Key Stage 5
English Language
Year 12
Learners study the building-blocks and frameworks of language, the differences between speech and writing, topical issues in language study and how to write about them in a wide range of genres and they carry out a ‘mini-investigation’ on a topic of their own choice to practise the skills needed for coursework. We also explore contexts in language-study, specifically the relationship between language and gender, power and technology, with a focus on media texts.
Year 13
Learners continue with their coursework, collecting data on an aspect of language-study and producing a written report. They also study language change and child language acquisition. We continue to explore language debates, concepts and issues, developing writing skills by writing for different audiences in a wide range of forms.
Learners are encouraged to read and research widely throughout the course and keep up-to-date with language debates in the media and in the specialist sources held in the Hub, such as emagazine, produced by The English and Media Centre. Our students have also conducted primary language research in primary and infant schools, during their work experience and through creative writing workshops.
Year 12 A Level Language:Year 12 Language Course Plan .pdf
Year 13 A Level Language: Year 13 Language Course Plan .pdf
Specification and further details of the A-Level English Language OCR syllabus: OCR A Level in English Language (H470) Specification
Past papers:
Exemplar student responses, including NEA (coursework)
English Literature
Year 12
In Year 12 learners study a variety of texts (‘Othello’, ‘Death of a Salesman’ and a selection of Keats’ poetry) connected through the literary genre of tragedy. Learners will consider more complex ways of exploring texts in terms of how characters or themes are presented from critical points of view through to different kinds of contexts and how these inform their understanding of texts in terms of the tragedy genre and how these authors present their ideas.
Year 13
Although it could be claimed that all texts are political, what defines the texts studied in Year 13 (‘The Handmaid’s Tale’, ‘The kite Runner’, and Blake’s ‘Songs of Innocence and Experience’) are that they have issues of power and powerlessness at their core, with political and social protest issues central to each text’s structure. The political and social protest genre covers representations of both public and private settings. All set texts foreground oppression and domination and they all look at the cultures we live in and have lived in over time.
Additionally, during Year 13, learners will be required to complete two pieces of coursework. This will entail the reading of two texts (one poetry and one prose), informed by the study of the Critical Anthology provided by AQA.
Y12 - A- Level Literature Year 12 Literature Course Plan .pdf
Y13 - A Level Literature Year 13 Literature Course Plan.pdf
Specification AQA Lit B
AQA | AS and A-level | English Literature B | Specification at a glance