What is it?
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.
Why study this subject at Blackpool Sixth?
English Language A Level 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.
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
How will I be taught?
- Teacher delivery of key information
- Collaborative learning through technology
- Google Classroom
- Class discussion and debate
- Planning and writing of essays
- Analysis of data
How will I be assessed?
The course is assessed by exam and coursework.
80% of the course is assessed by two examinations at the end of the course. 10% of the course is based on a piece of your own writing. 10% of the course is based on your own investigation into an aspect of English.
Teacher expertise
You will be taught by a subject specialist and examiner for A Level English Language.
Field trips, projects and employability opportunities
Whilst studying English Language at Blackpool Sixth, you will also have the opportunity to join our debating society and to contribute to our award winning magazine, Sixth Sense. This year we are also planning visits to the John Ryland’s Library in Manchester and other universities. We also hope to welcome a range of speakers including ex-students who have used their A Level within their careers.
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.
Equipment
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.
Examination board
AQA
Specific Requirements
- 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.
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