English Language & Literature
Students will engage creatively and independently with a variety of spoken, written and multi-modal texts.
The variety of assessment styles used, such as re-creative writing, commentary writing, discursive essays and research-based investigative writing, allows students to develop a wide range of skills.
Tring School Sixth Form
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Minimum GCSE Grade Requirements (all subjects listed are required) |
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Future Opportunities
This course provides an ideal background for English studies at University and complements ALL subjects well. At the same time it is suitable for students leaving directly for employment and training at 18.
The course allows students to develop their independent learning skills and increase their analysis and evaluation of both non-fiction and fiction texts - all skills that prepare students for University life and the world of work.
Careers where English Language/ Literature is considered desirable include: Law, Journalism, Publishing, Editing, Writing, Human Resources and Teaching.
Course Content & Assessment
Assessment
80% written examinations and 20% coursework | Students are assessed in 3 components
Paper 1: Telling Stories
- Written exam: 3 hours
- 100 marks
- 40% of A-level
What’s assessed?
- Remembered places – the representation of place
- Imagined worlds – point of view and genre in prose
- Poetic voices – the forms and functions of poetic voice (Poems from)
- Methods of language analysis are integrated into the activities
Section A – Remembered places - AQA Anthology: Paris
One compulsory question (40 marks)
This section is closed book.
Section B – Imagined worlds - The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
One question from a choice of two (35 marks)
This section is open book.
Section C – Poetic voices - poems from Mean Time by Carol Ann Duffy
One question from a choice of two (25 marks)
This section is open book.
Paper 2: Exploring Conflict
- Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
- 100 marks
- 40% of A-level
What’s assessed?
- Writing about society – the role of the individual in society, and re-creative writing based on set texts
- Critical commentary – evaluating own writing
- Dramatic encounters – conflict in drama
- Methods of language analysis are integrated into the activities
Section A – Writing about society - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- One piece of re-creative writing (25 marks)
- Critical commentary (30 marks)
- This section is open book.
Section B – Dramatic encounters - A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
- One question from a choice of two on drama set text (45 marks)
- This section is open book.
NEA: Making Connections | assessed by teachers
- Moderated by AQA
- 50 marks
- 20% of A-level
What’s assessed?
- Making connections – investigation on a chosen theme and texts
- Methods of language analysis are integrated into the activity
A personal investigation that explores a specific technique or theme in both literary and non-literary discourse (2,500–3,000 words).
Additional Costs
Students must buy their own copies of texts (between £6.00 and £9.00 per text). Over the course of the year there may be trips - theatre trips and conferences cost approximately £30 plus transport.
English Department
| Subject Leader | Ms V Johnston |
| KS3 Lead | Mrs R Merchant |
| KS4 Lead | Mrs F West |
| KS5 Lead | Mrs L Kamen |
| Mrs A Ellershaw | Head of Media / EPQ Coordinator | |
| Mrs A Foley | |
| Miss L Gasgoyne | |
| Mrs C Moulson | |
| Mrs L O'Boyle | |
| Mrs K O'Callaghan | |
| Ms L Rolfe | Deputy Headteacher | |
| Mrs C Simler | |
| English Administrator | Mrs H Rapsey |
| Subject Documents |
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| KS4/5 Reading List for English |