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English

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All students follow courses in English Language and English Literature. In Year 11 they take the GCSE exams with the NEA exam board, where the possible grades range from a U up to an A*. There are two levels of paper, the Foundation paper, where it is possible to achieve a grade between U and C; and the Higher paper, where it is possible to achieve a grade between D and A*.

The English Language assessment includes five coursework assignments. The coursework assignments are based on Media, Short Stories, Original Writing, Shakespeare and 20^th Century Drama.

The texts studied in English Literature are Shakespeare, Prose, Drama texts, and Short Stories.

The coursework mark is approximately 30% - 40% of the final grade and the exams are worth approximately 60% - 70%.

The English department also arrange many activities to support learning such as the Literacy Summer School, School Book Clubs, Newspaper club, regular book reviews, theatre and cinema outings, drama groups coming into school to perform, and most recently the GCSE poetry day in Newcastle, where the students were able to see the poems from their GCSE studies performed by the original poet.

The school also operates the SQUIRT system (Sustained Quiet Uninterrupted Independent Reading Time) where the first five minutes of each lesson are dedicated to silent reading.

English and Literature

All students follow a combined English and English Literature course and will be awarded two seperate grades following the final examinations. The grades are achieved from a combination of coursework (30%-40%) and examinations (60%-70%). Candidates will be assessed in the following areas:

Speaking and Listening
Reading
Writing
Literature

English Language Coursework

Students will be expected to complete a total of five coursework assignments in the following areas:

Original Writing
Shakespeare
Post 1914 Drama
Prose Study
Media

In addition to written coursework, speaking and listening tasks will be set by the classroom teacher throughout the course. The marks from these tasks will count for a total of 20% of the final grade for English.

English Literature Examinations (2 Hours Each)

Candidates will be required to produce two essay style answers, one on a set literature text chosen by the class teacher, and another on a themed selection of poetry taken from the NEAB Anthology.