All students prepare for 2 GCSEs:

GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE and GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE.

The English course and the English Literature course are integrated.  Students are taught in ability sets with additional in-class support for students at the early stages of learning English.

The exam board for Year 11 is WJEC and follows the old specification. In Year 11 students look at two set  texts for the Literature Course.  Currently, most students work on Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck or A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller.

Year 10 New Specification for GCSE in English Language and Literature

Examining Body - AQA 

Core Curriculum Subjects

 In English Language our aim is to develop your ability to communicate confidently and effectively. You will extend your ability to talk in a variety of situations. You will learn to write creatively, analyse spoken language study and understand conventions of and produce a non fiction text.  

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

 English Controlled Assessment formally known as Coursework.

 Speaking and Listening

During the course you will have to take part in a variety of speaking and listening activities ranging from group discussions to formal presentations. You will receive grades for at least three speaking and listening activities. These are worth 20% of your final mark.

You will be assessed on three equally weighted activities: presenting, discussing and listening and finally role playing.

Reading and Writing

There are three controlled assessment units, which assess reading and writing. These are worth 40% of your final mark.

1. Extended Reading – you will consider one text and write about variations in spoken language explaining why language changes in relation to contexts. 

2. Creative Writing – you can produce a piece of original writing for a specific audience. Marks will be awarded for content, organisation and accuracy.

3. Spoken Language Study – you will reflect critically on others’ use of language in different contexts. You will consider real life use of talk and analyse how language has changed over time.

English Language Examination

There is one English Language exam paper which is divided into two sections. This paper is worth 40% of the final mark.

Understanding and producing non-fiction texts

Section A – Reading (1 hour)

You will answer between four and five questions based on three reading sources highlighting features of non fiction texts.

Section B - Writing (1 hour)

You will do two compulsory writing tasks – one shorter and a longer writing task showing you understand how to write using non fiction elements.                                                                                                     

ENGLISH LITERATURE  

English Literature Controlled Assessment

There is only one controlled assessment piece for English literature. This is worth 25% of the final mark.

1. Exploring poetry – you will be asked to make links between a range of poems which cover contemporary poetry and poetry from a literary heritage.

 English Literature Examinations

 There are two English Literature exam papers and both are divided into two sections. The papers are worth 75% of the final mark.

 Exploring modern texts

Section A – Modern prose or drama (45 minutes)

You will study a text and answer an essay based question about themes, character, writer’s craft etc

 Section B – Exploring cultures (45 minutes)

You will study a second text and for this part of the exam you will be given a passage from the text and be asked to write about areas such as characters, theme or context.

 Approaching Shakespeare and the English Literary Heritage

Section A – Shakespeare and English Literary Heritage (45 minutes)

You will study a Shakespearian play and be examined on themes, character and the writer’s craft.

 Section B – Prose from the English Literary Heritage (30 minutes)

You will write an essay based answer on the Shakespearian play studied above.

 Set texts

Please note that the GCSE outlined above is a completely new course starting from July 2010 therefore areas are subject to change and set texts are still to be confirmed.

 Tiers

Students are entered for either Foundation Tier (grades C- G) or Higher Tier (grades A* to D).

 Teaching and Learning Styles

Much of the work will involve: group or class discussion, close reading of texts, role-play, formal and informal writing. You will be expected to complete one major assignment of about 700 words approximately once every half term. Homework will be set on a regular weekly basis.

Controlled Assessment formally known as coursework.

Controlled Assessment has replaced the old system of coursework, however some aspects are similar. This will now mean that you will do your controlled assessment pieces in class supervised by your class teacher instead of taking work home.

You will also be allocated a time limit to complete your pieces in class, the time limit is given by AQA and you will be given more details from your class teacher.