GCSE English - Thursday Mornings

Move forward in your career with GCSEs

GCSE qualifications are a key stepping stone to further education, higher education and many job roles. They provide strong foundations for future success and are often a minimum requirement for progressing in work or study.

Achieving a Level 2 or higher qualification in English and maths can make a real difference to your future, including improving your employment prospects and increasing your lifetime earning potential.

Whether you are returning to learning or looking to strengthen your skills, our GCSE courses are designed to fit around your life and help you reach your goals. 

Why choose to study GCSEs with us?

• Study for free (if you have previously achieved a grade 3/D or lower)
• Small, supportive adult-only group
• Weekly daytime or evening classes.

Take the next step and invest in your future with a GCSE qualification.

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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 understand that every learner’s journey is unique. This course is designed exclusively for adults aged 19+, with small, supportive classes that create an enjoyable and encouraging atmosphere. To suit different commitments and learning styles, we offer a flexible approach that combines time in college with opportunities to study from home, helping you stay on track and maintain strong attendance.

If you have been away from education for a while, you are not alone. Our experienced tutors specialise in supporting adult learners as they return to the classroom and will guide you with patience and understanding at every stage. And rest assured, there are no school-style detentions here.

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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.

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Start date, attendance and alternative options

• Start date - September 2026
• Attendance - This particular course runs on Thursday mornings, 9.30am-12pm.

We do also offer this course on: Tuesday evenings, 6-8.30pm, Wednesday evenings, 6-8.30pm. 

• Fees
  • Free - If you have a GCSE at grade 3/D (or lower) in English.
  • £812 - If you have a GCSE at grade 4/C (or above) in English.

Don’t let paying for the course hold you back from achieving your goals. You can split the cost of this course over four instalments. If you wish to pay in instalments, you will be required to pay 25% (£203) of the total fee on the day of enrolment and a Direct Debit mandate would then to be completed to enable the college to collect further three monthly payments of £203. 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.

• Adult learning support and guidance

  Starting something new can feel like a big step, but you don’t have to do it alone. From careers guidance to mental health and wellbeing, we’re here to support you before you apply and throughout your time with us.

  Visit our adult support page