The Perse School Cambridge

• Curriculum
  • Subject choices
  • Requirements for university
• Subjects
  • Art
    • Gallery
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Classical Civilisation
  • Design and Technology
  • Economics
  • English Literature
  • French
  • General Studies
  • Geography
  • German
  • Greek
  • History
  • Italian
  • Latin
  • Mathematics
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Physical Education
  • Physics
  • Politics
  • Psychology
  • Religious Studies
  • Spanish
• Pastoral care
• School life
• Extra-curricular
• Academic success
  • Exam results
  • University destinations
• University advice

• Why English Literature?
• AS level
• A2 level
• Activities
• Exam results
• Reading

Oxbridge

Students opting to apply to study English at Oxford or Cambridge Universities are offered extra guidance and tuition by the Department during the period starting after AS examinations in the Lower Sixth (June) and ending during the interview season in the following December.

At the end of the Summer Term, tuition consists of:

• Guidance and advice about university and college choice.
• Construction of holiday Oxbridge reading lists (specific to individual students) which complement AS/A2 study and provide greater depth/breadth of study.
• Choosing two topics (and titles) for the essays to be submitted – with associated reading – for which the first draft should be produced during the summer holiday.

In the Michaelmas Term, tuition consists of:

Co-ordinated, varied and regular sessions on a number of major literary topics (such as Tragedy, Renaissance Drama, the Modernist Novel, Absurdist Drama) to expand  the knowledge of candidates;

• Coaching on the essay topics of the candidates and supervision of production of the essays in stages.
• Coaching, with practice, on response to unseen readings, in preparation for exam and interview tasks.

Performing Arts

The English and Drama Department contributes this option to the school’s ‘Enrichment’ programme (Years 11 to Upper Sixth).