Dear Parents/Guardians, 3rd June 2024
Year 9 have now completed their Key Stage 3 course in English and for the final half term of this year will commence their GCSE course in English Literature. They will complete the whole of the GCSE English Literature course during the remainder of this academic year and for the majority of Year 10, gaining a full GCSE qualification at the end of Year 10. I would like to ask you for your support of both us as a Learning Area and your child during this important year.
English sets will be reorganised ready for September 2024, in order to ensure pupils are in the correct groups for this new course. There will be some readjustments following the first NEA at the end of November. Groups will be monitored closely throughout the year to make sure pupils are in the right place for their ability/current working grade/target grade.
There are two tiers in English Literature GCSE, both of which allow pupils to gain a C grade:
Higher Tier: A* – D
Foundation Tier: C- G
Decisions on which tier your child sits will be made in the Autumn term, based on their baseline tests, class and homework and forthcoming written coursework [NEA] marks.
There are one important date in the next few months for which we would like your particular support:
- GCSE English Literature PPE [mock] Exam: Week beginning Mon 8th July 2024
The pupils’ performances in this PPE will be used to reorganise sets for September 2024 and provide us with valuable information about what we need to focus on with students in Year 10. Pupils who are absent for this assessment will be put into a holding set in September until they have completed this, after which they will be put into the correct set according to their performance.
It is absolutely essential that pupils maintain good attendance during the Summer term – the work covered now will not be taught again and will be a significant part [35%] of the GCSE English Literature exams in Year 10, the first of which is in January 2025.
Where absence is unavoidable,particularly in cases of extended absence, I would ask you to contact me, in advance if possible, at LTaylor@cathays.cardiff.sch.uk so that work can be set for your child to complete so they are not disadvantaged.
I would like to close by asking you to encourage your child to do their very best in all classwork, homework, NEA tasks and mock exams – PPEs, in order that child fulfils their potential with us.
Thank you in anticipation of your support this year,
Mrs L. M. Taylor
Raising Standards Leader: English & Literacy