Tradition | Excellence | Opportunity
Founded in 1856.
The Grey Vision
Grey remains as one of the leading schools in the country, with a culture and value system that support its fine heritage. Grey is recognised for its competitiveness and excellence in academic, sporting and cultural activities, as well as for its ability to consistently produce leaders.
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Staff
Subject Head and Grade 12 Co-ordinator
Stephen van Niekerk: BA, BEd (UPE)
Click here to email Stephen van Niekerk.
Grade 11 Co-ordinator
Kirsten Swarbrook: BA (Psych) (Hons) (Stell), PGCE
Click here to email Kirsten Swarbrook.
Grade 10 Co-ordinator
Declan McLaggan: BEd (SFET)
Click here to email Declan McLaggan.
Grade 9 Co-ordinator
Matthew Osborne
Click here to email Matthew Osborne.
Grade 8 Co-ordinator
Lynn Furstenburg: BA (Hons) (UNISA), PGCE (UNISA), LTCL (Trinity College)
Click here to email Lynn Furstenburg.
Catherine Wilson: BA (UJ), PGCE (UNISA)
Click here to email Catherine Wilson.
Fenner Barnard: BA (Rhodes), Dip. Rugby Theory & Practice (SAIR Stellenbosch), PGCE (UNISA)
Click here to email Fenner Barnard.
Jonathan van Niekerk: BA MCC (NMMU), PGCE (Cum Laude) (NMMU)
Click here to email Jonathan van Niekerk.
Judith Parfitt: BA (Mus), HDE (UPE), FDE (RAU)
Click here to email Judith Parfitt.
Overview
The English curriculum prepares students for the rigours of University level reading and writing while fostering a love of literature. It uses the analysis of
literature and film and the study of language to develop cognitive skills at every level. Classroom discussion forms the primary mode of instruction, but teachers
also stress oral and written communication skills. Students are encouraged to be literate, lucid and imaginative in their own expression. The department seeks
to equip students with critical skills to engage thoughtfully and productively with literature and language in all its forms.
Brief Policy
English Home Language is compulsory for all students at the school. There is no set departmental approach regarding teaching strategies, methodologies or schools of literary or linguistic analysis; through clear but broad programmes of study, transparent working practices and following the policy of open communication, the department aims to share its enthusiasms, its skills and its expertise in an attempt to inspire all students to perform to their full potential. Though guided by (though not restricted to) the requirements of the GETC syllabi for the National Curriculum in Grades 8 and 9, and of the FET syllabi for the East Cape Education Department in the senior Grades, the department focuses particularly on developing independent study and research skills to begin to generate self-motivated and self-confident students. The department employs a system of streaming, grouping students of similar ability levels – based on their previous year’s internal exam results – so as to ensure that both teaching and learning tempos are optimised.
Homework and Assignments
For the most part, English is not taught out of a textbook, so homework may take a variety of forms, such as:
- Completing work started in class
- Completing worksheets handed out in class
- Practice exercises / exam questions
- On-going assignment work (essays, projects, investigations, presentations etc)
- Reading
Continuous Assessment (CAPS)
Continuous Assessment (CAPS) forms an integral part of the makeup of the overall assessment of any language. Students are assessed on their performance in many different facets of the language and these assessments are cumulative and form a large part of the final assessment total. Areas covered by CAPS include Creative Writing, Functional Writing, Investigation and Presentation, Oral Communication Skills and Responding to Text (both literature and language).
Tests and Forms of Assessments
Coupled with ongoing work in both Creative and Functional Writing and with regular assessment of Oral Communication skills, students study at least one Setwork (Novel, Drama, Short Stories, Poetry or Film) per term. There are two controlled tests per term, one covering the current setwork and the other dealing with general language revision (Comprehension, Summary, Assorted language exercises).
Notes and Worksheets
Sets of notes and worksheets on various setworks are standardised and are handed out to all students in the particular grade. These should be kept on file and should be used as revision tools before tests and exams. There are workbooks covering Language, the various setwork books and poetry, which have been compiled especially for each of the grades, and these contain most of the standardised exercices which learners complete.
Additional Information
The school has an active and a vibrant Debating Society, and all students are encouraged to join this society which meets on a weekly basis and which also enjoys regular debating contact with other schools.
A select group of top students takes part in the annual English Olympiad, where students are encouraged to examine and to analyse challenging topical literature.
Grade 10 students may apply to join the Toastmasters Society, where they learn vital life lessons in the art of public speaking.
Students are encouraged to keep portfolios of their creative writing, which may be submitted for consideration in the awarding of the two Literature Prizes (Senior: Grades 10–12 and Junior: Grades 8–9) presented annually by the school.
Grade 11 learners are encouraged to join the Advanced English course in Literature which is offered in conjunction with Collegiate School for Girls.
Grade 8
Curriculum
Term | Nature of Task |
TERM 1 | Writing: Essay – 50 word essay – Narrative / anecdotal writing Functional writing: Friendly letter – Letter to friend at another school / country Oral: Reading passage from set novel Controlled test Comprehension / Language – Literature –contextual response Oral: Prepared speech linked with poster |
TERM 2 | Writing: Anecdotal writing & short piece – Haiku / Diamante / Shape poem etc. Magazine project: Research project marked according to rubric Oral: Listening Comprehension Literature: This taken up by magazine project this term Mid-year examination: Comprehension / Language Literature (Novel & Magazine) Writing (Essay & Magazine) |
TERM 3 | Writing: Essay & Short piece – Descriptive writing Literature: Short story – Guided response Oral: Interview and debate Controlled test: Comprehension / Language / Literature Oral: Presentation |
TERM 4 | Writing: Transactional & short piece – Informational / visual / multimedia (Review) Literature: Film study – Contextual response Controlled test: Comprehension / Language/ Literature revision November Exams Paper I – Language Paper II – Literature Paper III – Writing Paper IV – Oral |
Grade 9
Curriculum
Term | Nature of Task |
TERM 1 | Writing: Essay – Narrative writing Functional Writing: Newspaper report from film – Contextual response Oral: Conversation exercise – Issues from film Controlled test: Comprehension / Language Literature –contextual response. (30-20-20) Oral : Prepared speech |
TERM 2 | Writing: Transactional writing & short piece – Reference / visual / multimedia text. Investigation: then and now – Research project. Oral: Listening Comprehension Literature: Short stories – Contextual response Mid-year examination: Comprehension / Summary / Language Literature (Film, Short Stories) Writing (Essay & Newspaper) |
TERM 3 | Writing: Essay & Short piece – Descriptive writing Literature: Novel – Guided response Oral: Interview and debate Controlled test Comprehension / Language / Literature Oral: Presentation |
TERM 4 | Writing: Transactional & short piece – Informational / visual / multimedia (Review) Controlled test or CTA (Common Task Assessment) Section A Comprehension / Language/Literature revision November Exams Paper I – Language Paper II – Literature Paper III – Writing Paper IV – Oral |
Grade 10
Curriculum
Term | Nature of Task |
TERM 1 | Writing: Essay – Narrative writing Literature: Novel – Contextual response Oral: Reading and conversation exercise Controlled test: Comprehension / Language Oral: Prepared speech |
TERM 2 | Writing: Transactional writing – Newspaper article Writing exam: Essay * Narrative or descriptive Oral: Interview Literature Exam*: Drama – Shakespeare & Novel – Guided paragraph questions Mid-year examination: Oral Comprehension / Summary / Language Literature Exam Writing (Essay) |
TERM 3 | Writing: Essay Descriptive writing Oral: Listening comprehension Literature: Poetry – Guided response Contextual Oral: Presentation |
TERM 4 | Writing: Transactional – Letter Literature: Film Study – Contextual response or research collage Controlled test Comprehension / Language/Literature revision November Exams Paper I – Language Paper II – Literature Paper III – Writing Paper IV – Oral |
Grade 11
Curriculum
Term | Nature of Task |
TERM 1 | Writing: Essay – Narrative writing Literature: Novel – Contextual response Oral: Reading and conversation exercise Controlled test: Comprehension / Language Oral: Prepared speech |
TERM 2 | Writing: Essay examination – Narrative or Descriptive Literature: Short stories Literature Essay – examination Mid-year examination: Comprehension / Summary / Language* Literature Examination Oral: Prepared speech, read and inter Writing Exam* (Essay & News) |
TERM 3 | Writing: Essay – Descriptive writing Controlled test: Literature : Poetry – Guided response . Contextuals Oral: Listening Comprehension Oral: Presentation Writing: Transactional – Letter of application |
TERM 4 | Literature: Film Study – Contextual response or research collage Controlled test: Comprehension / Lang/Literature revision Comprehension / Language/Literature revision November Examinations Paper I – Language (External) Paper II – Lit (Internal – Film and Poetry) Paper III – (External) Paper IV – Oral |
Grade 12
Assessment for Grade 12 is based on the requirements for the external Matriculation examination
Curriculum
Literature | Drama – a Shakespeare play Novel – a choice of one of two novels Poetry – a selection of 15 set poems plus an unseen poem Fourth Genre – a selection of short stories |
Oral Communication | Prepared Speech Reading and comprehension Interview skills Unprepared speech |
Creative and Formal writing |
Various creative responses showing control of style and register Various informal and transactional responses |
Language Usage | Comprehension and Summarising skills Editing skills Visual literacy Control of various linguistic techniques |