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English Literature

at Durham Johnston Comprehensive School, Durham · school or sixth form

Level 3A levelsGCE A level2 yearsFull timeFree

What the college says

English Literature As historicist approach to the study of literature rests upon reading texts within a shared context. Working from the belief that no text exists in isolation but is the product of the time in which it was produced, English Literature A encourages students to explore the relationships that exist between texts and the contexts within which they are written, received and understood. Studying texts within a shared context enables students to investigate and connect them, drawing out patterns of similarity and difference using a variety of reading strategies and perspectives. English Literature A privileges the process of making autonomous meaning, encouraging students to debate and challenge the interpretations of other readers as they develop their own informed personal responses. The specification encourages the exploration of texts in a number of different ways: the study of a literary theme over time (Love Through the Ages); the study of literature through engaging with two of the main historicist perspectives, the diachronic (reading texts written across widely different time periods that explore the same theme) and synchronic (reading texts written within a narrower and clearly defined time period); the study of various texts, both singly and comparatively, chosen from a list of core set texts and a list of chosen comparative set texts; writing about texts in a number of different ways.

What you need to get on

At least grade 6 in GCSE English Literature and English Language. For continuation to Year 13 grades in Year 12 English Literature need to demonstrate potential for A Level study. N.B. Certification in this course is not available at AS level.

How you are assessed

Academic subjects, mostly exams, three or four at once. The traditional route to university.

What this level means

The A-level-equivalent step, and what universities and employers ask for.

Is it open to 16 to 18 year olds?

Approved for 16 to 18 study on the government's Section 96 list.

Where it runs

  • Durham Johnston School

    Crossgate Moor, Durham, DH1 4SU

    DaytimeClassroom based
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Start dates

  • 3 September 2026 · Durham

Who else teaches this exact qualification

Same qualification, different college. Entry requirements and how it is taught can differ a lot between them, which is the whole reason to compare.

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