English Literature Intro Letter

Dear Parents/Guardians,                                                                                                                                         14^th Sept 2022

Year 10 have now commenced their GCSE course in English Literature and will complete the whole of the GCSE English Literature course during this academic year, gaining a qualification at the end of Yr 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 have been reorganised 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 later this term, based on their baseline tests, class and homework and forthcoming written coursework [NEA] marks.

There are some important dates in the next few months for which we would like your particular support:

1.  NEA [written coursework]
2. Tues 18^th October 2022 P1 & 2 – Macbeth NEA Session 1: 1 hour
3. Tues 25^th October 2022 P 1 & 2 – Macbeth NEA Session2: 1 hour
4. Tues 31^st January 2023 P1 & 2 – Comparative Poetry NEA Session 1: 1 hour
5. Tues 7^th February 2023 P1 & 2 – Comparative Poetry NEA Session 2: 1 hour

Pupils will be prepared for these tasks in class and as homework but they need to be completed under exam conditions. Each session lasts 1 hour and will be preceded in the double lesson by some revision time/activities.

These will contribute towards the final GCSE English Literature grade and are worth 25%. It is essential, therefore, that your child prepares thoroughly for these tasks and attends promptly.

2)

• GCSE English Literature Unit 1 Exam: Wednesday 11^th January 2023

This is a real GCSE exam and cannot be done at any time, due to illness/holidays etc.

All pupils will resit this exam in May 2023 in order to maximise marks and therefore grades. Tiering may change as a result of the official results in March 2023.

• GCSE English Literature Unit 1 Exam Resit:            May 2023 2025
• GCSE English Literature Unit 2 Exam:                    May 2023 2025

The pupils’ performances in both Unit 1 in January 2023 and the NEAs will be used to reorganise sets for March 2023 and provide us with valuable information about what we need to focus on with students in the latter part of Year 10.

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