English Literature

Applications Open: 5th December 2025

Applications Close: 31st January 2026

Entry Requirements: 5 GCSE grades of 4 or above of which must include English & Maths. Then individual subject criteria

Science and Maths - require level 7 in subject to study (plus 6 in maths for science subjects)

Most other courses require level 6 to study

The combined Language and Literature course is an exciting opportunity if you enjoy both analysing literary texts and are interested in producing your own examples of fiction and non-fiction writing. You will work collaboratively with others, having opportunities to be an independent, active learner, yet at the same time knowing that you are supported by our teaching and commitment to your achievement.

You will take from this course the highly developed ability to express ideas fluently, appreciating your own and others’ use of language.

Component 1 Drama. Shakespeare plus 1 other text – exploring Comedy and Tragedy.

Written examination: 2 hours 15 minutes. Open Book. 30% of the total qualification.

Section A Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew incorporating ideas from wider critical reading.

Section B Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire.

Component 2 Prose. Two prose texts from a chosen theme.

Written examination: 1 hour and 15 minutes. Open Book. 20% of the total qualification.

One comparative essay question on two texts.

Possible themes are Childhood, Science and Society, The Supernatural, Women and Society.

Possible texts studied are: Hard Times (Dickens), Atonement (McEwan), The Colour Purple (Walker), Frankenstein (Shelley), Never Let Me Go (Ishiguro), The Handmaid’s Tale (Atwood), The Picture of Dorian Gray (Wilde), Dracula (Stoker), Wuthering Heights (Bronte), The Little Stranger (Waters).

Component 3 Poetry. Students will study a literary period or a named poet within a period.

Written examination: 2 hours and 15 minutes. Open Book. 30% of the total of the qualification .

For Example: Medieval poetry or Chaucer, The Metaphysical poets or John Donne, The Romantics or Keats, The Victorians or Rossetti.

NEA (Coursework). 20% of the total of the qualification

May be selected from poetry, drama, prose or literary non-fiction.

Word count 2500-3000.

There is a lot of choice here, so students are able to write about a text that they have chosen on a task that they want to write about. This gives students a chance to explore texts that they are passionate about.

Students will need to have a grade 6 in either English Language or English Literature GCSE.