English Department

Staff

Mrs M. Turner (Head of English and Drama), Ms M. Fisher (Deputy Headmistress) and Mrs J. Bailey.

We welcome Mrs Dominique Perry who has joined us this September.

 

 

 

 

 

Twelfth NightTWELFTH NIGHT

Mrs Turner, Head of English and Drama, organised for the Orange Tree Theatre to visit on the afternoon of Thursday 10th November to give an interactive workshop presentation of "Twelfth Night" as an introduction to Shakespeare for Year 7.

“I thought the play was funny and interesting. Their acting was brilliant as if they were the real characters. They made everyone laugh and did excellent actions”. Sabrina Savic 7M

“I really enjoyed the play and I found it really funny but sometimes I got bored when they endlessly talked. My favourite bit was when Toby, Mary and a friend were hiding in the bushes.” Lili Kraft 7M

The girls study a different Shakespeare play in Years 7, 8 and 9 in their English lessons and will read "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in the Summer Term.

 

 

 

 

GCSE Results

GCSE Results 2007 English A*-C 100% English A*+A 62.8%
 

 English Literature A*-C

 100%

 English Literature A*+A

 54.3%
GCSE Results 2008 English A*-C 97.1% English A*+A 55%
 

 English Literature A*-C

 97.1%

 English Literature A*+A

 63%
GCSE Results 2009 English A*-C 100% English A*+A 66%
 

 English Literature A*-C

 100%

 English Literature A*+A

 47%
GCSE Results 2010 English A*-C 100% English A*+A+B 88.4%
 

 English Literature A*-C

 100%

 English Literature A*+A+B

 83.7%
GCSE Results 2011 English A*-C 100% English A*+A+B 89.1%
 

 English Literature A*-C

   98%

 English LiteratureA*+A+B

 93.5%

English and English Literature are taught as closely linked subjects throughout the school and we follow the provisions of the National Curriculum for Key Stage 3 in English in broad outline but hope to go beyond them, particularly in Year 9. There are four forty-five minute lessons per week allocated for girls in Years 7-9 but this increases to five forty-five minute lessons for girls in Years 10 and 11. However, English Language and English Literature are taken as two separate GCSE subjects by all girls in Years 10 and 11. All girls are taught English in their form groups from Year 7 to Year 11 and are not taught in sets at any stage.

Girls are issued with a neat book and a rough book which they are expected to bring to all lessons. They are also expected to use a fountain pen or a fine line felt tip pen in all neat work. A ruler, pencil, Pritt stick, scissors, highlighter and a brightly coloured gel pen are also useful items to put in the pencil case. Girls are welcome to use spell checkers in lessons but these are not allowed in tests or exams. It would also be helpful if girls had access to a good quality dictionary and thesaurus at home. The Oxford editions are the best.

Key Stage 3

In Years 7, 8 and 9, all girls start their English lessons in September with a series of screening tests and individual help is offered by the Learning Support Coordinator (Mrs A. Grant) if appropriate.

Year 7

Girls in Year 7 are issued with their own copies of “The Usborne Guide to Better English (Grammar, spelling and punctuation) which are used in their weekly grammar lessons. In the course of the year, they will read “Boy” by R. Dahl, “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” by Dylan Thomas, “The King of Shadows” by S. Cooper and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by W. Shakespeare together with a variety of poems and a modern play such as “Voices of Children” by M. Morpurgo.

Year 8

Girls continue to improve their grammar, punctuation and spelling and extend their ability to write in a variety of different styles. In the course of the year, they will read “Goggle Eyes” by A. Fine, “Frozen Fire” by T. Bowler, “A Christmas Carol” by C. Dickens, “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas” by J. Boyne, a modern play and “Twelfth Night” by W. Shakespeare together with a variety of poems and ballads.

Year 9

Although girls continue to improve their grammar, punctuation and spelling and extend their ability to write in a variety of different styles, the main emphasis is placed on introducing them to writing in the formal, analytical style required for GCSE, AS and A2 and on preparing them for their GCSE courses in both English Language and English Literature. In the course of the year, they will read “Brother in the Land” and “Stone Cold” by R. Swindells, “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, “Romeo and Juliet” by W. Shakespeare, a modern play such as “War Horse” or “Private Peaceful” by M. Morpurgo together with a variety of poetry.

Extra-Curricular Activities

The English Department offers as many opportunities for visits to the theatre and workshops as possible. Last year, girls in Year 9 saw a production of “To Kill a Mockingbird” at the Richmond Theatre. The Orange Tree Theatre came in to St. Catherine’s to give workshops for Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 on a variety of Shakespeare’s plays.

Authors and poets regularly visit the school. Jamila Gavin, Bali Rae, Maurice Sedgewick, Tim Bowler, Moniza Alvi and Gillian Clarke have all spoken to the girls in past years. Last year, Gillian Clarke, the National Poet of Wales, came to spend a day at St. Catherine’s (followed by a Masterclass on Creative Writing given by the English Department).  Jason Wallace, the 2011 winner of the Costa Award for Children’s Writing and Carnegie short-listed children’s novelist, also came to speak about his latest book “Out of Shadows” and give advice on writing techniques.

Creative writing is encouraged at St. Catherine’s. In 2007, girls won the Richmond Borough Youth Laureate and both the second and third prizes. In 2009, girls from St. Catherine’s won the Second and Third Prizes and Very Highly Commended in the Richmond Borough Youth Laureate Competition. 

Following the success of the St. Catherine’s team who came 2nd in the Under 14 Historical Association’s Balloon Debate competing against the leading London independent schools in 2011, Mrs Bailey will take Serena Sekhon, Marie-Claire de Voil and Zoe Smith (all in Year 10) to the BBC Shakespeare by Heart Competition in London on the 14th November 2011.

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