Studying English literature feeds the imagination. It allows you to travel back in time, share the experiences of others, take on new perspectives, explore ideas, beliefs and values, challenge or discover your own and learn the literary skills to express yourself in original and creative ways through dialogue, argument, prose and poetry. The analytical, interpretative and discursive skills you develop by studying literature will also prove excellent preparation for university. A level of English Literature is a highly regarded qualification by universities. Ashbourne’s A-level English Literature students cover a broad range of topics making for an extremely lively and engaging classroom environment and which has contributed towards our students sweeping up CIFE academic awards for Humanities. Students are encouraged to take part in an ongoing wider reading project, attend poetry readings and get involved in Ashbourne’s annual Revue to show their artistic talents. Ashbourne’s superb location in the heart of London also makes it ideal for students who wish to enjoy the excellent variety of shows, events and exhibitions on offer as well as use the outstanding libraries and bookshops close by. The A-level course comprises three main components: drama, prose and poetry; plus coursework. Poetry Poems of the Decade (An Anthology of the Forward Books of Poetry 2002–2011) offers students an eclectic mix of contemporary prize-winning poetry to pore over by familiars such as Simon Armitage, Seamus Heaney and Andrew Motion and less conventional poets such as Tim Turnbull, Daljit Nagra, George Szirtes and Patience Agbabi. TS Eliot's Selected Poems include celebrated works such as The Waste Land and The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. TS Eliot was a distinguished poet, literary critic, editor and publisher who helped define twentieth-century poetry. Students reflect on the issues and choices of these modern-day poets and examine poetic form, content and meaning, analysing links and connections between the poems. They will also explore a variety of themes within the poems. Drama Importance of Being Ernest is Oscar Wilde’s farcical comedy about the duplicitous character known both as Jack and Ernest whose antics and romantic aspirations make light of serious Victorian conventions and etiquette. The plot winds and twists until finally it reveals Jack as truly being Ernest in the end. King Lear is Shakespeare’s bleak story of a king who splits his kingdom between his two self-serving daughters, forsaking his youngest and truest of heart. His decision drives him mad and wreaks havoc across the land bringing conflict, suffering and despair. The first known performance of this Shakespeare play was in 1606. Students explore form and the use of literary and dramatic devices in shaping meanings. They will also analyse the significance and influence of contextual factors (social, cultural, political and historical) and engage with different interpretations of the plays. Prose The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is a dystopian novel set in the fictional totalitarian society of Gilead. In this futuristic world women have been stripped of their rights by an ultra-conservative Christian movement and any behaviour falling outside of the rigid social structure and strict rules is met with violent repression. The novel has been interpreted as a social and political protest against the rise of Christian fundamentalist and right-wing views held in the US during the 1980s. Mary Shelley’s classic Gothic horror Frankenstein is a story about a mad scientist whose attempt to play God instead unleashes a monster. The novel is considered a forerunner of the genre, fusing science with fiction to depict the ruthless and reckless pursuit of knowledge. It captured contemporary fears, which remain ever relevant today, of what could happen when ideas are taken too far. Mary Shelley started writing the novel, which she subtitled The Modern Prometheus, in 1818 when she was 18 years old. It is one of her best-known works. She was the daughter of political philosopher William Godwin and philosopher and women’s rights campaigner Mary Wollstonecraft, who wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Women. Coursework The coursework, based on the student’s selection of a text, is internally assessed and externally moderated.
Students who continue to Year 12 at Ashbourne are expected to be able to gain a minimum of 6 grades 6s (or equivalent) for their GCSE results and must have a determination to work towards their academic potential.
About Education Provider
| Region | London |
| Local Authority | Kensington and Chelsea |
| Ofsted Rating | Outstanding |
| Gender Type | Co-Educational |
| ISI Report | View Report |
| Boarding Fee | Unknown |
| Sixth Form Fee | £32,250 - £34,500 |
| Address | 17 Old Court Place, Kensington, London, W8 4PL |
Studying English literature feeds the imagination. It allows you to travel back in time, share the experiences of others, take on new perspectives, explore ideas, beliefs and values, challenge or discover your own and learn the literary skills to express yourself in original and creative ways through dialogue, argument, prose and poetry. The analytical, interpretative and discursive skills you develop by studying literature will also prove excellent preparation for university. A level of English Literature is a highly regarded qualification by universities. Ashbourne’s A-level English Literature students cover a broad range of topics making for an extremely lively and engaging classroom environment and which has contributed towards our students sweeping up CIFE academic awards for Humanities. Students are encouraged to take part in an ongoing wider reading project, attend poetry readings and get involved in Ashbourne’s annual Revue to show their artistic talents. Ashbourne’s superb location in the heart of London also makes it ideal for students who wish to enjoy the excellent variety of shows, events and exhibitions on offer as well as use the outstanding libraries and bookshops close by. The A-level course comprises three main components: drama, prose and poetry; plus coursework. Poetry Poems of the Decade (An Anthology of the Forward Books of Poetry 2002–2011) offers students an eclectic mix of contemporary prize-winning poetry to pore over by familiars such as Simon Armitage, Seamus Heaney and Andrew Motion and less conventional poets such as Tim Turnbull, Daljit Nagra, George Szirtes and Patience Agbabi. TS Eliot's Selected Poems include celebrated works such as The Waste Land and The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. TS Eliot was a distinguished poet, literary critic, editor and publisher who helped define twentieth-century poetry. Students reflect on the issues and choices of these modern-day poets and examine poetic form, content and meaning, analysing links and connections between the poems. They will also explore a variety of themes within the poems. Drama Importance of Being Ernest is Oscar Wilde’s farcical comedy about the duplicitous character known both as Jack and Ernest whose antics and romantic aspirations make light of serious Victorian conventions and etiquette. The plot winds and twists until finally it reveals Jack as truly being Ernest in the end. King Lear is Shakespeare’s bleak story of a king who splits his kingdom between his two self-serving daughters, forsaking his youngest and truest of heart. His decision drives him mad and wreaks havoc across the land bringing conflict, suffering and despair. The first known performance of this Shakespeare play was in 1606. Students explore form and the use of literary and dramatic devices in shaping meanings. They will also analyse the significance and influence of contextual factors (social, cultural, political and historical) and engage with different interpretations of the plays. Prose The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is a dystopian novel set in the fictional totalitarian society of Gilead. In this futuristic world women have been stripped of their rights by an ultra-conservative Christian movement and any behaviour falling outside of the rigid social structure and strict rules is met with violent repression. The novel has been interpreted as a social and political protest against the rise of Christian fundamentalist and right-wing views held in the US during the 1980s. Mary Shelley’s classic Gothic horror Frankenstein is a story about a mad scientist whose attempt to play God instead unleashes a monster. The novel is considered a forerunner of the genre, fusing science with fiction to depict the ruthless and reckless pursuit of knowledge. It captured contemporary fears, which remain ever relevant today, of what could happen when ideas are taken too far. Mary Shelley started writing the novel, which she subtitled The Modern Prometheus, in 1818 when she was 18 years old. It is one of her best-known works. She was the daughter of political philosopher William Godwin and philosopher and women’s rights campaigner Mary Wollstonecraft, who wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Women. Coursework The coursework, based on the student’s selection of a text, is internally assessed and externally moderated.
Students who continue to Year 12 at Ashbourne are expected to be able to gain a minimum of 6 grades 6s (or equivalent) for their GCSE results and must have a determination to work towards their academic potential.