English Key Stage 4

At Key Stage 4, students will be divided into two tiers: the higher tier who will study for both GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature, whereas the foundation tier will study GCSE English.

The content of the courses are as follows:

GCSE English Literature

Controlled Assessment:

Shakespeare and Literary Heritage (25% of final grade) – Students will write a comparative essay on a Shakespeare play (e.g. Macbeth) and a literary heritage text (e.g. Animal Farm

Exam:

Unit 1 – Modern Prose or Drama and Exploring Cultures (40% of final grade) - Students respond to questions based on texts such as The Crucible, An Inspector Calls and To Kill a Mockingbird or Of Mice and Men.

Unit 2 – Poetry over time (35% of final grade) – Students answer questions based on their knowledge of a selection of theme-based poetry in the prescribed anthology and on an unseen poem, which is chosen by the exam board.

GCSE English Language

Exam:

Unit 1: Understanding and writing non-fiction texts (40% of final grade) – Students respond to questions based on different non-fiction reading material, then write two of their own non-fiction pieces.

Speaking and Listening:

Unit 2: Speaking and Listening (20% of final grade) – Students participate in three speaking and listening tasks: presenting, role play and discussing and listening.

Controlled Assessment:

Unit 3a: Understanding Written Texts (Extended Reading) (15% of final grade) – Students write an explorative essay focused on either character and voice or theme and idea. To Kill a Mockingbird or Of Mice and Men)     

Unit 3b: Producing Creative Texts (Moving Images / Commissions / Re-creations)(15% of final grade) – Students submit two creative writing pieces which fulfil the tasks set by the board.  Work will be marked for creative use of language, punctuation and structure, but will also be marked for accuracy.

Unit 3c: Spoken Language Study (10% of final grade) – Students investigate spoken language in a particular situation, occupation or multi-modal communication.

GCSE English: Controlled Assessment:

Unit 3a: Understanding Creative Texts (20% of final grade) - Students explore a common theme in a play by Shakespeare, a chosen literary heritage novel (e.g. Of Mice and Men) and in a selection of poetry)

Unit 3b: Producing Creative Texts (Moving Images / Prompts and Re-creations / Me. Myself. I.) (20% of final grade) - Students submit two creative writing pieces which fulfil the tasks set by the board.  Work will be marked for creative use of language, punctuation and structure, but will also be marked for accuracy.

Speaking and Listening:

Speaking and Listening (20% of final grade) – Students participate in three speaking and listening tasks: presenting, role play and discussing and listening.

Exam:

Unit 1 – Understanding and writing non-fiction texts (40% of final grade) – Students respond to questions based on different non-fiction reading material, then write two of their own non-fiction pieces.