Sub-Navigation
Case study 19: Preparing to study English at university
Case studies index: < previous case | next case >
Case study 19: Preparing to study English at university
This case study shows how a sixth-form college challenges its gifted English students and prepares them for studying English at university.
sixth-form college with about 2,000 full-time students
running an Extension English course for gifted English students
students who have read widely and are well prepared to study English at university
Background
The college is an open-access (non-selective) state sixth-form college with accredited status. It has about 2,000 full-time A level students. Although the A level English course provides an excellent introduction to close study, it does not give students an opportunity for wider reading. The college recognised this and decided to run an Extension English course to challenge gifted students and prepare them for studying English at university. The course is part of the college's overall strategy for providing extension work for gifted students.
Implementation
The course extends the students' A level work and is modified every year to fit around the A level syllabus.
Between 16 and 25 students choose to take the course, which is advertised as being suitable for students who are planning to read English or a related subject at university.
Abigail is typical of students who have benefited from the course. In her normal A level class she would have studied two Shakespeare plays, a Chaucer text, a modern novel, an additional drama text, and two coursework novels. In the Extension English sessions, held at lunchtimes, she explored:
- the genre of tragedy by reading three plays by Sophocles, an Elizabethan tragedy, two Hardy novels and an American play;
- comedy by reading texts by Aristophanes, Shakespeare, Goldsmith and Wilde;
- poetry by reading the metaphysicals, Pope and the Romantics.
The course finished with an introduction to literary theory and some detailed work on James Joyce and TS Eliot. In addition, Abigail gave presentations on texts and attended lectures by guest speakers on topics such as the politics of the Romantic period, modernism in European art, postmodernism in European literature, and the importance of political theatre.
Impact
Students appear to enjoy the course and recommend it to other students. A high percentage go on to study English at university and make the transition successfully.