Dear Parent / Guardian.
As you are aware, your son / daughter is studying for a GCSE in English Language and a GCSE in
English Literature. This means that they will be sitting four English exams in the Summer of 2017; all
of the Literature exams will be ‘closed book’ meaning that students will need to be confident that
they know the text – and its context - thoroughly. For more information about the course, you could
read the online specifications: AQA English Language Specification Code 8700 and AQA English
Literature Specification Code 8702.
School copies of the Literature texts are provided but if students wish to annotate his or her copies
and therefore own them, we recommend that you order texts for your son or daughter, using the
following details:
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Macbeth by William Shakespeare: The Complete Play, published by CGP – ISBN: 978 1 84146
120 5; this would be our recommended text as it includes additional study notes.
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson – in class, we are using the
Wordsworth Classics edition – ISBN: 9781853260612; other suitable editions are also
available.
Animal Farm by George Orwell – in class, we are using the Heinemann edition - ISBN: 978 0
435 12165 5; other suitable editions are also available.
Year 11 students have already studied Macbeth and Animal Farm in class and are now starting
reading of Jekyll and Hyde. Throughout the rest of the year, we will be returning to these texts in
order to prepare students thoroughly for the exams in Summer 2017.
We would also encourage you to consider ordering revision guide books for these set texts and also
for other aspects of both the Language and Literature exams. We would like to offer the
opportunity for students to purchase all, or a combination of, the following revision guides as
collectively, these cover the entire course. These texts would support independent study and offer
students a means to support their progress through self evaluation; the resources obviously do not
replace or change the in class teaching and assessment offered by your son / daughter’s English
teachers.
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AQA Anthology of Poetry: Power and Conflict – The Poetry Guide (CGP) £2.75
Unseen Poetry: Exam Board AQA – The Poetry Guide (CGP) £2.75
Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde – The Text Guide (CGP) £2.75
Macbeth – The Text Guide (CGP) £2.75
Animal Farm – The Text Guide (CGP) £2.75
AQA GCSE English Language Revision Workbook: Targeting Grade 5 (if your son or daughter
has a target grade of 5 or under) or AQA GCSE English Language Revision Workbook: Targeting
Grades 6 to 9 (OUP) £4.94
We are able to order each guide at a cost that is reduced from published prices. Where
parents/guardians are in receipt of free school meals, please contact the finance department.
If you would like to purchase these revision guides then please complete the slip below. Payment is
available via cash or cheque. Please make cheques payable to ‘The Dean Academy’ and mark on the
reverse with the student’s name, tutor group and ‘GCSE English Revision Guides 2016’. Please return
this slip with your payment to the resources office by 14th October, in order to receive these revision
guides before the Year 11 November English mock exams.
We hope that you will find this information helpful in continuing to support your son or daughter’s
progress at home.
Yours etc ….
Reply slip to include each text to be ordered:
Text Title
AQA Anthology of Poetry: Power and Conflict – The Poetry Guide
(CGP)
Unseen Poetry: Exam Board AQA – The Poetry Guide (CGP)
Price
£2.75
Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde – The Text Guide (CGP)
Macbeth – The Text Guide (CGP)
£2.75
£2.75
Animal Farm – The Text Guide (CGP)
£2.75
Tick if ordering
£2.75
AQA GCSE English Language Revision Workbook: Targeting Grade 5
£.4.94
(if your son or daughter has a target grade of 5 or under)
AQA GCSE English Language Revision Workbook: Targeting Grades 6 £4.94
to 9 (OUP)
Total Cost:
The only other thing I might like on the letter is a receipt part that can be given back to the student
outlining how much was paid and ordered and if it was paid in cash or cheque. Nikki or Tina can add
this in as we have done on previous letters.