New GCSE and A-level
Over the past 10 years we have successfully completed the GCSE and A-level program with mainly A* grade results.From September 2018 we started studying the new program to prepare students for passing the first new format exams in 2019
The new examination program requires a much more detailed information of Russian speaking culture and we have incorporated new ways to educate our students about our history, traditions and culture without actually going there, to understand the knowledge and historical values of the Russian-speaking world. An important tool in expanding children's horizons in this area is our regular plays based on old Russian traditions. It is very important that our pupils are playing the major parts in these plays providing the knowledge in a natural environment to understand and retain these Russian traditions. This is especially beneficial to our younger students.
For students of the A-level class, the new program includes the knowledge of historical characters and classical literature. In class we discuss about the significance of Perestroika and the role of Gorbachev in the historical development and disintegration of the USSR.
Teenagers are happy to debate and prove their opinions with the help of facts. They are enjoying searching for these facts as homework.
Reading “The Cherry Orchard” takes a little longer, but gradually, students delve into understanding the main theme of Chekhov’s work and lively discuss the importance of the abolition of serfdom in Russia.
Our GCSE group recently studied the biography of V. Tereshkova. Tereshkova has recently been studied at the local English Grammar schools (TOGS) when studying biographies of famous women of the world.
Such a parallel study is very useful, since children present the same information in Russian and English. Translations into both languages is an extremely important part of the new GCSE and A-level. We use the program of local English schools and to find common areas, since children spend most of the week in these schools it builds a powerful link.
We make every effort to prepare children for success in GCSE’s and A-level’s in 2019, just as we have done for the past 10 years. In addition to the teaching in the classroom, we have achieved great results in individual lessons and our distance learning program. In these cases, the program is created individually according to the level of Russian language knowledge and exposure. To discuss write to svetlana@russian-school.org.uk, call 07715559035.