During the course you can expect to study:

• How to write in different styles for a variety of readers
• How to analyse prose, poetry and drama from linguistic and literary perspectives
• How to analyse the language of real speech and how speech is used in literature
• How to compare literary texts, non-literary texts and speech

You will be looking at a wide variety of texts and learning grammar and other terminology appropriate to the study of speech and writing.  Classes will be discussing the form and content of texts from different periods, and considering the effects of this variation.  You will also be writing in a variety of forms.

A variety of teaching methods are employed in lessons, including paired work, small group activity, whole-class work and individual tuition.  Independent reading and research are also important components of the course.

This is a new-style linear A level course.  In the second year of the course, you will take external exams that assess content covered in the first and second year.  These exams (along with coursework) will determine your A level grade.

The course comprises two exam papers and one non-exam assessment (coursework).

Paper 1: Telling Stories (40% of qualification) - This unit is in three parts and involves aspects of both literary and linguistic study.  The focus is on how places and events can be portrayed in many forms, from everyday conversation to poetry.

Section A - Remembered Places
You will study a range of items from an anthology of varied material relating to the city of Paris.  This will include the study of spoken English as well as fiction and non-fiction texts.

Section B - Imagined Worlds
Study of the novel 'The Handmaid's Tale' by Margaret Atwood with a focus on the way narratives project a point of view in relation to characters, places and events (open book).

Section C- Poetic Voices
Study of a selection of poems from the collection 'Mean Time' by Carol Ann Duffy with a focus on how narratives are told in verse (open book).

Paper 2: Exploring Conflict (40% of qualification) - In preparation for this exam, you will explore how conflicts between people and in societies can be represented.

Section A - Writing About Society

You will study 'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini; in the exam you will be asked to re-write an episode from the novel from a different perspective and in a different form with a commentary to explain the choices you made (open book).

Section B – Dramatic Encounters

In preparation for the exam you will study the play 'A Streetcar named Desire' by Tennessee Williams and will be asked to discuss the playwright’s portrayal of an aspect of conflict within the drama (open book).

Non-exam assessment (coursework): Making Connections (20% of qualification) - This aspect of the course involves the writing of a research report into a specific theme or technique which must be investigated in literary and non-literary texts.  We will focus on 'Great Expectations' by Charles Dickens which you will compare to a non-literary text of your choice.  You will also be given the option to pick your own literary and non-literary texts on a theme of your choice and write about these instead.  The report must be between 2,500 - 3,000 words. 

• Short story writing competition on the theme of dystopia;
• National Linguistics Olympiad participation;
• Free Rice Challenge;
• Haiku competition at the start of the year;
• Other national creative writing competitions are advertised to students via posters and emails;
• Poetry translation workshop (student poems are entered in the under 18s category of the Stephen Spender Trust contest);
• Wider reading pages on the Study Directory with articles from E-Magazine, Babel etc.
• Use of Masolit videos to provide online lectures relevant to English Literature;
• Trips: ‘Poems of the Decade’ conference, ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ theatre trip, trip to UCL English department for seminars relevant to the topics we study and talks about admissions;
• Visits from professors from Royal Holloway and UCL;
• Timetabled workshops in some areas have been put in place; otherwise individual support is offered where required;
• Workshops and one to one sessions about applying to do English at university, including further reading suggestions and sessions preparing for the ELAT test;
• New library space for research and wider reading;
• English Society and Poetry Society run by students for students;
• Lectures from visiting academics (Rob Drummond, David Crystal, John Mullan);
• English language students completed a set of resources on grammar for use with Year 6 students as a way of consolidating their own knowledge and for use with Primary School students;
• Creative writing workshops run by authors (for example, Ananda Devi);
• Careers talks from professionals working in publishing, marketing, TV production etc.;
• Creative translation workshop run by 'Shadow Heroes', an education initiative that supports young people in embracing all sides of their linguistic and literary heritages.

English language and literature would work well in combination with any other subject, excluding English language or English literature.

A level English language and literature will help to develop the skills of communication, analysis, critical evaluation, and systematic but flexible thinking highly prized by employers.  It is accepted at top universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Durham and UCL.

Please see below for careers and labour market information for English language and literature - use the refresh buttons to find out about different courses and careers, and use the left and right arrows to view more detailed information.

You can find the prep work for this course at prepwork.farnborough.ac.uk. 

Q: How is English language and literature different from the separate English literature and English language A levels?
A: The main difference between English literature and the English language and literature course is that almost all the texts we study were written in the 20th or 21st century.  If you study English literature, you will study texts ranging from the 16th to the 20th century, including Shakespeare.  In the English language A level, you don't study any novels, plays or poetry, whereas on this course you would study a variety of different texts. 

Q: Does the course contain a non-examined assessment?
A: Yes.  Your coursework will be an investigation into the similarities and differences between a literary text (eg. the novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens) and a non-literary text (eg. song lyrics, articles, film scripts, reality TV transcripts), in relation to a particular theme (eg. the presentation of criminals).  You will have a wide range of options to choose from and we encourage you to follow your interests when selecting your coursework texts.  The coursework is worth 20% of the whole A level.

Q: Will I do any creative writing?
A: In your Paper 2 examination, you will be asked to rewrite part of the novel The Kite Runner from the perspective of another character and then write a commentary on your work.  In addition, the English department promotes many national creative writing competitions throughout the year and our students often win prizes and see their work in print.

Q: Can I go to a Russell Group university if I study English language and literature?
A: Yes.  Many of our former students have gone on to study at Russell Group universities.  Universities such as Oxford, Cambridge and UCL accept the English language and literature A level. 

Q: What are my career options if I decide to study this course?
A: Students who have studied English language and literature at the College have progressed onto very diverse career paths including law, journalism, marketing, finance, web design, accountancy, life coaching and midwifery.