Exam Board: AQA

Course Overview

The AQA English Language enables students to develop the skills needed to read, understand and analyse a wide range of texts. It also encourages pupils to write in a variety of genres and styles.

Candidates are encouraged to read a wide range of ninetieth, twentieth and twenty first century fiction and non-fiction texts to prepare them for the range of texts they could encounter in the examination.

Pupils will be assessed by completing two exams both containing a reading and writing element. Each examination will be 1 hour and 45 minutes. There will also be separate internal assessment of the pupils’ speaking and listening skills.

Exam Board: AQA

Course Overview

In English Literature, pupils will develop their ability to independently interpret a range of texts. They will develop an appreciation and understanding of how authors achieve their purpose through the use of appropriate literary techniques.  Through the study of plays, novels and poetry they will develop personal responses to a range of literary works.

Pupils will complete two examinations at the end of the two year course.

Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th-Century Novel.
Paper 2: Modern texts and Poetry (anthology of selected poems and unseen poetry).

Exam Board: OCR
Level: 3

Course Overview

During the first year, students study language use within different social contexts focusing on how meanings are created through lexical choices and sentence construction as well as comparing and contrasting different modes of language communication. For the second year, students study how children acquire speech language between the ages of 0 – 7 years and how the English language has evolved over the past 350 years. The coursework unit involves an analytical investigation into how language is used. Students also create an academic poster, summarising the findings of the topic.  This is a two year qualification, with all examinations completed at the end of the second year of teaching.

A Level Assessment: 80% examination (2 examinations worth 40% each), 20% coursework.

Exam Board: AQA
Level: 3

Course Overview

During the first year, students study a selection of poetry, a novel and a play which are thematically linked as examples of Political and Social Protest Writing. For the second year, the texts focus on the genre of Tragedy, and pupils read a Shakespeare play alongside a modern drama and a further selection of poetry. They develop their analytical skills and engage in debates about literary ideas as well as looking at how to craft academic essays. Pupils also complete two coursework essays as part of this qualification, applying different critical theories to texts of their own choice. This is a two year qualification, with all examinations completed at the end of the second year of teaching.

A Level Assessment: 80% examination (2 examinations worth 40% each), 20% coursework.

Exam Board: AQA
Level: 2 

Course Overview

The AQA English Language course enables students to develop the skills needed to read, understand and analyse a wide range of texts. It also encourages pupils to write in a variety of genres and styles.

Candidates are encouraged to read a wide range of ninetieth, twentieth and twenty-first century fiction and non-fiction texts to prepare them for the range of texts they could encounter in the examination.

Pupils will be assessed by completing two examinations both containing a reading and writing element. Each examination will be 1 hour and 45 minutes. There will also be separate internal assessment of the pupil’s speaking and listening skills.

A Level Assessment: 100% Examination

Term 1: How can my knowledge of word classes, grammar and punctuation help my journey in English? / How can language methods create effects?

Term 2: The Giver - How does the narrative engage readers?

Term 3: Romeo and Juliet - What conventions of tragedy are used in Romeo and Juliet?

Term 4: Writing for a Purpose (non-fiction) - How do writers construct texts and use language to achieve a specific purpose?

Term 5: Noughts and Crosses- How is stagecraft used to create meaning in drama?

Term 6: What ideas about the natural world are conveyed through poetry? / How do writers use language to shape meaning?

Term 1: The Gothic and Frankenstein the play-  In what ways is Frankenstein a Gothic text?

Term 2: Non-Fiction- Inspirational Figures - How are the personal successes of individuals shared through nonfiction texts?

Term 3: Reading Skills- Young Adult Reads- How are methods used to create effects in different genres?

Term 4: Shakespearean Tragedies - What are the key conventions of a Shakespearean tragedy?

Term 5: The Signalman- What ideas about society are explored in 'The Signalman'?

Term 6: Descriptive and Narrative Writing- How can I use genre conventions in an effective piece of creative writing?

Term 1: Animal Farm - How are conventions of the genre used to create meaning in dystopian texts?

Term 2: Short Stories and Structure - How are narratives structured to emphasise wider ideas?

Term 3: Shakespearean Females- How are characters constructed to convey ideas and reflect context?

Term 4: Exploring Perspectives Within Non Fiction- How do writers convey their perspectives to readers?

Term 5: Protest Poetry- How are perspectives conveyed through protest poetry? 

Term 6: Literary Allusions- How do writers use symbolism and literary allusions to create meaning?

Term 1: How are ideas about humanity and place presented in the poems? 

Term 2: How does Dickens present Scrooge and his journey to redemption? / How can I effectively deliver a coherent and engaging speech?

Term 3: What warnings does Shakespeare give his audience through the downfall of Macbeth? 

Term 4: How are methods used to create effects in creative writing?

Term 5: How does Kelly use DNA to present ideas about human nature?

Term 6: How are ideas about humanity and power presented in the poems?

Term 1: How are ideas about humanity and trauma presented in the poems? / How do writers use methods to convey their perspective in non-fiction texts?

Term 2: What are the key ideas in our literature texts and how do I effectively write about them? / How do writers use methods to create effects in texts?

Term 3: What are the key ideas explored in Macbeth and A Christmas Carol?

Term 4: How are methods used to shape meanings and reader responses in a range of texts? 

Term 5: How can I structure effective responses to exam questions?

Year 12

Term 1: What new concepts do you need to engage with for A Level? How does context influence the meaning of language? How do lexical and grammatical frameworks act as the building blocks for language analysis?

Term 2: What are the linguistic frameworks of spoken texts? What are the fundamental linguistic frameworks for language analysis?

Term 3: How does language use vary between spoken and written modes?

Term 4: In what ways has technology influenced the English Language?

Term 5: What are the main ideas behind how men and women use language differently?

Term 6: What does an effective language investigation and academic poster consist of?

Year 13

Term 1: What are the different ways language creates representation in media texts?

Term 2: How do children acquire and use language?

Term 3: In what ways has language changed since the 16th century?

Term 4: How can I demonstrate my knowledge of language issues through topical writing?

Term 5: In what ways is meaning crafted through language and context?

Year 12

Term 1: How do aspects of tragedy contribute to meaning in Keats poetry? How can narrative theory develop my interpretations of a text?

Term 2: How does Shakespeare use different aspects of tragedy throughout Othello?

Term 3: How do aspects of tragedy contribute to meaning in Death of a Salesman?

Term 4: What common features do writers employ to convey their attitudes towards their society?

Term 5: How are effective exam responses about the use of tragic aspects of texts crafted?

Term 6: How is a critical coursework essay developed?

Year 13

Term 1: How and where does Atwood’s novel protest social and political ideas?

Term 2: How does Blake use a range of methods to convey his social and political protest?

Term 3: How does Shakespeare use different aspects of tragedy throughout Othello?

Term 4: What are the key ideas in political and social protest texts and how are they conveyed?

Term 5: What key knowledge do I need for exams and how do I effectively write about them?

BBC Bitesize English

YouTube Revision Channels