Why choose GCSE English Literature?

At the end of Year 9, students at The Lion Works School face an exciting moment in their academic journey – choosing their Key Stage 4 options. Among the many fantastic courses available, our GCSE English Literature cohort has just kicked off their studies. But what’s so great about literature, anyway? Isn’t it just old books and tricky poems? Absolutely not! Literature is a gateway into other worlds, different times, and unfamiliar perspectives – and it just might teach us more about ourselves than we expect. So, what exactly are our students diving into?

The subject focuses on four key areas – a modern text, a Shakespeare text, an 18th century text and a poetry anthology. This gives students a wide introduction to a range of classic texts, inspiring a love of literature. While this is a subject that some people may believe has lost its relevance, many of the texts we study now still offer valuable lessons for today. Currently, students at The Lion Works School are studying ‘An Inspector Calls’. There have been many lively discussions about Priestley’s intentions with the text.

The subject supports not just reading, but a wide range of academic skills. It develops critical thinking for students who need to interpret meaning, evaluate the writer’s intentions and consider the different perspectives that an audience or reader may have. It also supports students’ analytical skills. Students need to use their powers of analysis to help interpret meaning, explore language, structure and form – which also helps with the English Language GCSE.

Through their discussions and analytical writing, students are also developing their confidence, communication and written skills. These texts present students with a range of perspectives to consider, which in turn allows them to develop their own viewpoints and challenge themselves. This can help students to find their own ideals and values, developing them holistically, not just intellectually.

English Literature provides students with transferable skills that support them in a range of future careers, such as law, journalism, education and beyond. The literacy and communication skills that English Literature provides also help students with interviews, applications and public speaking – helping to set students up for a bright future.

To conclude, the course isn’t just valuable as another GCSE subject. It has applications throughout students’ lives. The texts that students study have been chosen to help students develop their world view and understanding of other perspectives that may be outside their own personal bubbles. While the world is changing at an ever-increasing pace, the ideas that are studied in English Literature are there to support their understanding of the world around them.

Mrs Unwin