St John's College - English . . .
Our department encourages our students to enjoy English while studying texts which support our Catholic Habits and Values. We work hard as a department to improve students’ performance: to encourage young men to love reading, to enjoy expressing their ideas in a range of writing styles, to empower them with skills in oratory and to express their ideas visually, so that they leave school as well-rounded St. John’s Men.
STAFF in 2018 English Department’s Staff, in alphabetical order:
- Mrs Lyndie Balfour (HOD): 9S, Year 10 Accelerate, Level 2 NCEA, and two Level 3 NCEA classes.
- Mr John Bishop: Year 10 mid-band, Level 1 NCEA and Level 2 NCEA English class.
- Mrs Judith Drabble: Year 9 Learning Support class and Year 10 Learning Support class.
- Mrs Tracy Russell: 9C, Level 1 SENIOR English (alternative Internally Assessed course), Level 1 NCEA and Level 2 SENIOR (alternative Internally Assessed course).
- Mr Kieran Spring: 9J, Year 10 mid-band, Level 1 NCEA and Level 2 NCEA.
JUNIOR ENGLISH PROGRAMME
There are three Year 9 mixed ability classes called S.J.C and one Learning Support class.
Our Year 10 classes are streamed; with one accelerate class, two mid-band classes and one Learning Support class.
The junior programme models our Level 1 N.C.E.A. programme (N.C.E.A. English starts in Year 11). The aim is to improve students’ performance in the senior school by preparing juniors early. Teachers employ differentiated learning material in order to improve students’ performance. While each teacher may teach different assignments, every unit has a common ‘summative assessment’ provided, so that we have consistency within the department. Assessments are marked as Not Achieved, Achieved, Merit or Excellence, which prepares students for NCEA. The school examination assesses: Written Texts-an extended text, a short story and a poem; a Visual and Oral Text (film); and Unfamiliar Texts. Class assessments cover the examination texts mentioned and students also create Formal and Creative Writing, an Oral Presentation, a Visual Text and write a report which shows ‘Connections Across Texts’. These results appear in the students’ reports to parents.
SENIOR PROGRAMME
H.O.D. Mrs L. Balfour
Course Entry Requirements:
Year 11 A compulsory subject.
Year 12 A compulsory subject. Entry to Level 2 is at the discretion of the HOD; usually 12 Achievement Standards Credits at NCEA Level 1. Those 12 credits must include at least 1 from the External Examination 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3
Year 13 Entry to Level 3 is at the discretion of the HOD; usually 12 Achievement Standards Credits at N.C.E.A. Level 2. Those credits must include at least 1 from External Examination of either 2.1, 2.2 or 2.3.
Course Outline – 21 Achievement Standards’ Credits are studied:
LEVEL 1 ENGLISH 8 External Assessed and 13 Internally Assessed
AS Number | Achievement Standard Title | Credits | Assessment Method
90849 1.1 | Show understanding of specific aspects of studied written texts, using supporting evidence | 4 | External
908501.1.2 | Show understanding of specific aspects of studied visual or oral texts, using supporting evidence | 4 | External
An optional extra Standard is 90851 1.3 | Show understanding of significant aspects of unfamiliar written texts through close reading, using supporting evidence | 4 | External
90052 1.4 | Produce creative writing | 3 | Internal
90053 1.5 | Produce formal writing | 3 | Internal
90857 1.6 | Construct and deliver an oral text | 3 | Internal
LEVEL 1 SENIOR ENGLISH (ALTERNATIVE COURSE)Level 1 credits are all Internally Assessed; therefore students studying this alternative course do not sit the External Examination. This course is designed for less academic students.
AS Number | Achievement Standard Title | Credits | Assessment Method
90052 1.4 | Produce creative writing | 3 | Internal
90053 1.5 | Product formal writing | 3 | Internal
90857 1.6 | Construct and deliver an oral text | 3 | Internal
90855 1.7 | Create a visual text | 3 | Internal
90852 1.8 | Explain significant connections across texts using supporting evidence | 4 | Internal
LEVEL 2 ENGLISH
21 Achievement Standards’ Credits are studied: 8 Externally Assessed and 13 Internally Assessed
AS Number | Achievement Standard Title | Credits | Assessment Method
91098 2.1 | Analyse specific aspects of studied written texts, supported by evidence | 4 | External
91099 2.2 | Analyse specific aspects of studied visual or oral texts supported by evidence | 4 | External
An optional extra Standard is 91100 2.3 | Analyse significant aspects of unfamiliar written texts through close reading, supported by evidence | 4 | External
91101 2.4 | Produce a selection of crafted and controlled writing | 6 | Internal
91102 2.5 | Construct and deliver a crafted and controlled oral text | 3 | Internal 91104 2.7 | Analyse significant connections across texts, supported by evidence | 4 | Internal
LEVEL 2 SENIOR ENGLISH (ALTERNATIVE COURSE) This course will be Level 2 Achievement Standards which are all Internally Assessed, therefore students do not sit the External Examination. This course is designed for less academic students. GATEWAY students may select this course.
AS Number | Achievement Standard Title | Credits | Assessment Method
91101 2.4 | Produce a selection of crafted and controlled writing | 6 | Internal
91102 2.5 | Construct and deliver a crafted and controlled oral text | 3 | Internal
91103 2.6 | Create a crafted and controlled visual and verbal text | 3 | Internal
91104 2.7 | Analyse significant connections across texts, supported by evidence | 4 | Internal
LEVEL 3 ENGLISH
21 Achievement Standards’ Credits are studied: 8 Externally Assessed and 13 Internally Assessed
This is an academic course designed for students planning to go to University
AS Number | Achievement Standard Title | Credits | Assessment Method
91472 3.1 | Respond critically to specified aspects of studied written text(s), supported by evidence | 4 | External
91473 3.2 | Respond critically to specified aspects of studied visual or oral text(s), supported by evidence | 4 | External
An optional extra Standard is 92474 3.3 | Respond critically to significant aspects of unfamiliar written texts through close reading, supported by evidence | 4 | External
92475 3.4 | Produce a selection of fluent and coherent writing which develops, sustains, and structures ideas | 6 | Internal
92476 3.5 | Create and deliver a fluent and coherent oral text which develops, sustains, and structures ideas | 3 | Internal
91478 3.7 | Respond critically to significant connections across texts, supported by evidence | 4 | Internal
