Qualification Routes

Most students opt for the International GCSE because it is a more straightforward exam to access and does not require a coursework component; the content otherwise overlaps with the standard GCSE.

The Poetry & Elizabethan Literature course is the ideal starting point for English Language studies; the teaching will cover topics from both the Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel IGCSE syllabus. Children will learn how to approach and analyse a variety of fiction and non-fiction writing, as well as developing their skills in descriptive and imaginative writing. The emphasis on understanding poetry will also prepare the class to tackle an extensive range of literary techniques.

The Essay Skills course completes the required learning for an English Language exam and ensures that the children have had plenty of practice in composing thorough responses to essay questions. The aim is to develop confidence in the art of analytical written communication in order to prepare students to face essays in a variety of subjects; much of the content is transferable to other subjects as well. 

Children who complete Essay Skills will also have embarked upon the learning process for an English Literature GCSE.

The English Literature exam builds upon many of the language skills covered in the Language exam and encourages students to engage with novels, plays and poetry; examining boards for both formats tend to be fairly similar in their expectations of literary analysis skills. 

There will be variations in the texts covered in exams so please check your chosen exam board to see how these will overlap. The texts in the Essay Skills course are all current English Literature exam texts and the course teaching will cover the necessary material for themes, characterisation and language study.

Victorian Literature provides a focus on the classic 19th century novel, which is a core component of English Literature exams. We delve into the context and ideas that enable students to write confidently on the texts. Students answer a series of past GCSE questions and use their feedback to improve exam technique. We also practise tackling exam topics in class in order to help students better plan their responses. At the start of every class for Essay Skills and Victorian Literature, students analyse a poem together. This will give them an opportunity to develop a thoughtful and articulate response to poetry in preparation for writing about unseen poetry. 

The teaching content for History GCSE varies greatly depending on the examining board. Skylarks Learning has chosen to focus on the Pearson Edexcel International qualification as this best aligns with a Charlotte Mason style approach to studying the history of the 18th to 20th centuries.

In preparation for the IGCSE, students are required to choose: two topics for depth studies; one breadth study; and one historical investigation. In line with the IGCSE options, the Age of Revolution history course provides a detailed study of the French Revolution and a breadth study about America (from new nation to divided union, 1783-1877). The World Reshaped then completes the requirements by focusing on a depth study about the unification of Italy and a historical investigation into the origins and course of the First World War.

Please note that the history courses are both reading groups with no submitted written homework; we will practise answering exam questions together in class and students will be guided through the examination mark scheme.

All Skylarks courses have been created with the same aim - to equip children to grow as capable and confident learners. The academic content is rich in its depth and breadth; the courses are all inspired by a Charlotte Mason educational pedagogy that brings a feast of excellent reading to the child's table and encourages them to engage with the books in an attentive and purposeful atmosphere.

The courses have been developed upon this classical foundation in a way that enables parents to align their child's learning with qualifications for future study or employment. There isn't a textbook in sight but the syllabus material is covered through the lesson content and homework reading schedule. Children are then ready to complete the final stage of revision and exam practice independently.