A-Level English Language

You will need 5 GCSE's at grades 5-9, including English.

You will be taught using a variety of styles and methods and will be encouraged to become involved in debate and discussion about the power of meaning and the skills writers use to put ideas across.

In a typical week you will be given a range of tasks to complete. However, the major form of assessment will involve writing essays. An overview of content you will study:

Language Variation (assessed via exam):
How language varies depending on mode, field, function and audience.
How language choices can create personal identities.
Language variation in English from c1550 (the beginnings of Early Modern English) to the present day.

Child Language (assessed via exam):
Spoken language acquisition and how children learn to write between the ages of 0 and 8.
The relationship between spoken language acquisition and literacy skills that children are taught, including the beginnings of reading.
Appropriate theories of children’s language development.

Investigating Language (assessed via exam):
You will select a research focus from five topic areas (Global English/Language and Gender Identity/Language and Journalism/Language and Power/Regional Language Variation)
You will develop your research and investigation skills.

Crafting Language (assessed via coursework):
You will demonstrate your skills as writers by crafting texts for different audiences and/or purposes

English and Maths are important life skills that will help you to achieve your best in your studies and progress to your dream career. If you have not already achieved grade 9-4 in GCSE Maths and/or English at school, we will support you to improve your skills.

Our A Level programmes allow you to choose multiple subjects, enabling you to study 3–4 A Levels over two years or combine them with equivalent vocational qualifications, with each subject taught for 4 hours and 30 minutes per week across three separate lessons and your timetable determined by your chosen subjects (provided at the start of the academic year).
Although you are not required to be on campus when you do not have a timetabled lesson, we strongly recommend making effective use of our learning facilities and resources during these periods to stay on top of your work.

You will study 4 modules throughout this two-year course. Three of these are assessed with an examination at the end of your second year and the other is non-examined assessment (coursework).

The coursework aspect contributes 20% towards your overall grade, whereas the remaining 80% will be awarded from the results of your examinations.

Throughout Year 12 you will study:
- Language Variation (individual)
- Child Language
- Crafting Language (non-examined assessment practice)

Moving into Year 13 you will study:
- Crafting Language (non-examined assessment portfolio)
- Language Variation Over Time
- Investigating Language