written Terminal Examination (70%)

There are two tiers of entry for this examination:
Foundation Tier -Grades C - G
Higher Tier -Grades A* - D (E)

In both tiers there is one single paper terminal exam 2½ hours. One question from each section:

Section A -Drama published after 1914
Section B -Prose published after 1914
Section C -Poetry published before 1914 Sections A and C are “Open Book” whereby candidates will be allowed to bring clean copies of their texts into the examination.  Section B is “Closed Book” whereby the text cannot be brought into the examination.

Coursework – 3 Assignment (30%)
Assignment A -Response to poetry published after 1914
Assignment B -Response to a Shakespeare play
Assignment C -Response to prose published before 1914

By the end of the course, candidates will be expected to produce written evidence of attainment in English Literature. The final assessment will be based on candidates’ 3 best assignments for which an overall limit of approximately 2,500 words has been set.

A Level [Top]

English Literature

The Course

The aim of this English Literature course is to provide students with an opportunity to consider and enjoy a range of prose, poetry and drama from a broad, historical spectrum.

Modules

AS Level [Top]

Module 1: The study of poetry writen after 1800 and the study of 20th Century Dramatists.

Module 2: The study of Shakespeare.

Module 3: The study of prose written before 1900.

Module 1 is assessed by an open book examination lasting two hours and contributes 40% of the marks for the AS exam.

Module 2 is assessed by a closed book examination lasting one hour and contributes 30% of the AS marks.

Module 3 is assessed internallty by courseowkr and contributes 30% of the AS marks.

A2 Level [Top]

Module 1: Response to unseen poetry and the study of poetry written before 1770.

Module 2: The study of 20th Century prose.

Module 3: Drama.

Module 1 is assessed by an external closed book examination lasting 2 hours 30 minutes and contributes 15% of the A level grade.

Module 2 is assessed by internally by coursework, through a 1500 word assignment and contributes 15% to the final grade.

Module 3 is assessed by an open book examination lasting 2 hours and contributes 20% to the final grade.

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