female student in library holding a textbook

A Levels

Level 3

08 Sep 2025

1 Year

LOXTON CAMPUS

ASENLD1LC

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English Literature, A Level

The English Literature A Level covers the study of a variety of prose including novels, poetry and plays. You will analyse a wide range of literary texts from different time periods and cultures, gaining an understanding of the types of language used in different contexts.

It is widely recognised by universities and employers that studying English provides the most transferable skills, including critical analysis, creative thinking, persuasive communication, and empathy. The skills you’ll develop can lead to a fulfilling career in fields such as writing, publishing, journalism, or education – but it’s also a perfect choice if you haven’t decided on your dream career yet as English graduates to secure the widest range of careers.

Our Sixth Form at Loxton Campus is a purpose-built facility, designed to simulate a university environment, preparing you for future higher education studies. Our experienced teachers are passionate about English literature and will guide you through the course, encourage critical thinking, and provide personalised feedback to help you refine your skills and deepen your understanding of the texts studied.

At Weston College, we prioritise your future career success and when you study here you will automatically join our Career Excellence Hub and benefit from a range of additional opportunities designed to enhance your career prospects. We have established strong partnerships with respected employers, enabling you to gain valuable work experience in June of year one and February of year two. We'll support you in finding suitable placements or provide a week of experiences within the College that align with your career aims.

In the first year of your course, you'll have the opportunity to follow a pathway that aligns with your career aspirations. Choose from options such as creative writing, media, and debating, which will provide you with additional skills and experiences to enhance your career prospects. Our dedicated Tutor Learning Mentors will provide guidance and support to help you excel in your studies. They will assist you in developing effective study strategies and preparing for assessments and examinations. Additionally, we offer dedicated assistance and guidance for interviews, whether you're applying to university or seeking job opportunities.

WHAT DOES THIS COURSE INVOLVE

You will explore a wide range of prose, drama, and poetry - from Shakespeare to contemporary literature – alongside literary theory. In the first year, you will focus on tragedies, while the second year will allow you to explore your own independent research as well as focus on a further genre, such as gothic writing.

Group discussion forms a large part of this programme – we expect you to read widely and independently and be prepared to discuss your reading with others. You will have plenty of scope for your own creative work too.

This programme is part of a Sixth Form offer, learners typically choose three or four A Level subjects to study over a two-year period. Which A Levels you study can affect your choices at university and your future career. Take a look here at our other A Level programmes.

ASSESSMENT METHOD

Exams (80%) and coursework (20%) in your second year.

FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES

This programme can help you secure a place on a wide range of university courses, which can open doors to many career paths including creative writing, journalism, marketing, politics, and history.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Five GCSEs at grade 9-4, including maths and a 5 in GCSE English Language and English Literature.

WHAT DO I DO NEXT?

Ready to apply – please use the ‘apply now’ button at the top of this page.
I’d like to visit and see the facilities and chat to staff – see when our next open event is here: EVENTS | Weston College
I have a quick question – use our Live Chat facility on the bottom right of this page.

Category & Subject Area

A Levels Courses for 16 to 18-year-olds Courses for 16 to 18-year-olds

iAn interview is required for this course.

Fees Information

Level 2 Qualifications

This course may be Free* if you live in the South West of England and:

You are defined by the Adult Education Board (AEB) as being unemployed because one of the following applies:
- receive Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), including those receiving National Insurance credits only
- receive Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- receive Universal Credit and your take home pay, as recorded on your Universal Credit statement (disregarding Universal Credit payment and other benefits) is less than £345 a month (learner is sole adult in the benefit claim) or £552 a month (learner has a joint benefit claim with their partner)
- are released on temporary licence, studying outside a prison environment, and not funded by the Ministry of Justice
You are employed, or self-employed, and earn less than £18,525.00 annual gross salary.

Level 3 Qualifications

This course is Free* if:

The qualification you have chosen to study is part of the Legal Entitlements list and you are aged 19-23 at the start of your course and you do not already have a qualification at Level 3 or higher. From April 2021, any adult aged 24 and over who wants to achieve their first full level 3 qualification will be able to access certain courses we run for free.

The full fee is payable if:

this is not your first full level 3

Or

the qualification you wish to study isn’t on the approved list of level 3 qualifications the College can run for free.

However, you may qualify for an Advanced Learner Loan.

Apprenticeships - Information for Employers

The cost of apprenticeships will be split into 30 funding bands ranging from £1,500 to £27,000. The prices will depend on the type of apprenticeship and the level it is taught at, and are negotiable with your training provider.

For 98% of employers, the reforms mean that employing an apprentice will be better value for money than ever before. Small businesses will only have to pay 5% of the training costs, with the Government picking up the remaining 95%. In some cases, the Government will fully fund apprenticeships for small businesses.

Click here for more information about how the reforms and levy will affect your company.

Advanced Learner Loans

You may be eligible to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan from Student Finance England, to fund the cost of your course. For further information and to check eligibility, please follow the links below:

Other Important information

While every care has been made to ensure the accuracy of our prospectuses and website, errors may occur from time to time resulting in incorrect information / fees being shown / printed.

Fees quoted online and in our prospectuses are for the current academic year only, and are subject to change – two and three-year courses will have fees to pay again in subsequent years.
You may still need to buy a uniform/kit which is your professional start-up kits or pay professional/personal memberships and all students will need to provide a National Insurance number and up-to-date proof of benefits, if applicable, at the time of enrolment.
Please click here for our current term dates.

If you are 16-18 years old on the 31st August in the current academic year, this course is usually Free.
Students who are EU/EEA or Swiss Citizens who have lived in the UK before 1 January 2021 who do not have indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK or haven’t applied for the EU Settlement Scheme and been granted pre-settled or settled status – please contact the College Registrar on 01934 411 531 for advice on appropriate UKVI student visa fees before you enrol.

Refunds

Full refunds will be payable if we need to cancel a course.
Tuition fee refunds are payable if you change your mind within 14 days of enrolling on your course and before the start of the course (10% of tuition fee or £25 administration fee whichever is larger will be charged).

If you change your mind about a course before it starts or during the first three weeks, we will happily transfer you to an alternative course - you may need to pay any difference in fees or have a credit note issued to you if the course is cheaper.
If you wish to withdraw from a course you can request a credit note for the remaining proportion of the tuition fees to a maximum of 50% of tuition fees paid (a £25 administration fee will be charged). Credit notes are valid for one calendar year.
There are different terms and conditions for Higher Education courses - please call 01934 411 409 for further details.

Discretionary Learner Support Fund

This is a College-administered fund which can support some costs associated with attending qualification courses. It is mean-tested against gross household income and limited in its amount per learner. For further information please contact Student Services on 01934 411 571.

Rosie's Vlog

Take a look at a day in the life of our A-level student Rosie!