English Language

Overview

Introduction

In English language, students draw upon a range of texts as reading stimuli and engage with creative as well as real and relevant contexts. They have opportunities to develop higher-order reading and critical thinking skills that encourage genuine enquiry into different topics and themes. This specification ensures that students are able to read fluently and write effectively. They will be able to demonstrate a confident control of standard English and write grammatically correct sentences, deploying figurative language and analysing texts.

Qualification

GCSE

Awarding body

AQA

Course leader

Mrs R Andrew

Assessment

• Examination: 100%
  • Paper 1: Explorations in creative reading and writing | 1 hour 45 mins | 50%
  • Paper 2: Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives | 1 hour 45 mins | 50%
• Non-examined assessment: 0%
  • Spoken language endorsement | Not included in total marks

Curriculum

Course content

Students learn how to:

• read fluently, and with good understanding, a wide range of texts from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, including literature and literary non-fiction as well as other writing such as reviews and journalism
• read and evaluate texts critically and make comparisons between texts
• summarise and synthesise information or ideas from texts
• use knowledge gained from wide reading to inform and improve their own writing
• write effectively and coherently using standard English appropriately
• use grammar correctly and punctuate and spell accurately
• acquire and apply a wide vocabulary, alongside a knowledge and understanding of grammatical terminology, and linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
• listen to and understand spoken language and use spoken standard English effectively

Topics

• Critical reading and comprehension.
• Fiction writing.
• Non-fiction writing.
• Spoken language.

Skills and requirements

Skills required

Reading skills:

• Critical reading and comprehension.
• Summary and synthesis.
• Evaluation of a writer’s choice of vocabulary, form, grammatical and structural features.
• Comparing texts.

Writing skills:

• Producing clear and coherent writing.
• Writing for impact.

Spoken Language skills:

• Presenting information and ideas.
• Responding to spoken language.
• Spoken standard English.

Beyond the classroom

Future pathways

Communication skills, creativity and critical thinking are essential for all post-16 subject areas and a good GCSE in English is a requirement for many courses and jobs. Skills and techniques developed in English studies may be continued in a wide range of A-level courses including: English language, English literature, combined language and literature, media studies, and film studies.