The English Faculty will create, develop and strengthen a love of English in our students, encouraging them to explore life, worlds and cultures that foster greater understanding of both their own existence and the existence of those who are ‘other’. Our students will become articulate analysts, critical readers and confident communicators, gaining knowledge that will allow them to take part in conversations, discussions and debates at different levels and with different audiences. Essentially, we will maximise potential opportunities for our students, empowering them by providing the knowledge and cultivating the will to use/analyse language at the highest levels.

English at Key Stage 4

In Year 10 and 11 all students study GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature. 

GCSE English Language

Aims of the Course

Students will be given the opportunity to study how published writers have used language in order to develop and hone their own creative writing skills. It is the intention of the course to also build students’ understanding and abilities in terms of their own spoken language proficiency. 

Course Content

Critical reading and comprehension:

• Critical reading and comprehension: identifying and interpreting themes, ideas and information in a range of literature and other high-quality writing; reading in different ways for different purposes, and comparing and evaluating the usefulness, relevance and presentation of content for these purposes; drawing inferences and justifying these with evidence; supporting a point of view by referring to evidence within the text; identifying bias and misuse of evidence, including distinguishing between statements that are supported by evidence and those that are not; reflecting critically and evaluatively on text, using the context of the text and drawing on knowledge and skills gained from wider reading; recognising the possibility of different responses to a text.
• Summary and synthesis: identifying the main theme or themes; summarising ideas and information from a single text; synthesising from more than one text.
• Evaluation of a writer’s choice of vocabulary, form, grammatical and structural features: explaining and illustrating how vocabulary and grammar contribute to effectiveness and impact, using linguistic and literary terminology accurately to do so and paying attention to detail; analysing and evaluating how form and structure contribute to the effectiveness and impact of a text.
• Comparing texts: comparing two or more texts critically with respect to the above.

Writing 

• Producing clear and coherent text: writing effectively for different purposes and audiences: to describe, narrate, explain, instruct, give and respond to information, and argue; selecting vocabulary, grammar, form, and structural and organisational features judiciously to reflect audience, purpose and context; using language imaginatively and creatively; using information provided by others to write in different forms; maintaining a consistent point of view; maintaining coherence and consistency across a text. 
• Writing for impact: selecting, organising and emphasising facts, ideas and key points; citing evidence and quotation effectively and pertinently to support views; creating emotional impact; using language creatively, imaginatively and persuasively, including rhetorical devices (such as rhetorical questions, antithesis, parenthesis).

Spoken language  

• Presenting information and ideas: selecting and organising information and ideas effectively and persuasively for prepared spoken presentations; planning effectively for different purposes and audiences; making presentations and speeches; responding appropriately to questions/feedback; employing Standard English in talk. 

Assessment 

There are two exam papers: 

• 1 hour 45 minutes Reading (literature text) plus descriptive/narrative writing. 
• 1 hour 45 minutes Reading (non-fiction/literary non-fiction) plus writing to present a viewpoint. 

Beyond GCSE

English Language is a strong A level choice, a subject offering interest within its own right, but also one that lends support for many other areas and subjects.  

Further Information

The awarding body for GCSE English Language is AQA.  Further details about the qualification can be found on the AQA website here: GCSE English Language 8700. 

GCSE English Literature

Aims of the Course

Students will be given the opportunity to gain an understanding of valued literature from different writers, genres and periods in history. They will study a range of texts in order to appreciate the quality of writing that exists around them and the power of the written word. 

Course Content

Reading comprehension and reading critically 

• Literal and inferential comprehension: understanding a word, phrase or sentence in context; exploring aspects of plot, characterisation, events and settings; distinguishing between what is stated explicitly and what is implied; explaining motivation, sequence of events, and the relationship between actions or events.
• Critical reading: identifying the theme and distinguishing between themes; supporting a point of view by referring to evidence in the text; recognising the possibility of and evaluating different responses to a text; using understanding of writers’ social, historical and cultural contexts to inform evaluation; making an informed personal response that derives from analysis and evaluation of the text.
• Evaluation of a writer’s choice of vocabulary, grammatical and structural features: analysing and evaluating how language, structure, form and presentation contribute to quality and impact; using linguistic and literary terminology for such evaluation.
• Comparing texts: comparing and contrasting texts studied, referring where relevant to theme, characterisation, context (where known), style and literary quality; comparing two texts critically with respect to the above 

Writing 

• Producing clear and coherent text: writing effectively about literature for a range of purposes such as: to describe, explain, summarise, argue, analyse and evaluate; discussing and maintaining a point of view; selecting and emphasising key points; using relevant quotation and using detailed textual references.
• Accurate Standard English: accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar. 

Texts 

• One Shakespeare play; a 19th century novel; a ‘modern’ text and a selection of poetry from the AQA Anthology.  

Assessment 

There are two exam papers: 

• 1 hour 45 minutes Shakespeare and the 19th century novel.  
• 2 hours 15 minutes Modern texts and poetry. 

Beyond GCSE

English Literature is a traditional A level choice, a subject offering rigour and challenge. You may be a dedicated Literature student and make a smooth transition between KS4 and 5 or you may have strengths elsewhere. In this case you may opt for Literature A level to show employers and/or universities that you offer a variety of skills and knowledge. 

Further Information

The awarding body for GCSE English Literature is AQA. Further details about the qualification can be found on the AQA website here:  GCSE English Literature 8702.