A-Level in English Literature

Students will engage critically and creatively with a substantial and exciting body of texts which includes plays, poetry and prose by influential writers such as William Shakespeare, Margaret Attwood and Carol Ann Duffy. Students are required to study a minimum of eight texts on this course so a passion for reading is a must! Learners will develop and effectively apply their knowledge of literary analysis and evaluation in writing and explore the contexts of the texts they are reading in order to better understand the intentions of the authors. As well as studying texts for exams, students will have the opportunity to complete an analytical coursework choosing from a variety of texts.

• Component 1: Shakespeare & Drama and poetry pre-1900 (Exam) 40%
• Component 2: Close reading in chosen topic area & Comparative and contextual study (Exam) 40%
• Component 3: Critical & Comparative essay (C/W) 20%

For all Sixth Form courses, students must have five GCSE (or equivalent) passes at Grades 9- 4, which must include Mathematics. For this course both GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature must be at a Grade 5 or above.

Students can take this course to complement any other Advanced Level courses in either Arts or Science subjects.

Both English courses are highly valued A levels opening doors into a whole range of careers such as publishing, journalism, the law, teaching, the arts and media in general.

A few students may be sure they wish to study English at university and both English courses may be chosen