KS4 English at Kingsdale Foundation School

At KS4, students will be preparing and studying for the Edexcel GCSE in English Language

and Literature.

The Edexcel new GCSE English Language qualification is an untiered qualification. The

assessment consists of two externally examined papers, plus a separate endorsement of

Spoken Language which is internally assessed. It is a linear qualification so all examination

papers must be taken at the end of the course.

The qualification will be graded and certificated on a nine grade scale from 9 to 1, where 9

is the highest grade.

To gain a GCSE English Language qualification students must provide assessments in the

following 3 areas

1. Fictional and Imaginative Writing (Paper1)

Section A: Reading

• one 19th century literature fiction text. In Section A you will be given an extract

from a C19th novel or short story. This extract will be from an unseen text (one you

haven’t previously studied). This is a test of your fiction reading skills.

Section B: Writing

• creative writing. In Section B you will be asked to produce a piece of creative writing

such as a short story. This is a test of your fiction writing skills.

The exam will last 1 hour and 45 minutes and makes up 40% of the English Language

GCSE.

2. Non-fiction and transactional writing (Paper 2)

Section A: Reading

• One C20th non-fiction text and one C21st non-fiction text. In Section A you will be

given two non-fiction texts. These extracts will be from an unseen text (one you

haven’t previously studied). This is a test of your non-fiction reading skills.

Section B: Writing

• Transactional writing linked to the theme of Section A . In Section B you will be

asked to produce one piece of non-fiction writing in which you present a point of

view. This is a test of your non-fiction writing skills.

The exam will last 2 hours marks and makes up more of the English Language GCSE –

60%.

3. Non-exam assessment – Spoken Language.

Spoken Language is assessed by your teacher during the course of the GCSE. This is a

test of your English speaking skills. You will be required to complete one formal

presentation or speech. You will also be assessed on your responses to questions

and feedback following the presentation or speech. Standard English should be a

feature of all parts of your work in this component. You will be awarded a separate

grade for Spoken Language.

Achievement in Spoken Language will be reported as part of the qualification, but it

will not form part of the final mark and grade.

To gain a GCSE English Literature qualification students must provide assessments in the

following 4 areas:

1. Shakespeare and Post-1914 British Drama or Fiction (Paper 1)

Section A: Shakespeare

• Two questions – one based on an extract of approximately 30 lines and one on the whole play. Section B: Post-1914 British Drama or Fiction • Students study EITHER drama or fiction and have a choice of essay questions. Vocabulary, sentence structure, spelling and punctuation are assessed. The exam will last 1 hour and 45 minutes and makes up 50% of the English Literature GCSE.

2. 19th Century Fiction and Poetry (Paper 2)

Section A: 19th Century Fiction

Two questions – one based on an extract of approximately 400 words (provided for students) and one based on the whole novel. Section B: Poetry

• One question comparing one named poem from the chosen anthology collection, and another anthology poem of the students’ choice from the same collection.

• One question asking students to compare two unseen contemporary poems.

The exam will last 2 hours and 15 minutes and makes up 50% of the English Literature GCSE.

Possible set texts are:

• Shakespeare: Macbeth, The Tempest, Romeo and Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, The

Merchant of Venice, Twelfth Night.

• British fiction or drama: Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies, Anita and Me, The Woman in

Black, An Inspector Calls, Hobson’s Choice, Blood Brothers, Journey’s End.

• 19th century novel: Jane Eyre, Great Expectations, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, A Christmas Carol, Pride and Prejudice, Silas Marner, Frankenstein. At Kingsdale the aims of KS4 English Language and Literature are to enable students to: ● read a wide range of classic literature fluently and with good understanding, and make connections across their reading ● read in depth, critically and evaluatively, so that they are able to discuss and explain their understanding and ideas ● develop the habit of reading widely and often ● read critically and use knowledge gained from wide reading to inform and improve their own writing ● write accurately, effectively and analytically about their reading, using Standard English ● use grammar correctly, punctuate and spell accurately ● appreciate the depth and power of the English literary heritage ● acquire and apply a wide vocabulary alongside 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. Spoken language will be reported as a separate grade on the student’s certificate. The Programme of Study has been constructed to allow students to achieve these aims successfully.

Term /Year

Autumn 1

Autumn 2

Spring 1

Spring 2

Summer 1

Summer 2

9 Introduction to 19th Century Fiction and Imaginative Writing (Language)

+ 19th Century Novel- ‘Dracula’ Bram Stoker (Literature)

Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ (Literature)

War and Conflict- Non-Fiction and transactional writing (Language)

Analysing poetry- Post 1789 ‘Relationships’ (Literature)

Post 1914 Drama/Prose- ‘Blood Brothers’ Willy Russell (Literature-)

+ Speaking and Listening Development (Language)

10 19th Century Fiction and Imaginative Writing (Preparing for Language Paper 1)

Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ (Preparing for Literature Paper 1)

20th/21st Non-Fiction and Transactional Writing (Preparing for Language Paper 2)

Poetry Anthology- ‘Conflict’ and Unseen Poetry (Preparing for Literature Paper 2)

19th Century Novel- ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ Robert Stevenson (Preparing for Literature Paper 2)

+ Speaking and Listening Assessment (Language)

11 Post 1914 Drama/Prose- ‘An Inspector Calls ‘ J.B.Priestley (Preparing for Literature Paper 1)

+ ‘Speaking and Listening’ Assessment (Language)

+ Poetry Anthology- ‘Conflict’/Unseen poetry (Literature)

Revision: 19th Century Fiction and Imaginative Writing (Revising Language 1)

+ Shakespeare’s Macbeth (Revising Literature 1)

Revision: 20th/21st Non-Fiction and Transactional Writing ( Revising Language Paper 2)

+ 19th Century Novel- ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ Robert Stevenson (Revising Literature Paper 2)

Revision +

EXAMS

EXAMS