English Language

Subject:  English Language

Key Contact:  Prue Bendell prb@gryphon.dorset.sch.uk

Syllabus Information:  AQA A Level English Language 7702

Course Content

The A-level English Language course offers opportunities for students to develop their subject expertise by engaging creatively and critically with a wide range of texts and discourses. Students will create texts and reflect critically on their own processes of production, while analysing the texts produced by others. The specification explores the study of English Language both as a medium of communication and as a topic in its own right, with an emphasis on the ability of students to pursue lines of enquiry, debate different views, and work independently to research aspects of language in use. Language is seen as a creative tool for expression and social connection, as well as for individual cognition. The study of language as a symbolic system used to assert power in society is also fundamental to the scope of this specification.

Year 12 (Teacher 1/Teacher 2)

• Half Term 1: Introduction to Language Study/Paper 2 Language Change
• Half Term 2: Paper 1 Section B – Children’s Language Development/Paper 2 Language Change
• Half Term 3: Paper 1 Section B – CLD/Paper 2 Attitudes to Language Change
• Half Term 4: Paper 1 Section A Unseen texts/Paper 2 Language diversity
• Half Term 5: Paper 1 PPE practice/Paper 2 PPE practice
• Half Term 6: Paper 1 PPE practice & NEA Language Investigation/Paper 2 PPE practice & NEA Original Writing

Year 13 (Teacher 1/Teacher 2)

• Half Term 1: NEA Language Investigation/Paper 2 Language Diversity
• Half Term 2: Paper 1 Section B CLD PPE preparation/Paper 2 Language Diversity PPE preparation
• Half Term 3: Paper 1 Section A Unseen texts/Paper 2 Language Diversity
• Half Term 4: Paper 1 Paper 1 PPE revision and NEA/Paper 2 PPE revision and NEA
• Half Term 5: Paper 1 revision & exam prep/Paper 2 revision & exam prep

Assessment

A mixture of formative assessment (knowledge tests, presentations and short mark questions) and formal exam responses.

Homework

Set once a fortnight by each teacher –  a mixture of wider reading/research, Seneca assignments, completing class work/assessments, drafting NEA and doing specific revision tasks to consolidate learning.

KS5 Progression

At Key Stage 5, students develop increasing independence as readers, writers and language analysts, building on the analytical and communication skills established at GCSE. Through the study of spoken, written and multimodal texts, they explore how language shapes identity, culture and society, applying linguistic frameworks to analyse authentic language data with increasing confidence and precision. Students study language diversity and change, child language development, and language in different social contexts such as language and age, gender, dialects and occupation.

Through the Non-Exam Assessment, students undertake an independent Language Investigation alongside a piece of original writing with commentary, demonstrating creativity, critical thinking and academic independence. Through sustained enquiry, analysis and reflection, students develop the confidence, resilience and communication skills required for higher education, employment and life beyond school.

KS5 End point

By the end of A-Level English Language, students will be able to demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of how language is used to shape meaning, identity and representation across a range of spoken, written and multimodal texts. They will confidently apply linguistic frameworks and terminology to analyse and evaluate language in a variety of social, cultural and historical contexts, constructing well-supported arguments based on evidence from authentic language data. Students will demonstrate an understanding of language diversity, language change and language acquisition, recognising the complex relationship between language, individuals and society.

Students will be able to produce coherent, analytical and evaluative responses using accurate linguistic terminology and well-selected evidence. They will demonstrate the ability to investigate language independently, synthesise research and draw justified conclusions, while crafting original writing for different audiences, purposes and genres with conscious control of linguistic choices. Their work will reflect intellectual curiosity, critical thinking and the confidence to communicate complex ideas with precision and independence.

Useful information, links and resources

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/as-and-a-level/english-language-7701-7702/subject-content-a-level