Entry Requirements

Grade 5 in GCSE English Language and a grade 5 in GCSE English Literature (if studied).

Exam Board Specification

What you will study

  • Critical appreciation of literary texts, demonstrating close analysis of poetry, prose and drama through cogent, detailed essays.
  • Poetry written in the Victorian and modern age; Renaissance and twentieth-century drama.
  • A substantial study of two novels post and pre-2000 forms your coursework investigation.
  • The unseen exam component develops you as a wider reader with extracts from works by Hardy, Wilde, Chopin and Conrad to name a few.
Female Student stood in library nook reading a book

Assessments

  • Three exams at the end of the second year (80%)
  • One piece of Coursework (20%)

Course Support

The English Department takes pride in the level of support we give to our students:

  • Regular individual interviews with your own specific tutor
  • Staff there to enable you to achieve the best grades possible
    you can ask for help from any tutor
  • Revision classes

Enrichment Activities

  • Theatre visits & trips to places of literary interest
  • Study days on specific exam modules
  • Creative writing workshops
  • Exam preparation delivered by Senior Examiners
  • Conferences on the English Language
  • Enrichment Programme offering debate, links with the Drama department and the feminist poetry group

Progression

English subjects are challenging but are an excellent preparation both for university and your future career which demand reasoning, analysis and discussion.

Career Opportunities

Obvious careers include, for instance,  journalism, sales, teaching, management, administration, information management, publishing and careers in public services.

Male student and female teacher looking at a book

Entry Requirements

Grade 5 in GCSE English Language and a grade 5 in GCSE English Literature (if studied).

Exam Board Specification