English Language and Literature

Course summary

English Language and Literature is a course designed to inspire a love of reading, analysing and writing the written and spoken word. In the classroom and beyond, we are interested in ‘how texts work’; an approach that will support you not just in your study of this course but across all programmes. We believe that all language is valuable to us as literary critics and linguists; the text from an online Blog is just as valuable to us as a published novel or play. Not only does this course cover reading skills but creative writing and original writing too. We teach and inspire our students to become authors and journalists. We promote reading for pleasure every day and when possible, visit the theatre to see the latest productions. Language and Literature A-level is ideally suited to students who enjoy both elements of the English curriculum at GCSE; the dual study approach fosters a rich appreciation of how texts are crafted and work to suit their audiences, purposes and contexts. This course has obvious benefits for students intending to enter Higher Education, as close analysis of texts and excellent reading and writing skills are key success criteria for a host of degree-level subjects. Beyond education, students employed in all industries will benefit from the ability to understand the language we speak (and read and write) in precise detail, making them perceptive communicators who are enabled to interact with those around them.