English Language & English Literature

What will be taught?

Although these are two distinct GCSE subjects,  the skills being developed are really very similar and the courses overlap at a number of points.  For example,  many lessons will involve pupils in speaking and listening activities, encouraging pupils to become more effective in situations ranging from a small-group, informal discussion of a poem they have read, to more formal presentations in front of an audience (usually their own class).  While these oral skills are essential in helping them to explore literature at this level, they are only assessed for GCSE English, where they represent 20% of the final mark. 

Similarly, studying the minimum of six works for GCSE English Literature will develop the  ability of pupils to read and respond to a wide range of literary texts.  However, literature needs to be studied for GCSE English too, and for that syllabus they have to read at least two major works, one a play by Shakespeare, and include written pieces about them in their final English Coursework folder.  Because we structure our courses carefully to take advantage of the "overlap" referred to earlier, these works of literature will also represent part of the Coursework requirement for GCSE English Literature, leaving a further two texts (a novel and some poetry) to be studied in depth for the examination.

Throughout the Fourth and Fifth Year, work in class will be quite familiar to pupils from English lessons in the junior years.  In addition to what has already been mentioned, for GCSE English pupils will be developing their reading skills by exploring a very wide range of non-fiction as well as fiction texts, and they will be practising their writing skills by using a variety of forms and styles to communicate their ideas, whether writing letters, autobiography or a thrilling short story.  At all stages of the course, pupils will be helped to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of their use of English language, for example, spelling, grammar, vocabulary and expression.

How will it be taught?

All pupils study English and English Literature in the Fourth and Fifth years.  Five periods a week (and two homework sessions) are timetabled for English, in which we cover the requirements of the two GCSE syllabuses.  Most pupils are taught in mixed ability sets of around twenty one or two, but a small group of around ten pupils who have greatest difficulties with the subject will be taught together. 

A good deal of time in class is spent in reading and exploring written texts  - more often than not these will be plays, poems, short stories and novels, but pupils will also analyse newspaper and magazine articles, biography, travel writing, advertisements, and so on.  They will explore these many texts in as many ways: comparing the film versions with the written originals; bringing characters to life in dramatic improvisations; small group investigations; library-based or Internet research assignments; structured analytical essays, etcetera.  Their active involvement in lessons is encouraged, because of the oral component, so there will regularly be purposeful talking, as well as listening, in class.

 

How will it be examined?

The exam board for both subjects is AQA.  The small group of pupils who have difficulties with their work in  English will normally be entered for both GCSE subjects at Foundation Tier, where it is possible to achieve grades C to G; while the remainder of the year will be entered at Higher Tier, where grades A* to D are obtainable. 

Written coursework is an important requirement for both subjects, representing 20% of the marks in English and 30% in English Literature.  Five or six pieces will be selected just before the final term, from work pupils have completed throughout the two years, to make a combined coursework folder.  As mentioned earlier, a further 20% of the marks for English are awarded for Speaking and Listening.  This skill will be assessed by the class teacher through a number of assignments completed over the two years, and our marks are internally and externally moderated. 

There is one final examination of 1¾ hours for English Literature, into which candidates may take clean copies of the two books they have studied.  There are two written examinations for English, lasting 1½ and 1¾ hours; each representing 30% of the marks.  These papers require candidates to read pieces of literary and non-literary writing and then to carry out tasks which involve summarising, evaluating and analysing what they have read, and responding to the ideas in these texts.