Why choose A-Level English Literature?

Literature opens up your mind. It engages you in new situations, introduces you to new people and invites you to engage with new ways of thinking that you might never come across in your everyday real life. You have to develop an opinion. You have to develop your communication skills. You have to engage with a text in an intelligent and thoughtful way. The reason why Literature is still one of the most highly regarded subjects to study is that it isn't easy but it is rich in rewards.

Course Outline

We study the AQA Specification A course. This involves students in three units in each of the two years of the course. At AS students undertake the study of a modern novel. They write a coursework essay focused on a Shakespeare play. To complete the year students then explore a collection of poetry and another play. The A2 course units complement the AS units very well. At A2 students approach another collection of poetry and play, two novels in a comparative essay and a synoptic unit that allows them to read widely on a specified area of study.

Resources and facilities

Our main resource is our excellent and passionate teaching staff. The key texts can vary from year to year but in the last two we have studied 'Cold Mountain' by Charles Frazier, 'King Lear' and 'Measure for Measure' as our Shakespeare plays, 'High Windows' by Phillip Larkin and 'Songs of Innocence and Experience' by William Blake as our poetry collections. Other texts have included 'A Woman of No Importance' by Oscar Wilde, 'Birdsong' by Sebastian Faulks, 'Empire of the Sun' by J.G Ballard and the literature of the First World War.

Careers and progression

This qualification has been used in several successful ways by former students who have chosen to use it as currency to gain a place on a range of courses of further study such as teaching, law and the continued study of literature itself.

Entry requirements

A C+ grade at English Language GCSE is ideal but not essential. Enthusiasm and commitment are essential.

Course Results

In the past two years our results have been some of the most successful in the College with every student in last year's Year 13 cohort gaining a Grade C or better.

Enquiries

Please address all enquiries regarding the A-Level English Literature course to Ms H Wroe via Castle Manor Business & Enterprise College or e-mail to H.Wroe@CastleManor.lpplus.net