GCSE English

Overview

Looking to improve your GCSE English grade, but the thought of studying Shakespeare again fills you with dread?

At West Notts, we use relevant and age appropriate resources in interactive sessions that encourages discussion and development of understanding. It’s not just a teacher stood at the front of the class talking for the whole session. Questions are encouraged to ensure misconceptions are addressed throughout the development of your written and spoken language skills as you read a wide range of texts covering the English Language in a variety of forms.

We know learning is bespoke, and everyone’s journey is different. This course is for learners aged 19+ only and we make sure to keep the class sizes small and supportive, whilst creating a fun learning environment. To help accommodate the needs of our learners, we often create a hybrid way of working to allow you flexibility to work at college or at home to ensure that attendance remains high. Don’t worry – we don’t give out detentions.

Start dates and fees

• If you have a GCSE at grade 3/D (or lower) in English, the cost will be FREE.
• If you have a GCSE at grade 4/C (or above) in English, the cost will be £812.

The course fee can either be paid in full or in four instalments.

If you wish to pay in instalments, you will be required to pay 25% (£203.00) of the total fee on the day of enrolment and a Direct Debit mandate would then need to be completed to enable the college to collect a further three payments of £203.00 bi-monthly. The payments will be taken on the date you choose on the Direct Debit mandate form.

Please contact the college’s finance department for further details on 0808 100 3626.

For more information on GCSE start dates, times and fees please contact us on our enquiries line 0808 100 3626 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

What will I study?

Across the year you will focus on developing a number of skills while studying a variety of extracts from literary texts spanning the 19^th, 20^th and 21^st centuries. The main skills you will cover are:

• Being able to identify and interpret explicit and implicit information and ideas
• Selecting and synthesising evidence from different texts
• Being able to explain, comment on and analyse how writers use language and structure to achieve effects and influence readers, using relevant subject terminology to support their views
• Comparing writers’ ideas and perspectives, as well as how these are conveyed, across two or more texts
• Evaluating texts critically and support this with appropriate textual references
• Communicating clearly, effectively and imaginatively; selecting and adapting tone, style and register for different forms, purposes and audiences
• Organising information and ideas; using structural and grammatical features to support coherence and cohesion of texts
• Using a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation.

The exam will cover:

• Reading and responding to texts from the 19^th, 20^th and 21^st century using a range of the skills listed above
• Writing to inform, explain, describe, argue and persuade.

How long is the course?

One year.