Home Learning Resources

Since it seems like we may be in tier 17 by the time schools are planned to reopen, we felt it made sense to repost some great activities that have been made available for use at home. One of the good things to come from the current lockdown situation is the number of arts events and activities which have been made available for free.

Here's a round-up of the broadcasts available now which are particularly suited to GCSE students.

Follow the links below for close studies of a variety of texts. This is a really helpful series for students studying English Language where they are required to analyse language use.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p02z7tz3 - Regeneration by Pat Barker

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p02w3xg8 - Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p03yjbq3 - Beloved by Toni Morrison

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0801v6l - Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar

The BBC have a number of 'Introductions' to texts, including ones on the gcse syllabuses. Here is a selection:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p08bd0g4 Jekyll and Hyde

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p08cschv Jane Eyre

On YouTube, watch:

Shakespeare's Globe's 2020 Macbeth performance: https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/learn/secondary-schools/playing-shakespeare-with-deutsche-bank/macbeth-2020-playing-shakespeare/ Only available until schools reopen

This is an old clip but it's a brilliant analysis of Macbeth's 'Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow' speech by Ian McKellen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGbZCgHQ9m8

And, as part of Greg Jenner's short History broadcasts, here is a 15 minute description of the life of Charles Dickens for those of you who need to talk about context in relation to A Christmas Carol.

For younger readers, J K Rowling is currently publishing a new novel, called The Ickabog, and published in instalments via this website https://www.theickabog.com/read-the-story/