English Language
A-Level English Language is the study of real-life language in action. Instead of novels, plays or poems, you will examine the language you see and use every day, from shoe adverts and shower gel to tweets and toddler talk. You will learn to decode representations and messages, developing your ability to critically examine any information presented to you.
Year 12
In the first year you study Paper 1: Meanings and Representations and Child Language Acquisition. You will analyse how both written and spoken texts create meanings, engage their audiences and achieve their purposes. These could range from advertisements and marketing materials to fictional and internet texts.
You also explore how we all learned to speak, read and write as children. You will examine theories and case studies of child language acquisition and apply these ideas to real data, building strong analytical skills and confidence in handling unseen texts.
Year 13
In Year 13 the focus shifts to Paper 2: Language Diversity and Language Change, alongside the NEA (coursework). In Language Diversity you will explore how real-life language is diversifying, including regional varieties, the language of power, law and business, social groups and gendered language.
In Language Change you examine how English has developed over time, from Anglo-Saxon origins through to twenty-first-century terms like “selfie”, asking not only how language changes but why. The NEA (Language Investigation and Creative Writing) makes up 20% of your overall grade and allows you to investigate an area of language of your choice and produce your own original writing.
Assessment Components
Component 1
Component 2
Assessment combines two written examination papers with a coursework portfolio, rewarding close textual analysis, understanding of language theories and the ability to investigate and craft language for real audiences and purposes.
Opportunities
A qualification in English Language opens a vast range of opportunities for both employment and further study. While it naturally leads to the further study of English, it is also an essential qualification for students interested in journalism, teaching, law, marketing, business, speech therapy, childhood studies, creative writing and public relations.
It is highly valued by universities and employers for the critical thinking, communication and analytical skills it develops.
Entrance Requirements
Essential Grade 5 in English.
Desirable Grade 6 in English Language.
English Language (A-Level)
A-Level English Language focuses on real-life language in action. Instead of studying set texts, students analyse everyday language such as advertising, social media and spoken conversation. They learn to decode representations and messages, developing strong skills in critical reading and interpretation.
Year 12
Students study Paper 1, which covers meanings and representations in written and spoken texts and child language acquisition. They analyse how texts construct meanings and audiences and explore how children learn to speak, read and write, using theories and case studies applied to data.
Year 13
Students study Paper 2, focusing on language diversity and language change. They examine regional language, the language of power, law and business, language of social groups, gendered language and how English has changed over time. They also complete an NEA, worth 20% of the overall grade, which includes a language investigation and a piece of original writing.
Assessment Components
Written examinations account for 80% of the A-Level.
A coursework portfolio (NEA) accounts for the remaining 20% of the A-Level.
Together these assess students’ ability to analyse language, apply linguistic theories and create texts for real purposes.
Opportunities
English Language supports progression into degrees and careers in English, journalism, teaching, law, marketing, business, speech therapy, childhood studies, creative writing and public relations.
Entrance Requirements
Essential: Grade 5 in English.
Desirable: Grade 6 in English Language.