GCSE English

Year 10

Autumn term 1

Poetry controlled assessment – a study of Wilfred Owen poetry. All students sit this controlled assessment.

Students are required to analyse one poem. This contributes towards 20% of the qualification together with the Shakespeare and Novel controlled assessments.

Spring term 1

Prose controlled assessment – a study of Tsotsi by Athol Fugard

Students will be asked to explore a theme of the novel and explore how the writer uses language to create meanings. They will also be assessed on their ability to explore the influences and significance of the social and historical context of the novel.

Spring term 2

Shakespeare controlled assessment – a study of either Romeo and Juliet or Macbeth.

Students are required to answer a thematic question on the text and a performed version. This contributes towards 20% of the qualification together with Poetry and Novel controlled assessments.

Summer term 1

Opportunity for re-sits and Speaking and listening assessments.

Year 11

Autumn term 1

Internal assessments/ tests

Autumn term 2

Mock exams

Information and Ideas Mock examination – 2 hours – 40% GCSE English and GCSE English Language (For GCSE English and Language students)

Students will sit a complete paper. This examination will be used to ensure that students sit the appropriate paper in the official examination and to ensure that students are making expected progress.

Spring term 1

Information and Ideas examination – 2 hours – 40% GCSE English and GCSE English Language (For GCSE English and Language students)

If students do not achieve their target grade in this paper, they will be able to resit the paper in June.

Spring term 2

Imaginative Writing controlled assessment – Two linked continuous writing responses linked to the texts studied in the lesson

This contributes 20% of the qualification

Summer term 1+2

Opportunities for re-sits of controlled assessments and Info and Ideas exam

GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature

Year 10

Autumn term 1

Poetry controlled assessment – a study of Wilfred Owen poetry.

Students are required to analyse and compare two poems.

This contributes towards 25% of the literature qualification together with the Shakespeare controlled assessment.

Spring term 1

Shakespeare controlled assessment – a study of either Romeo and Juliet or Macbeth.

Students are required to analyse the script and make links to a performance that they have studied. This contributes towards 25% of qualification together with the Poetry controlled assessment.

Summer term 1

Prose controlled assessment – a study of Tsotsi by Athol Fugard

Students will study the novel Tsotsi by Athol Fugard. Students will be asked to explore a theme of the novel and explore how the writer uses language to create meanings. They will also be assessed on their ability to explore the influences and significance of the social and historical context of the novel.

This contributes towards 15% of the English language qualification together with the imaginative writing controlled assessment (taken in Year 11).

Summer term 2

Prose from different cultures exam 45mins - 25% English Literature Qualification

Students will sit an examination about the novel Tsotsi (used for controlled assessments in the Summer term). Students will have to choose between two unseen questions. They will either be required to analyse an unseen extract from the novel or answer a theme or character based question.

If students do not achieve their target grade in this paper, they will be able to resit the paper in June Year 11.

Year 11

Autumn term 1

Spoken language controlled assessment

This is a written study of a famous public speaker

Students are required to analyse and evaluate how spoken language is used in range of situations for differing purposes and effects

Autumn term 2

Mock Exams

Information and Ideas Mock examination – 2 hours – 40% GCSE English and GCSE English Language (For GCSE English and Language students)

Students will sit a paper. This examination will be used to ensure that students sit the appropriate paper in the official examination and to ensure that students are making expected progress.

Modern Drama Mock examination - 45mins – 25% English Literature Qualification

Students will student the play The History Boys by Alan Bennett. Students will have to choose between two unseen questions. They will either be required to analyse an unseen extract from the novel or answer a theme or character based question.

Spring term 1 (January)

Information and Ideas examination – 2 hours – 40% GCSE English and GCSE English Language (For GCSE English and Language students)

If students do not achieve their target grade in this paper, they will be able to resit the paper in June.

Spring term 2

Imaginative Writing controlled assessment – Two linked continuous writing responses linked to the texts studied in the lesson

This contributes towards 30% of the GCSE English Language qualification (together with the Prose controlled assessment)

Summer Term 1 + 2 (June)

Retakes for Information and Ideas paper, Prose from different cultures, Modern Drama

Literary Hertitage Prose and Contemporary Poetry examination- 1 Hour 30 mins – 25% English Literature qualification

Students will study Lord of the Flies by William Golding and a selection of Poetry by Benjamin Zephaniah or unknown poets and respond to one unseen question on each text.