GCE A Level in English Literature
at Woodhouse College · college
What the college says
You will develop an appreciation of how writers shape meaning across a range of texts such as poetry, drama (including Shakespeare), novels and short stories. You will be able to assess how texts are influenced over time by historical, literary and cultural factors. Our students have gone on to study English literature or an English-related degree course at a range of well-respected universities. Many will combine their study of literature with another subject, and some will choose to go on to study other subjects at university that require similar skills, such as history, philosophy or law. Students studying literature at Woodhouse are likely to achieve final grades well above the national average. You’ll take trips to the Globe and West End productions, attend lecture days with university professors, and experience cinema screenings of drama productions. We’ll also provide students with creative opportunities for collaborative work using video and drama, and poetry and design competitions. Course content: You will study texts from medieval Chaucer through to Shakespeare and revenge drama, as well as more contemporary poetry and prose. You will explore a range of styles from Gothic fiction to 17th century Jacobean drama. Your examined units will focus on Shakespeare and drama pre-1900 and comparing a classic Gothic novel with Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber. Class discussions explore a range of adult themes such as forbidden desire, adultery, revenge, gender and power. In
What you need to get on
GCSES: Grade 5 in Mathematics, Grade 6 in English Language, Grade 6 in English Literature required, Grade 6 in an essay writing subject required if English Literature not taken at GCSE (e.g., History, Geography)
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
WOODHOUSE COLLEGE
WOODHOUSE ROAD FINCHLEY, LONDON, N12 9EY
DaytimeClassroom basedCheck the journey
Start dates
- 31 August 2026 · LONDON
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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