English

Recommended reading list for all years
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English Department Staff
Tim Dyke Head of Dept.	Jeremy Shrimpton	John Brigden	Andrew Berrow
Steve Dawson	Janet A'Lee	Pauline Black	Debbie Hosking

AIMS

At Blundell's the objective is to develop and reinforce competence in written and spoken English for all, to encourage the reading habit and the love of literature, to promote public speaking and creative writing and to achieve the highest possible grades in public exams. We aim to help pupils to make critical appreciation of writing and speech, to foster their interest in their own writing in a wide variety of forms, and to give them a historical sense of the language and literature of the past.

All English teachers are enthusiastic readers and the syllabus follows their interests and enthusiasms rather than a dogmatic, centrally-dictated scheme. Authors studied range from the Classics to Carol Ann Duffy and "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" for A-level, and "Great Expectations" to "Goodnight Mr Tom" for juniors. A high value is placed on creative work and class projects are frequently displayed in the English corridor.

The five English classrooms are clustered in one corridor at the very heart of the school, right next to the Library and the I.T. suite. The extensive book stock is kept on open shelves in the classrooms, to which all pupils have free access. Every classroom has its own multimedia PC, tape recorder, TV and video recorder.

Extra-Curricular Literary Pursuits

"The Blundellian": The Annual School Magazine, produced by a team of staff and pupils. A valuable forum for student creative, journalistic and photographic work.

The Newsboard: A large display area where pupils may try their hand at more 'instant' journalism.

The Debating Society: Meets six times a year in the Library. We enter the Observer Mace Debating Competition annually, as well as the ESU Public Speaking Competitions.

The School House Debating Society: Meets monthly.

The School House Declamations.

The Inter-house Public Speaking Competition takes place each year in the Spring term, on ESU lines. There is a Junior and Senior Shield. The Inter-house Public Speaking Competition is for all years and takes place in the autumn term.

The Poetry Society: Meets on Sunday evenings monthly throughout the year to read poetry, dress up in silly costumes and discuss literary topics.

The Book Group: meets half-termly to discuss favourite books.

English Exam Results, 2007

A level results

A-level exam results table
A LEVEL ENGLISH
Year	A	B	C	D	E	N	U	%A‑E	%A‑C	%A	No. Cands.	Board
2007	8	4	4	1	0	0	0	100	94	47	17	Edexcel
2006	2	8	3	3	1	0	0	100	76	12	17	Edexcel

AS English
Year	A	B	C	D	E	N	U	%A‑E	%A‑C	%A	No. Cands.	Board
2007	10	1	1	1	0	0	0	100	92	77	13	WJEC
2006	7	3	7	3	2	0	0	100	77	32	22	Edexcel

GCSE results

GCSE exam results table
G.C.S.E. ENGLISH
Year	A*	A	B	C	D	E	F	%Pass	%A's	No. Cands.	Board
2007	13	21	36	16	6	0	0	93	37	92	OCR
2006	8	22	38	16	7	0	0	92	33	91	OCR

G.C.S.E. LITERATURE
Year	A*	A	B	C	D	E	F	%Pass	%A's	No. Cands.	Board
2007	10	22	30	27	3	0	0	97	35	92	OCR
2006	15	20	33	16	8	0	0	91	38	92	OCR

Teachers

Tim Dyke, M.A. Oxon., Head of Dept. Editor of "The Blundellian", President
of the Senior Debating Society, Poetry Society and inter-house Public Speaking
Competitions, Newsletter, i/c scholars.
Jeremy Shrimpton, B.A. Bristol. Squash, Hockey, Cricket.
John Brigden, B.Ed. Exeter. Housemaster of School House (11-13), Rugby,
Hockey, Swimming.
Andrew Berrow, BA Oxon. Housemaster of Petergate, Head of RS, CCF.
Steve Dawson, BA East Anglia, Film Studies AS, Football, Cricket, i/c
Oxbridge entrance.
Janet A'Lee, BSc, Cert. Ed., Dyslexia and Specific Learning Difficulties specialist.
Pauline Black, Cert. Ed. Bedford; Dip. Outdoor Ed. Ambleside; Cert. APS., Bristol.
Debbie Hosking, BA St. Luke's; English, History, PSD, PE.