Welcome to English at Lowton CE High School

Qualifications Coursework / controlled assessments no longer exist – all Examination is done through exams at the end of the course. Students will study English Language and English Literature (2 GCSEs)

revision day c/d top tips Grades Tiering has been removed. This means that all students will sit the same paper. Grades are no longer letters: they have been replaced by numbers 1-9 (9 is the highest). Grade 5 is considered a good pass (top of old grade C)

English GCSEs EDUQAS Exam Board revision day c/d top tips English GCSEs EDUQAS Exam Board English Language 2 exam papers Paper 1: Fiction – 20th Century reading and creative writing Paper 2: Non-fiction – 19th & 21st century reading and non-fiction writing Spoken Language – one presentation/speech. Separately awarded. English Literature 2 exam papers Paper 1 – Shakespeare (Macbeth) & Poetry anthology Paper 2 – Modern Play, A Christmas Carol & unseen poetry

External Examinations All examinations are now terminal: this means they will be taken at the end of the course and externally marked. English / English Language: June 2019/20 Paper 1 Fiction-based reading and writing – 40% - 1hr 45 mins Paper 2 Non-fiction – based reading and writing – 60% - 2hrs English Literature: June 2019/20 Paper 1 Shakespeare & anthology poetry – 40% - 2hrs Paper 2 Modern Play, A Christmas Carol & unseen poetry – 60% - 2hrs 30 mins

Year 9 GCSE Topics When Topic Autumn Term 1 Short story writing ‘A Christmas Carol’ Autumn Term 2 Spring Term 1 Fiction reading skills Revision of short story writing Spring Term 2 Modern play Summer Term 1 Revision of modern play and fiction reading and writing skills in preparation for summer exams Summer Term 2 Nature poetry from the anthology Speaking and listening presentation

Year 10 GCSE Topics When Topic Autumn Term 1 Macbeth & war poetry from the anthology Autumn Term 2 Revision of previously studied poems from the anthology Spring Term 1 Fiction reading skills Unseen poetry Spring Term 2 Summer Term 1 Modern Play Revision of covered texts and skills Summer Term 2 Love poetry from the anthology Revision of ‘A Christmas Carol’ Please note: your child began studying some of their GCSE topics at the end of Y9: ‘A Christmas Carol’ and a selection of nature poems from their anthology.

revision day c/d top tips Homework Students should receive two homeworks per week. They should spend a minimum of 30 mins on each homework. Tasks mainly fall into one of these categories: Recall Creative tasks to aid revision Exam style questions Background research

revision day c/d top tips What can you do to help? Check students are up to date with all areas of the course. If your child is absent, they will be able to collect missed work from their teacher. Encourage students to read a wide range of texts (Use library) Monitor internet usage to ensure that homework is not plagiarised Offer support and encouragement but get students to check their own work Check homework on ‘Show my Homework’

revision day c/d top tips What can you do to help? Encourage students to use a dictionary and thesaurus (Students are encouraged to buy their own) Check that homework is done to the best of the student’s ability Provide a quiet place to study

revision day c/d top tips Revision Guides There are many revision guides on the market but not all are aimed at the correct exam board. Ensure that WJEC/EDUQAS examination board is mentioned before you buy. Students can buy any appropriate study guide or notes for literature texts E.g. http://www.yorknotes.com/ https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/ There are also some useful websites for revision particularly for the Literature texts. In house revision guides are available from school.

revision day c/d top tips Reading Texts All students will study three ‘books’: Macbeth, Blood Brothers/An Inspector Calls and A Christmas Carol. Free copies of the older texts are available online. In addition, they will have a poetry anthology of poems that they will study throughout the course. Specific reading texts will be set in relation to work on these texts. This maybe reading/re- reading of sections of the text or background reading/research. It is better for students if they have their own copy of these texts so that they can write notes.

revision day c/d top tips Marking Most marking at GCSE is concentrated on exam skills / knowledge. Homeworks will be given an attitude to learning grade and comments / targets where necessary. Students will be given both areas of strength and targets for improvement based on the mark schemes Students may take part in peer and self assessment in order to develop their work

Speaking and Listening Graded separately revision day c/d top tips Speaking and Listening Graded separately Students are required to complete one piece of assessed speaking and listening work. This will be a formal presentation and questions. The presentation and questions must be recorded and submitted to the exam board.

Useful Websites http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english_literature/dramabloodbrothers/ http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/christmascarol/ http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/romeojuliet/ http://www.universalteacher.org.uk/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/0/ http://www.gcse.com/english/ https://www.youtube.com/