Students at BHS take the AQA GCSE qualifications and study English Language and English Literature simultaneously across the two year programme of study. The course includes oral and written presentation of ideas and the study of several literary and non-fiction texts.

There are opportunities for creative writing. Prose, poetry and drama are studied in depth alongside the consideration of historical, social and cultural context. The AQA GCSE English Language and English Literature qualifications are assessed by examination at the end of the course – there is no coursework.