Why study GCSE English Literature? (Year 9)

GCSE English Literature is compulsory in most schools, but engaging with it well isn't. This lesson plan will help you to show Year 9 students why the subject matters, drawing on the jobs it leads to, the skills it builds, and the routes it opens up.

This lesson is designed to be delivered in 30 minutes as a teacher-led classroom activity.

This activity supports the following frameworks:

  • Gatsby Benchmark 4

This activity is suitable for Year 9 and features careers linked to the following subjects:

  • English Literature

This is one of three lesson plans designed for Year 9 English Literature teachers:

These lesson plans will help you show students how English Literature connects to their future careers.

We recommend using this lesson plan at the beginning of the spring term, as students approach their GCSE choices. It builds on the two earlier lesson plans and draws them together to help students see why English Literature matters. Using all three in sequence gives students a fuller picture: the careers English Literature leads to, the skills it builds, and why it's worth engaging with at GCSE.

Learning objectives

  • Students will understand what studying GCSE English Literature involves.
  • Students will recognise the transferable skills English Literature builds.
  • Students will see how English Literature connects to a wide range of careers.

Before the lesson

  • You will need a computer connected to the internet and a classroom screen.
  • Open the What can you do with English Literature? page and have it ready on the screen.
  • Review the page in full so you know what's in each section.
  • Be ready to describe your school's GCSE English Literature syllabus.

During the lesson

1. Recap: jobs and skills (5 mins)

  • Ask students to recall what they learned from the earlier lesson activities:
    • What jobs use English Literature?
    • What skills does English Literature build?
  • Write their answers on the board as a quick recap.

2. Walking through the page (15 mins)

  • Bring up the What can you do with English Literature? page on the classroom screen.
  • Show students the table of contents so they see the shape of what's on the page.
  • Walk through the key sections together, unpacking why each one matters as they approach their wider GCSE decisions:
    • English Literature at GCSE - What the course covers in general.
    • Subjects that pair with English Literature - Which other GCSE choices work well alongside it.
    • Where English Literature can take you next - How GCSE leads into A-Level and beyond.
  • Briefly outline your school or college's GCSE syllabus, exam board, and assessment methods.

3. Why does English Literature matter? (10 mins)

  • Ask students to think about why engaging with GCSE English Literature is worth their effort.
  • Prompt them with questions:
    • Which parts of English Literature do you enjoy most?
    • Do the skills English Literature builds interest you?
    • Do any of the jobs English Literature leads to appeal to you?
    • Which of your other GCSE choices pair well with English Literature?
  • Close by reminding students that engagement is what leads to good results, and good results in English Literature open doors across almost every route after school.

After the lesson

  • Share the What can you do with English Literature? page with students and their parents/carers:
    • www.coffeewith.xyz/subjects/what-can-you-do-with-english-literature
  • Encourage parents/carers to explore the page with their child and to discuss the contents.
  • Encourage parents/carers to also explore related videos and careers with their child.
  • Use the School Tools / Activities feature to record the lesson activity:
    • Activity name: Year 09 - Why study GCSE English Literature?
    • Activity type: Linking curriculum learning to careers