English

Year 7

• Victorian Culture.
• A Christmas Carol.
• Bible Stories contextually related to English literature.
• Appreciation of Blake’s poetry.
• Exploration of political ideologies.
• Reading of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
• Headteacher’s Story writing competition.

• Gothic genre - The Hound of the Baskervilles.
• Greek mythology related to English literature.
• Famous speeches found in English literature.
• Macbeth by William Shakespeare.
• Headteacher’s Story writing competition.

English Literature

OCR GCSE English Literature (9-1) - J352

OCR GCSE English Literature Examination sat in Year 10

Students will study texts which include one Shakespeare play, a selection of poetry post-1789, one 19th century novel, and one modern prose or drama text from the British Isles. They will develop skills in how to critically read and evaluate literature, as well as articulating informed, independent responses to texts. Students have to make connections between a set text extract and a thematically-linked unseen extract in each exam.

Course structure

Exploring modern and literary heritage texts (01)

This is in two sections. Section A focuses on one modern prose or drama set text. Section B focuses on one 19th century prose set text.

Exploring poetry and Shakespeare (02)

This is in two sections. Section A focuses on a themed poetry cluster from the OCR set poetry anthology. Section B focuses on one set Shakespeare play.

Exam board specification link

English Language

OCR GCSE English Language (9-1) -J351

OCR GCSE English Language Examination sat in Year 11.

Our GCSE in English Language helps students develop the skills required to read fluently and critically in a wide variety of high-quality literary and non-fiction genres, and to use written and spoken English accurately and effectively in different styles and contexts.

Students must complete components 01 and 02, and then either 03 or 04, to be awarded the OCR GCSE (9-1) in English Language.

Course structure

Communicating information and ideas (01)*

Focuses on reading and writing non-fiction texts. Students will:

• Read and compare two unseen non-fiction texts, one 19th century, and one 20th or 21st century
• Produce one piece of original non-fiction

The unseen texts could include essays, journalism, travel writing, speeches, biographical writing etc. Students are required to analyse the language and structure of the texts then compare and evaluate them in response to a statement given in the exam.

The original piece of writing that they produce will be for a particular audience and purpose.

This paper has two parts worth 40 marks each.

In part A students read and compare non-fiction texts; in part B they write one original piece of non-fiction.

Exploring effects and impact (02)*

Focuses on reading literary prose texts and creative writing. Students will:

• Read and compare two unseen prose texts, one of which may be literary non-fiction. Both texts will be 20th or 21st century.
• Produce one piece of original creative writing

The unseen texts could include prose fiction, literary non-fiction e.g. biographical writing etc. Students are required to analyse the language and structure of the texts and compare and evaluate them in response to a statement given in the exam.

The original piece of writing that they produce will be a piece of creative writing.

Spoken language (03 or 04)

Students deliver a presentation on an agreed topic; the presentation may be a talk, debate, speech or dialogue. They then listen and respond appropriately to questions and feedback.

Non-exam assessment.