“Valuing Learning,
Valuing Each Other”

Tel: 01377 253631

Email: office@driffield.e-riding.sch.uk

English Literature

Student browsing in library

What will I learn?

This course comprises of four units of work completed over two years. In Year 12 you will study Victorian texts by writers such as John Clare, Charlotte and Emily Bronte, Thomas Hardy, Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, George Eliot, Jane Austen and others. You will also explore modern texts about the period including work by Tom Stoppard. In Year 13, you will study a wide range of writing on the theme of “Love Through the Ages”. This will be a study of the many facets of love and the many ways it can be seen. The texts will vary from the serious to the humorous and from the romantic to the bawdy. You will also learn how to write impressive essays on all manner of texts and subjects. (The AS is made up two units and can be completed in the first year.)

What are the entry requirements?

The school requires 5 A* - C in any subjects at GSCE. Students on this core should have a curiosity about literature and a willingness to partake and involve themselves enthusiastically in their studies.

How will I be assessed?

The AS Units:

UNIT 1 Texts in Context: Victorian Literature 30%. This is a two hour “open book” examination. There are two questions. One asks you to analyse an extract in the light of your wider reading around Victorian literature and question two is based on the poetry set text by the Romantic poet John Clare.

UNIT 2 Texts in Context: coursework 20%. This is internally assessed coursework and involves you planning and writing two pieces of work (which can be based on your own specific interests and designed by you and your teacher). There is scope for a great deal of creative decision making by the student in this unit.

The A2 Units:

UNIT 3 Love Through the Ages 30%. This is a two-and-half hour “closed book” examination. You will answer two questions which each ask you to compare two texts from your close reading of set texts and your own wider reading around the subject.

UNIT 4 Love Through the Ages: coursework 20%. This an internally assessed 3000 word coursework essay. In it you will use one text studied in class and two others of your own choosing from a range provided. We aim to offer maximum scope for student choice in this and in all of our coursework.

Future opportunities

This course is excellent preparation for university. Its mixture of formal academic and classroom based learning is coupled with the development of independent study and creative decision making. At university you might take an English Literature degree or have access to the vast range of related courses which couple English with many other subjects in joint honours degrees. The course might also be seen vocationally for those who wish to go into teaching or journalism. Marketing and advertising also value the skills developed. It is one of the top subjects and will be appreciated on any Curriculum Vitae. It has proved useful for those who have gone into advertising and worked in the media industry. Of course if you just want to achieve a good A level grade in an interesting subject this is the one for you.

Is there anything I need to know?

This is an ideal course for those who enjoy literature and wish to face the challenges of the deep study of texts. A whole 40% of the final mark is based upon coursework and the teachers at Driffield are highly skilled at supporting students in their own choice of topic and text for this coursework.

I just wanted the opportunity to thank you and all your staff for making our daughter’s first year at Driffield School such a successful and enjoyable experience. Since starting last September we have been impressed by the feedback from your staff in way of letters, postcards, praise and encouragement for our daughter. it is very much appreciated.

Parents of Year 7 student

I am writing to congratulate the Year 10 and Year 11 students who volunteered to take part in the mock interview process today which I was part of…. Students had taken time to do preparation work and the effort to look at the part of an interviewee. The students were a credit to the school and their parents. They were eloquent, enthusiastic and asked pertinent and searching questions of the interviewers.

Business Mentor

I would like to pass on our compliments to the staff for their positive input over the last term and a half. We are very pleased with our daughter’s progress and significant improvement in many subjects.

Parent of Y10 student

My wife and I were delighted to be able to obtain tickets for the Saturday performance of 42nd Street. We wish to applaud all those involved in the brilliant show – not just the main characters, tap dancers and singers, but the excellent musicians and their two teachers; the remarkably efficient scene shifters; and all of your staff responsible for a really professional production.

Parent of student

I am writing to thank Driffield School and the Sports Department for their help and support during 2007. We ran four very successful school biathlons (run/swim) in Driffield. Thank you for your continued support.

British Pentathlon Development Officer

We are delighted with our daughter's transfer to Driffield School. She is enthusiastic about everything - her lessons, teachers and the other students - she never stops talking about them when she gets home. It is lovely to see her re-discovering her enjoyment of school life. Thank you for all your help and support with this.

Parent of Year 10 student

My daughter has just completed her A Levels and has now left Driffield School. However, I couldn’t let the occasion go without writing to thank you and your school for looking after her and giving her such a fine education – and more. Her splendid ‘A’ Level results stand testimony to hard work on her part and a lot of effort, encouragement and perseverance from her teachers.

Parent of Year 13 student

I would just like to know how much I enjoyed Driffield School’s production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. The singing, notably from pupils in the lead parts, was fabulous. The acting in every case was excellent as was the musical accompaniment from the orchestra. Well done to all involved for supporting and encouraging the students in this way.

Parent of a student

On behalf of the President and members of Driffield Rotary Club, I write to thank the school for the cheque for £456.63, donated to go towards the cost of rebuilding the school in Sri Lanka destroyed by the Tsunami. It was very generous of the school’s Student Council to agreed to give the proceeds from the non-uniform in July to this very worthwhile project.

The International Committee of the Rotary Club

May I take this opportunity to thank your staff for a wonderful trip to Cork with the Driffield School Swing Band. The students were impeccable in all respects and a credit to the school and their teachers.

Parent of a student

We wish to place on record our sincere thanks, and would ask you to pass on our gratitude to all the members of staff who taught our daughter, particularly in the past two ‘A’ Level years.

Parent of Year 13 student

Driffield School is a vibrant community where teachers and students work hard and achieve well.

Ofsted Inspectors

In this increasingly effective school, standards are rising and have been consistently above average for the last three years.

Ofsted Inspectors

Parents speak well of the dedication and enthusiasm of the staff. They appreciate the way in which students are welcomed into the school and give a chance to reach their full potential.

Ofsted Inspectors

Students themselves say that they enjoy the huge range of opportunities open to them and feel well cared for.

Ofsted Inspectors

Students are confident, articulate and enthusiastic. Students of all ages mix well together because of the tutor system, which puts students of different ages in mixed tutor groups.

Ofsted Inspectors

Sixth Form students play an important role helping younger students to enjoy and take full part in the life of the school.

Ofsted Inspectors

Teachers have high expectations of what students can do and make these clear.

Ofsted Inspectors

Driffield takes good care of its students... Students work hard to reach increasingly challenging targets.

Ofsted Inspectors

This is a very successful Sixth Form. Results for AS/A2 and AVCE examinations are well above average, maintaining a consistently positive trend. Students overall achievement and progress in the Sixth Form are very good; many achieve well beyond expectation.

Ofsted Inspectors

Teaching is lively and challenging, and foster students’ responsibility and independent learning and results in very positive attitudes.

Ofsted Inspectors

Teaching and learning are good overall, with a high proportion of outstanding lessons.

Ofsted Inspectors

The school’s commitment to the care and well-being of students is evident in exemplary arrangements for child protection, safeguarding and health and safety matters.

Ofsted Inspectors