COURSE OVERVIEW
Duration: 2 Years, Full-Time
Entry Requirements: 5 GCSEs inc. Maths (9-4/A*-C) & GCSE English Language grade 5+
UCAS points: up to 56 (depending on grade outcome)
Campus: Middlesbrough
Think critically. Write powerfully. Explore the texts, themes and ideas that shape our world - and your creative future.
Assessment
The AS-Level consists of 2 x 1.5 hr exams and the A-Level is 80% exam (with 2 x 2.5 hrs exams) and 20% coursework.
Why Choose This Course?
• Gain critical thinking and writing skills to support your creative work
• Explore powerful themes across literature, culture and society
• Strengthen your UCAS application with a respected A Level subject
• Develop academic confidence and transferable skills
COURSE DETAILS
A-Level English is the ideal companion subject for students pursuing creative courses who also want to develop strong academic and communication skills. Studied alongside your core creative subjects, this course builds your ability
to analyse, interpret and express ideas with clarity and confidence.
You will explore a wide range of texts - from classic literature and contemporary writing to poetry, drama and non-fiction. Through discussion, close reading and essay writing, you’ll gain insight into themes like identity, society, power and transformation - while strengthening your own voice as a writer and thinker.
This course helps you become a confident communicator, deep thinker and skilled researcher - all of which are valuable whether you’re heading to university, foundation study, or directly into creative employment.
At The Northern School of Art, English is taught in small, discussion-based groups, with a focus on connecting literature to real-world ideas and your creative practice. Many students find that studying English alongside art, design, film or fashion enhances their ability to tell stories, present work, and explore themes in depth.
Where Could It Take You?
• Journalism or Editorial Roles
• Copywriting or Content Creation
• Publishing or Literary Agent Work
• Communications or PR
• Screenwriting or Script Editing
• Teaching or Lecturing (with further study)
• Creative Writing
• Law, Politics or Humanities Degrees
• Advertising and Brand Storytelling
Our A-level students are encouraged to participate in a range of activities to support their understanding of creative arts and their future career and job roles. Students on the A-level pathways have also successfully taken part in national competitions, such as The Knitting & Stitching Show, created video content for the Department of Education and taught online to primary schools. We also think it is really important to explore the issues that impact on our students and recent teaching modules have explored knife crime, environmental issues and art, social media and its impact on mental health.
Our students progress to a wide range of different study and learning, including The University of York, Leeds Arts University, University Arts London, York St John University, Manchester Metropolitan University, as well as The Northern School of Art degree programmes. On the A-level pathway, students also have access to a range of workshops and skills talks provided by practising professionals from across the creative industries as well as higher education and degree-level lecturers - each session provides essential advice and insight into planning for a successful career as a creative professional.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
"I have gained confidence and met more people"
"I have gained confidence and met more people"
Ofsted Outstanding
The Northern School of Art’s Middlesbrough campus has been given another ‘Outstanding’ rating by Ofsted. Following an intensive four-day inspection by six inspectors the School’s further education provision has retained the top rating it has held since 2009.
