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Home > Courses > A Level English Language
English and modern foreign languages A-Level For 16-19 Year Olds

A Level English Language

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COURSE oVERVIEW

English language is the study of spoken and written language. It looks at how language reflects society and how we use it to create and make sense of our world.

EXAMINATION BOARD: AQA

Standard college entry requirements plus a grade 5 in GCSE English Language is preferred but a student with a grade 4 who has a genuine enthusiasm for the subject will be considered.

Why study A Level English Language at Blackpool Sixth?

A Level English Language is led by an experienced teacher and examiner with established links to Lancaster University’s Linguistics Department, enabling you to develop aspirations and career opportunities beyond the classroom.

How will I be taught?

  • Teacher delivery of key information
  • Independent reading and research
  • Collaborative learning through technology Google Classroom Class discussion and debate
  • Planning and writing of essays
  • Analysis of data

Teacher expertise

You will be taught by experienced and passionate subject specialists.

What skills will I develop?

  • Analytical and evaluative skills
  • The ability to work independently and develop your own opinions
  • The ability to work as part of a team on collaborative tasks
  • An awareness of how others see the world differently (or similarly!) to you
  • How to craft and develop a complex argument
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How will I be assessed?

The course is assessed by exam and coursework.

80

%
Assessment
  • 80% is assessed by two examinations at the end of the course.
  • 10% is based on a piece of your own writing.
  • 10% is based on your own investigation into an aspect of English.

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What will you study and other information about A Level English Language

  • What will I study?Plus buttonMinus button

    Over the course of 2 years you will study:

    • How and why the social groups we belong to affect our language
    • How and why our language is affected by our gender, ethnicity and occupations
    • How and why our language varies within the British Isles and outside it
    • How children learn to speak and write
    • How language has changed and developed since 1600
    • The structure of the English language and how it is used by writers for different audiences and purposes, from on-line articles and blogs to advertising and everything in-between
    • How to write creatively in a variety of genres

  • We are on the technology for learning scheme so you will need to have access to a device to enable you to work collaboratively in class and access a range of digital resources.

    Students may wish to purchase the official AQA textbook for English language “The AQA English Language Student Book”, Cambridge University Press. Approximately £20.

    There is also a supplementary textbook, ‘AQA English  Language’, Oxford University Press. Approximately £20

    David Crystal’s Rediscover Grammar is very useful to students of A Level English Language. Approximately £20.

  • Whilst studying English Language at Blackpool Sixth, you will also have the opportunity to join our creative writing club and to contribute to our award winning magazine, Sixth Sense. This year we are also planning visits to Uclan’s high tech media and television department as well as Lancaster University. We also hope to welcome a range of speakers including ex-students who have used their A Level within their careers.

    • David Crystal – How Language Works
    • Angela Goddard – Doing English Language
    • Giovanelli Rudman – A/AS English Language AQA Student Book
    • P.H. Matthews – Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction
    • David Crystal – Listen To Your Child
    • Bill Bryson – The Mother Tongue
    • Jean Aitchison – Language Change: Progress or decay?
    • Deborah Cameron – Verbal Hygiene
    • Rob Drummond – Language Diversity and World Englishes
    • Norman Fairclough – Language and Power

Where does it lead?

Our English Language students have gone on to study a wide range of different subjects at university, including creative writing, linguistics, journalism, Arabic and Japanese! Students have also gone on to study at prestigious universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Durham and York.

Helping you to find your dream career

Blackpool Sixth is dedicated to helping students achieve their future goals. We offer support to our students to help them find the best path for their chosen career.

To see how this course links to career pathways and to career academies which you could join, click the links below.

Related career pathways

Our Alumni

Lucinda Campbell


Head of Performing Arts, Music and Media Teacher of Performing Arts, Dance and Musical Theatre

Michael Handley

Assistant Head of Performing Arts, Music and Media
Teacher of A Level Film Studies and A Level Media Studies

Olivia Hylins

Teacher of Performing Arts, Dance and Musical Theatre

ASH GOODINSON

Teacher of A Level Music Technology and BTEC Music

Lewis Williams

Assistant Head of Performing Arts, Music and Media
Teacher of BTEC Film and TV Production

John Stevens

Teacher of BTEC Music

Helen Twist

Teacher of A Level Media Studies and Level 2 Creative Digital Media

Charlie Moore

Teacher of BTEC Film and TV Production

Lisa Carolan

Teacher of Musical Theatre

Sarah Mistry

Teacher of Performing Arts and A Level Drama and Theatre Studies

Joseph Wylie

Lead Theatre Technician

Rob Yeo

Theatre and Music Technician

JESSE MOSELEY

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LUKE MOORE

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KENZIE NODWELL

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ELAINE DAVIES

HEAD OF VISUAL ARTS

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