English - Hurstpierpoint College

English

The English department prides itself on engaging students with dynamic and intellectually challenging voyages into literature that nurture a lifelong love of English in all its forms.

Our journeys through the texts encourage students to engage fully with the language, form, structure and deeper meanings of a wide range of literature. Lively debate and questioning is seen as a vital part of the analytical process. To engage in meaningful exploration, we ensure that our students have a firm grounding in literacy in order to gain the tools that will allow them to make progress and grow, becoming confident in their handling of all texts.

English Literature (A-level)

Students hone their analytical skills and embark on a journey covering a variety of literary periods and movements. The course allows for individuality and for the development of an incredibly informed, personal response to the texts studied, whilst encouraging the wider reading and research that will be so useful as students continue their education beyond college.

The range of texts is broad and varied and lessons are exciting and challenging. Those who possess an enquiring mind and a passion for our linguistic heritage will relish the diversity of English Literature and thrive on its creative possibilities. The intellectually curious will learn to express opinion with confidence, freedom and skill, to enjoy the effects of discerning use of language and to explore a complex range of ideas from across the ages.

We follow the OCR English Literature A-level course.

Co-curricular opportunities

English students may be interested in writing for the Hurst student magazine, Oculus.

There are opportunities throughout the year for students with an interest in reading to visit literary festivals such as the Charleston Festival, Cuckfield Bookfest and the Cambridge Literary Festival.

The Hurst library has two floors, with the top floor specifically for the Sixth Form. It stocks hundreds of books, magazines and journals for keen readers and organises a Book Club and book-related activities.

Higher Education and career opportunities

English Literature is a splendid foundation for every Arts and Humanities degree course in Higher Education. It is universally regarded as a rigorous academic discipline of special worth for those interested in careers as disparate as journalism, publishing, media, research, teaching, politics, law, social work, personnel management, public relations and accountancy.

As a degree course in its own right, English Literature is extremely stimulating and highly popular; always over-subscribed, it is available in a variety of guises at all major seats of learning worldwide.