English Literature A Level
Paston College
Grammar School Road, North Walsham, Norfolk, NR28 9JL
GCE A/AS Level or Equivalent
Level 3
Available start dates
Available start dates
Tuesday, 01 September 2026
Paston College
2 Year(s)
Full time
Daytime/working hours
Application Instructions
Step 1: Apply
Step 2: Interviews and taster events
As part of your application you will be invited to book an interview, to discuss your chosen course, where you will meet with an academic tutor from your chosen area of study for an informal discussion about your course choices, to ensure you have chosen the best course for your future ambitions.
This will give you the opportunity to ask questions and discuss anything about the course that you are unsure about. Please ensure you check your confirmation email for full details, so you do not miss your appointment.
You are initially only able to book an interview for your first choice course, please let us know if you would subsequently like to be able to book interviews for other courses by emailing admissions@paston.ac.uk
Step 3: Offer
This stage provides you with an outcome of your recent interview, which will confirm if you have been made an offer of a place on your chosen course.
All offers are provisional until the point of enrolment and most of our course offers are conditional, meaning there is entry criteria you need to meet before enrolling. This will be outlined in your offer letter.
Sometimes we are unable to offer you a place on your chosen course. If this happens the reasons will be discussed with you at your appointment and we will look at alternative options with you. We will be in contact to confirm the outcome and what to do next. We also have a team of specialist Course Advisers who are more than happy to look at alternative options with you and answer any questions you may have.
Step 4: Enrolment
Enrolment is the final stage before starting your course with us and takes place within the last two weeks of August. We require you to be available to attend your appointment in person at college, so we can complete all the required steps to enrolling you on your chosen course.
We may ask you to bring some documents with you so please read your enrolment invitation carefully.
Course Details
THIS COURSE WILL ALLOW YOU TO EXPLORE A VARIETY OF LITERARY TEXTS, INCLUDING POEMS, NOVELS AND PLAYS FROM THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY TO THE PRESENT DAY. DURING THIS COURSE, YOU WILL BE TAUGHT IN AN OPEN AND DEMOCRATIC WAY AND YOU’LL BE ENCOURAGED TO ASK QUESTIONS OF YOUR TEACHERS, OF THE THINGS YOU READ AND, PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, OF YOURSELF AND YOUR IDEAS.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN?
You will focus on texts that relate to a variety of topics including drama and poetry pre 1900 and literature post 1900.You will learn how to thoroughly analyse text, use evidence to support and develop arguments and express ideas clearly and accurately. Alongside this, you will also develop analytical and conceptual skills and improve the clarity and coherence of your own writing and speaking.
You will study a range of well known texts such as Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi (1613). Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist and Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake.You will also write two essays on literature post 1900 with text choices varying each year depending on the group’s interests. Past groups have written about the poetry of Philip Larkin, plays by Jez Butterworth and prose fiction by Zadie Smith, Ian McEwan and Angela Carter.
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES
You will have the opportunity to attend trips to the theatre and galleries.You will also get chance to attend lectures and study days. In recent years our students have taken trips to London, Stratford-upon-Avon, Wolverhampton, Sheffield, Bury St Edmunds, Northampton and Cambridge.
IS IT SUITABLE FOR YOU?
If you enjoy reading and are looking for a course that improves your attention to detail, analytical and conceptual skills, then this course could be for you.
HOW YOU ARE ASSESSED?
You will sit two exams, both 2 ½ hours in length and each worth 40% of your overall mark.Your coursework folder makes up the other 20%.
THIS COURSE GOES WELL WITH…
A broad range of arts, humanities and social science subjects that requires extended writing as part of its assessment such as Sociology, History, Film Studies, and Politics
Entry requirements
3 A Level Programme
Minimum of 66444 at GCSE
You must also study English/Maths GCSE if you have not already achieved grade 4 in these subjects.
If you achieve a minimum of 3 GCSE's at grade 8 plus 5 at grade 7 and your English Language and Maths are at minimum grade 4, you will have the option to join the A Plus programme.
Please note that A Plus is designed for applicants to academic courses at Oxford, Cambridge or Russel Group.
Your next steps...
YOU CAN GO ON TO DO...
An undergraduate study programme and is seen as a strong component of any university or job application. Former students are now undertaking further study or are working as journalists, actors, teachers, speech-therapists, university academics, police officers and in IT, PR and retail.
For more courses like this, check our courses page.