How can my school participate in the GCSE texts pilot?
How can my school participate in the GCSE texts pilot?
Your Head of Department can book a meeting for the pilot by logging in to Sparx Reader and going to the 'GCSE' page.
Which GCSE texts are on Sparx Reader?
Which GCSE texts are on Sparx Reader?
We currently offer the most popular texts from the 19th Century and Shakespeare lists. We have the original texts and, for most texts, our own Sparx Easy Readers.
Originals:
A Christmas Carol
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Macbeth
Animal Farm
Sparx Easy Readers:
A Christmas Carol
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Macbeth
We are working on:
Romeo and Juliet, plus an Easy Reader version
We’re prioritising which texts to add next based on demand from schools.
How to assign GCSE texts to students
How to assign GCSE texts to students
To assign a text to students:
Click 'GCSE' on the menu
Choose your class from the list
Click 'Assign a GCSE text'
Choose a text – we have full, original texts as well as Sparx Easy Readers.
By default, this will assign to the whole class. You can choose a subset using the ‘Select students…’ option.
Click 'Assign text to Class X'
This will take you back to the main screen where you can see each student alongside the book(s) they’ve been assigned, their progress through each book, and their accuracy when answering questions.
How to view which students are reading a particular text
How to view which students are reading a particular text
In GCSE texts, you can filter the view by a particular book to see all students assigned and reading that book.
How to unassign GCSE texts for students
How to unassign GCSE texts for students
If you need to remove a text, you can click the three dots and choose ‘Unassign text’. The student’s progress through the text will be saved.
Sparx Easy Reader versions of GCSE text
Sparx Easy Reader versions of GCSE text
We’ve written Sparx Easy Readers for a number of the GCSE texts.
These are faithful adaptations that support all students to access the story.
Most sentences have been greatly simplified, but key quotations are kept in and highlighted in bold:
Our Macbeth adaptation includes clarifications on stage directions and is largely written in iambic pentameter, so it feels close to the original while being more accessible to more students.
It’s up to you which texts students read: you might choose to set certain classes the original and others the Easy Reader, or even decide on a per-student basis.
Communicate with parents
Communicate with parents
Send clear information at the start of using Sparx Reader GCSE texts:
Explain why reading homework is important
Highlight how Sparx Reader personalises books to their child's level
Emphasise the positive impact on learning outcomes
Direct parents to our dedicated webpage - A parent's guide to Sparx Reader
Frequently asked questions
Can I assign multiple GCSE texts to students?
Can I assign multiple GCSE texts to students?
Yes, there’s no limit to how many different texts you can assign. Just assign the first text, then follow the same process to assign the next text.
Can students read the GCSE texts if they have already read it for their homework?
Can students read the GCSE texts if they have already read it for their homework?
Some GCSE texts were given to students as part of their library and they may have read these already. If this is the case, once you assign them it will ask you if you wish to reset their progress.
If I unassign a GCSE text, will the student lose their progress?
If I unassign a GCSE text, will the student lose their progress?
No, their progress is saved. If you later re-assign it, they’ll pick up where they left off.
Are there analysis questions in the GCSE texts?
Are there analysis questions in the GCSE texts?
No, our questions are the same as always: basic fact-retrieval questions designed to test whether students have read that section attentively.
Can I assign students individual chapters or staves of GCSE texts?
Can I assign students individual chapters or staves of GCSE texts?
No, currently you can only assign the whole text. It’s something we’ll explore; if you’re interested, please add feedback to our feedback board.
Do you have An Inspector Calls?
Do you have An Inspector Calls?
No, this one is more complicated as it’s not out of copyright. We know it’s very popular so we’re actively exploring how we could add it.
Are GCSE texts free?
Are GCSE texts free?
Assigning GCSE texts to students is included with Sparx Reader for all out-of-copyright texts: it’s not separately chargeable.
Can I read GCSE texts as a teacher?
Can I read GCSE texts as a teacher?
Yes - you can read GCSE texts in Reader through the Student Demo (accessed through the More menu). The GCSE texts will appear in the Library when selecting a new book.
If this is your first time using the student demo, you'll start by reading a short training book and choosing your first book. This helps you see how Reader works from a student’s perspective. You can then return to the student homepage and click 'Library' on the left menu, to see all our GCSE texts.