5 GCSEs at 4-9 including a minimum grade 4 in English Literature
English Literature – A Level
English Literature is a fantastically engaging and diverse subject which allows you to follow your own interests, explore the classics and develop your analytical skills. We study texts from the Medieval period right up to the modern day with a focus on putting texts into context.
As part of the course, we study prose fiction, poetry and drama which extends out of and develops the critical skills that you will have developed and honed at GCSE.
We have a flourishing Study+ offer at Andover. For enrichment you could join the creative writing society which has great links with local authors and universities. You could take part in our termly English competitions, from writing creatively to exploring the ways in which accent and dialect impact on how others see us. Or you could join the debating society! We also have regular speakers from university, and take groups on trips to the theatre and academic conferences.
Drama – Discover the power of drama through William Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’ and Tennessee Williams’ ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’. You’ll explore fascinating characters, relationships and conflicts, looking closely at themes including power, identity and family. As you study these plays, you’ll develop your ability to analyse language, dramatic techniques and different interpretations, building valuable skills for your A-Level studies.
Poetry – Discover how poetry has evolved across generations through two exciting and contrasting collections. You’ll explore the work of Romantic Poets, including Blake, Wordsworth, Byron, Shelley and Keats, before moving on to Post-2000 poetry, featuring poets such as Seamus Heaney and Simon Armitage. Through close reading, discussion and comparison, you’ll explore how poets use language, form and imagery to communicate powerful ideas and different perspectives.
Comparative and Contextual Study – This component focuses upon dystopian literature, developing students’ critical appreciation of the genre through unseen analysis, wider reading and an in-depth study of two seminal novels. Our core comparison texts are Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, allowing students to explore thought-provoking themes including scientific advancement, humanity, identity, morality and the consequences of challenging the boundaries of nature. Wider reading is also a key aspect of the course, and students are encouraged to engage with a broad range of dystopian literature throughout their studies.
NEA – students are able to follow their own interests and passions with a free choice of topic for the NEA. Students get to chose two texts to compare on chosen theme. All texts studied must be post-1900 and one post-2000 which really encourages engagement and enthusiasm for this component of the course.
The exam board will be Edexcel.
Debate, discussion and analysis are at the forefront of the skills that students of English Literature require. Students are given set reading for the prose topics and also encouraged to find their own interests within the genre. These will be shared through presentation and group work. Homework is set regularly and the expectation is that students will engage with this as part of their overall study programme.
80% of the mark will be assessed through final exams.
20% of the mark will be assessed through internal coursework.
An A-Level in English Literature is an extremely useful investment. Not only is it very well regarded by admissions tutors at universities, but employers value candidates who possess the skills of communication, analysis and team-work which are developed through study of this subject.
Students who complete their course go on to many diverse degree courses and industries. For example, vocational qualifications in journalism, marketing, publishing and teaching, through to degrees in English, Creative Writing, Media, Communication and Film.
We use a wide range of digital resources to compliment in-class learning. Students can access e-copies of the wider reading texts through the library and revision and teaching resources are shared through the college intranet systems.
Students are required to purchase a physical copy of their set texts to read and study throughout the course. This is approximately £30.
Where possible, we go to see productions of the plays that we are studying, though this is of course subject to appropriate productions being available. Most recently, the first and second years went to see the Royal Shakespeare Company perform ‘Twelfth Night’ in Stratford-upon-Avon. Currently there is a trip planned to see ‘King Lear’ in London in March 2027.