English
Reading, writing, speaking and listening are four essential skills for life. English is the main subject that develops these skills. Over the next two years you will have many opportunities to gain confidence and skill in all of these areas, expressing your own ideas and listening to those of others. Whatever career you choose, the ability to read and write well and to speak and listen effectively is very important.
The essence of English is variety. Some of the work that you do will be concerned with real people’s lives and real situations. This will mean carrying out such tasks as writing letters, filling in forms and giving instructions. Sometimes you will be asked to take the part of a person in a particular situation or of a character in a novel or play. It is interesting to imagine how you would react in the same situation. You will read novels and short stories, poems and plays - both on your own and with others in your class. You will also be able to write your own stories, poems or plays. Sometimes you will watch films or video tapes. We shall always encourage you to explore your own ideas about what you have read or seen and to talk about them to other students. You will be able to use the College's word processing facilities to present some of your work.
The work that you do, both written and spoken, during the course will count towards your final GCSE grades in English and in English Literature. Students who find English difficult can be entered for both GCSE English Language and the Entry Level Certificate. Assessment for the Entry Level Certificate will be by six externally-set assignments and six coursework assignments.
Method of Assessment
| English | 60% written examination 20% written coursework 20% speaking/listening coursework |
| English Literature | 70% examination 30% coursework |
| Entry Level Certificate | 50% externally set assignments 50% internally set assignments |