BSW GCSE English Language & English Literature
Exam Board: EDEXCEL
At this school, English
Language and Literature GCSEs are taught together and, in line with practice at
most independent schools, both are compulsory.
English Language involves the
development of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills through the
study of fictional and non-fictional prose texts, poetry, drama and media texts
from this century and from the past.
Assessment: English Language
- 20% Speaking and Listening. Three activities are assessed over two years: these cover drama-based or role play tasks, discussions and individual presentations.
- 20% Written Coursework. Three assignments must be completed by the end of the course:
- Study of Shakespeare, (also assessed for English Lit.)
- Writing from Different Cultures or Media Studies
- Personal or Imaginative Writing
- 60% Terminal Examination. Two papers will be sat at the end of the course. These will assess study of extracts from a pre-prepared Anthology of Prose and Poetry and response to unprepared media texts.
The English Literature Course
allows pupils to respond to a wide range of distinctive texts, critically,
sensitively and in detail using textual evidence where appropriate.
In addition, pupils will
explore how language, structure and form affect interpretation and texts will
be related to their social, cultural and historical contexts as well as to
literary tradition.
Where possible and
appropriate, the use of different media such as film, taped performances and
live theatre, within and beyond the school, will be used to make the texts live.
Assessment: English
Literature
- 30% Written Coursework (Three units)
- Pre-1914 Drama: William Shakespeare (also assessed for English Language)
- Pre-1914 Prose
- Pre-1914 Poetry
- 70% Terminal Examination (based on study of three texts)
- Section A: Post 1914 Poetry Anthology (published by Edexcel Examinations Board)
- Section B: Post 1914 Prose
- Section C: Post 1914 Drama