English Literature
Inspiring our students by guiding them through a rich and innovative curriculum that is has been painstakingly designed to help them grow into confident and passionate scholars of literature. It is never just about passing an examination.
GCSE
English Literature brings stories, characters, and ideas to life. You’ll develop skills in critical thinking, empathy, and expression—key qualities for success in many subjects and careers. You’ll explore different global perspectives and learn to engage with big ideas by noticing the small details in texts that reveal deeper truths about people and societies.
What will I learn at GCSE?
You will explore a range of powerful texts, including modern prose, poetry, drama, and a literary heritage text. Authors studied range from Shakespeare to Achebe, spanning modern and traditional works from both British and global traditions. You’ll be encouraged to read habitually beyond the course, comparing texts and appreciating nuanced differences in meaning. You’ll learn to analyse how writers use language and structure, reflect on social and historical contexts, and engage in critical debate. Alongside becoming a powerful, clear, and confident writer, you will develop discussion skills that enable you to express ideas with precision and insight.
How is the course structured?
The course is made up of two papers. In Paper 1 (examined, 60% of the course), you’ll study poetry from an anthology, respond to unseen poetry, and explore a modern prose text, with the opportunity to demonstrate analytical, comparative, and critical skills. In Paper 3 (coursework, 40% of the course), you will complete two written assignments: one on Modern Drama—either Priestley’s An Inspector Calls or Miller’s A View from the Bridge—and one on a Literary Heritage text, Macbeth. This structure develops a wide range of reading, writing, and evaluative skills across varied literary forms and traditions.
How is the course examined?
Sixty percent of the course is assessed through a two-hour exam (Paper 1) at the end of Year 11. Section A focuses on unseen poetry, where analytical skills are key. Section B covers anthology poetry, requiring a detailed comparison of two studied poems, both reprinted in the paper. Section C is a more traditional essay on either Achebe’s Things Fall Apart or Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun, asking you to consider how wider contexts might influence your interpretation. The remaining 40% is assessed through Paper 3 (coursework), with essays on character, theme, and writer’s craft written under controlled conditions.
A Level
A Level English Literature is an invitation to explore bold ideas, beautiful writing and diverse perspectives. From Shakespeare and Whitman to Coetzee and Colson Whitehead, we study writers who challenge, inspire and provoke. It’s a subject where your voice matters—and your personal response is part of the conversation.
What will I learn at A level?
You’ll learn to read with insight, write with clarity and think with independence. We explore a wide range of writers across time and place, from canonical figures to contemporary voices from across the globe. You’ll study poetry, drama and prose, developing skills in analysis, interpretation and argument. Our lessons are discussion-based and student-led, creating a collaborative space where personal response and critical curiosity are central. We encourage you to take intellectual risks, to listen carefully, and to shape your own ideas through thoughtful engagement with the texts.
How is the course structured?
The course is divided into two parts: AS Level (Year 12) and A Level (Year 13), with the AS making up 50% of the final A Level grade. AS provides the foundation for advanced study, developing close reading and critical skills across three set texts and one unseen component. In Year 13, you build on this through four further texts, deepening your understanding through wider contextual study and exploration of critical perspectives. Across both years, lessons are shaped around dialogue, inquiry and collaborative interpretation—giving you the space to test ideas, take risks and develop your own literary voice.
How is the course examined?
All assessment is by written exam. There are four papers in total, taken across the two years. These cover drama, poetry, prose, and unseen analysis. You’ll write essays that test your ability to think independently, argue persuasively and analyse texts closely. There is no coursework, but plenty of opportunities for creative and critical writing throughout. The exams reward personal engagement, detailed knowledge and a clear, structured response. Your ability to evaluate different interpretations and show understanding of literary methods is central to success.
What could I do next?
English Literature is a respected route to study English, Law, History, or Philosophy at university, and supports careers in journalism, media, publishing, politics and education. It develops articulate, thoughtful and imaginative thinkers - qualities valued in every field.