English & English Literature

Students are entered for both English Language and English Literature and are awarded two separate grades at the end. The new AQA courses that began in September 2015 did herald significant change from previous years’ specifications, with Controlled Assessment a thing of the past and the new GCSE grading of 1-9 replacing the conventional letter grades. Moreover, although Speaking and Listening will still be assessed, it will not contribute to the overall English Language grade, while all examinations for English Literature will be ‘closed book’, meaning copies are not allowed into the exam room. Both courses build on skills and knowledge of English developed during Years 7, 8 and 9, and will provide a firm foundation for further study of English Language and Literature at Advanced Level

English Language

There will be TWO examination papers – both featuring unseen texts. Each will demand responses assessed for Reading Comprehension and for Original Writing

Paper 1 - Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing will feature literary-style texts, while Paper 2 - Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives will assess responses based on non-fiction texts

English Literature

This will also feature TWO examination papers – both featuring a range of literary texts. Paper 1 will feature a Shakespeare play from the prescribed list – perhaps ‘Macbeth’ or ‘The Tempest’- and a further question on a pre-1900 work of fiction, again from the list of set texts including ‘Jekyll and Hyde’, ‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘The Sign of Four’ This paper is worth 40% of the total award

Paper 2 completes the remaining 60% of the award and will feature four questions - one on a modern piece of prescribed drama, a second on a post 1914 set prose text (options include ‘Lord of the Flies’, ‘Pigeon English’ or ‘An Inspector Calls’), the third on set poems from the AQA Poetry Anthology and the fourth on ‘unseen’ poetry

Mrs C.Lewis Head of English

c.lewis@merchanttaylors.com

Geography

The aims of Geography:

The GCSE Geography AQA specification builds on the skills, knowledge and understanding picked up in the lower school. The specification will lead effectively to A level study, entry to which requires a good result at GCSE.

The course helps students to develop knowledge and understanding of contrasting human and physical environments It also helps students to understand the ways in which people interact with each other and with their environments, as well as understanding different communities and cultures at a variety of scales.

Why study Geography?

Whilst giving our students a knowledge of the world and their place in it, Geography develops numerous broader skills, for example data analysis, critical analysis and comprehension.

Geography is a popular choice at GCSE due to the variety of topics covered and the wide range of skills developed. It is a good bridging subject combining equally well with both arts and science subjects. Geography can lead directly to careers in the energy industry, town and regional planning, cartography, transport, surveying, teaching, environmental management and environmental engineering. Geographers also pursue skills in numeracy and literacy, opening up opportunities in accountancy and law among other wider fields.

The Course

Boys begin the GCSE course in the spring term of Year 9. This is to allow for the completion of content in detail, while enabling an adequate revision period at the conclusion of Year 11.

Fieldwork is an important part of Geography Students will carry out a number of skills based on observation, collection, representation, analysis, interpretation and use of data including maps and photographs The fieldwork study is compulsory and will be based on work carried out in the summer term of Year 10, which will be done in the Lake District; the third exam paper is linked to this experience. This is a two-day residential trip, incorporating some work on the topic of ice on the land, rivers and resources. Boys will also look at urban change in various parts of Liverpool to support their understanding for paper 2 It is likely there will be an optional overseas trip to support your son’s GCSE and potentially A Level geographical studies

The Examinations

There will be three exam papers completed in the summer of Year 11 and the content and weighting are outlined below. Geographical skills will be examined in all three exams and use of effective spelling, punctuation and grammar will be rewarded appropriately.

Mr O Harkness Head of Geography

o.harkness@merchanttaylors.com