GCSE English and English Literature

Overview

The aim of these courses is to help the students to develop their understanding, use and enjoyment of the English language. The key skills are reading, writing, speaking and listening. The course leads to two separate GCSE qualifications at the end of Year 11. There is an element of overlap in both examination and coursework texts and the two subjects are taught together, by the same teacher, in five periods per week.

Each year group is divided into four teaching classes; on average each class comprises 12 students. There is extra help available when a need is identified; we have qualified support staff within the department. We have selected the OCR courses because they provide an element of choice of texts for students and also a substantial creative writing module.

Assessment of work

The English specification comprises four elements:

20% Speaking and Listening coursework;

20% Shakespeare, poetry and creative writing coursework units;

30% Media and Non-Fiction examination;

30% Different Cultures, Analysis and Argument examination.

The English Literature specification comprises three elements:

30% Shakespeare, pre-1914 poetry and prose coursework;

20% Post-1914 Drama examination;

50% Post-1914 Poetry and Prose examination.

Further study

Dependent on grades achieved at GCSE, all students can study English Literature A-level in the sixth form.