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Our seniors play an important role as school leaders and academic role models for the younger students. We recognise their need for greater independence and as they prepare for further education, we provide a dedicated 6th Form Centre for self-directed study outside of formal classes.
Having completed their iGCSEs, students normally choose 4 A levels or BTEC (BTEC is a more vocational focused course leading to the same level of qualification). A broad range of A Level options is available and in keeping with our commitment to personalised pathways, subjects are regularly added where there is sufficient demand. As well as these subject options, students may opt to take Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).
Like Year 10 and 11 students, seniors meet their form tutor in the morning, then join subject groups throughout the day depending on the personalised pathways they have selected.
Senior students play a large part in running the school. There is a school council, prefects, senior prefects and a senior student leadership team leading up to the head students. Senior students also are heavily involved in co-curricular activities which run every afternoon.
Sixth Form Curriculum
Universities make offers based upon grades. Therefore interest and performance are vital in choosing Sixth Form subjects. It is advisable to consult the UCAS website as some courses have special requirements, e.g. Medicine and Engineering. Career aims may also dictate a particular choice of subjects or, if serious study of a particular subject at a higher level is envisaged, it may be advisable to combine that subject with other complementary subjects. The A level programme allows plenty of breadth and pupils are strongly encouraged to take full advantage of this.
Some subjects do not require pupils to have studied the subject at GCSE level. They can be started from scratch provided that aptitude has been shown in a relevant GCSE subject. However, pupils need to be aware that starting one or more subjects with no prior background will require real commitment and hard work.
Art and Design (9704)
Course Entry Requirements
To study A-Level |Art and Design students should have at least a Grade B in Art and Design at IGCSE or equivalent.
Course Content (Year 12/AS)
Cambridge International A Level candidates take four components over two years. In Year 12 students take Components 1 and 2.
- Component 1: 15 hour controlled Test A level weighing 30% AS weighing 60%
- Component 2: Coursework A Level weighing 60% AS weighing 40%
Course Content (Year 13/A)
Cambridge International A Level candidates take four components over two years. In Year 13 students take Components 3 and 4.
- Component 3: Coursework A level weighing 30%
- Component 4: Personal Study A Level weighing 20%
Exam Structure
This is an externally set examination that is marked by Cambridge. Candidates choose one question from the examination paper from which to make studies in ant suitable medium, process or technique.
Candidates are expected to develop a visual response, observe directly from primary sources and record, analyse and develop their ideas in two and / or three-dimensions. Students are given a minimum of three weeks preparatory time and 15 hours in which to complete a final repose to their exam question.
Examining Board
Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)
Course Entry Requirements
To study Biology at A-Level students should have at least a Grade B in Biology at IGCSE or equivalent.
Why Biology?
Biology can lead to several career paths in fields such as engineering, agriculture, medicine and health care and research. Careers such as doctors, pharmacologists, biochemical engineers, nutritionists, forensic scientists, paramedics and personal trainers, to name just a few, have their roots in Biology
Course content (Year 12/AS)
Comprises of three units:
- Unit 1: Molecules, Diet, Transport and Health
- Unit 2: Cells, Development, Biodiversity and Conservation
- Unit 3: Practical Skills in Biology I
Course content (Year 13/A)
Comprises of three units:
- Unit 4: Energy, Environment, Microbiology and Immunity
- Unit 5: Respiration, Internal Environment, Coordination and Gene Technology
- Unit 6: Practical Skills in Biology II
Exam Structure
Year 12/AS:
- Units 1 and 2 exams - 1 hour 30 minutes each, 80 marks.
- Unit 3 exam - 1 hour 20 minutes, 50 marks.
Year 13/A2:
- Units 4 and 5 exams - 1 hour 45 minutes each, 90 marks.
- Unit 6 exam - 1 hour 20 minutes, 50 marks.
Examining Board
Edexcel
Summer Suggestions
Read through the specification for more details of what is covered. Refresh on your IGCSE content as you will need it .
BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma in Business
Course entry Requirements
To study BTEC Business students should have at least a Grade B in Business at IGCSE or equivalent. Students will also be considered if they have Grade B or above English.
Why Business?
For every career choice BTEC- Business will be relevant. The course is designed to encourage students to develop hands on entrepreneurship skills to business problems, apply concepts of Business to different contexts and develop this understanding relating to strategic planning and decision-making.
Course Content (Year 12/AS)
- Unit 1 – The Business Environment
- Unit 2 - Business Resources
- Unit 3 – Introduction to Marketing
- Unit 4 – Business Communication
- Unit 9 - Creative Production Promotion
- Unit 10-Market Research in Business
- Unit 11-Relationship Marketing
- Unit 12-Internet Marketing in Business
Course Content (Year 13/A)
- Unit 13- Recruitment and Selection in Business
- Unit 16- Human Resources Management in Business
- Unit 18-Managing a Business Event
- Unit 28- Business Project Management
- Unit 29- Understanding Retailing
- Unit 30- Visual Merchandising in Retail
- Unit 31- Fashion Retailing Unit 32- Food Retailing
- Unit 36- Starting a Small Business
- Unit 37- Understanding Business Ethics
Exam Structure
Students will be assessed based on the course work. The vocational nature of the course means that you will be required to investigate and apply your knowledge to real businesses situations and gain appropriate work experience.
Examining Board
Edexcel Pearson
Summer Suggestions
Students can keep up to date with the latest business news through business apps and websites such as BBC Business and The Economist as well as reading Business journals on Human resources, Entrepreneurship, leadership and business innovation.
Business (A-Level) (9609)
Course Entry Requirements
To study Business at A-Level students should have at least a Grade B in Business at IGCSE or equivalent. Students will also be considered if they have Grade B or above in Maths and English
Why Business?
Whatever career you choose to continue with, Business will be a relevant. The course is designed to encourage students to develop practical solutions to business problems, apply concepts of Business to different contexts and develop this understanding relating to strategic planning and decision-making.
Course content (Year 12/AS)
- Business and its environment.
- People in organisations.
- Marketing
- Operations and project management
- Finance and accounting
Course Content (Year 13/A)
- Business and its environment.
- People in organisations.
- Marketing
- Operations and Project Management
- Finance and accounting
- Strategic management
Exam structure
Students will sit 2 exams at the end of Year 12 (AS). Paper 1 is shortanswer and essay; Paper 2 is data-response. At the end of Year 13 (A-Level), students will sit Paper 3 which is worth 50% of the ALevel which lasts for 3 hours.
Examining Board
Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)
Summer Suggestions
Students can keep up to date with the latest business news through websites such as www.bbc.co.uk/business and money.cnn.com as well as reading books. Entrepreneurship, leadership and motivation would be a good starting point
Course Entry Requirements
To study Chemistry at A-Level students should have at least a Grade B in Chemistry at IGCSE or equivalent.
Why Chemistry?
From the moment you are born, and throughout your life, you are surrounded by chemistry – the air you breathe, the food you eat and the clothes you wear – they’re all chemistry. Chemistry is the study of substances; what they are made of, how they interact with each other and the role they play in living things. Whether you want to care for penguin colonies in Antarctica or work in a dynamic business environment, chemistry can help you achieve your goals. From research in space, to the depths of the oceans, chemistry helps you understand the world around you and opens up lots of career opportunities.
Course Content (Year 12/AS)
Comprises of three units:
- Unit 1: The Core Principles of Chemistry
- Unit 2: Application of Core Principles of Chemistry
- Unit 3: Chemistry Laboratory Skills I Alternative
Course Content (Year 13/A)
Comprises of three units:
- Unit 4: General Principles of Chemistry l – Rates, Equilibria and Further Organic Chemistry
- Unit 5: General Principles of Chemistry ll – Transition Metals and Organic Nitrogen Chemistry
- Unit 6: Chemistry Laboratory Skills ll Alternative
Exam Structure
Year 12/AS:
- Units 1 and 2 exams - 1 hour 30 minutes each, 80 marks.
- Unit 3 exam - 1 hour 15 minutes, 50 marks.
Year 13/A2:
- Units 4 and 5 exams - 1 hour 40 minutes each, 90 marks.
- Unit 6 exam - 1 hour 15 minutes, 50 marks.
Examining Board
Edexcel
Summer Suggestions
Read through the specification for more details of what is covered. Refresh on your IGCSE content as you will need it .
Economics (9708)
Course Entry Requirements
To study Economics at A-Level students should have at least a Grade B in Economics at IGCSE or equivalent. Students will also be considered if they have Grade B or above in subjects that link to Economics such as Business, History or Geography
Why Economics?
Whatever career you choose to continue with, Economics will be all around you. The course is designed to encourage students to develop practical solutions to problems such as unemployment or change in oil prices, apply concepts of Economics to different contexts and develop this understanding relating to decision making of complex human issues.
Course content (Year 12 and 13 - AS and A Level)
The syllabus is divided into five topic areas which are covered equally across both years.
- Basic economic ideas and resource allocation.
- The price system and the micro economy.
- Government microeconomic intervention.
- The macro economy.
- Government macroeconomic intervention
Exam Structure
Students will sit 2 exams at the end of Year 12 (AS). Paper 1 is multiple-choice; Paper 2 is data response and essay. At the end of Year 13 (A-Level), students will sit Paper 3 which is again multiple choice and Paper 4 which is data response and essays.
Examining Board
Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)
Summer Suggestions
Watch the news and read the papers! Find out what is going on in the world of business, economics and politics. What are the politicians and the media saying about the world economy? What is happening to the value of currencies or to unemployment, or developments of trade deals in Europe or the rest of the world?
Why English?
The study of English Language provides an excellent grounding for life, providing skills that are greatly sought after by universities and employers alike. The aims of the course are: to develop and apply an understanding of concepts and methods; explore data and examples of language in use; independently investigate language in use; develop skills as producers and interpreters of language.
Course Content (Year 12/AS)
Unit 1: Context and Identity - Students will demonstrate critical understanding of concepts and issues, exploring attitudes to language and evaluating how an individual's language is affected by: mode, field, function, audience, geographical features and social factors.
Unit 2: Language in Transition - introduces students to the ways languages change with a focus on English in a global context.
Course Content (Year 13/A)
Unit 3: Crafting Language- students will demonstrate their skills as writers, crafting texts for different genre, audience, purpose and context. Unit 4: Investigating Language students will develop their research skills , consolidating knowledge of language concepts gained from units 1, 2 and 3.
Exam Structure
End of unit external examinations - each of the 4 units is given equal weighting.
Summer Suggestions
Reading of work produced by David Crystal
AS EPQ (Extended Project Qualification)
Course Entry Requirements
None
Why EPQ?
The EPQ is a skills based project where students are given the freedom to explore an area of their own choosing. The EPQ consists of either a 5000 word essay, or a physical object related to a specific issue within an area of study. The EPQ forces students to develop their research, independence and project management skills. Universities especially value the EPQ because the skills required by universities – research skills, project management and independence are essential for all degree courses. It also is the only AS qualification to have an A* rating, and contributes to University UCAS points in the UK.
The EPQ also helps students to:
- Develop and improve their own learning and performance as critical, reflective and independent learners
- Develop and apply decision making and, where appropriate, problem solving skills
- Extend their planning, research, critical thinking, analysis, synthesis, evaluation and presentation skills
- Develop as e-confident learners and apply relevant technologies in their studies
- Develop and apply skills, creatively demonstrating initiative and enterprise
- Use their learning experiences to support their personal aspirations for further education and career development.
Course content (Year 12/13)
Students will:
- Create a project question and develop a plan to realise that project
- Research using a range of different sources, and keeping a record of their research
- Develop their project – either a 5000 word essay, physical artefact (art piece, science experiment etc).
- Present their project as part of a an assessed presentation
- Reflect on and analyse the skills they have learned in creating their project.
Exam Structure
None – project is 100% coursework be completed by February/March of the Academic year
Examining Board
Edexcel
Summer Suggestions
Students must have chosen a rigorous question to investigate and developed research using books, academic online sources and where appropriate primary sources / personal investigations before the start of the Academic year.
Geography (9696)
Course Entry Requirements
To study Geography at A-Level students should have at least a Grade B in Geography at IGCSE or equivalent. Students will also be considered if they have Grade B or above in Maths and/or Science.
Why Geography?
Geography is often chosen as one of the facilitating subjects of all A levels as it is one of the few subjects that combines both arts and science. The Geographer looks at the world over time, how cultures, systems, economies and landscapes differ and have links between them.
Course content (Year 12/AS)
- Core physical geography - hydrology and fluvial geomorphology; atmosphere and weather; rocks and weathering.
- Core human geography - population; migration; settlement dynamics Course content (Year 13/A)
- Advanced physical geography - tropical environments; coastal environments; hazardous environments; hot arid and semi-arid environments
- Advanced human geography - production, location and change; environmental management; global interdependence; economic transition.
Exam structure
Students will sit 2 exams at the end of Year 12 (AS). Both are data response and structured questions. Paper 1 is Core Physical; Paper 2 is Core Human. At the end of Year 13 (A Level), students will sit Papers 3 and 4. These consist of structured questions and essays based in Advanced Physical and Advanced Human Geography topics.
Examining Board
Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)
Summer Suggestions
Students can prepare for the course by reading and researching current topics relating to Geography such as climate change and development through organisations such as the Royal Geographical Society and the Geography Review
History (9389)
Course Entry Requirements
To study History at A-Level students should have at least a Grade B in History at IGCSE or equivalent.
Why History?
The study of History provides an excellent grounding for life, providing skills that greatly sought after by universities and employers alike. History requires a high level of hard work and independent reading and study, however the rewards through the development of communication, analytical and judgment skills make History one of the most valued A levels on offer.
Course Content (Year 12/AS)
- Component 1: The search for international peace and security, 1919-45
- Component 2: International relations in tan age of uncertainty, 1919-33 and International relations in the age of extremism, 1919-39
Course Content (Year 13/A)
- Component 3: The origins and development of the Cold War, 1941-1950
- Component 4: Depth study - Europe of the dictators, 1918-1941
Exam Structure
Students will sit 2 exams at the end of Year 12 (AS). Paper 1 is a document question; Paper 2 is an outline study. At the end of Year 13 (A-Level), students will sit Paper 3 which is an interpretations question and Paper 4 which is depth study.
Examining Board
Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)
Summer Suggestions
Martyn Housden, "The League of Nations and the organisation of peace" is a good starting text to prepare for the first component
Information Communication Technology (9626)
Course Entry Requirements
To study ICT at A-Level students should have at least a Grade B in ICT at IGCSE or equivalent.
Why ICT?
In a world where Information Technology (IT) is constantly changing, individuals increasingly need technological and information literacy skills that include the ability to gather, process and manipulate data. The impact of IT on society is enormous and as the percentage of businesses and households connected to communication networks such as the internet grows, so does the need for individuals who understand these new technologies.
Course Content (Year 12/AS)
Candidates for Cambridge International AS Information Technology study the following topics (1-10):
- Data, information, knowledge and processing
- Hardware and software
- Monitoring and control
- eSafety and health and safety
- The digital divide
- Using networks
- Expert systems and other types of processing
- Spreadsheets
- Database and file concepts
- Sound and video editing
Course Content (Year 13/A)
Candidates for Cambridge International A Level Information Technology study topics 1–10 and the following topics:
- Emerging technologies
- Role and impact of IT in society
- Networks
- Project management
- System life cycle
- Graphics creation
Exam Structure
Students will sit 2 exams at the end of Year 12 (AS). Paper 1 is a Theory Paper; Paper 2 is a Practical Paper. At the end of Year 13 (A-Level), students will sit Paper 3
Examining Board
Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)
Summer Suggestions
Students can brush up on their IGCSE knowledge as A Level ICT uses the IGCSE content in every lesson. Use the Internet to find out how to bridge the digital gaps between countries that is leading in technology
International Advanced Level (IAL) Mathematics from 2018
Course Entry Requirements
To study Mathematics at A level students should have at least Grade 7 or Grade A at GCSE or IGCSE or equivalent.
Why Mathematics?
Mathematics is a versatile qualification, well-respected by employers and are both facilitating subjects for entry to higher education. The mathematical skills learned at A level Mathematics are of great benefit in other A level subjects such as physics, chemistry, biology, computing, geography, psychology, economics and business studies. Employers highly value mathematics qualifications as Mathematicians demonstrate the ability to think logically and analytically through solving problems.
There are many opportunities for further study which could lead to higher education and a range of careers including accountancy, banking, chemistry, physics, Actuarial Science, medicine, computing, engineering and teaching.
Course Content (Year 12 ad 13 - AS and A Level)
Pure Mathematics 1, 2, 3 & 4
- This comprises two thirds of the total content of the course. It focuses on Algebra and Functions, Coordinate Geometry, Sequences and Series, Differentiation, Integration, Exponentials and Logarithms, Vectors, Proofs and Problem Solving.
Statistics, Mechanics, Decision
- This comprises one third of the total content of the course. Students will study two out of the three applied options from:
- Statistics- Sampling , Presentation of Data, Correlation; Probability; Statistical Distributions and Hypothesis Testing.
- Mechanics- Modelling in Mechanics; Kinematics; Forces and Newton Laws; Moments; Variable acceleration.
- Decision - Algorithms; algorithms on graphs; the route inspection problem; critical path analysis; linear programming; matchings.
Exam Structure
All papers carry equal weighting. Students will sit P1, P2 and one applied unit at the end of Year 12. Students will sit P3, P4 and the second applied unit at the end of Year 13.
Examining Board
Edexcel
Summer Work
All students will be assessed on entry on basic GCSE mathematical skills needed for the course. There are also books that may be purchased to work through over the summer, "Bridging GCSE and A Level Maths Student Book (Collins A Level Maths)" is widely available and recommended.
International Advanced Level (IAL) Physics
Course Entry Requirements
To study Physics at A-Level students should have at least a Grade B in Physics at IGCSE or equivalent.
Why Physics?
This course will give the students an opportunity to study a range of topics such as Electricity, Classical and Quantum Mechanics, Materials, Waves etc. This qualification enables students to develop a deep appreciation of the skills, knowledge and understanding of scientific methods and also develops competence and confidence in a variety of practical, mathematical and problem solving skills.
The knowledge and skills that are achieved by studying Physics can lead to many careers including engineering, medicine, computing, banking and finance, research and teaching.
Course content (Year 12/AS)
- Unit 1: Mechanics and Materials
- Unit 2: Waves and Electricity
- Unit 3: Practical Skills in Physics I
Course content (Year 13/A)
- Unit 4: Further Mechanics, Fields and Particles
- Unit 5: Thermodynamics, Radiation, Oscillations and Cosmology
- Unit 6: Practical Skills in Physics II
Exam Structure
Students will sit three exams at the end of Year 12 (IAS) and three exams at the end of Year 13. Papers include multiple choice, short-open, open response, calculations and extended writing questions.
- Unit 1 paper (40% of the total IAS, 20% of the total IAL)
- Unit 2 paper (40% of the total IAS, 20% of the total IAL)
- Unit 3 paper (20% of the total IAS, 10% of the total IAL)
- Unit 4 paper (40% of the total IAS, 20% of the total IAL)
- Unit 5 paper (40% of the total IAS, 20% of the total IAL)
- Unit 6 paper (20% of the total IAS, 10% of the total IAL)
Examining Board
Edexcel
Summer Suggestions
Head start to A Level Physics (CGP Books) A Level Physics: Essential Maths Skills (CGP Books)
The choice of courses is flexible up to a point and the school will endeavour to accommodate all requests. However, there are constraints on the timetable and parents and pupils need to be aware that there may be certain combinations of subjects that will not be possible to schedule. Where there are problems with a set of choices it will be necessary to discuss the available options with the Head of Sixth Form.