Online English GCSE **COURSE FULL** (OL12Q81A)

Course overview

You will develop your English skills of reading, creative writing, text analysis and oral communication, leading to the completion of the GCSE exams which will take place in May & June 2024.

This course is free if you do not have an English GCSE at grade 4 / C or above.

Where This is an online course.

When Thursday, 6:30pm - 9:00pm from 14th September 2023 until 6th June 2024 for 32 weeks.

There are no classes on 26th October (Half term holiday), 23rd November, 21st & 28th December (Christmas holidays), 15th February (Half Term), 28th March, 4th & 11th April (Spring Break), 30th May (Half Term)

Cost The full fee is £0.00.

During the course

This is an online course.

The pre course interview and the GCSE course will be done via the Google Meet video platform. To ensure you get the most out of the course and can fully participate in any online sessions you will interact with your tutor and other students through speaking, listening and the chat function, as well as being able to see each other via the video links, though you can turn off your camera and microphone at any time. You will therefore need to have access to either a laptop, computer or portable device (eg tablet or ipad) this ideally needs to be less than 5 years old), with a camera / webcam and microphone, as well as a good broadband / Wi-Fi connection.

You may decide that you would like to create a separate email account for your online learning prior to the start of the course and let the ACRES' Office and your tutor know the address. This will be more secure and also allow you to share your email address with other students on the course to enhance your learning experience, without disclosing your personal information.

IMPORTANT:
All exams take place at Uckfield College.
The exam board is AQA.
The final dates and details of the 2024 exams have not yet been released. You will be kept informed by your tutor and ACRES as soon as the dates become available. You will sit more than 1 exam and these are typically held towards the end of May and beginning of June. You should be preparing for your course and exams to be completed by mid June, but in case of changes, we recommend that you do not book any holidays during May or June.

Formal Assessments and Mock GCSE exams. These will take place on Saturdays 9.45am - 12pm at Uckfield college. They are an essential part of your course and attendance is obligatory.

• Saturday 24th February
• Saturday 23rd March

What you already need to know

To gain a GCSE in 1 year, regular attendance, a high level of commitment and 3 - 4 hours of home study a week are required. You are expected to have a good standard of literacy to enable you to write timed essays and read and analyse the course texts.
Some students may opt to do the Preparing for GCSE course first to develop their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills over a longer period. This will help to build successful study habits and confidence.
The enrolment process will include a pre-course assessment and short online interview to ensure you are on the course that is most suitable for you.

What you will learn

You will learn how to read and evaluate a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts from the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
You will learn the techniques writers use to express meaning, and practise using these in your own writing, producing creative texts, both fiction and non-fiction.
You will also build your oral communication skills and confidence.

How you will learn it

You will study in a mix of situations; tutor led, whole group, paired and individual work. Practical and ILT activities will also be used and you will improve your communication skills by regularly participating in discussions. You are required to deliver a short presentation to fulfill the speaking and listening aspects of the GCSE coursework but you will be given plenty of opportunity to practise and develop your skills in preparation for this.

Bring to the first session

Please bring a pen and A4 lined paper with you. It would be useful to purchase an A4 ring binder for handouts and notes.
There are no set texts as we will study a variety of extracts and compare how writers use language in each of them. These will be provided by ACRES.
You may wish to purchase the CGP GCSE English Language grade 9 -1 complete revision and practice guide (AQA) but this is not compulsory.
To avoid unnecessary cost please do not purchase any materials until you are certain that your course will run. Course decisions are normally made a week prior to the course start date.

Extra study or practice

It is expected that you will need to spend at least 3-4 hours per week outside the formal course sessions to consolidate learning and practice newly acquired skills.

How to enrol

Register your interest for this course here. We will send you an enrolment pack. The pack includes a short assessment to establish your level. Please return the pack in the free-post envelope provided as soon as possible.
You will then be invited to an online 'meet and greet' with a tutor to help decide which course is right for you.
Any questions please call the office 01825 761820. See our contact page for office hours.

Previous students say

"The course has given me more confidence and also changed the way that I read articles and books."
"I was so nervous when I started but I have gained confidence, not just in the class but at work and with people generally."
"I felt like my life was on hold because I didn't have any qualifications, I can't believe I passed, I am going to do my Maths next."

Next steps within this subject with ACRES

Consider studying Functional Maths or GCSE Maths in with ACRES. There are daytime and evening courses available.

Future steps beyond ACRES

Find out about other courses with the National Careers Service for opportunities to extend your skills and knowledge.

Further information

Please visit the ACRES website, see our brochure, email us at adultlearning@acres.org.uk, or alternatively contact a member of the team on 01825 761820.