English

GCSE Language & Literature; Entry Level Functional Skills as required

English is an essential subject for all learners; English is the foundation of accessing the whole curriculum and opportunities for study and employment after leaving school. English lessons at Newham PRUs teach and refine the life skills of reading, writing and communication.

What do we want students to know and remember?

We plan schemes of learning which are aspirational for all students and through adaptive teaching we support all students to progress and fulfil their potential. The golden threads which connect the curriculum design and delivery at Newham PRUs are built on relational pedagogy and the Nurture principles. We are responsive to our students’ holistic needs. We assess our students and liaise as a team to ensure that all young people are supported to access our English curriculum: we structure, refine and revisit learning in greater depth.

Many students arrive lacking in confidence with English or believe that literature is not relevant to their lives. Through half termly targeted assessment we identify students’ learning needs and strengths. We address learning gaps so that students are able to develop confidence; understand that language is powerful and meaningful; invite students to reflect on their own experiences, connecting learning to their own lives.

How do we achieve this?

Our team of English teachers are experienced in building positive relationships with students which support them to make positive choices and engage with learning in English. We are committed to sharing with them our love of literature and the power of words!

Our students understand that we are all part of humanity. Studying English Literature and Language provides opportunities for students to understand that human beings share common emotions and experiences; we use texts to question, explore and learn from the experiences and mistakes of others. To achieve our curriculum aims and objectives we utilise a variety of learning strategies to improve student attainment including: explicit teaching; recall; quizzes; whole class and independent reading and writing tasks; targeted interventions.

General Course Information

At KS3:

Newham PRUs’ KS3 curriculum has been designed around ‘big questions’, intended to stimulate critical thinking and connect ‘English’ to the wider world. Students develop confidence and skills with oracy, listening, reading and writing through a range of fiction and non-fiction texts.

Our thematically designed curriculum asks questions such as:

How do writers explore the complex nature of relationships?
How is rhetoric used to inspire social change?
How can writers help me to understand different perspectives?

At KS4:

Assessment and Feedback

GCSE English Language (AQA)

The AQA GCSE English Language (8700) exam consists of two linear papers, each lasting 1 hour and 45 minutes and worth 50% of your total GCSE grade, alongside a separate non-exam Spoken Language endorsement.

Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing

Duration & Weight: 1 hour 45 minutes | 50% of GCSE (80 marks total)
Section A (Reading - 40 marks, 1 hour): Focuses on one single 20th- or 21st-century prose fiction extract.

Q1: Multiple-choice retrieval (4 marks)
Q2: Language analysis of a specific part (8 marks)
Q3: Structure analysis of the whole text or a section (8 marks)
Q4: Critical evaluation of a statement/extent of agreement (20 marks)

Section B (Writing - 40 marks, 45 minutes): Descriptive or narrative writing task based on a written prompt, visual, or scenario.

Paper 2: Writers' Viewpoints and Perspectives

Duration & Weight: 1 hour 45 minutes | 50% of GCSE (80 marks total)
Section A (Reading - 40 marks, 1 hour): Focuses on two linked, non-fiction and literary non-fiction texts from different centuries (typically 19th-century vs. 20th/21st-century).

Q1: True/false statements or short retrieval (4 marks)
Q2: Summary/synthesis of differences or similarities (8 marks)
Q3: Language analysis of one source (12 marks)
Q4: Comparison of writers' perspectives and methods (16 marks)

Section B (Writing - 40 marks, 45 minutes): Present a viewpoint/argument in a specified format like an article, letter, or speech

Non-examination Assessment: Spoken Language

What is assessed?

Presenting a ‘speech’ on a chosen topic of interest
Responding to questions and feedback

GCSE English Literature (AQA)

The AQA GCSE English Literature (8702) exam consists of two closed-book written papers worth a total of 160 marks.

Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th-Century Novel

Duration: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Weighting: 40% of your final GCSE (64 marks total)
Section A - Shakespeare: Answer one question on your studied play (Romeo and Juliet). You analyze a printed extract and connect it to the whole play. Worth 34 marks (including 4 marks for spelling, punctuation, and grammar). Recommended time: 55 minutes.
Section B - 19th-Century Novel: Answer one question on your studied novel (A Christmas Carol). You analyze a printed extract and connect it to the whole novel. Worth 30 marks. Recommended time: 50 minutes.

Paper 2: Modern Texts and Poetry

Duration: 2 hours and 15 minutes
Weighting: 60% of your final GCSE (96 marks total)
Section A - Modern Texts: Answer one essay question (from a choice of two) on your studied modern prose or play (An Inspector Calls). No extract is provided. Worth 34 marks. Recommended time: 45 minutes.
Section B - Poetry Cluster: Answer one comparative question comparing a named poem from your anthology (Power and Conflict) to another poem of your choice from the same cluster. Worth 30 marks. Recommended time: 45 minutes.
Section C - Unseen Poetry: Answer one question analyzing a completely unseen poem, followed by a second shorter question comparing it to a second unseen poem. Worth 32 marks. Recommended time: 45 minutes.

How Parents and Carers can Help

Ask your child to tell you what they are learning in English and ask them questions about it; this will help them to process their learning
Provide a suitable environment for study at home, based on your child's needs - some students prefer to listen to music as they revise, others need silence!
Monitor both quantity and quality of revision - little and often is better for their brain than trying to cram a lot of information at one time
Direct help – asking questions, testing, helping learning
Motivate them - remind them that this effort is worth it!
Contact teachers for advice or information as needed
Talk to them – ask what they’re doing, how they’re finding it, if you can help?

Contact

Head of Department

Chloe Stanton - Chloe.stanton@prus.newham.sch.uk

Teacher of English

Ingrid Babb - ingrid.babb@prus.newham.sch.uk

Liam Tulloch-Foley - liam.tulloch-foley@prus.newham.sch.uk

English HLTA

Sidra Akhtar : sidra.akhtar@prus.newham.sch.uk

Links to Online Resources

There are so many YouTube resources available, here are some of the most popular revision supports:

https://www.youtube.com/@MrEverythingEnglish

https://www.youtube.com/@mrbruff

Revision Books:

New GCSE English Language AQA Workbook - for the Grade 9-1 Course (includes New
GCSE English Language AQA Revision Guide - for the Grade 9-1 Course

Suggested Revision Websites

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize

BBC Bitesize English Language and Literature
BBC Skillswise can also offer top tips on spelling, grammar and punctuation

We follow the AQA exam board and specification; if you need any additional information please visit their website www.aqa.org.uk.