English
English study is mandatory in NSW from Kindergarten to Year 12.
In English, students learn about the study and use of the English language in its various textual forms. These encompass spoken, written and visual texts through which meaning is shaped, conveyed, interpreted and reflected. Complexity increases as students progress through their schooling.
Developing proficiency in English enables students to take their place as confident communicators; critical and imaginative thinkers; lifelong learners; and informed, active participants in Australian society. Their understanding of English through knowledge and skills acquisition is essential to their intellectual, social and emotional development.
The study of English should develop a love of literature and learning and be challenging and enjoyable. It develops skills to enable students to experiment with ideas and expression, to become active, independent and lifelong learners, to work with each other and to reflect on their learning.
Students from Years 7 to 11 are eligible sit for the NSW ICAS English Competition and consistently achieve excellent results. Students are encouraged to enter a variety of competitions such as the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry and Sydney Morning Herald Young Writers competitions.
Drama is also supervised by the English Faculty. The Drama Faculty works to achieve excellence in class productions, production teams and ensemble activities.
Cross curriculum foci as a core value of the Australian curriculum in Stages 4 and 5 has influenced the development of problem-project based opportunities for students.
English classrooms are all equipped with technology enabling effective delivery of resources and interactivity within ICT programs. Students are equipped with the knowledge, skills and structures to achieve higher order literacy skills. Teachers are encouraged to allow for the achievement of mastery, providing models and scaffolds of text types, which provide opportunities for the chunking, drafting and application of teacher feedback before assessments and classwork are due for submission.
Students also experience enrichment opportunities such as Bell Shakespeare school performances and theatre excursion to deepen their understanding of drama texts and their conventions. Public speaking incursions, which foster confidence and the understanding of effective language choice adhere to the literacy continuum in Stage 4.
Manly Campus offers the Stage 6 English Advanced Course, and English Extension 1.
Students are also offered the English Extension 2 HSC Course, which enables the completion of a Major Work in a form and medium chosen by the students under the mentorship of a member of the faculty, who provide advice and direction across the process.
Elective drama is a 200 hour Stage 5 elective course. Students explore through performance, making and researching a variety of theatrical styles and traditions and how physical and vocal skills are used on stage to realise these.
The main themes revolve around scripted and non-scripted drama and students perform these in a range of formal and informal contexts. Topics include improvisation and theatre sports, playbuilding, script analysis and performance, designing sets, promotion posters, costume and writing a director's portfolio. Students learn about the elements of performance in production, utilising modern theatre technology.
In Stage 6 drama, students explore acting and improvisation, theatre elements and a full scale class production. They also explore a range of theatre traditions and develop their own research and workshop exercises to demonstrate their understanding to other students. The HSC course requires students to develop an individual project of their own choice from a range of mandated options such as monologue, design, video, script writing and design based upon selected texts. Students are also externally examined based upon a group devised performance and have to complete a written examination based upon topics involving Australian and overseas dramatic traditions.
Manly Campus Drama students have consistently been selected for prestigious post-school courses.
Facilities and resources
Learn how our spaces and tools support every subject and learning style.
Learning
Discover what students learn in our classrooms and how we help them progress.