Y11 2025/26 The Final Stretch

Just thought I’d add a couple more tips for Lit tomorrow:

• How to write about writer’s purpose. For every bit of analysis, extend it to include purpose: what’s the intended effect on the reader + what’s the wider message. So ‘The verb phrase ‘Scrooge trembled’ at the sight of the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come shows that he is scared of the spirits’ (basic) becomes much better when you add ‘which demonstrates to the reader how Scrooge has changed and now fears the moral messages the spirits are bringing to him’ (effect on the reader) and even better if you add ‘In this way, Dickens demonstrates to his readers that mankind, like Scrooge, should fear the future if they are unwilling to change their ways’ (wider message).
• For Lit AND Lang, before you put a full stop in your analysis, consider if you can add ‘because’, ‘which’ or ‘so’ to explain your idea. Eg ‘The metaphor ‘Macbeth doth murder sleep’ demonstrates that Macbeth’s murderous actions have destroyed his mental stability.’ (basic) is much improved by adding ‘because sleep is essential for peace of mind and is associated with a guilt free conscience in this play, which makes it clear to the audience that Macbeth’s act of regicide has destructive consequences for his psyche as well as the country’ .

Hope that makes sense!

Lit, Biology, Maths and History for Dd too this week. She has told me to go to work early tomorrow morning - very much not wanting my help 😆

DS has English Lit and Business Studies tomorrow, then Biology, Geography and Maths on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. He's not looking forward to English Lit - he enjoyed A Christmas Carol but found Macbeth and An Inspector Calls uninspiring. I don't know why the texts haven't changed since I sat the GCSEs.

I agree with what you said @MayasJamas , particularly about enriching Eng Lit can be.

Thanks for the top tips also!

English teacher here. I (of course) think Lit should be compulsory, for several reasons - all of which I totally accept some will disagree with!

• Literature explores important issues: poverty, conflict, societal expectations, gender, inequality, love, what it means to be human. You cannot succeed in Lit without digging into why writers explore these themes and that prompts students to think about them.
• If it wasn’t compulsory, the cultural divide between privileged and disadvantaged would widen, with many kids having no exposure to literature at all. I think it’s important as a society that we at least give everyone access to the joy (yes I do believe that!) of literature.
• In today’s world it’s vital to understand that words and language are used to direct and manipulate readers. In a world of rhetoric, much of it dangerous, Lit gives that critical thinking and ability to step back and question why and how people choose their words.
• Although the exams are grim, too memory based (thanks Gove), and there’s too much content I agree, every Lit class I’ve taught has, at times at least, enjoyed the process of analysing literature, they’ve enjoyed the stories, they’ve reacted emotionally to the endings of tragedies etc etc. I think as a subject it can be v enriching, and it would be a shame to ditch it because it doesn’t serve a purpose in the job market, as many perceive.

Wishing everyone’s lovelies the best of luck for tmw. The main thing is, they need to KEEP WRITING. They can’t be marked down, only UP! And they must ALWAYS consider the writer’s purpose: WHY has Shakespeare chosen those words/characters/moments - what is his bigger comment or criticism on society, on human nature, on themes?

Yes, although it's one DD finds fine generally so is the least worried about if all of next week's exams. Apparently the timing is very generous so the whole class seems to have had plenty of time to check answers after they've finished answering in the mocks.

Anyone’s DC doing R&P this week and next? It’s my DDs strongest subject (ironically as we’re firm atheists 🤣). But DD worried about how both exams falls on the same day as other subjects for her.

Has anyone got computer science on Wednesday? My son seems ok about it but ive heard its really difficult!

I have scribed for iGCSEs English for a couple of years now and agree some of the questions are esoteric- and often able to be interpreted in a couple of ways which is really not on.

Plus the set texts.... utterly uninspiring in the main. Texts that I did for my own English exams 35 years ago.

But how great that they’ve all got their individual strengths!

She’s awake! The plan for the day is to do some morning revision and make sure the uniform and bag is all sorted for tomorrow then we’ll go for a long walk this afternoon to chill.
Shes in good spirits for tomorrow at the moment. I’m nervous as!!

My DS is very humanities biased but English lit is a weaker subject. His essays often move off to talk about Elizabethan theatre or Victorian Britain. We struggle to get him to stick to the text before him. He has also got to really disliking the texts. I recall studying a much wider range of material which I think helps. He class do Lord of the Flies which is his favourite of the texts. I think more choice have helped him as reading fiction has never been his thing. He would have taken English Lit if it had been an option but it has always been harder for him than English Language. I think that’s because he reads a lot it’s just all non fiction.

@clarythey could study lit in Yr9 then those inspired could carry on. DS is wired for sciences and maths. Struggles with English. Will gain no benefit from
lit. He doesn’t even like to read

I think there is something wrong with the way it is structured now. I loved English lit and did A level but it just felt like there was a bit more freedom in answering questions on it. You had to be familiar with the text but the marking scheme seemed less proscriptive. Maybe it's the volume that they have to learn now. When I did GCSEs in the early 90s, half of it was coursework which helped

Dd went from it being one of her favourite subjects in year 9 to dreading tomorrow's exam in Y11. She's still aiming for a good grade but finds it tricky to revise for.

I guess generally the compulsory subjects will always have higher percentage of grades under a 4, as everyone has to do them.

Dd LOVES English lit!! It’s her strongest subject and all time favourite which she’s worked her arse off for. Mocks have been high 9s so really hope for her sake she can pull it off. It’s her first choice alevel too! So yes there are definitely some kids who do love it.

I think that the Eng lit GCSE is not a success; the fact that it is not tiered means that, OK, students who struggle with it will self-determine at a lower grade, but the challenge in analysing a passage of Shakespeare in the way it is presented just defeats many. It would be more than possible to devise a more accessible exam as an option.

But I really (really) do think that it’s an important GCSE that everyone should take, if in a modified form in some cases. It would be appalling IMHO if a student could finish school without ever studying Shakespeare or the great novels and dramas of the last two centuries. Like I say, in my view it needs a rethink. If only to ensure that students actually enjoy it.

I totally agree! It should be an option subject and not core. I got an 'E' 30 years ago and my son will be similar with a 3 I think. Still can't stand anything fiction especially Shakespeare!

I’m actually interested ( to any teachers here) as to why lit is still compulsary.
I know my Yr9 DS is going to loathe every minute of it

@Walkingbkwrm does your DC not take English lit? That's quite unusual IME.

@36and3 "we" have the same timetable, minus RE: English lit, biology, maths and history.
I'm a little worried about history, dd seems fairly confident but im worried she doesnt know it as well as i think she needs to know it (dates especially). I dont want to knock the confidence. Anyone has some tips on how to do some general review everyrhing in a couple of hours? Or should i suggest some practice questions?
Today she's done a maths paper, some history revision by doing mind maps of her knowledge and studied model answers, then some english lit revision (making essay plans and revising quotes), and is now doing flashcards on biology. Pretty much non stop since 9.30 this morning... i suggested a movie, catching up on BGT or watching taskmasters but she wanted to do biology. She said the flashcards (possibly save my exams or seneca) are "fun" 🫤
@Littletreefrog I agree... DD thought she did well in her mock and got a 6... she was so upset.
I looked at these stats with DD as she was getting so wound up about the fact that she was unlikely to get a 9 in dance and drama and i wanted to show her not everybody gets 9s (it doesnt help all her friends do!). The grade the most given in maths is a 3. How sad that 40% of children dont pass. Equally, i see what DD does in the higher paper and i never did this at her age (didnt study here). The gap is huge and I'm not sure that's necessary or whether it would be better to have a middle of the road paper for all (the concept of foundation and higher was also a shock to me).

There must be something about the English Language paper. My DS has been getting high 7s in English Lit and struggling for 4s in English Language mocks. You would think this would be the other way round.

Eng Lang is difficult and depressing for less able students.
Some of the texts are long and old fashioned.
The timing on the paper is very tight.
The questions can be quite esoteric.
The extended writing on the fact paper can be hard if you have never thought about the topic before.
And to top it all the speaking and listening doesn't even count.

(My DD ended up doing Functional Skills - much more tangible.)

I’d say a lot aren’t getting ver high in maths either. I’ve always thought there should be a ‘practical maths’ option

Is this language or literature?

The amount getting a 3 and less in English is shocking. I say that as someone whose daughter might end up with a 3 if she has a bad day. 40% getting a mark that means they would have to retake! There's something massively going wrong with the way it's assessed (or possibly I guess the teaching) for that to be the case. I know for my DD, she is bright, articulate, writes with a lovely style but just cannot get enough marks to score well in English. I can't work out why not, and neither can her teachers / tutor but she just falls apart in the exam. I think she'd really benefit from extra time but the school would not pursue it. So sad that so many children aren't achieving a standard pass in a subject like that. Although does make me feel less guilty about it as everyone I know seems to have high flying children excelling in everything.

How interesting, much lower numbers getting level 2 pass and top grades than I thought.

https://analytics.ofqual.gov.uk/apps/GCSE/County/

this is eye opening - it shows the % based on County . Where we live is 9% … a few other Counties I looked at 3/4 % .. it’s not good really is it 🙁.. where I was born and bred 2%