English

Inspiring our students by guiding them through a rich and innovative curriculum that has been painstakingly designed to help them grow into confident and passionate scholars of literature. It is never just about passing an examination.

Year 9

A rich and diverse curriculum is followed by all pupils designed to prepare them for the rigours of GCSE studies in Year 10.

What will I learn?

The curriculum covers: Romeo and Juliet (a Shakespearean play), a challenging novel, a creative writing unit, different styles and purposes of writing and oracy skills (public speaking). This year we are also introducing two new units of study which explores the Gothic literary genre and non fiction media.

Personal reading is thoroughly encouraged and we would hope that pupils will enter some of the many writing competitions available. Each term, pupils will be expected to read widely through both their own personal readers and class texts. Aspects of spelling, grammar and punctuation are covered in every class at different levels. We have a ‘no ceilings’ approach in our department which ensures that all students are stretched and challenged. 

The English department’s aim is to inspire students to become as passionate about English as their  teachers are, whilst teaching them how to write creatively and accurately.

GCSE Years 10 and 11

What will I learn?

You will be taught a wide range of language skills and will have the opportunity to express yourself in and respond to a variety of different forms and styles in keeping with the requirements of GCSE and the National Curriculum. As well as modern and pre-1914 prose, poetry and drama, you will be presented with a diverse range of materials such as letters, diaries, articles, reports and descriptions.

How is the course structured and assessed? 

• 60% written examination paper and 
• 40% internally assessed (and externally moderated) coursework 
• The Exam - 60% of the final grade for English Language 
• The contemporary non-fiction texts from Part 1 of the Pearson Edexcel International GCSE English Anthology. 
• Develop skills to analyse how writers use linguistic and structural devices to achieve their effects. 
• Explore links and connections between writers’ ideas and perspectives. 
• Develop transactional writing skills for a variety of purposes and audiences. 
• Use spelling, punctuation and grammar accurately. 

Assessment 

• Section A: Reading – a mixture of short and long answer questions related to a non- fiction text from Part 1 of the Pearson Edexcel International GCSE English Anthology and one previously unseen extract. Total of 45 marks. 
• Section B: Transactional Writing – one 45-mark writing task, from a choice of two involving a given audience, form or purpose. 
• The exam duration is 2 hours 15 minutes. 
• Coursework - 40% of the total IGCSE marks (30 marks each) 
• Reading: One essay in response to two pieces from Section B of the Edexcel Anthology 
• Writing: One piece of imaginative writing 

This course can be taught in tandem with the English Literature Specification. Pupils will be arranged into four mixed ability sets throughout Years 10 and 11.