In broadest terms, the study of English Literature sees students reading a number of literary texts – traditional and contemporary. Literature becomes a study of both the detail of an author’s composition, and wider, existential conundrums, allowing us to debate and explore the human experience.

In Year 12, we begin with the genre of tragedy, explored in two plays, Williams’s A Streetcar Named Desire and Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Students study each playwright’s composition and craft, as well as debates around madness, isolation, and marginalisation. Prose study, thematically focused on Science and Society compares Shelley’s Frankenstein and Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, exploring both the Romantic and post-modern genres in fiction.

In the final terms of Year 12, students read contemporary poetry from the Forward anthology, Poems from the Decade. Students then begin to think about their choice of coursework texts, selecting any two from a list of ten books*, reading and researching during the final term and summer holiday.

In Year 13, students embark on writing their coursework, constructing their own questions with teacher guidance and support. Finally, we conclude their learning with poems from English Romantic Verse, after which substantial revision of all A-level texts begins.

The full two-year course is organised into four units.

Students are involved in individual reading and writing, group discussion, presentations, drama and role play, research, whole class debate…any type of activity likely to bring them closer to the ideas, methods and meanings of the literature encountered.

While Literature is similar in some respects to that of GCSE Literature, the depth, breadth and exploration of our texts will feel vastly different to that of a typical Year 11 study. There is significant space for academic debate and construction of argument. The course contains a mix of genres and seminal texts offering students a well-rounded experience of these literary tropes and trends, as well as a thorough grounding in the style and content of learning offered at universities.

There are three papers for the full A-Level, and a piece of coursework which accounts for 20% of the total grade.

All exam questions require students to answer in essay form, all taken at the end of Year 13. Coursework must compare two novels of your choosing from a list of 10.

Paper 1: Drama: 2 hours 15 minutes
Paper 2: Prose: 1 hour 15 minutes
Paper 3: Poetry: 2 hours 15 minutes
Paper 4: Coursework: 2500 word essay

Please refer to our entry requirements document.

It will be an obvious advantage if you enjoy the thrill of reading challenging books and engaging in discussion of them! There is bound to be much reading to do, particularly as wider reading beyond the set texts forms a compelling part of debate and comprehensive arguments in essay writing.

A-level English Literature is a highly respected and academically prestigious subject that is valued by universities and employers alike. It provides an excellent foundation for a wide range of degree courses, including English, Law, Journalism, Marketing, History, Philosophy, Politics, Classics, and Liberal Arts. The course develops analytical thinking, intellectual independence and sophisticated communication skills, making it particularly useful for any future study or career requiring critical evaluation and persuasive argument.

In an age increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, the ability to interpret nuance, evaluate evidence, communicate effectively and think creatively makes Literature an especially relevant and AI-resilient subject. Careers in law, journalism, politics, diplomacy, publishing, education, the Civil Service, marketing, public relations, business, media, communications and the creative industries are all possible destinations for successful Literature students. Some of our alumni are successful authors, lecturers, researchers, journalists, solicitors, and teachers.