Studying English at GCSE  Brand new specification  Overview of courses  What students can expect  How parents can help Mr Adam Simpson (Head of English) Miss Stephanie Hill (KS4 Co-ordinator)

Brand new specification Exams now graded 9-1, not A*-G No controlled assessment Exams have no tiers All pupils now required to study Shakespeare & a 19th Century Novel A greater emphasis on 'technical accuracy'

GCSE Course All students will take two GCSEs; GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature Both GCSEs include: 1.Final exams in May/June Note: No controlled assessments or coursework

English Language 100% final examination

Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing Paper 2: Writers' Viewpoints and Perspectives Non-examination Assessment: Spoken Language What's assessed Section A: Reading One literature fiction text Section B: Writing Descriptive or narrative writing What’s assessed Section A: Reading One 21 st Century non-fiction text and One 19 th Century non-fiction text Section B: Writing Writing to present a viewpoint What's assessed Presenting Responding to questions and feedback Use of Standard English Assessed Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes 80 marks 50% of GCSE Assessed Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes 80 marks 50% of GCSE Assessed Teacher set throughout course Marked by teacher Separate endorsement (0% weighting of GCSE) Questions Reading (40 marks) (25%) – one single text 1 short form question (1 x 4 marks) 2 longer form questions (2 x 8 marks) 1 extended question (1 x 20 marks) Writing (40 marks) (25%) 1 extended writing question (24 marks for content, 16 marks for technical accuracy) Questions Reading (40 marks) (25%) – two linked texts 1 short form question (1 x 4 marks) 2 longer form questions (1 x 8, 1 x 12 marks) 1 extended question (1 x 16 marks) Writing (40 marks) (25%) 1 extended writing question (24 marks for content, 16 marks for technical accuracy)

English Literature 100% final examination

Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry What's assessed Shakespeare The 19th-century novel What's assessed Modern texts Poetry Unseen poetry How it's assessed Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes 64 marks 40% of GCSE (Spelling, punctuation and vocabulary = 2.5%) How it's assessed Written exam: 2 hour 15 minutes 96 marks 60% of GCSE (Spelling, punctuation and vocabulary = 2.5%) Questions Section A Shakespeare Students will answer one question on their play of choice. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the play and then to write about the play as a whole. Section B The 19th-century novel Students will answer one question on their novel of choice. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the novel and then to write about the novel as a whole. Questions Section A Modern texts Students will answer one essay question from a choice of two on their studied modern prose or drama text. Section B Poetry Students will answer one comparative question on one named poem printed on the paper and one other poem from their chosen anthology cluster. Section C Unseen poetry Students will answer one question on one unseen poem and one question comparing this poem with a second unseen poem.

What texts will be studied? Shakespeare19 th CenturyModern TextsPoetry Choose one of: Macbeth Romeo and Juliet Much Ado About Nothing Choose one of: Robert Louis Stevenson The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol Mary Shelley Frankenstein Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice Choose one of: JB Priestley An Inspector Calls Willy Russell Blood Brothers William Golding Lord of the Flies AQA Anthology Telling Tales George Orwell Animal Farm Choose one of: Love and relationships collection Power and conflict collection

Course Delivery Each half term will cover a different aspect of the English Language or English Literature exam. At specified tracking points throughout the year, exam based assessments will take place which will allow us to monitor the progress of all pupils. Dates of these assessments will be communicated to parents/guardians via SIMS.

Revision and intervention classes Revision classes Will be offered in the final term of year 11 and the run up to the final exam in May/June Intervention classes Ongoing throughout the course as and when needs arise based on assessment data.

What students can expect:  To be given clear guidance and deadlines for preparation time for each exam practice task.  To receive detailed feedback and to respond to this during lesson time.  To be working for longer on one topic than at Key Stage 3.  To be required to research and read ahead.  To be required to work independently.

Revision Materials English Reading and Writing Workbooks are available from the Student Office. Students may also wish to purchase the study guides for the novels/plays studied on the Literature course; these are available at all good book stores. Details of specific novels studied by the class will be provided by English teachers.

How parents can help  Check SIMS for dates of exam practice assessments.  Ask them to tell you about texts they are studying and how they respond to them.  Encourage them to read a range of fiction and non-fiction, particularly newspapers.  Encourage them to use revision study guides.  Don’t believe, “I’ve no work for English”. There is always something to do!  Follow us on Twitter. Christleton KS4