The skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening are of vital importance in many areas of life. They underpin study at all levels and are seen as essential in many careers. The WJEC specification, taught in our department, is designed to aid and assess development, and encourage you to be inspired by a broad range of texts and tasks.
Whatever path you choose in life, the study of English will support you and provide you with functional, useful and empowering skills for life.
Lessons in English are vibrant and exciting, with a range of activities used to engage you and sustain your thirst for learning. Independent study is actively encouraged, as is discussion and debate. English staff, where possible, facilitate learning; encouraging you to take responsibility for your own development. New skills will be introduced, developed and perfected in preparation for external examinations and controlled assessments.
ICT and the ‘real’ world play a huge part in your lessons, as we prepare you to take your English skills into your future education and working lives.
There are three GCSE awards on the WJEC specification. GCSE English is taken as a single award, whilst GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature are studied in conjunction with one another, to gain two separate GCSEs.
GCSE English
Unit |
Assessment |
Coverage |
Unit 1 – English in the daily world (reading) |
Written examination – 1hr |
|
Unit 2 – English in the daily world (writing) |
Written examination – 1hr |
|
Unit 3 – English in the world of the imagination |
Controlled assessment |
|
Unit 4 – English in the daily world (speaking and listening) |
Controlled assessment |
|
GCSE Language
Unit |
Assessment |
Coverage |
Unit 1 – Studying written language |
Written examination 1hr |
|
Unit 2 – Using written language |
Written examination 1hr |
|
Unit 3 – Literary reading and creative writing |
Controlled assessment |
|
Unit 4 – Spoken Language |
Controlled assessment |
|
GCSE Literature
Unit |
Assessment |
Coverage |
Unit 1 – Prose and Poetry |
Written examination 2hrs |
A – Different cultures prose |
Unit 2a – Literary heritage drama and contemporary prose |
Written examination 2hrs |
Individual texts in context – choice of English/Irish/Welsh Literary Heritage Drama and Contemporary Prose |
Unit 2b – Contemporary drama and literary heritage prose |
Written examination 2hrs |
Individual texts in context – choice of Contemporary Drama and English/Irish/Welsh Literary Heritage Prose |
Unit 3 – Poetry and drama |
Controlled assessment |
Poetry and play by Shakespeare |
