Pupils who opt for English Literature at an advanced level should be keen readers and enjoy the challenge of writing detailed critical essays. The course will aim to advance pupils’ literacy and literary awareness to a high level, and they will be expected to read widely beyond the prescribed texts themselves. They will also have the opportunity to join in with events organised by the English Society, such as theatre trips into the West End, lectures with both in-house and invited speakers, the A Level Academic group, creative writing club and Editor’s Desk. Level pupils are also encouraged to support teaching staff in GCSE and Fourth Form Scholars groups. Each pupil is taught usually by two teachers who split the syllabus between them. They will help pupils to develop and hone their skills in critical reading, research and evaluation of the set texts. The contexts in which different literature is written will also feature heavily, ensuring coverage of genres as well as simply individual texts, their authors and the times in which they were written and received. The range of texts covered allows pupils to widen dramatically their literary experiences. They will be encouraged to contribute their ideas in class regularly, whether it be in the form of presentations, mini-seminars or general discussions. Regular essay writing will naturally be a feature, so the course will enhance very significantly their ability to write detailed, critical essays. Pupils will be expected and directed to wider reading, both about the set texts and for their curiosity.
Sixth Form candidates are encouraged to apply in the Autumn Term of the year preceding entry and are generally required to have a minimum of two 7 and three 6 grades at GCSE, and a minimum of grade 5 in Mathematics and English, with some subject-specific requirements, as listed in our Sixth Form Curriculum Guide. In addition to the ‘traditional’ A Level offer, in September 2023, the School introduced BTEC in Sport. This pathway was open to elite performers who are linked with our Saracens Partnership. Grade 7 in both GCSE English Language and English Literature.
Each of the principal literary genres (Poetry, Prose, Drama) is taught, with links identified between the texts studied. In Poetry, there will be the requirement to write about a prescribed pre-1900 anthology, a post-2000 poetry anthology, as well as ‘unseen’ poetry. One Shakespeare play will be taught – the chosen text will likely be one of the major tragedies, usually Othello. Also in Drama, A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams is studied. In Prose, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood are studied, and pupils are also expected to write about ‘unseen’ prose. There will be a mix of final written external examinations and a coursework component (Non-Examined Assessment, or NEA). The examinations will attract 80% of the marks, leaving 20% for the NEA. In the examinations and the coursework, there will be both ‘whole text’ and ‘close reading’ styled assignments. Pupils will also be expected to write comparatively about their chosen texts in coursework and of set texts in the examinations.
About Education Provider
| Region | London |
| Local Authority | Barnet |
| Ofsted Rating | |
| Gender Type | Co-Educational |
| ISI Report | View Report |
| Boarding Fee | £36,795 - £43,590 |
| Sixth Form Fee | £25,800 |
| Address | The Ridgeway, Mill Hill Village, London, NW7 1QS |
Pupils who opt for English Literature at an advanced level should be keen readers and enjoy the challenge of writing detailed critical essays. The course will aim to advance pupils’ literacy and literary awareness to a high level, and they will be expected to read widely beyond the prescribed texts themselves. They will also have the opportunity to join in with events organised by the English Society, such as theatre trips into the West End, lectures with both in-house and invited speakers, the A Level Academic group, creative writing club and Editor’s Desk. Level pupils are also encouraged to support teaching staff in GCSE and Fourth Form Scholars groups. Each pupil is taught usually by two teachers who split the syllabus between them. They will help pupils to develop and hone their skills in critical reading, research and evaluation of the set texts. The contexts in which different literature is written will also feature heavily, ensuring coverage of genres as well as simply individual texts, their authors and the times in which they were written and received. The range of texts covered allows pupils to widen dramatically their literary experiences. They will be encouraged to contribute their ideas in class regularly, whether it be in the form of presentations, mini-seminars or general discussions. Regular essay writing will naturally be a feature, so the course will enhance very significantly their ability to write detailed, critical essays. Pupils will be expected and directed to wider reading, both about the set texts and for their curiosity.
Sixth Form candidates are encouraged to apply in the Autumn Term of the year preceding entry and are generally required to have a minimum of two 7 and three 6 grades at GCSE, and a minimum of grade 5 in Mathematics and English, with some subject-specific requirements, as listed in our Sixth Form Curriculum Guide. In addition to the ‘traditional’ A Level offer, in September 2023, the School introduced BTEC in Sport. This pathway was open to elite performers who are linked with our Saracens Partnership. Grade 7 in both GCSE English Language and English Literature.
Each of the principal literary genres (Poetry, Prose, Drama) is taught, with links identified between the texts studied. In Poetry, there will be the requirement to write about a prescribed pre-1900 anthology, a post-2000 poetry anthology, as well as ‘unseen’ poetry. One Shakespeare play will be taught – the chosen text will likely be one of the major tragedies, usually Othello. Also in Drama, A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams is studied. In Prose, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood are studied, and pupils are also expected to write about ‘unseen’ prose. There will be a mix of final written external examinations and a coursework component (Non-Examined Assessment, or NEA). The examinations will attract 80% of the marks, leaving 20% for the NEA. In the examinations and the coursework, there will be both ‘whole text’ and ‘close reading’ styled assignments. Pupils will also be expected to write comparatively about their chosen texts in coursework and of set texts in the examinations.