--- title: "English" url: "https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/parents/year11/english" school: "The Westleigh School" --- # English ### Year 11 GCSE English We are delighted to welcome our Year 11 students and look forward to supporting them through this important year of their English GCSE studies. ![](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/images/AQA.jpg)![](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/images/Pearson_Edexcel.png)Together, we can build the confidence and stamina needed for the demands of the English GCSEs, secure strong progress and help every student achieve their best possible grades in both **AQA English Literature** and **Pearson Edexcel 2.0 English Language**. #### GCSE Examination Arrangements Students will be entered for the following qualifications: #### AQA English Literature **Paper 1:** - Shakespeare: Macbeth - 19th-century novel: A Christmas Carol **Paper 2:** - Modern text: *An Inspector Calls* - Poetry: *Power and Conflict* - Unseen Poetry #### Pearson Edexcel 2.0 English Language **Paper 1:** - Non-fiction texts - Transactional writing **Paper 2:** - Contemporary texts - Imaginative writing Teachers will monitor students' progress throughout the year and provide targeted support to ensure that everyone is fully prepared for both examinations. Assessment evidence will be used to identify areas for improvement and guide form-time intervention, after-school intervention and revision. #### Year 11 Assessments Students will complete a programme of assessments throughout the year to help them build confidence and identify areas for further development. #### Half Term 1 In-class assessment: *Macbeth* #### Half Term 2 Assessment Week: Full Literature Paper 1 and full Language Paper 1 #### Half Term 3 In-class assessment: *Power and Conflict* Poetry and Unseen Poetry #### Half Term 4 Assessment Week: Full Literature Paper 2 and full Language Paper 2 #### GCSE Practice in Lessons During the first term, students will complete their study of *Macbeth* alongside Language Paper 1. They will also begin regular practice with GCSE-style questions in both Literature and Language. This will include: - Timed extracts - Essay responses - Language analysis - Recall activities - Scaffolding and modelling - Live marking and feedback Students will be encouraged to be resilient, review their work, complete corrections and act on feedback to improve their performance. During the summer term, teachers will follow an **interleaved revision programme**, allowing all classes to recap and revise the full course in preparation for their GCSE examinations. #### Thursday After-School Intervention Year 11 English intervention takes place every **Thursday from 3:00 – 3:45pm**. Intervention will focus on small groups of students for a number of weeks before rotating to another group. Sessions may include: - Targeted support with structuring writing - Guided past-paper practice - Activities to strengthen knowledge - Examination technique Selected students may also be invited to intervention groups during form time. Families are encouraged to support regular attendance and purposeful participation in every intervention opportunity offered. #### Weekly Homework Students have been set their **Literature texts on Sparx Reader** and should read regularly throughout the week. Students also have a **Pearson Edexcel 2.0 Language revision booklet**, with a specific number of activities to complete each fortnight. Every other week, students will be asked to create a **Literature revision resource** based on a topic identified by their teacher. #### Recognising Commitment We want to recognise students who demonstrate commitment, effort and positive attitudes towards their English studies. At the end of each half term, our **top positive-point scorers** will be entered into a raffle prize draw. Our students with the highest **Attitude to Learning (ATL)** scores will also be invited to a film night as a reward for their hard work and effort throughout Year 11. #### Further Revision Support Alongside weekly homework and in-class practice, students can use these free online resources for additional revision and exam practice: [BBC Bitesize English Language](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zgvg6fr) [BBC Bitesize English Literature](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zxqncwx) Revision guides, examples and practice activities. [Seneca Learning](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/) Interactive revision resources for English Literature and English Language. [Mr Bruff](https://mrbruff.com/?v=7885444af42e) Video tutorials covering AQA English Literature and Edexcel English Language. [SparkNotes](https://www.sparknotes.com/) Summaries and analysis of set texts. #### ![](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/images/Help.jpg)How Parents and Carers Can Help Families can support students by: - Encouraging them to complete weekly reading and homework independently, carefully and on time. - Encouraging attendance and active participation at Thursday intervention when invited, as well as any form-time intervention. - Providing a quiet and regular routine for revision. - Asking students to show you the work they have completed, corrected and reviewed. - Encouraging students to use the available videos and revision resources to catch up promptly following any absence. - Encouraging students to ask their English teacher for help when they are unsure. With regular practice, a positive response to feedback and a willingness to ask for help, every student can make meaningful progress. **If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child's English teacher.** ### Parents - [Arbor](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/parents/arbor) - [Buses](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/parents/buses) - [Letters](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/parents/letters) - [Meals & Trips](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/parents/meals-trips) - [Online Safety](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/parents/e-safety) - [Open Evening](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/parents/open-evening) - [PTA](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/parents/pta) - [School Day](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/parents/school-day) - [Social Media Links](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/parents/social-media-links) - [Special Educational Needs & Disabilities](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/parents/sen) - [Term Dates](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/parents/termdates) - [School Uniform](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/parents/uniform) - [Y6 Transition](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/parents/transition) - [Y11 GCSE Information](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/parents/year11) - ![We are a nut-free school](https://files.schudio.com/westleigh-high/images/partners/Nut_Free_School.png) - [![Shaw Education Trust](https://files.schudio.com/westleigh-high/images/partners/Shaw_Education_Trust_-_CMYK_Logo_on_Light_-_010721_SMALL(1).png)](http://www.shaw-education.org.uk/) - ![Safeguarding Standard](https://files.schudio.com/westleigh-high/images/partners/Safeguarding-Standard(1).png) - [![CEOP Report](https://files.schudio.com/westleigh-high/images/partners/reporttoceop.jpg)](https://www.ceop.police.uk/ceop-reporting/) - ![Disclaimer](https://files.schudio.com/westleigh-high/images/partners/disclaimer3.png) [Embedded content](https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2372.408505190141!2d-2.531707922820416!3d53.5147608621084!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x487b07b56bf718a3%3A0xee805cdf56b0b85c!2sThe%20Westleigh%20School!5e0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1685615514945!5m2!1sen!2suk) ![The Westleigh School](https://files.schudio.com/westleigh-high/images/logo/wlhs-final-school-logo-horizontal-2022-CSp-large_-ofsted.png) **The Westleigh School** Westleigh Lane Leigh WN7 5NL Tel: 01942 202 580 Email: [![Shaw Education Trust](https://files.schudio.com/shaw-education-trust-2/images/logo/set-misc/footer-logo-v1.png)](https://shaw-education.org.uk) **Shaw Education Trust** Kidsgrove Secondary School Gloucester Road Kidsgrove ST7 4DL VAT: GB 358822467 Tel: 01782 948259 Email: Company Number: 09067175 ### Staff Links - [Arbor](https://the-westleigh-school.uk.arbor.sc/) - [Outlook 365](https://outlook.office365.com) - [School Cloud](https://westleigh.schoolcloud.co.uk/Auth/Teacher) - [Remote Access](https://westleighremote.shaw-education.org.uk/RDWeb/Pages/en-US/Default.aspx) - [IT Helpdesk](http://srvweb/portal) - [SISRA Analytics ](https://www.sisraanalytics.co.uk/) - [Student Wellbeing Concern](https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=48aZkktFFECRk1vXiMa8-szV8iaaRgxKjK6_Z-olMT1UMEVDUjBOTkJVMjJDMU5aM0g5WVhCUjFZUi4u) - [Union Provision](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/union-provision) ### Social Media - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/thewestleighschool/) - [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/@TheWestleighSchool) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/thewestleighschool/) © Copyright 2015–2026 The Westleigh School School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://www.thewestleighschool.co.uk/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)