Key Stage 4 (Years 9, 10 & 11)

GCSE English

As of June 2006 Year 9 students prepare for GCSE English alongside study for the SAT examinations. Although priority will be given to the Shakespeare text in the early part of Year 9, reading and writing skills will be focused upon – particularly as the GCSE Specification is such that the skills required for the SAT examination link to those tested at GCSE. After the SATs examinations have taken place, students will embark on written coursework as part of their English GCSE.

All students are prepared for the AQA Specification ‘A’ English GCSE course which is delivered over three years. Coursework is undertaken during the last half term of Year 9 and throughout Year 10 where the written coursework element is worth 20% of the overall grade (assignments on Original Writing, Media, Shakespeare* and a Prose Study*) and Speaking and Listening is worth an additional 20% of the overall grade. In Year 11 all students will take two examination papers – one focusing on Media texts which they read in the examination itself where they answer questions, followed by a written response on writing to ‘argue’, ‘persuade’ or ‘advise’ and another paper focusing on previously prepared Poems from Other Cultures, followed by a written response on writing to ‘inform’, ’explain’ or ’describe’.

* - crossover pieces if taking the English Literature course

GCSE English Literature

The vast majority of students are prepared for the AQA Specification ‘A’ GCSE English Literature course which is delivered over two years. This course works in conjunction with the English GCSE course. Additional coursework is undertaken in Year 10 where the coursework element is worth 30% of the overall grade (assignments on Shakespeare*, a Prose Study* and 20^thCentury Drama). In Year 11 students take one examination paper, one section of which focuses on a set text, the other offering a choice of questions on prepared poems by selected writers.

Results at Key Stage 4 have been consistently outstanding.