Depending on your prior English attainment, you may need to continue to study English as part of your programme of study. If you achieved a grade 3. If you achieved a grade 3 or below, you will attend compulsory GCSE or Functional Skills sessions. This is a requirement for all our vocational courses at Confetti. Our aim is to ensure you achieve higher grade passes to aid you in progression to higher education and employment.
If you achieved a Grade 3 at GCSE you will be required to study GCSE English Language where you will be supported to achieve a grade 4 or above.
If you achieved below a Grade 3 at GCSE and have not yet achieved a Functional Skills Level 2 pass, you will be required to study Functional Skills English at Entry Level 3, Level 1 or Level 2. This will be dependent on your prior achievement.
What you’ll learn:
The essential language skills and critical thinking to effectively communicate, engage and succeed in both academic and vocational real world contexts.
What software and hardware you’ll use:
If you need additional support and exam concessions we use Read Write Gold and Reading pens in sessions to support your learning.
All our resources can be found on Confetti Moodle.
What you’ll do (practical elements, seminar activities):
Vocational links are at the heart of our sessions embracing music, media and games creating real-world connections.
We engage learners in lively discussion around a broad range of subjects in every session. Sessions are designed to ensure inclusion through a broad range of materials relating to the creative industries, cultural diversity and individuality.
There will be a reading and writing element in all sessions. You will develop your skills with practice questions, writing strategies and exam techniques.
You will have your work assessed fortnightly providing personalised guidance and feedback to support progression. At the start of every session students create individual targets to encourage personal growth.
Who you’ll do it (cross-course collaborations, exceptional tutors):
Our team are English specialists and have vast experience working with FE students from a huge range of backgrounds. We make learning English fun, engaging and relevant to your studies. At Confetti, you will be treated as an independent, adult learner and will be encouraged to take responsibility for your own progress in a self-led and pro-active way – quite different from school!
Our classes are mixed cohorts of students from all different courses across college. You will get to collaborate with students from courses different to your own, exploring links between the creative industries.
Read our course commitment
You will enjoy this course if:
- you enjoy exploring texts from a broad range of writers to expand your cultural capital. Developing your creativity using a variety of images, music and film as inspiration
- You are good at working with others through group work and respecting others’ ideas
- You are excited by open dialogue, voicing your opinions on a range of subjects and appreciate alternative perspectives. Exploring new ways of using language to communicate in different ways, engaging audiences.
There are 2 core papers for GCSE English which both have a reading and writing element. These are externally examined at the end of the academic year.
Paper 1: Explore Creative Reading and Writing
1 hour 45 minutes
50% of GCSE
20th and 21st century literary texts
Section A: 4 reading questions.
Section B: Descriptive or narrative writing.
Paper 2: Explore Writers’ Viewpoints
1 hour 45 minutes
50% of GCSE
19th, 20th and 21st century non-literary texts
Section A: 4 reading questions.
Section B: Write your own viewpoint in the form of non-fiction.
There are 3 core units to study in Functional Skills; Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening and Communicating. The reading and writing are assessed externally. You are given a number of opportunities to sit the exams throughout terms 2 and 3. You need to pass all three elements in order to achieve a Level 1 in Functional Skills. Once you have achieved a level 1, you will then be provided with an opportunity to progress to level 2.
Paper 1: Reading
33.3% of Functional Skills
Multiple Choice and short written responses.
Paper 2: Writing
33.3% of Functional Skills
Two writing tasks Inc: Letters, emails, leaflets and articles.
Speaking, Listening and Communicating
33.3% of Functional Skills
Two tasks including a formal group discussion and a 4 minute presentation.
