English is vital for communicating with others in school and in the wider world, and is fundamental to learning in all curriculum subjects. In studying English, pupils develop skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing that they will need to participate in society and employment. Pupils learn to express themselves creatively and imaginatively and to communicate with others confidently and effectively.
Literature in English is rich and influential. It reflects the experiences of people from many countries and times and contributes to our sense of cultural identity. Pupils learn to become enthusiastic and critical readers of stories, poetry and drama as well as non-fiction and media texts, gaining access to the pleasure and world of knowledge that reading offers. Looking at the patterns, structures, origins and conventions of English helps pupils understand how language works. Using this understanding, pupils can choose and adapt what they say and write in different situations, as well as appreciate and interpret the choices made by other writers and speakers.
"English provides the communication skills fundamental to functioning effectively in work and life. More than this, it opens doors to worlds beyond pupils' present experiences, stimulating curiosity and challenging them to think independently and creatively."
- QCA website
Students will be studying the novel ‘Holes’ and exploring in depth what they discover about the protagonist, Stanley Yelnats.
Students will be celebrating the life and work of William Shakespeare with a focus on ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Students will also be investigating how and why Shakespeare brings an element of celebration to the play.
Students will be extending their creative skills through the form of poetry. They will look closely at how writers are creative in poetry and what techniques they use to show this.
Students will analyse the play ‘The Tulip Touch’ and investigate how ‘balanced’ Tulip’s character is. They will also look at how to create a balanced register and tone in a piece of travel writing.
Students’ homework will mainly consist of literacy exercises which they will access via their iPad.
Teachers may also wish to set additional tasks to extend their learning as appropriate. These may include researching a topic or redrafting work based on targets set.
Students will be assessed regularly throughout the term.
They will be assessed on their reading skills, such as analysing language and inferring from a variety of texts; being able to write creatively for a set purpose with a focus on technical accuracy and there will be regular opportunities for speaking and listening assessments.
Encouraging your child to read widely and regularly is one of the best ways that you can support your child’s learning at home. Useful reading materials include: fiction and non-fiction books, newspapers, articles on the internet and magazines. This not only develops reading fluency, comprehension and vocabulary, but also deepens understanding of sentence structure, grammar and the qualities of effective writing.
You can also encourage your child to proofread their work, checking for basic errors of spelling, punctuation and text organisation.
Students will see how the element of risk is embedded in to the novel ‘Stormbreaker’. Students will analyse how the writer creates a sense of danger and risk throughout the novel.
Students will explore different interpretations from a variety of war poems and the play ‘The Exam’. They will identify how writers use a variety of techniques to promote different layers of ideas, feelings and attitudes.
Students will extend their creative writing skills to produce a piece of autobiographical writing which is technically accurate and engaging to read. They will analyse how autobiographies promote a sense of identity and what techniques the writers use to do so.
Students will review how structural features are used in films to generate certain effects by analysing the film ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’. Students will also look at how charity leaflets are structured to create a persuasive tone and apply their knowledge by creating their own charity leaflet.
Students’ homework will mainly consist of literacy exercises which they will access via their iPad.
Teachers may also wish to set additional tasks to extend their learning as appropriate. These may include researching a topic or redrafting work based on targets set.
Students will be assessed regularly throughout the term.
They will be assessed on their reading skills, such as analysing language and inferring from a variety of texts; being able to write creatively for a set purpose with a focus on technical accuracy and there will be regular opportunities for speaking and listening assessments.
Encouraging your child to read widely and regularly is one of the best ways that you can support your child’s learning at home. Useful reading materials include: fiction and non-fiction books, newspapers, articles on the internet and magazines. This not only develops reading fluency, comprehension and vocabulary, but also deepens understanding of sentence structure, grammar and the qualities of effective writing.
You can also encourage your child to proofread their work, checking for basic errors of spelling, punctuation and text organisation.
In English Language and Literature, you will read a wide range of texts, fluently and with good understanding and making connections by comparing meaning and language. You will use knowledge gained from wide reading to inform and improve your own writing and learn how to adapt language to suit different purposes and audiences, with a focus on using Standard English appropriately. You will acquire and apply a wide vocabulary, alongside a knowledge and understanding of grammatical terminology. You will greatly benefit from the transferable skills learnt across the two subjects.
There are two distinct GCSE qualifications and no coursework to complete. A spoken language assessment is conducted which does not contribute to the qualification.
Reading Section (40 marks)
Writing Section (40 marks)
Reading Section (40 marks)
Writing Section (40 marks)
Shakespeare Section (34 marks)
Victorian Novel Section (30 marks)
Modern Text (30 marks)
Exam Board: AQA
