In the second year of GCSE study, teachers will continue to lead pupils in learning our final GCSE Literature text: DNA by Dennis Kelly as well as practising the skill of analysing and comparing unseen poetry. Once we have finished this study of modern drama, we spend the rest of the year revising the texts learned in Year 10 and practising English Language skills with a range of relevant and engaging texts. These are based around themes of diversity, adventure and disaster.

In Year 11, pupils undertake two sets of trial exams before their real exams in May and June. These are scheduled for around October half term and then again in February (normally the two weeks either side of the half term breaks). These allow students to experience the rigour and expectations of GCSE exams twice before the ‘real thing’; the grades from October are also used from college applications. These trial exams allow our experienced teachers to plan their lessons specifically to address gaps in pupil knowledge and any issues that they encountered.

From the start of Year 11, all pupils are expected to attend an extra weekly Period 6 lesson to support their progress. Extra revision sessions are provided on Saturdays with Saturday School in the library with Mr Lynn which is always well attended and reviewed by the pupils. Residential revision trips to Kingswood are organised by our Achieve team and we are lucky enough to invite a theatre company ManActoo to Firth Park Academy every year to perform abridged versions of the literature texts to pupils.

The school also provides CGP English Literature and Language revision guides at a discounted rate (£2.50 per book, compared to £8.50 RRP). These have proved beneficial for GCSE students in the past.