New English GCSE Programmes INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

Why have we asked you to come?

Changes to how the exams are graded No more A* - G We now have 9-1. What does that mean? gcse-grades-explainedhttp:// gcse-grades-explained

Changes To How Students Are Assessed No more coursework – as with the current IGCSE in English Language No more controlled assessment – as with the current AQA English Literature GCSE No more tiered exams. All students sit the same exam regardless of their ability. There is no foundation and higher tier Speaking and Listening is assessed but does not contribute to the grading of GCSE English Language

Instead… All assessment is done through terminal examination in the summer term of Year 11. This means that there are more exams or longer exams.

Exam Requirements LANGUAGE Paper 1:  Unseen 19 th century fiction  Creative writing 1 hour 45 minutes (40%) Paper 2:  Comparison of two unseen texts from 20 th and 21 st Century  Transactional writing 2 hours (60%) LITERATURE Paper 1:  Shakespeare  Post-1914 British drama or fiction 1 hour 45 minutes (50%) Paper 2:  19 th Century fiction  Poetry 2 hours 15 minutes (50%)

Increased demand and challenge  No access to copies of the set texts during the exam  Greater focus on making a response to an ‘unseen’ text  Bar raised for what will be regarded as a ‘good’ grade  More revision because all set texts will be examined none will be covered via controlled assessment  Some will find the language and sentence constructions of 19 th Century texts unfamiliar and difficult  Students who are not in the habit of reading or who only read within a narrow range will be taken out of their comfort zone  Spag (spelling, punctuation and grammar) forms a larger proportion of the marks than before

Reading Assessment AO1: Identify and interpret explicit and implicit information and ideas 7.5% Select and synthesise evidence from different texts AO2: Explain, comment on and analyse how writers use language and structure to achieve effects and influence readers, using relevant subject terminology to support their views 15% AO3: Compare writers’ ideas and perspectives, as well as how these are conveyed, across two or more texts 8.75% AO4: Evaluate texts critically and support this with appropriate textual references 18.75%

AO5: Communicate clearly, effectively and imaginatively, selecting and adapting tone, style and register for different forms, purposes and audiences Organise information and ideas, using structural and grammatical features to support coherence and cohesion of texts 30% AO6: Candidates must use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation 20% Writing Assessment

A Real Opportunity We can range more widely. Controlled assessments were time-consuming and didn’t really enable students to learn from their mistakes or develop their ability to reflect on their thinking and then go back and improve upon what they have done already. We don’t have to do them anymore. Mixed ability teaching is positively useful and encouraged by DfE and other authorities. Syllabus gives us permission to explore a wider range of material and genuinely allow for personal responses to texts. Transferrable skills which are useful in a range of subjects and aspects of real life, not just English, and which will – hopefully – remain after the specific information about this novel or that poem is forgotten.

Our Response  Edexcel syllabus  New resources  This meeting  Careful selection of texts to balance what we know works with newer, more challenging approaches and texts  Regular assessment which will map A*-G against the new 9-1 until everyone is familiar and comfortable with the new grading systems  Mixed ability groups  Encouragement of independent reading and a sense of ownership and responsibility for reading

Questions?

To Follow Up:  This presentation will be put on the website.    An opportunity to ask questions and buy resources.  Updates from the department by newsletter and text.

Tonight:  Ask a member of staff a question.  Purchase one or both of the year 10 set texts.  A Christmas Carol is being offered at £4.00 instead of the price to us of £4.87.  An Inspector Calls is being offered at £6.00 rather than £8.24.