GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Unit 1:

External examination: 40% of the total GCSE marks

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Section A: Reading

Candidates answer compulsory questions based on non-fiction reading sources.

Section B: Writing

Candidates complete two compulsory writing tasks - one shorter task and one longer task

Unit 2: Speaking and Listening

Controlled Assessment: 20% of the total GCSE marks
Candidates must be assessed in three equally weighted areas:

• presenting
• discussing and listening
• role playing

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Unit 3: Understanding Spoken and Written Texts and Writing Creatively

Controlled Assessment: 40% of the total GCSE marks

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Part a: Extended Reading

Candidates must write about their study of a literary text drawn from any genre: drama, prose or poetry. This may be a text they are studying for English Literature.

Part b: Creative Writing Candidates complete two written tasks Part c: Spoken Language Study
GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE Unit 1: Exploring Modern Texts External examination: 40% of the total GCSE marks
Section A: Modern Prose or Drama: 20% of the total GCSE marks   Section B: Exploring Cultures: 20% of the total GCSE marks

Section A: Modern Prose or Drama

Candidates answer one question from a choice of two

Section B: Exploring Cultures

Candidates complete two compulsory questions

Unit 2: Poetry Across Time

External examination: 35% of the total GCSE marks

Section A: Candidates answer one question from a choice of two and compare two poems

Section B: Candidates are given one compulsory unseen poem and are required to answer a compulsory question about the poem

Unit 3: The Significance of Shakespeare and the English Literary Heritage

Controlled Assessment: 25% of the total GCSE marks

Candidates complete one task which asks them to make links between a play from Shakespeare and any other text, of any genre, from the English Literary Heritage.

HOME LEARNING

Pupils should expect approximately two hours of home learning per week.

EDUCATION EXTRA, SUPPORT AND TRIPS

We shall offer trips to the theatre and cinema, whenever appropriate. We also offer a workshop after school on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 3.10 pm and a Basic Skills Workshop on Wednesdays at 3.10 pm.

HOW PARENTS CAN HELP

We would like to encourage parents/carers to take an active role in their child’s education by helping their child to reach their full potential.

Parents/carers can:

• offer support by discussing current events and the way that they are reported in the media. This can involve the shared reading of a quality newspaper or the viewing of a current affairs programme or documentary, as the final examination tests the candidate’s ability to read media texts and to assess their bias.
• become involved in home learning by encouraging their child to devote the appropriate time and care to the tasks set, as sometimes pupils can be satisfied with a low standard of work and presentation.
• assist their child to read widely and discuss the chosen books with them.
• encourage their child to take advantage of the visits offered by the school. They can also take their own children to the theatre, cinema or to museums as all cultural visits extend the experience of young people.
• ensure that their children have access to a good dictionary and thesaurus.
• encourage their children to visit the public library regularly.
  ensure that their children attend lessons with appropriate writing and study materials.
• encourage their child to attend workshops for extra help.

SECURING SUCCESS

Pupils will be encouraged to achieve the best for themselves and will be given clear guidance on what is needed to be done in order to be successful in English. However, where a pupil is not performing to his/her expected standard this will be discussed and appropriate action taken to improve the situation.

If your child regularly fails to meet deadlines or they produce work of an unacceptable standard, they will be considered to be underachieving. Following liaison with Learning Development to check whether there might be a specific learning disability underlying this underachievement, the pupil can expect to be detained to repeat the work properly.

If this solution proves unsuccessful we shall invite the parents to meet with their child’s teacher to set targets to aid the child to achieve his/her potential. Form tutors will also be kept informed.

STAFF

Head of Communications - Christine Lawrence.
If at any stage you are concerned or have any questions relating to English, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s English teacher or Christine Lawrence. We will be pleased to arrange an interview at a mutually convenient time.