English Language A Level

A minimum of five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English Language and English Literature.

Please note:   You can study both English A level Literature and A level English Language because the courses are sufficiently distinct that there is no overlap or repetition of content. However, you cannot study A Level English Combined and A Level English Literature, or A Level English Combined and A Level English Language.

English is an exciting subject and we hope you'll enjoy the lively debate and discussion. Whichever English course you choose, you'll gain a great deal of academic prowess and the development of transferable skills.

You will be taught to think analytically, synthesise information, and develop communication skills that are a prerequisite for a wide range of career paths.

The important skill of learning to write coherently and critically will aid you in your other subjects and is invaluable in higher education.

Language is one of the key features that define us as human beings and, on this course, you will explore how it works: how we learn language from infancy, how we use it as a social tool, and how it has evolved over time. You will learn about the origins of English, the various forms it has taken over the centuries, how it has spread across the globe and what it might look like in the future.

You will also study the research of theorists in areas of language such as speech and gender, accents and dialects, and the language of technology. You will learn about grammar in order to explore the ways writers use language to communicate meaning in texts ranging from blogs to 17th-century journalism.

The NEA (coursework) unit will allow you to write creatively and to undertake an investigation into an aspect of the course you have enjoyed.

This A Level will equip you with the necessary skills to go into practical professions such as journalism and creative writing as well as academic degrees such as law and media studies. It forms a good companion to A Levels in Psychology and Sociology because there is a degree of crossover with the social sciences. If you are thinking of studying English at university, it is perfectly acceptable to take both English Language and English Literature. English can be combined with a range of other subjects at university.

English provides an excellent foundation for various Higher Education courses including law, medicine, English, linguistics and education. It can be combined with a range of other subjects at university. English offers increasing employability in a range of career areas, especially those that require developed communication skills. Students have gone on to careers in law, health and medicine, commerce and industry, marketing, politics and international relations, general management, as well as leading to more predictable areas like journalism, publishing, the media, education, theatre and public relations.

The student magazine produced by students is part of the enrichment opportunities led by the English Department. Trips include theatre trips to London, Manchester and Stratford-upon-Avon and international trips include a visit to battlefields in France, university taster days, residentials and creative writing workshops. These are all optional but highly recommended. Aspiring Oxford and Cambridge applicants will benefit from our extensive range of activities to support you in making a competitive application including: small group subject tuition, Oxford and Cambridge conferences, visits and contacts with our link staff, access to summer schools, application support and essay competitions, supra-curricular activities and access to free university-level Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC).

You can apply online via the APPLY button and then add an additional two or three subjects to make up your academic programme. You can also apply for a second, alternative vocational programme of study via a separate application. If after reading this factsheet, you are still undecided about the course most suitable for you, please drop into one of our open evenings, ring our Admissions Department on 01743 653111, or email admissions@scg.ac.uk