Upper Shirley High School
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Key Stage 4
In Key Stage 4 we aim to build on and extend the skills students developed in Key Stage 3. From September 2010 students will study the new AQA curriculum for English Language and English Literature over 2 years. Their examinations will give them 2 GCSEs in English.
The main changes for English Language will be that instead of a coursework component, the students will be required to complete 3 controlled assessments for Reading and Writing, and 3 controlled assessments for Speaking and Listening involving presenting, discussing and listening and role-playing. For English Literature they need to complete 1 piece of controlled assessment based on linked texts.
In addition, students are encouraged to develop the skills required for the examination. They work on fundamental aspects of grammar and punctuation and learn how to tailor their writing to audience and purpose. A wide range of fiction and non-fiction texts is studied, as well as literary texts from a number of world cultures. We encourage students to become increasingly independent: taking responsibility for their work by meeting deadlines and attending support sessions where appropriate. Student progress is assessed regularly and the assessment process is shared with students.
Here is a summary of the English Language and Literature GCSE components:
ENGLISH
Unit 1 exam – 40%
Unit 2 internally assessed – 20%
Unit 3 internally assessed – 40%
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Unit 1 exam – 40%
Unit 2 internally assessed – 20%
Unit 3 internally assessed – 40%
ENGLISH LITERATURE
Unit 1 exam – 40%
Unit 2 exam – 35%
Unit 3 internally assessed – 25%
The units to be covered are:
ENGLISH
Unit 1 Understanding and Producing Non-fiction Texts –
section A: reading tasks;
section B: writing tasks. [40%]
Unit 2 Speaking and Listening – presenting, discussing and listening, role-playing. [20%]
Unit 3 Understanding and Producing Creative Texts –
part a: understanding creative texts which will encompass literary reading of a play by Shakespeare, a text from the English Literary Heritage and a text from a different culture.)
part b: producing creative texts [40%]
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Unit 1 Non-fiction texts - section A: reading tasks; section B: 2 writing tasks. [40%]
Unit 2 Speaking and Listening - presenting, discussing and listening, role-playing. [20%]
Unit 3 Understanding spoken and written texts and writing creatively -
part A: Extended reading of “Of Mice and Men” [15%]
part B: Creative writing – 2 tasks [15%]
part C: Spoken Language study [10%]
ENGLISH LITERATURE
Unit 1 Modern texts – externally examined [40%]
section A: Prose/Drama, for example, “Martyn Pig”
section B: Exploring cultures, for example, “Of Mice and Men”
Unit 2 Poetry – externally examined [35%]
section A: anthology poems
section B: unseen poem
Unit 3 Shakespeare and the English Literary Heritage – internally assessed [25%]
To find out more you can go to www.AQA.org.uk and select GCSE English Language or English Literature.
Other useful websites for students are:
