English Language A Level

Applicants will only be considered once all the application information has been completed including predicted and/or actual grades and references.

Applicants with non-UK qualifications, for example, overseas qualifications, will be required to have the equivalence of their qualifications verified by UK ENIC (the wider European title for national recognition agencies www.enic.org.uk) who will charge the you a fee for providing this ‘Statement of Comparability’. If you are unable to gain a Statement of Comparability, we reserve the right to withdraw your application due to the lack of comparable grade evidence. We are required to ensure that students are eligible for ESFA funding, which is guaranteed if they are living with a parent who: Has British citizenship and/or; Has a right of abode/leave to enter the UK and/or; Has a relevant work permit/visa and/or; Is a foreign diplomat.

Please provide any outstanding documentary evidence in relation to the above. Applications from students who are not eligible for ESFA funding will have their application withdrawn by the school. The school does not hold a licence to support applicants with Home Office Tier 4 Student Visa status.

Why Study English Language?

If you want to understand how language is used to control and manipulate us by both the media and people in power; how to take apart a piece of language and be able to work out exactly what makes it tick, produce your own language investigation, AND dabble in your own creative writing then this is the course for you.

What does the course involve?

Paper 1: 40 %: Language, the Individual and Society

A focus on individual and immediate social contexts for language, exploring textual variety and language development.

Section A: Textual Variations and Representations:

You will explore significant features and patterns in language across a variety of texts. When exploring multiple texts, these will be linked by topic or theme to prepare you for a comparative task in this section.

Section B: Children’s Language Development:

You will delve into the fascinating world of child language development, exploring how children develop their spoken and written skills.

Paper 2: 40%: Language Diversity and Change

You will consider language outwardly, reflecting on larger-scale public discourses about change and variety, drawing on regional, ethnic, national, and global English.

Section A: Diversity and Change: You will explore a range of examples of language in use and research data to inform your study of diversity and change.

This will include analysis of texts using different sociolects and dialects and texts that highlight the influences that technology has had on language.

Section B: Language Discourses: You will consider

how texts use language to present ideas, attitudes, and opinions. This section also offers you the opportunity to put your own discursive writing skills to the test on a subject linked to language in use.

Non-exam assessment 20%: Language in action

The aim of this non-exam unit is to allow you to explore and analyse data independently and develop and reflect upon your own writing expertise. You will carry out two different kinds of individual research…

Language Investigation: You will undertake an independent investigation of language on a topic of your own choice. You will choose your own methodologies; select and analyse your own data and draw suitable conclusions from them.

Original writing and commentary: For the original writing task, you will produce one piece of original writing based on the power of persuasion, storytelling, or information.

You will complete a commentary allowing you to reflect upon your decisions, the writing process, and the effectiveness of your final piece.

How Will I Be Assessed?

80% exam, 20% coursework.

To qualify for a place in Sixth Form, you must achieve five GCSEs at grade 5 or above, including Maths and either English Language or Literature or five GCSEs at grade 5 or above, plus at least a grade 4 in Maths and English Language or Literature.

For this course: Grade 5 in English Language

Leading To A Career In?

A Level English Language can help many career paths including journalism, writing, teaching, politics, and the law.