A Level English Literature

Applications Open – Monday 3 November 2025

Applications Close – Friday 13 February 2026

Entry Requirements – Can be found on the course booklet on our website: https://4905753ff3cea231a868-376d75cd2890937de6f542499f88a819.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/bartoncourt/uploads/document/Sixth-Form-course-booklet-2026.pdf

How to Apply – Please apply via KentChoices

Studying English helps you to understand the world. By studying important literary works students gain an insight into the human condition, and become aware of fundamental political and ideological ideas that have transformed history. Our English courses deal with the big issues that affect our lives and they encourage students to question and challenge conventional viewpoints.

English stimulates creativity. Through the study of literary texts English encourages students to express themselves creatively. Discussion and debate develop confidence, and produce students that are inquisitive and open minded.

There are four units to the A Level course:

Paper 1: Drama: Tragedy. Students study two plays - one Shakespearean tragedy play, and a second tragedy play: Othello William Shakespeare and A Streetcar Named Desire Tennessee Williams.

Paper 2: Prose: The Supernatural. Students study two novels: one pre-1900 and the other post -1900: The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde and Beloved Toni Morrison.

Paper 3: Poetry: Post-2000 Anthology and Pre-1900 Anthology. Students explore two anthologies of poetry: Poems of the Decade: An Anthology of the Forward Books of Poetry selected by William Sieghart, Founder of the Forward Prizes and English Romantic Verse: Edited with an Introduction by David Wright.

Non-Exam Assessment: Students study The Greatr Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald alongside Death of a Salesman Arthur Miller in preparation for a comparative coursework essay of 2500-3000 words. The option to choose the focus of their essay is encouraged, and some students elect to replace one or both of these texts with their own selection.

Paper 1 - Written examination 2 hours 15 minutes, open book. Worth 30%

Paper 2 - Written examination, 1 hour 15 minutes, open book. Worth 20%

Paper 3 - Written examination, 2 hours 15 minutes, open book with one unseen modern poem. Worth 30%

Non-exam Assessment - One essay of 2500-3000 words, comparing two texts. Worth 20%

Sixth Form entry requirements, including GCSE English Literature or GCSE English Language at grade 6.

English offers a range of transferable skills. English students improve their communication and presentation skills, becoming confident communicators, both orally and in their writing. English students can take these skills into a wide range of occupations, some obviously linked to writing such as journalism, but others that might appear less obvious in the world of business and commerce. The ability to present information, and to communicate ideas effectively and persuasively, impacts upon virtually every career imaginable.

Studying English helps you to understand the world. By studying important literary works, students gain an insight into the human condition, and become aware of fundamental political and ideological ideas that have transformed history. Our English courses deal with the big issues that affect our lives and they encourage students to question and challenge conventional viewpoints.

English stimulates creativity. Through the study of literary texts English encourages students to express themselves creatively. Discussion and debate develop confidence, and produce students who are inquisitive and open minded.