English Language

Subject Leader: Mr Carberry

Email address: j.carberry@becketonline.co.uk

What specification (syllabus) is being taught?

AQA English Language (7702)

General overview

The study of English Language gives students the opportunity to consider the very meaning of language; to debate whether it is only a means to communicate or a window into individual and societal thought processes and attitudes.

The course builds on the analytical skills developed at GCSE but also includes an emphasis on spoken language, focusing on how different groups of people use speech to communicate and societal attitudes towards these differences. It looks at the formation, development and expansion of English as a language, whilst we also study the acquisition and development of language in children.

There is also a creative writing element to the course, assessed in both the NonExam Assessment and the final exams.

Who should take this course?

Students with a love of language!
The course develops your understanding of language whilst also enhancing your
own skills of verbal and written communication, which have never been more
important across a wide range of industries and employment opportunities.
Students who have recently taken the course have gone on to university to study
subjects most closely linked to it: English, Linguistics, Journalism, Sports Journalism
as well as Psychology, Philosophy, Law and Business courses.

What are the entry requirements?

Minimum Requirements:  Grade 5 in English Language and English Literature

What are the key topics and themes?

When will they be taught?

Across the two years students will study the following, to be assessed at the end of
Year 13 through two exams:

How will students be assessed?

When do these assessments take place?

Textual variations and representations (analysis of a range of mostly nonfiction texts for meaning and purpose)

  • Children’s language development
  • Language diversity and change
  • Attitudes to language diversity and change
There is also a Non-Exam Assessment which comprises 20% of the course. This is in two, equally weighted parts: a piece of original writing and accompanying commentary, and an independent language investigation.

What can students do for revision at home?

What materials are provided or available online?

Classroom resources are shared via Google Classroom and revision resources are also shared in this way.