Sixth Form Curriculum Guide 2022/23 - RMS for Girls

WeofferanextensiverangeofAlevelsin ordertoalloweachstudenttodevisea personalcurriculumintheSixthForm whichwillequipthemwiththeknowledgeand skillstoaccessthenextstageintheirlearning andcareerdevelopment.

AtRMSwebuildonthetalent,knowledge,skills andambitionsofourstudentstoensureexcellent academicoutcomes.Thisiswhyourschoolsits withinthetoptenpercentofschoolnationallyfor ValueAdded.OurcurriculumgoeswellbeyondA levelstudytoensurethateachstudentinthe SixthFormreceivesthesupport,individual recognitionanddriveforacademicsuccessthat seesthemleaveusasdynamicandambitious adults,readytotakeonthechallengesofadult life.Thequalityofteachingandavailabilityof resourcesarejustafewofthefactorsthatenable theexcellentprogressthatstudentsatRMS make.Weencouragestudentstoaddvalueto themselvesandembraceRMSlifebyengaging withthevastarrayofco-curricularactivitiesthat areavailablebeyondthecorecurriculum.

RMSEdgeembodiesthisphilosophy.The RMSEdgeprogramiscompulsoryforallSixth FormstudentsandrunsalongsidetheirchosenA levelsubjects.Itspurposeistobroadenstudent’s skills,theirinterests,andtoensurethattheycan applytheknowledgeandskillslearntwithintheir Alevelcoursestowiderproblems.The interdisciplinarynatureofthisprogrampavesthe wayforuniversityandworkinglife,whereour studentswillhavetothinkcreatively,outsideof theircomfortzonesandworkcollaborativelyto harnesstheskillsoftheirco-worker’sinorderto achieveobjectives.Studentswillbeoffereda menuofRMSEdgeprogramstojoinandwill experiencethreeoverthecourseoftheacademic year.

Alevels

Studentsareabletostartwithfoursubjectsin Year12oroptfor3subjectsandoneareaof broaderstudy(RMSChoices).

AtRMSallofourcoursesareofferedatAlevel. WhereappropriateanASlevelisalsoofferedfor studentswhomaybeinterestedinstudyinga fourthsubjecttoahigherlevelthanGCSEbut whowishtothenfocusontheirthreefullAlevels inYear13.Thelistofsubjectsthatofferthis optionareshownattheendofthisbooklet.

TheRMSProcess

Studentswillreceiveplentyofsupporttohelp themchoosesuitableAlevelsubjects.Meetings withFormTutorswilltakeplaceandtherewill alsobeinputfromsubjectstaffandmembersof theSeniorLeadershipTeam.MissEmma Durnford(HeadofYear11),MrsClareFreeman (HeadofSixthForm),MissJennieSimmonite (DeputyHeadofSixthForm)andMissLizPickford (HeadofCareers)arealsoavailabletooffer supportandguidance.Youwillalsobeableto discussyourchild’sprogressandsuitabilityfor subjectsattheParents’EveninginFebruary2023.

WelookforwardtowelcomingyoutotheSixth FormatRMSandareexcitedtobeapartofthe pivotalandexcitingyearsofyouracademic careers.

SophiaHardy DeputyHeadAcademic shardy@rmsforgirls.com

IamdelightedtowelcomeyoutoHindHouse, homeofRMSSixthForm.SixthFormisavery excitingtimeinstudents’livesasthey progressthroughtheirfinalstagesofschooling andintoadulthood.TheSixthFormis characterisedbyanincreasinglevelof independencebothintermsofstudy,butalsoin termsoftimemanagement.Wefindthatour studentsrisetothechallengeanddevelopas youngadultsreadytofacethedemandsofthe nextstageoftheirlives.OnethingthatSixth FormstudentswilltellyouisthatlifeinHind Houseisverydifferent!

HindHouseisthededicatedSixthFormcentre wheremostSixthFormlessonswilltakeplace. Itincludesclassrooms,studyrooms,acomputer suite,Wi-Fi,alarge,recentlyrefurbished commonroom,theroof-room(alargestudy area),twokitchensandafabulousgarden.For September2023wewillbetakingoverhalfof Weybridgetoopenbrandnewclassroomsanda SixthFormcafé.

LessonsintheSixthFormtakeonmoreofa tutorialstyle,characterisedbysmallclasssizes andincreasinglevelsofdiscussion.Growing levelsofindependencehelpprepareour studentseffectivelyforlifebeyondRMSandwe oftenreceivecorrespondencefromuniversities abouthowwellourstudentsadapttouniversity life.Inarecentsurveyofyear13students,many commentedonthenewclassroomrelationships betweenstaffandstudentsbeingoneofthe highlightsoftheirSixthForm.

TheethosoftheSchoolrunsstronglythrough HindHouse;tous,eachstudentisanindividual andwewillhelpthemmakedecisionsbasedon theirindividualneeds.Ourpersonalised

curriculum,RMSEdge,willenablestudentsto tailor-maketheirSixthFormexperience.Theaim ofthisistoprovidedepthandbreadthofstudy alongsideawidevarietyofco-curricular opportunitiesbothwithinandbeyondthe timetable.Forexample,astudentmightstudy forexamsinAlevelGeography,French,andArt. Withinthetimetableshewillhavesportsand well-being,theSixthFormlectureprogramme andthenmaychooseanIntroductiontoLawor AppliedHumanBiologyasanoption.Alongside this,shemaydecidetotakepartinYoung EnterpriseorModelUnitedNations,aswellas takingonanEPQ.Shemaychoosetoworkwith othersina‘PhenomenonBasedLearning’ project,alongsidetheboysatWhitgifttodevelop aninterdisciplinaryunderstandingofher subjects…..theopportunitiesareendless.

Preparationforlifebeyondschoolisanessential partoftheSixthForm.Wearealsoveryaware thateachindividual’sroutebeyondschoolwill bedifferent.Whicheverpathwayyouchoose,we havespecialiststaffaswellasasuperbcareers advisorwhocanhelpdirectandadviseyouon yourwayforward.

Ihopethatyoufindalltheinformationyouneed inthisbooklet,butpleasedocontactmeifyou haveanyquestionsregardingtheSixthForm. WelookforwardtowelcomingyoutoHind HouseinSeptember.

MrsClareFreeman

ToProspectiveSixthFormStudentsGuidanceonCourseChoice

RMSSixthFormisafundamentalpartof theschoolwherenotonlydoyoudevelop knowledgeinthesubjectsyoulove,but youalsocarryoutleadershiprolesthroughout theschool.Thisensuresthatyouarewell preparedforfuturelifeanddeveloptheskillsyou willneedbeyondRMS.

Weunderstandatthisstageitcanbedauntingyet exciting.IntheSixthFormyouwillhaveForm Tutors,MrsFreemanandMissSimmonitetohelp youalongthewayshouldyoufaceanyissues. Thissupportteamworkwithyoutoensureyou areenjoyingSixthFormlifeandmanagingyour studiesandwellbeing.Oneadvantageofstudying atthislevelisthatyougetachancetopick subjectsthatyouhaveapassionfor,oreventry newsubjectsthatyouhaveneverdonebefore suchasPsychologyandSociology.Onenotable differencebetweenSeniorSchoolandSixthForm istheadditionoffreestudyperiodstoyour timetable.Duringthesetimesyouareadvisedto doyourhomework,extrareadingorjoinalecture. Thisisparticularlybeneficialasyoulearnto developindependenceinhowtoplanyourstudies andtimeeffectively.Lecturesareextremely usefulastheyhelptodevelopyourunderstanding ofdifferenttopicsandskillsbeyondthe curriculum.Inmytimetheyhaveincluded sustainableshopping,aconvictedmurderer,a pharmacologistandanentrepreneurwhocreated herownperiodpantscompany.

HindHousefacilitiessuchastheCommonRoom, Kitchens,RoofRoom,StudyRoomsandtheRose GardenareuniquetheSixthForm.Theyallowyou

tointegratebetweentheyeargroupsastheseare sharedspacessoyoucancommunicateeasilyand gettoknoweachother.Thisindependencecanbe overwhelmingattimesbutyouneedtoensure thatyouuseyourtimewiselyandrememberthat thereareteachersheretohelpyou.This environmentpreparesyouforthefutureandafter awhileitwillfeellikeonefriendlyanddynamic community.

RMSEdgeisanewexperienceinSixthFormand consistsofdifferentactivitiestosupportyour academicstudies.ExamplesofEdgesare: FinancialLiteracy;CurrentAffairsand Archaeology.Similarly,youhavetheopportunity totakepartintheYoungEnterpriseProgramme whichaswellasbeinggreatfundevelops leadershipskillsandresponsibility.Youalsohave theoptiontotakeanEPQalongsideyoursubjects ifyouhaveaparticularinterestinacertainarea.

Iwishyouthebestofluckforthenextacademic yearandwelookforwardtowelcomingyouto HindHouse.

AvaniSohal

DeputyHeadGirl,PupilSupport

Wewouldlikeyoutomakeyourinitial choiceofsubjectsby5thDecember2022. Choosingyoursubjectsisnotalways easy.Forcertaincareersordegreessomesubjects areessential.Alistofcommonrequirementscan befoundatthebackofthisbookletbutstudentsare stronglyadvisedtorefertothevariousbooksand websitesavailableinmostcareerlibraries. Particularlyrelevantare: Decisionsat16/16+ Decisionsat17/18+ TheJobBook JobsandCareersafterAlevels WhichSubject? WhichCareer? GettingintoUniversityandCollege www.ucas.comwillprovidedetailed informationoncoursesbyuniversity Unifrog

StudyingintheSixthFormisasignificantstepupin academicwork,andinchoosingcoursesstudents mustbesurethattheyhaveagenuineinterestin thesubjectstheychooseandthattheyhavethe ability(bothrealisedandpotential)tocopewiththe demandsofthecourse.Year11studentsshould, therefore,discusstheirideasandpossiblechoices withteachersandparentsandreachadecision basedonsensibleconsideration.

ThesuccessfulSixthFormstudenthastomaintain andimproveonherpeakYear11performance.Now thattheyhavenarrowedtheirsubjectsbytheirown choice,theyareexpectedtobeself-motivatedand tofindagenuineinterestinpursuingtheirstudies beyondtheconfinesofthesubjectspecifications. Studentswillreadwidelyandwillfindthepleasure inpersonalscholarship.Theywillalwayshave somethingtodo,evenifallworksetbyteaching staffiscomplete.Itfollowsthatstudentsmustplan andorganisetheirlivesefficientlyfromthemoment theircoursesbegin.Tohelpstudentswiththis transitionpartofthefirsttermisdedicatedto developingan‘AlevelMindset’.

Thoughthecoursechoiceprocesshasalready started,withstudentshavingtheirtasterdayinthe summerofYear10,itdoesnotfinishuntilthe OctoberofYear12,whentheirpersonalised curriculumisfullyagreed.Atallpointsalongthe waywewillgiveadviceandguidancetoensurethat theacademicpaththatourstudentschooseis correctlytailoredtofitwiththeirneedsand aspirations.Theprocessthatwillbefollowedislaid outonthenextpage.

Pleasebeawarethateveryeffortismadetoenable ourstudentstostudyalloftheirinitialchoices. Howeverattimesthisisnotpossibleduetooption blockconstraintsorifthenumberofstudents signinguptoasubjectisnotsufficienttomakeit viabletorun.Insuchcases,studentswillreceive earlynotificationandguidanceonalternative choices.

SummaryofAcademicSubjectsonOffer

MakingthemostofSixthForm

Developingyourpersonalisedcurriculum

LEAD(Listen,Enable,Advise, Drive)employabilitycourse

Inrecognitionoftheincreasinglycompetitive graduateemploymentmarket,weofferabespoke employabilitycoursetohelpprepareourstudents forthenextstageoftheirlives.LEADisrunovera numberofweekswithinthecurriculumandoffers trainingonavarietyofemployabilityskills.Aspart ofthecoursewehavewelcomedexternalspeakers frombusinessessuchasRBS,ThePeaceHospice, HighFliersResearchandDeloittewhocoverawide varietyofskillsandprovideplentyofadvice.

AsaresultofskillslearntduringLEAD,girlshave gainedgreatconfidenceandsuccessingaining workplacementsatcompaniessuchasCisco,IBM andAccentureaswellasdegreeapprenticeships.

PhenomenonBasedLearning (PBL)

PBLisaformofgroupworkwhichenables studentstolookataspecificareaofinterestfrom aninter-disciplinaryperspective.Theconceptis basedontheFinnisheducationmodel;deemedto beoneofthebesteducationsystemsintheworld. PBLisofgreatimportanceasit:

▶ Allowsstudentstounderstandthata multi-disciplinaryapproachtoanissueis keytoagreaterunderstanding.

▶ Developsteamworkskills,workingwith studentswhohavedifferentinterestsand skills

▶

Enablesstudentstofocusona perspectivethatlinkstofuturecareeror universityambitions.Forexamplea studentmaylookatthetitlefromalegal perspectiveiftheyhaveininterestinlaw.

▶ Developsresearchskillswhichwillbe valuableifshethenchoosestostudyan EPQorforuniversitypreparation

▶ Takesstudentsbeyondthespecificationin theirsubjects,showinghowtheirsubjects canbeappliedtorealworldconcepts.

▶ Providesautonomyforthestudentsover theirlearningintermsof;lookingat differentscales,timeperiods,subject direction,presentationmedium

Titlesarebroadinnaturetoenablestudentsto developtheirresearcharoundtheirareasof interest.Forexampletitlesmightinclude;

‘Standup,Speakout;Doactionsspeaklouderthan words?’

‘Levellingup–cananequalworldeverexist?’. ‘CrimeScene…doescrimepay?’

‘COVID19…whathasittaughtusabouttheWorld?’

Studentswilluseanddevelopresearchskillsto lookintothisstatementfromtheperspectiveof theirdifferentareasofstudyorinterest.Asagroup theywillcometoaconclusionandpresenttheir findingsinacreativeway.Weareworkingwith Whitgiftboysinpilotingthisproject,wherebythe studentswillworkremotelyinmixedgroupsover thecourseofaterm.

TheExtendedProject Qualification(EPQ)

TheEPQisanindividualresearchbasedproject whichenablesstudentstodevelopatitlebasedon anareaofinteresttothem.

WeencouragestudentsforwhomtheEPQcanoffer themostbenefitstotakepart.Inparticular,weare lookingforstudentswith:astrongacademicrecord andpotentialorwelldevelopedcreativeskills;the abilitytothinkabouttopicsinunusualororiginal ways;theabilitytoplanandmanagetheirschool workandextra-curricularactivities;high aspirationsfortheirfuture.TheEPQshouldnotbe takenwherestudentsarestrugglingwiththeircore subjects.TheSchoolwilladviseiftheyfeelyour otherstudieswillbeaffectednegativelybytaking theEPQ.

UniversitiesthinkhighlyoftheEPQasitdevelops skillswhichareessentialforuniversityworkand dissertations.ItistheequivalentofanASLeveland thereforecomeswithUCASpoints.Recenttitles haveincluded;

▶ WhatcausedtheJohnDemjanjukcaseto besocomplexanddifficulttoinvestigate andhowdiditleadthewayforfutureNazi warcrimeinvestigations?

▶ TowhatextentisChina’sclaimed ownershipovertheregionofArunachal PradeshsignificanttoChina’sculturaland economicdevelopment?

RMSChoices

RMSChoicesareareasofbroaderstudywhichaim todevelopskillsand/orbreadthintoeach individualstudent’sprogrammeofstudy.Students willfollowthesefromafterOctoberhalftermin Year12untiltheendoftheacademicyear.Theycan choosetofollowoneortwoaweekfor8weeksand thencanchooseanalternativecoursetofollow.In 2022/23thecoursesonofferwere:

▶ WUKA:Beinganentrepreneurand developingperiodpants

▶ WinstonClements:Resilienceand diversitykeynotespeaker

Clubs,Societiesandother activities

ManySixthFormstudentsparticipateinactivities outsidethecurriculumsuchas…

▶ Choirs,orchestra,musicalsandplays Sportsteams

▶ Clubsandsocieties(manysubjectrelated) Volunteering/Communityservice

▶ Debatingandpublicspeaking

▶ LifeSkills-e.g.cooking,carmaintenance, finance,consentetc.

▶ ACF(ArmyCadetForce)

EnrichmentOpportunities

Thisisanopportunitytotrysomethingdifferent and/ordevelopnewskills.Optionsgenerally include:

▶ ModelUnitedNations:Takeonapolitical roleforacountryandfightyourcornerat amock-upoftheUN

LectureProgramme

ThroughoutthecourseofYear12andthestartof Year13therearearangeoflecturesforthe students.Theseprovideanexcellentenrichment opportunity,developingbreadthinourstudents’ knowledge.Recentspeakersinclude: magic

▶ JeremyThomas:Livingwithbi-polar

▶ BahijjaAbraham:Pharmaceutical development

LifeinHindHouse

TheSchoolDay

DuringthefirsttermofYear12,students registertwiceadayinTutorgrouprooms, whichareallbasedwithinHindHouse;once at8.25amandonceat2pm.Thisaffordsall studentsthetimetogetusedtolifeinHind Houseandgettoknoweachotherandtheir FormTutor.IntheHilarytermofYear12, studentsarepermittedtocomeintoschool intimefortheirfirstlessonoftheday. DuringthemorningregistrationslotForm Tutorswillarrangeone-to-onemeetings withstudentstolookattheirprogressand discusshowthingsaregoing.Thisflexibility isinrecognitionthatyoungpeoples’body clocksshiftduringtheteenageyearsand thereforeenablesstudentstotakecontrol moreofwhentheysleep,whentheywork andwhentheyrest.

LifeSkillsistaughtinyeargroupsandeach yearwewelcomeanumberofexternal speakerswhodelivertalksonavarietyof topicsfromcareerstoconsent.

roomsinHindHouseandtheResource Centre.Ifastudentdoesnothavealesson after2.45pmthentheymaygohomeorback totheboardinghouseatthistime.Thisisa privilegeandwillberevokedifastudent fallsbehindwiththeirstudies.

Lunch

LunchisprovidedbytheSchooleachday, withoptionsforbothhotandcoldmeals.For SeptemberwewillalsohaveaSixthForm caféwhichwillofferarangeofsnacks. Studentsarepermittedoffsiteduring lunchtime12.50pm–2pmbutmustreturn forafternoonregistrationandactivity.

TheCommonRoom

TheCommonRoomisanexcellentspacefor relaxationandfortimewithfriends.The SixthFormcaféwillofferarangeofhot drinksandsnacksthroughouttheday. Studentsarepermittedtousetheirmobile phonesaroundHindHouseandgarden.

▶ Thinkaboutit:Extensiondiscussiongroup tohelpstudentslookatscenariosfroma rangeofdifferentperspectives

▶ YoungEnterprise:Setupyourownreal businessasateam.Workingwithbusiness people,developaproductandtakeitto markettoseewhatprofityoucanmake

▶ CriticalThinking:Lookataproblemand thinkaboutdifferentwaystosolveit

▶ DukeofEdinburgh:Wehavestaff memberswhosupportwithBronze,Silver andGoldDofE

▶ Lectures:Manydepartmentswilloffer tripstolecturesatsocietiesand universitiestoenhanceastudent’s interestinasubject.

▶ Competitions:Theseinclude,butarenot limitedtoCanSat,TrinityCollegeessay competition,GeographicalAssociation competition

Studentshavefourdoubleperiodsaweek foreachoftheirchosensubjects,oftensplit betweentwoteachers.Studentsare expectedtospendanadditionalfourhoursa weekoneachsubjectbeyondtheclassroom. Someofthiswillbesetwork,butwe increasinglyexpectstudentstotakeon individualreadingaroundthesubjectaswell asreviewingofnotesandpreparationfor futurelessons.Dedicationandhardworkis keytosuccess.Wheretherearefewerthan fivestudentsinagrouptheremaybethree doubleperiodsaweekwithadditional personalstudyset.

Freetime

Studentswillhaveanumberofstudy periodseachweekwheremuchofthiswork canbecompletedinschoolusingstudy

Uniform

TheSixthFormenjoywearingauniform whichreflectsthattheyare‘atwork’and alsoremovestheworryofwhattowear eachday.WhilsttheSixthFormsuit(skirtor trousers)ismandatory,studentscanchoose toweartheirchoiceofplainshirtand jumper.Furtherflexibilityincludes:

▶ Wearingnailvarnish

▶ Wearingmultiplepiercings, includinginthenose

▶ Dyinghairadifferentcolourand notneedingtotieitup

▶ Skirtlengthisrequiredfordecency ratherthanneedingtobeonthe knee

AcademicSupport

TheSixthFormisakeytimeinastudent’slife wheretheyneedtogainthebestgradespossible, butalsoneedtodevelopindependence,awide rangeofskillsanddevelopintothepersonthey wanttobesotheyarereadyforlifebeyond school.Inrecognitionofthisweaimtoensure thatsupportmechanismsareinplacetoensure thateachindividualmakesthemostoftheirtime intheSixthForm,butatthesametimedevelopsa senseofselfawarenessandreflectioninmaking decisionsaboutworkandotherresponsibilities suchasemployment,volunteeringandextracurricularcommitments.

Whoistheretohelpme?

MrsClareFreeman

HeadofSixthForm

MissJennieSimmonite DeputyHeadofSixthForm

FormTutor StudentsareplacedinsmallFormgroupswhich areamixofYear12andYear13students.

Atregularintervalsallstudentshaveone-to-one chatswiththeirTutortodiscussacademic progressaswellastohelpprepareforuniversity applications.

MissLizPickford

HeadofCareersandVolunteering

MsKatieDuce OxbridgeLead

MrsZsofiaSears

HeadofMedical/Veterinary/DentistryApplications

MrsFionaGratte HeadofVocationalApplications

MsChristineDoherty EPQLead MsClareHawkins DirectorofLearningSupport

MrsClaireHamoudi SixthFormAdministrator

PALsSupport

ALssessionscancontinuetobeaddedtostudents’ timetablesduringstudyperiodsinordertooffer learningsupporttoindividuals.Supportmight includegettingstartedonanessay,planningtheir time,howtorevise,understandingkeyideas/ skills.

StudentSupport

Teachersareverywillingtogivetheirtimeto studentsandthisisstillthecaseintheSixth Form.Ifastudentfeelstheyhavenotunderstood somethingorwouldlikeextrasupporttheyshould makeanappointmenttoseetheirteacherduringa studyperiodorlunchtime.

Tutorgroups

TherearetwelveTutorgroupsintheSixthForm, containingbothYear12andYear13.Thismodel worksexceptionallywellasstudentslearnfrom eachotherandsupportoneanotherastheyear progresses.Tutorgroupstendtobemuchsmaller thanintheSeniorSchoolandoffertheopportunity formorefocusedindividualtimewithstudents, moreakintotutorialsatuniversitylevel.

Eachtutorgroupisnamedafteraninspirational individualinthesubjectareaofthetutor.

Youwillworkwithyourtutorgroupforformtime whereyouwillhaveopportunitiesforform bondingandtimestohavediscussionsandwork alongsideeachother.Thefocusisverymuchon buildingrelationships,learningfromoneanother anddevelopingcoreskillsforlife.Somelifeskills sessionswillbeasaform,whilstothersmightbe asayearorasawholeSixthForm.

CareersAdviceandGuidance

CareersDepartment

CareersadviceintheSixthFormisverymuch aboutsupportingandadvisingindividualstohelp themaccessandplanforthenextstageoftheir journey.Thismightbediscussingwhatcomes next,preppingforaninterview,preparinga CommonAppapplication,lookingforcoursesthat providesomethingdifferent,decidingonwhether toapplyforadegreeapprenticeship,lookingfor workexperienceorgainingsupportinwritinga CV.

UCASUniversityPreparation

Yourtutoristhepersonwhowilloverseeboth yourpastoralandacademicjourneythroughthe SixthForm.TheywillhelpyounavigateyourA levelsandplanaheadfortheyearsbeyond school.Yourtutorwillbeyourmentorandguide fortheseimportanttwoyears,helpingyouto focusyourideasaboutyourfutureaswellas supportingyouinestablishinggoodstudypractice asyouworktowardsyourpublicexaminations andfutureaspirations.

Regularone-on-onechatswithyourtutorwill enablethemtogettoknowyouwell.Itis importantthatyousharewiththemallofyour successes,concernsanddifficultiessothatthey cansupportyou,putinterventioninwhenneeded, andcelebratewithyou.Thisroleisnevermore evidentthanat‘Leavers’Day’whenyourtutors

joinyouforyourcelebrationdinnerand congratulateyouonallyouhaveachievedatRMS.

Yourtutorwillberesponsibleforwritingyour UCASreference(oranyotherformofreference requiredforyourfutureapplications)andfor overseeingandsupportingwithyourapplications. Itisreallyimportanttousthatyouforman excellentworkingrelationshiptoenableyouto flourishthroughoutSixthForm.

StafflovebeingSixthFormtutorsbecausethey gettoseeyouchangefromateenagerintoan adultandeverythingthatcomeswiththat; decidingonfutureplans,learningtodrive, celebrating18thbirthdays…itreallyisthebestbit ofaschooltobeapartof,andweallloveit!

MissPickford,ourcareerslead,isavailableto adviseonhowtoorganiseworkexperienceand volunteeringopportunities.Manyuniversity courseswillwanttoseeevidenceofwork experienceinaparticularfield,andMissPickford canprovideadviceandsupportwiththis.Sheis morethanhappytomeetwithstudents(andtheir parentsiftheywish)tostartthejourneyof thinkingaboutwhatisonofferbeyondschool,or totalkthroughthefinedetailsofcourse/job requirements.Shewillmeetwitheverymember ofYear12tohelpstartthemontheirjourney.Itis becomingmorecommonforuniversityapplicants toundertakeinterviewsaspartoftheapplication process;thisissupportedthroughourpractice interviewday.Therearemanyextremelyuseful booksintheResourceCentre,whichcanhelp studentsbeginthinkingabouttheirjourney beyondschool.

MissPickfordwillalsoinformstudentsofany relevantcoursesandsummerschoolsaimedat helpingwiththepreparationofstudyingat university.Studentscanalsoreceiveguidance shouldtheywishtoexplorealternativesto universityeducation–forexampleDegreeor HigherApprenticeships.

AttheendofYear12therewillbeaUCAS exhibitionvisitaswellasaFutures’Dayinschool whereyouwillhearplentyofadviceabouthowto completeaUCASapplication,howtochoosethe rightuniversityandcourse,andhowtowritea personalstatement.Therearealsobreakout sessionssoyoucantailorthedaytoyour interests.Duringthefollowingfewmonthsyour Tutorwillworkwithyoutosupportyouthrough theapplicationprocess.Someuniversitiesand coursesrequireentrancetestsandwehave teacherswhooverseethepreparationforthese:

MsKatieDuce

OxbridgeLead

MrsZsofiaSears

HeadofMedical/Veterinary/DentistryApplications

MrsFionaGratte

VocationalApplications

Thoseapplyingtocompetitivecoursesatthetop universitiesneedtoensurethatnotonlydothey havethehighestgradesbutthattheyalsohavea goodrangeofsupportingevidencefortheirloveof thesubject.Thiscouldincludereadingand discussionbeyondthecurriculum,relevantwork experienceorbeinginvolvedinasubject-specific club–andifonedoesn’texist,startit!

Otheropportunities

Whilstthevastmajorityofstudentsdogoto university,werecognisethatnotallstudentswill wishtoandarefullysupportiveofhelping studentsapplytoconservatoires,apprenticeships, jobsandothertypesoffurthereducation.

Eachyearmanystudentsapplytointernational universitiessuchastheU.S(throughthecommon app),HongKong,CyprusandSweden,tonamea fewfromrecentyears.

LeadershipOpportunities

Arangeofopportunitiestodevelopleadership skillsareonoffer,fromleadingclubs,captaining sports’teams,beingasubjectambassador,to trainingandworkingasawell-beingchampion. Twoprominentpositionsoutlinedbelow.

Prefects

BeingaPrefectisafabulousopportunityto developleadershipskillsandtotakepartinthe runningoftheSchool.Rolesareopentoall studentsregardlessofhowlongtheyhavebeenat theschool,andweregularlyhavestudentswho arenewtoRMSontheteam.

Prefectsareinvitedtoapplyinwritingfora positionontheTeamduringtheHilaryTerm. Selectionandallocationofrolesismadeviaa processwhichincludesaninterview,agrouptask andapresentation,andanindependentadvisoris invitedtoparticipateintheselectionprocess.The fullteamisfinalisedbeforetheEasterholidaysto allowasmoothhandoverfromtheoutgoing Prefects.

ThePupilLeadershipTeamismadeupoftwo HeadPrefectsandsixDeputies,eachofwhomis responsibleforleadingateamofPrefectsina certainareaoftheSchoolCommunity.Training sessionscoveringdifferentaspectsofleadership areofferedtothePrefectbodyandthePupil LeadershipTeamfacetheboysofJHGSandMTs atourannualleadershipchallengeday.All Prefectshaveamemberofstaffwhomthey directlyreporttoandwhowillsupportandguide themintheirrole.Inaddition,thePupil LeadershipTeammeetsweeklywiththeDeputy HeadofHindHouse.

SchoolCouncil

WehaveanestablishedSchoolCouncilwitha representativefromeachyeargroup.Council tendstodealwithissuesrelatingtostudent learning,environment,food,boarding,welfareand charity.TheCouncilasawholemeetsonceaterm tocollateideas.Itisparticularlysuccessfuland beneficialtotheRMScommunityasitenables studentsfromallyearstohavetheirsayonschool lifefromtheamountofhomeworktheyreceive, recyclingandeco-classroomstohelpingtoreduce wastebyhelpingtoredesignthelunchservery.

SubjectAmbassadors

SixthFormstudentsarebestplacedto‘tellitasit is’aboutsubjectsandareregularlyaskedto supportdepartmentsinsharingtheirthoughts aboutasubjecttoprospectivestudentsboth withinandbeyondRMS.Thisinvaluableinsight hasbeenhugelysuccessfulinguidingYr11to makeinformedchoicesabouttheirSixthForm programme.Subjectambassadorsalsowork withindepartmentssupportinginlessons, preparingnoticeboardsandspeakingatPreview eventsaswellasinassembliesinbothSenior SchoolandCadogan

InrecentyearsPrefectsandSchoolcouncilrep‐resentativessatongroupsalongsidegovernors, staffandparentstodeveloptheSchool’smission anddevelopmentplan.TheSchoolisforthestu‐dentsandwearelookingforwardtotheSixth Formstudentshelpingusmakethedevelopment planarealitythroughtheirinvolvementinleading initiativesandreflectingonchangesmadewithus.

SixthFormAcademicScholarship

ScholarshipsandBursaries

Information2023-2025

WeverymuchencouragestudentstoapplyforscholarshipsintheSixthForm. Notonlydoesitbringfinancialsupport,butitalsogivesstudentsaccesstoour Scholars’Programmewhichhelpstonurtureandshowcasetheirtalentaswell asencouraginganddevelopingtheirpassion.

ForthosestudentsalreadyinreceiptofascholarshipatRMS,thiscontinues throughtheSixthFormandyoudonotneedtore-apply.

Scholarshipsareofferedtoencourageandrewardexcellence;theyareawarded inrecognitionofoutstandingachievementorpromiseinaparticularsphereand normallyinvolvefinancialsupportuptoamaximumof25%oftheannualfee. Scholarswillbegivenregularopportunitiesforprominenceandleadership withintheirgivenspecialism.Academicscholarswillbeexpectedtomaintain highstandardsofworkacrossthecurriculumandtakepartintheweekly scholars’class.

Scholarshipsonoffer

Awardsaregivenforacademicexcellence,music,art/textiles,sportanddrama. ThedeadlineforapplicationsisFriday4thNovember2022.Thescholarship assessmentswilltakeplaceduringtheweek28thNovember–2ndDecember 2022.

ForfurtherdetailsaboutscholarshipsandSixthFormadmissionspleasecontact SixthFormAdmissions,on01923725354orbyemailon admissions@rmsforgirls.com.Applicationformsandfurtherinformationabout thescholarshipsandjoiningRMScanalsobefoundonourwebsite: www.rmsforgirls.com.

Weexpectallscholarstoplayafullandactivepartintheareaforwhichthey havebeenawardedascholarship,whichmayinvolveinspiringothers,support‐ingyoungerstudentsaswellasdemonstratinganongoingpassionandcommit‐menttothatareaofschoollife.

Duringscholarshipweek,28thNovember–2nd December, candidatesfortheAcademicScholarshipwillbeinvitedtoRMSfor thefollowing:

▶

1-hourexaminachosensubjectarea(English,Humanities, Languages,Mathematics,Science).Youshouldspecifythis onyourapplicationform

▶ Completea45-minutecriticalthinkingpaper

▶ Attendaninterviewwithamember(s)ofSeniorLeadership team.

Weexpectallscholarstoplayafullandactivepartintheareafor whichtheyhavebeenawardedascholarship,whichmayinvolve inspiringothers,supportingyoungerstudentsaswellas demonstratinganongoingpassionandcommitmenttothatareaof schoollife.

Scholars’Class

Thisclassrunsbi-weeklyandisdeliveredbyavarietyofstafffrom aroundtheschooltoencourageourscholarstothinkbeyondthe obviousandtakeonchallengingproblems.InrecentyearsourDFO hasrunasessionaskingthestudentstoworkoutthecostingsfor RMSandthereforetoworkoutthefeestructure(theyvastly underestimatedinsurancecosts!),theyhavehadasessionbasedon thepopularquizshow‘OnlyConnect’andhavebeenaskedtowork outhowmanypeopleyoucanfitinamini.Staffthoroughlyenjoy runningthesesessionsandjustwatchingasetofexcitedbrains gettoworkonthinkinghowtosolvewhateverchallengethey havebeengiven.

Forfurtherguidancepleasecontact MrsClareFreeman,HeadofSixthForm cfreeman@rmsforgirls.com.

SixthFormArt/TextilesScholarship

SixthFormMusicScholarship

CandidateswillbeaskedtoattendforaninterviewwithstafffromtheArt andTextilesdepartments.

Attheinterviewacandidate’swork,interestsandreasonsforapplyingforan art/textilesscholarshipwillbediscussed.

Candidateswillberequiredtopresentaportfolioofwork,whichshould include:

▶ arangeofworkproducedbythecandidateandwhatherparticular interestsare.Thisdoesnotonlymeanschoolworkbutalsowork whichthecandidatehasdonebyherself.Weareveryinterestedin seeingsketchbooks,notebooksandphotographs,aswellasfinished work

▶ arangeofworkinavarietyofmedia

▶ workshouldbepresentedinalogicalandorderedfashion.Overelaboratepresentationisunnecessary

▶ largepiecescanbeshownusingphotographs.

▶ examplesofwrittenwork

ThesuccessfulscholarshouldbetakingeitherArtand/orTextiles,DTor PhotographyatAlevel.

ForfurtherguidancepleasecontactMrsMaxineNichols, DirectorofVisualArtsmnichols@rmsforgirls.com

Requirements

Either:

▶

Or

twocontrastingpiecesataminimumofGrade7 standardononeinstrumentorvoicetogetherwith sight-reading,scalesandauraltests.

▶ onepieceontheirfirstinstrumentorvoiceata minimumofGrade7standardANDonepieceon theirsecondinstrumentorvoiceataminimumof Grade5standardtogetherwithsight-reading andscales.

Candidatesofferingvoiceshouldchooserepertoire appropriatetotheageofthestudentandtheirability.For guidance,candidatesshouldlooktothesyllabiofthe ABRSMsingingexaminations.Songsmustbeperformed frommemory.

Auraltestsinvolvingmetre,rhythmsandmelody(repetition frommemory)

▶ Grade5theory,althoughadvisable,isnotobligatory.

▶ ItisexpectedthatcandidateswillfollowtheAlevelmusiccourse.

▶ Fullparticipationinandcommitmenttotheextra-curricular programmeisalsoexpected.

ForfurtherguidancepleasecontactMrSimonWerner,DirectorofMusic swerner@rmsforgirls.com

SixthFormDramaScholarship

Recognisingtalentsinmusic,dramaanddance.Candidatescanbe assessedeitherthroughperformanceorproductionskills.

Requirements:PerformanceCandidates

Candidatesmustperformtwopieces,eitherbothinthesameartform,or oneeachoftwoartforms:

▶ musicalsolo(accompanimentmaybeprovidedifrequested)inone ortwoinstruments/voice;

▶ solodance(bringCD,portabledeviceorUSB,ifnecessary)-if candidatesareofferingonlydance,theymustperformtwosolosin contrastingstyles.Streetdanceisnotpermitted.

▶ dramaticmonologue(notpoetry)-candidatesshouldprepareone classicaland/oronecontemporarymonologue,dependingon whethertheyareofferinganotherartformornot.

Thiswillthenbefollowedbyashortinterview.

Requirements:ProductionCandidates

Scholarshipapplicantsmustchooseoneofthefollowingfourproduction pathwaysonwhichtobeassessed:Setdesign,lightingdesign,make-up orcostumedesign.Alongsidetheirletterofapplicationcandidatesmust completethefollowingtwotasks…

TaskOne:CurriculumVitae

Candidatesshoulddetailtheirproduction experience(andperformanceexperienceif applicable)todategivingspecificinformation abouttherolestheyhavetakenandthe responsibilitiestheyhavehad.Candidatesmayalso includeasectiondetailingtheparticularproduction skillstheypossess,andthespecifictrainingtheyhave undertaken.CandidatesmaysupporttheirCVwitha portfolioofpastwork.

TaskTwo:SpeculativeDesign

Candidatesshouldchooseoneofthetwogivenscenes,eitherfrom HamletorIntoTheWoods,andcreateoneofthespeculativedesignsas detailedbelow:

▶ Setdesign:Decideuponavenuefortheproduction.Werecommend youchooseavenueyouknowwell,forexampleTheSpaceatRMS, WatersmeetTheatre,oryourschooltheatre/hall.Createaset designforthisstageforthechosenscene.Itisexpectedthatyou willconsiderhealthandsafetyissuesinyourdesign.

▶ Lightingdesign:Createanannotatedscriptmarkinghowyouwould uselightinginthe scene,notjustatthebeginningofthescenebutalsoincluding lightingchanges/cuesduringthescene.Youmayaccompanythe scriptwithalightingplotand/ordiagrams.

▶ Costumedesign:Createadesignforatleasttwocharactersfrom thechosenscene.Youmustdetailtypesoffabricandshould consideranestimatedbudgetnecessaryforthedesign.Youshould alsobeabletojustifyyourdesigndecisions.

▶ Make-updesign:Createmake-updesignsforatleasttwo charactersfromthechosenscene.Youshouldconsidercolour, applicationandbudget,andyoushouldalsobeabletojustifyyour designdecisions.Youmayconsiderprostheticsifthisisyour specialism.

CandidatesareexpectedtofollowtheAlevelDramaandTheatrecourse. Weareconcernedwithassessingpracticalratherthanacademicability; therefore,notheorypaperwillbeset.Therewillbeashortinterviewto assessacandidate’srangeofactivities,abilitiesandinterests.

SixthFormSportScholarshipBursariesInformation

Requirements

▶ Countylevelorequivalenthonoursinachosensport,with supportingdocumentation

▶ Candidateswillsitawrittenexaminationtoassesstheirattitude andmotivationtowardsphysicalactivityandsport

▶ CandidateswillhaveaninformalinterviewwiththeDirectorof Sportabouttheirsportinginterestsandambitions

▶ CandidatesshouldintendtofollowtheAlevelPhysicalEducation course

▶ Areferencefromastudent’scurrentHeadofPE(excludingRMS students)andtheirsportscoach(ifapplicable)shouldbesubmitted withtheletterofapplication

▶ Asuccessfulscholarshouldbecommittedtoco-curricularactivities andaninvolvementincoaching/assistingwithjuniorteamsis desirable

RMSiscommittedtoenablingaccesstotheschool forthoseforwhomitseducationwillbemost transformational.ThefoundationofRMSin1788 wascharitable,andinthetwenty-firstcentury,we believethatitbenefitsallofourpupilsforthe pupilbodyoftheSchooltobeasdiverseas possibleandbursariesarepartofhowweachieve thisdiversity.

Bursariesareawardediftheapplicantisaccepted asanewstudentforSixthForm,thefamilyis eligibleforabursaryandtherearesufficientfunds available.Pleasenotethatpriorityisgivento applicantsforwhomthebursarywillbemost transformational.

Ourbursariesareawardedthankstothe generosityofbenefactors,formerpupils,other parents,andtheMasonicCharitableFoundation withwhomtheschoolmaintainsastrongand historiclink.

Eligibilitycriteria

Bursaryawardsrangefrompartialtofullawards. Theseawardsareallmeans-tested.Whilethe criteriadependonarangeoffinancialvariables, youcanfindhelpfulguidelineswithinourBursary Policyandonourwebsite.

Thedeadlineforapplicationsforbursaryplaces forthoseapplyingtojoinSixthFormisFriday4th November2022.Whenregisteringyourchildfora placeatRMS,pleaseindicateontheregistration formthatyouwouldliketobeconsideredfora bursary.Weencourageearlyapplicationsto ensurethatwehavethetimetounderstandyour particularfinancialcircumstances.

Theschooldoesnotrequiretheregistrationfeeto bepaidbyfamiliesthatcurrentlyreceiveincome supportoruniversalcredit.Pleasecontactthe admissionsteamandprovideevidenceofthis supportandtheywillwaivethefee.

Ifyouindicatethatyouwouldliketoapplyfora bursarywhenyouregisterforaplace,youwillbe sentanonlinebursaryapplication.Thisshouldbe completednolaterthanFriday2ndDecember.

Bursaryassessment

Weworkwithathirdpartytosupportour assessmentprocess.Partofthatassessmentwill usuallyincludeahomevisitbyamemberofthat teamtoevidenceandunderstandthefinancial circumstancesthatsupportyourapplication.

Allbursariesawardsaremeanstestedand designedtoenablepupilswhodisplaystrong academicabilityorshowparticularlystrong potentialinart,music,dramaorsporttobenefit fromtheeducationofferedatRMS,andinturnto makeapositivecontributiontothelifeofthe School.Thebursariescancoverupto100%offees orcansupportfamiliesthathavebeenoffered scholarships.

Thebursarylastsforthewholeofastudent’stime atRMSbutissubjecttoregularreview.

GeneralCourseInformation

Eightperiodsareallocatedeachweektoeach examinedsubject.Whereinitialtakeupforasubject isverylowpleasebeawarethattheSchoolmay withdrawitasanoption,orinsomecasesmay reducetheperiodallocation.

Wheretherearethreestudentsorfewerinthe class,toenableustorunthesubjectandin recognitionoftheone-on-oneteachingthestudents willreceive,itislikelythattherewillonlybethree doublelessonstimetabledforthissubject,with additionalindependenttasksset.

Untaughtperiods,onaverageeighteachweek,are forstudyandrelaxation.Oneofthefirstdifferences youwillnoticeaboutSixthFormlifeisthatyou havetomanageyourtimeandthedemandsofyour workeffectively.Itisnoteasyandwearehereto helpyou.Wesuggestthatyouspendaboutfour hoursstudyingonyourownforeachsubject.Ifyou donotdoso,youmayfindthatyouhavedifficulties bytheendofthecourse.

Ifyouhavenotachievedagrade4(Cgrade)at GCSEinEnglishLanguageand/orMathematics, arrangementswillbemadetoenableyouto continueyourstudiesinthesesubjects.

TheGCSEresultsyouachieveenableustohelpyou chooseaprogrammeofstudysuitedtoyouandat whichyoushouldbesuccessful.

Youshouldrememberthefollowing:

▶ Eachsubjecthasentrycriteriawhichare availabletoviewwithinthisdocumentand onthewebsite.

▶ Thereisnooverallminimumstandardof entrytotheSixthFormatRMS.However, asaguide,thenumberofpassesatgrade 6(Bgrade)andabovethatyouachieve,is anindicatorofthenumberofsubjectsyou shouldstudy.

▶ MostSixthFormerscommencestudying foursubjectsinYear12.Somestudents continuewithfoursubjectsafterthefirst terminYear12butmostwilltakethree subjectstoAlevel.Asalways,theSchool willadoptacase-by-caseapproachin ordertoaccommodatetheneedsof individualstudents.

▶

Entryrequirementstoreflectthe newGCSEgradingsystem

FollowingcurriculumreformnewGCSEswillbe awardedgrades9-1inplaceofthetraditional(A*-G) gradingsystem.

Grade4isequivalenttoalowCgradebutgrade 5isconsideredbytheDepartmentforEducation tobeagoodpass;thisequatestoahighCgrade oralowBgrade.

Thereisasummaryofentryrequirementsatthe backofthisbooklet.Entryrequirementsfor coursesdetailedwithinthisbookletwillreflectthe newgradingsystemequivalence.

Component %offinal assessment Typeofassessment

Internalassessmentofaportfolioofwork producedoverseveralmonths.

Timingof assessment

1 60%

Externallymoderatedbyavisitingexaminer. AprilYear2

2 40%

Aprojectofpreparatoryworkfollowedbya 15-hourpracticaltimedexamination. MayYear2

WhatothersubjectscomplementArt,DraftandDesign?

▶ Artisasubjectthatliesnaturallyandcomfortablyalongsidethemostdiverse curriculum,duetothefactthatastudentcandesigntheirowncourseofstudy. Textiles,DesignandTechnologyandPhotographyaretheobvious complementaryAlevelsubjectsbecauseofthesimilarityofskillsandstructure. Englishandthehumanitiesassistanartstudents’essaywritingskillswhile Mathematicsandthesciences(includingPsychology)ofteninspirestudents’ interestsandenrichaSTEAMthemedprogramme.

WhatdoAlevelArtstudentsgoontodo?

▶ Therearemanycareersinartanddesign.Mostrequirefurtherstudyata universityorcollegeofart.Weareproudthatmanyofourstudentsgainplaces onarangeofprestigiousundergraduatecoursesdirectlyfromSixthForm,such asArchitecture,FineArtandArtHistory.Wehelpinthepreparationofportfolios andadviseoninterviewtechniques.Inrecentyears’studentshavewonplacesat UniversityoftheArts,Newcastle,Loughborough,Leeds,Nottingham,Edinburgh CollegeofArt,OxfordBrookesandManchester.

▶ AFineArtAleveldoesnotnecessarilyhavetoleadtoacareerintheindustry;a goodAlevelinthesubjectisviewedfavourablybymostuniversitiesand studentsinthepasthavegoneontoreadEnglishLiterature,Psychology,History ofArt,GeographyandMarketingamongstothersatExeter,Edinburgh, NottinghamandBristol.

ExamBoard Qualification Specificationcode Alevel 7401

Linktotheexamboardinformation:

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/as-and-a-level/biology-7401-7402

Aims

▶ Tostimulatestudentsandbothsustainanddeveloptheirinterestinbiology

▶ Toprovideasuitablefoundationforthestudyofbiologyorrelatedcoursesin furtherandhighereducation.

▶ Topromotetheapplicationofbiologicalprinciplestoproblemsincludingthoseof apersonal,social,environmental,economicandtechnologicalnature

Content

▶ Unit1:Biologicalmolecules

▶ Unit2:Cells

▶ Unit3:Organismsexchangesubstanceswiththeirenvironment

▶ Unit4:Geneticinformation,variationandrelationshipsbetweenorganisms

▶ Unit5:Energytransfersinandbetweenorganisms

▶ Unit6:Organismsrespondtochangesintheirinternalandexternalenvironments

▶ Unit7:Genetics,populations,evolutionandecosystems

▶ Unit8:Thecontrolofgeneexpression

Assessment

Unit %offinal assessment Typeofassessment Timingof assessment

Paper1 35% Writtenexamination: EndofYear2 Paper2 35% Writtenexamination: EndofYear2 Paper3 30% Writtenexamination: EndorYear2

Practicalassessment MET/NOTMET component

Studentswillcomplete 12requiredpractical investigationsover2 years. Continuousthroughout Years12and13

StudentswillhavetheoptionoftakingtheASonly,thiswillbeassessedasfollows:

Unit %offinalassessment Typeofassessment Timingofassessment

Paper1 50% Writtenexamination: EndofYear1 Paper2 50% Writtenexamination: EndofYear1

Note:StudentscontinuingtocompletetheAlevelBiologycoursewillnottaketheseexaminations.

WhatdoAlevelBiologystudentsgoontodo?

▶ BiologyisaverypopularAlevelsubjectatRMS,attractingstudentsplanningto studyabiology-relateddegreecourse.Wehaveaverygoodrecordofsending studentstotop-rankuniversities.

▶ ThemostpopularbiologycoursesincludeMedicine,VeterinaryScience,Dentistry, NaturalScience,BiomedicalSciences,Nursing,EnvironmentalScienceand Physiotherapy.

BusinessStudies

ExamBoard Qualification

Linktotheexamboardinformation:

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/business-2015.html

Aims

Developacriticalunderstandingoforganisationsandtheirabilitytomeetsociety’sneedsandwants

▶ Understandthatbusinessbehaviourcanbestudiedfromarangeofperspectives

▶

Generateenterprisingandcreativeapproachestobusinessopportunities, problemsandissues

▶

Acquirearangeofrelevantbusinessandgenericskills,includingdecision making,problemsolving,thechallengingofassumptionsandcriticalanalysis

▶ Applynumericalskillsinarangeofbusinesscontexts.

Content

Theme1–Marketingandpeople

Inthistheme,studentsareintroducedtothemarket,explorethemarketingandpeoplefunctionsand investigateentrepreneursandbusinessstart-up.

Theme2–Managingbusinessactivities

Inthistheme,studentsexplorethefinanceandoperationsfunctions,andinvestigateexternalinfluenceson business.

Theme3–BusinessDecisionsandstrategy

Inthistheme,studentsdeveloptheirunderstandingoftheconceptsintroducedinTheme2andexplore influencesonbusinessstrategyanddecision-making.

Theme4–GlobalBusiness

Inthistheme,studentsdeveloptheirunderstandingoftheconceptsintroducedinTheme1andexplore businessactivityinaglobalcontext.

Assessment

Exam Weighting Typeofassessment

Paper1–Marketing, peopleandglobal business 35%

Paper2–Business activities,decisions andstrategy 35%

Paper3–Investigating businessina competitive environment 30%

Timingof assessment

Writtenassessmenton Theme1&4 EndofYear2

Writtenassessmenton Theme3&4 EndofYear2

Writtenassessmenton allthemes(synoptic) EndofYear2

WhatdoAppliedBusinessstudentsgoontodo?

▶ TheworldisyouroysterwithknowledgeofBusiness;careerscanrangefrom accountancytomarketingandfrombusinessadministrationtoinvestment analyststonamebutafew.Manygirlsgoontostudybusinessofsomesortat universitybuttherearealsoopportunitiesforapprenticeshipsorsimplyjoininga businessandclimbingthroughtheranks.

Chemistry

ExamBoard Alevel 7404 7405

Linktotheexamboardinformation

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/as-and-a-level/chemistry-7404-7405

Aims

▶ Toinvestigateandunderstandwhattheworldismadeupof

▶ Tounderstandthepotentialformakingadifferenceintheworlde.g.byfinding curesfordiseases

▶ Todevelopresearch,problemsolvingandanalyticalskillsalongwithteamwork andcommunication–alltransferableskillsinmanywalksoflife

Content PhysicalChemistry

‘Allthemathsinvolvedinchemistry’

ThisincludesAtomicStructure;Amountofsubstance;Bonding;Energetics;Kinetics;Equilibria;Redox; Thermodynamics;ElectrodePotentials;RateEquations;EquilibriumConstant;AcidsandBases.

InorganicChemistry

‘AllaboutthePeriodicTable’

ThisincludesPeriodicity;Group2;Group7;Period3;TransitionMetals;Reactionsofionsinaqueous solution.

OrganicChemistry

‘AnythingthatcontainsCarbon,NitrogenandHydrogen’

ThisincludesAlkane;Halogenoalkanes;Alkenes;Alcohols;OrganicAnalysis;OpticalIsomerism;Aldehydes andketones;Carboxylicacidsandderivatives;Aromaticchemistry;Amines;Polymers;AminoAcids;Organic Synthesis;NuclearMagneticResonanceSpectroscopy;Chromatography.

Unit %offinal assessment Typeofassessment

Timingof assessment

Paper1 35% Writtenexamination Shortanswer EndofYear2

Paper2 35% Writtenexamination Shortanswer EndofYear2 Paper3 30% Writtenexamination ShortanswerAND MultipleChoice EndofYear2

Practicalassessment PASSorFAIL

Studentswillcomplete 12requiredpracticals Continuous

Unit %offinal assessment Typeofassessment Timingof assessment

Paper1 50% Writtenexamination ShortanswerAND MultipleChoice EndofYear1

Paper2 50% Writtenexamination ShortanswerAND MultipleChoice EndofYear1

Practicalassessment

Studentswillcomplete 6requiredpracticals Continuous

WhatdoAlevelChemistrystudentsgoontodo?

▶ DidyouknowthatChemistrygraduatesaresomeofthemostemployableafter university?Thisisthankstothecriticalthinking,problemsolving,technical abilityandcommunicationskillsdevelopedthroughoutthecourse.

▶ Thiscanleadtojobsinahugenumberofareasincludingresearch,finance, politics,andengineeringnottomentionmedicine,veterinaryScienceor dentistry.

Pleasenote:Chemistryistherequiredsubjectformanyscience-baseduniversitycoursesandisan essentialAlevelrequirementformedicine,veterinaryscience,pharmacyanddentistry.

ClassicalCivilisation

Linktotheexamboardinformation:

https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as-a-level-gce-classical-civilisation-h008-h408-from-2017/

Aims

▶ todevelopknowledgeandunderstandingofGreekandRomanculture

▶ tofocusondrama,epic,historyandancientbeliefsystemsbothreligiousand philosophical

▶ toencouragedebate,discussionandopen-mindedanalysisofthevaluesof ancienttimesandofthetwentyfirstcentury

Content

Year1

Duringourfirstyear,westudyHomer’sepicpoem,theOdyssey,andalsolearnabouttheAncientGreek theatre.Homer’spoemisoneoftheoldestworksofliteratureintheworld,andwediscussitssignificance aswellaselementsofgenre,styleandliterarytechniques,andtheGreekculturewhichproducedit.When learningabouttheGreektheatre,westudytwotragedies,Sophocles’OedipustheKingandEuripides’ Bacchae,andacomedy,Aristophanes’Frogs.Wealsostudyarchaeologicalevidencetoreconstruct theoriesabouthowthetheatreworkedinAncientAthens.

Year2

Inthesecondyear,wemoveontostudyVirgil’sfamousRomanpoem,theAeneid;thispoemisconsidered oneofthegreatestworksofliteratureeverwrittenandhasbeenhugelyinfluentialeversinceitwasfirst publishedin19BC.WealsomakecomparisonsbetweenVirgilandHomer,whowasahugeinfluenceon Virgil.WelookatGreekreligionaswell,discussingtherolesofthegodsandthesignificanceofreligious ritualsintheancientworld.Thereisaphilosophicalelementtothistoo,consideringtheviewsofthe ancientphilosophersXenophanesandSocrates.

ComputerScience

ExamBoard Qualification SpecificationCode

OCR Alevel H446-601/4911/5

Specification:OCRAlevelComputerScienceH446Specification

Aims:

Toenablelearners:

▶ tolearn,ingreatdepth,abouthowtheinternalcomponentsofacomputerwork, rightdowntothebinarycodethatisthelife-bloodofthecomputer’sfunctioning, tothecomplexsystemarchitectureswithin.

▶ tolearnhowdataistransmittedacrossnetworksandhowthatdataismade securefromunauthorisedusers.

▶ tolearnhowalgorithmsandprogrammingareattheheartofcomputational thinking.Allstudentswillbecomehighlyproficientprogrammersbytheendof thiscourse.

▶ tolearnabouthow“BigData”isshapingdecisionmakingacrosseverypartoflife, fromthefoodchoiceinyourshops,totheavoidanceofatrafficjamonyourway homefromwork.

Content Breakdownofunitcontributions

▶ 40%Paper1writtenexam(ComputerSystemsTheory)

▶ 40%Paper2writtenexam(AlgorithmsandProgramming)

▶ 20%ProgrammingProject

FirstyearofStudy

Duringthefirstyearofstudy,studenttimewillbesplit50/50betweencomputertheoryandprogramming. Studentswillbecomeproficientprogrammersduringtheirfirstyear,whichisvitalinorderforthemtohave successwiththemorecomplexcodingconceptsinYear13.

TopicsthatwillbecoveredinYear12are:

▶

▶

▶

▶

▶

SecondYearofStudy

Duringthesecondyearofstudy,studentswillstudythesametopicsasYear1,butinfar,fargreaterdepth.

AtthebeginningofYear2,studentswillchooseacomputingproblemtoworkthrough,accordingtothe guidanceinthespecification.Eachstageofthesoftwaredevelopmentlife-cyclewillbefollowedcloselyto produceacodedsolutionforareallife‘end-user’.Thispartofthesyllabusisworth20%oftheirfinalmark.

Assessment Component

Paper1–ComputerSystems.

Inthispaper,studentswillbeexaminedon thedepthofknowledgetheyhaveacquired regardingcomputersystems.

Paper2–Algorithmsandprogramming

Thispapertestsastudent’sabilitytocode, designandmodifyexistingprogramcode,and toproducesolutionsforavarietyofpractical scenarios.

%offinal assessment Typeof assessment Timingof assessment

40% WrittenExam. 2hoursand30 minutes. EndofYear2

40%

Writtenexam: 2hoursand30 minutes EndofYear2

Non-examassessment.

“Thenon-examassessmentassesses student’sabilitytousetheknowledgeand skillsgainedthroughthecoursetosolveor investigateapracticalproblem.Studentswill beexpectedtofollowasystematicapproach toproblemsolving.”

20% Controlled Assessment (projectwork) FebruaryinYear 12throughto MarchinYear13

DesignandTechnology:ProductDesign

Linktotheexamboardinformation:

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/design-and-technology/as-and-a-level/design-and-technology-product-design-7552/

Aims

▶ Thiscreativeandthought-provokingqualificationgivesstudentsthepractical skills,theoreticalknowledgeandconfidencetosucceedinanumberofcareers, especiallythoseinthecreativeindustries.

▶

Theywillinvestigatehistorical,social,cultural,environmentalandeconomic influencesondesignandtechnology,whilstenjoyingopportunitiestoputtheir learningintopracticebyproducingprototypesoftheirchoice.

▶ Studentswillgainarealunderstandingofwhatitmeanstobeadesigner, alongsidetheknowledgeandskillssoughtbyhighereducationandemployers.

Content

Therearethreeunitsinthiscourse.

Paper1

Non–examassessment(NEA)

WhatdoAlevelDesignandTechnologystudentsgoontodo?

▶ Ourpreviousstudentshavegoneontocareersinproductdesign,furniture engineering,propmakingandspecialeffects,computergraphicsforadvertising, teaching,landscapedesign.

▶ DTisaveryrewardingsubjectthatenablesstudentstogainproblemsolvingand practicalskillswhichareexcellentlifeskills.

DramaandTheatre

Linktotheexamboardinformation:

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/drama/a-level/drama-and-theatre-7262

Aims

▶ create,performandrespondtodramaandtheatre

▶ developthecreativityandindependencetobecomeaneffectivetheatremaker

▶ exploretherelationshipbetweentheoryandpracticeinarangeoftheatrical stylesandperiodsandhistorical,socialandculturalcontexts

▶ experiencethewaysinwhichtheatremakerscollaboratetocreatetheatre.

▶ developconfidenceandlearntocollaborate

CourseStructure

ThesubjectcontentforAlevelDramaandTheatreisdividedintothreecomponents:

▶ Dramaandtheatre

▶ Creatingoriginaldrama

▶ Makingtheatre

Forthepracticalcomponentsstudentschoosetoworkasperformers,designers(designstudentsmay chooselighting,sound,set,costumeorpuppets)ordirectors.

DramaandTheatre

Studentswillstudyandexplorepracticallytwosetplays.Theywillthenlearnhowtoanalyseandevaluate theworkoflivetheatremakers.Theywillthensitanexaminationbasedonthiswork.

CreatingOriginalDrama

Studentswilllearnhowtocreateanddeveloporiginaldevisedideastocommunicatemeaningaspartof thetheatremakingprocess.Theworkmustreflecttheideasofatheatrepractitioner.Theythencreatean originalpieceoftheatreandwritealogbookthatsupportstheirprocess.

MakingTheatre

Studentswilllearnhowtocontributetotext-baseddramainalivetheatrecontextforanaudience.They workmustbeinfluencedbyatheatrepractitioner.Theywillperformtheirscriptedpiecetoavisiting examinerandaninvitedaudience.

Unit %offinal assessment

Component1 DramaandTheatre 40%

Component2 Creatingoriginal Drama 30%

Component3 MakingTheatre

Typeofassessment Timingof assessment

Writtenexamination Summer2ndYear

Courseworkand practical Internallymarked Autumn2ndYear

Courseworkand practical Externallymarked Spring2ndYear

WhatdoDramastudentsgoontodo?

StudentsgoontouniversitydegreesinDramaorcomplementarysubjectorapplyforDramaSchool

Transferableskillsforthissubjectarewidelyrecognisedandstudentscangointoawiderangeofcareers inareassuchastheArts,MediaandLaw.

ExamBoard Qualification Specificationcode

Edexcel Alevel 9EC0

Linktotheexamboardinformation:

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/economics-a-2015.html

▶ Aims

▶ Toprovideabroadworkingknowledgeofthesubjectofeconomicsandits applicationintherealworld

▶ Toencouragestudentstodeveloparealenthusiasmforthesubject,allowing themtoexplorecurrenteconomicissuesingreaterdepth

▶ Toallowstudentstodeveloptheirabilitytoevaluateeconomicproblemsfrom differentperspectives

▶ Todeveloptheanalyticalandquantitativeskillsnecessarytoequipstudentsfor thechallengesandopportunitiesofadultworkinglife

Content

TheAlevelconsistsoffourunits,knownas“themes.”

Theme1–Introductiontomarketsandmarketfailure

Anintroductiontomicroeconomics,coveringsupplyanddemand,aswellasthepricemechanismandthe issuesofmarketfailure.Itlooksateconomicproblemsandthewaysthateconomiststhinkandwork.

Theme2–TheUKeconomy–performanceandpolicies

AnintroductiontomacroeconomicswithparticularemphasisupontheroleoftheGovernmentinachieving andmaintainingeconomicgrowth.Itfocusesoneconomicperformanceandinstrumentsofeconomic policy.

Theme3–Businessbehaviourandthelabourmarket

Thisiseffectivelythetheoryofthefirm.Buildinguponknowledgegainedfromstudyingtheme1,itexplores themotivesoffirmsintheiractions,withrespecttothemarketstructurewithinwhichtheyoperateandthe roleoftheGovernmentinregulation.

Theme4–Aglobalperspective

Thisthemecentresupontheissuesofglobalization,internationaltradeandeconomicdevelopment. Especiallybuildinguponknowledgegainedfromstudyingtheme2,itdealswitheconomicperformanceand policiesinaglobalcontext.Thereis,however,asynopticelementtothisthemeasitdrawsinkeypoints fromallpreviousthemes.

Assessment

Paper %offinal assessment Typeof assessment Timingof assessment

Paper1(Themes1&3) 35% WrittenExamination June-Year2

Paper2(Themes2&4) 35% WrittenExamination June-Year2

Paper3(Themes1,2,3 &4) 30% WrittenExamination June-Year2

WhatdoAlevelEconomicsstudentsgoontodo?

Therearemanyoptionsforcareersafterstudyingeconomics.Studentsinthepasthavegoneontostudy thefollowingdegreecourses(amongstothers): Accountancy BusinessManagement InvestmentBanking Law InternationalRelations Engineering Marketing Government

EnglishLanguage

Linktotheexamboardinformation:

http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as-a-level-gce-english-language-h070-h470-from-2015/

Aims

Forstudentstodevelopandapplytheirunderstandingoftheconceptsandmethodsappropriateforthe analysisandstudyoflanguage

▶

Toexploredataandexamplesoflanguageinuse

▶

Toengagecreativelyandcriticallywithavariedprogrammeforthestudyof English

▶

Todevelopskillsasproducersandinterpretersoflanguage

▶

Toindependentlyinvestigatelanguageinuse

Content

ThewonderfulthingaboutstudyingEnglishLanguageisthatitwillforeverchangethewaythatyou understandthewiderworld.Aslanguageissuessurroundusonadailybasis,studentswillfindthat throughthecourse,theywillbeexploringthecurrentnews,socialmediatrends,politicalspeechesand debates,sportscoverageandpopularentertainment.

Throughoutthecourse,studentswillcoverthefollowingtopics:

▶ LanguageundertheMicroscope:Studentswillstudyandanalysethelexical choicesandgrammaticalfeaturesinanunseentext.

▶ WritingaboutaTopicalLanguageIssue:Studentswillproduceapieceoforiginal writing,presentingtheirattitudesandthoughtsaboutaspecificlanguageissue.

▶ ComparingandContrastingTexts:Studentswillcomparetwounseentexts, includingaspokentranscript,andanalysehowlanguagehasbeenusedineach, consideringhowthecontextualfactorsinfluencetheproductionandreceptionof texts.

▶

ChildLanguageDevelopment:Studentswillstudyhowlanguagedevelopsin childrenfrom0-7yearsofageandapplylanguageconceptstotheiranalysisofa spokenlanguagetranscript.

▶ LanguageintheMedia:Studentswillanalyseashortmediapiece,usingtheir knowledgeoflanguageconceptsandconsideringrelevanttheoriesofLanguage andPower,LanguageandGenderorLanguageandTechnology.

ExamBoard

▶ LanguageChange:Studentswillcomparetwotextsfromdifferentperiods analysingvariationsinlanguagefromthe1600stopresentday.Studentswill explorethewayslanguageisusedandhowcontextualfactorsinfluencetheway meaningisconstructed.

▶ IndependentLanguageResearch:Studentswillcompletetwoseparate courseworkassignmentsbaseduponatopicoftheirchoosing:aclosecritical investigationofalanguageissueortopicandanacademicposterpresenting theirfindingstotheirpeergroup.

▶ CreativeWriting,Journalism,Education,Psychology,Music,Criminology.

EnglishLiterature

Linktotheexamboardinformation: http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as-a-level-gce-english-literature-h072-h472-from-2015/

Aims

▶ Toencouragelearnerstodeveloptheirinterestinandenjoymentofliteratureand literarystudies.

▶ Toreadwidelyandindependently,includingtheirsettextsandalsoothersthat theyhaveindividuallyselected.

▶ Toengagecriticallyandcreativelywithasubstantialbodyoftextsandwaysof respondingtothem.

▶ Todevelopandeffectivelyapplytheirknowledgeofliteraryanalysisand evaluationinwriting.

▶ Toexplorethecontextsofthetextstheyarereadingandtherangeofpossible interpretationsofthesetexts

Content

WhatisfantasticaboutstudyingEnglishLiteratureisthedepthoftheunderstandingthatyougain,notonly aboutbooks,butalsohistory,politics,socialawareness,otherculturesandmuchmore.Literaturestudents shouldenjoyreadingwidelyandbeenthusiasticaboutopportunitiestoexpandtheirliteraryknowledge. Thiscoursewillsharpenstudents’essay-writingskillsandalsotheirabilitytoanalyse,interpretandthink independently.

Throughoutthecourse,studentswillstudythefollowingtopics:

▶ Shakespeare:StudentswillstudyoneShakespeareplayindetail,whichtheywill beassessedoninawrittenexaminationattheendofthecourse.

▶ DramaandPoetry:Forthissectionofthecourse,studentswillstudyapre-1900 dramatextandcompareittoapoetrytextoraselectionofpoetrybyanamed poetonthespecification.

▶ Closereadingofachosengenre:Studentswillhavetoanalyseanunseen passagefromthegenrethattheyhavecoveredinclass,demonstrating understandingofthewriters’methodsandalsothecontextualfactorsrelatingto thegenreinquestion.TheEnglishDepartmentwillchoosetherelevantgenre.

▶ ComparativeStudy:Studentswillanalyseandcomparetwonovelsnamedwithin thegenretheyhavestudiedinclassaswellasexploringcriticaltheory.

▶ Literaturepost-1900:Studentswillproducetwopiecesofcourseworkbasedupon acollectionofpoetry,anovelandadrama,oneofwhichmusthavebeenfirst publishedafter2000.Thefirstwillbeaclosecriticalanalysisofatext.The secondwillbeanessayexploringconnectionsbetweentheothertwotexts, informedbyreaders’interpretations.

Assessment

Unit %offinal assessment Typeofassessment Timingof assessment

1Dramaandpoetry pre-1900 40% Writtenexamination SummerYear2

2Comparativeand contextualstudy 40% Writtenexamination SummerYear2

3Literaturepost-1900 20% Non-examined assessment (coursework) SpringYear2

WhatdoAlevelEnglishLiteraturestudentsgoontodo?

ManyofourEnglishLiteraturestudentstogoontostudyanEnglishcourseatuniversity,includingEnglish Literature,CreativeWriting,EnglishLanguageandLiteratureorEnglishLanguage.Otherstudentshave goneontoreadLaw,Politics,Psychology,Marketing,Geography,andHistory.

ExtendedProjectQualification(EPQ)

ExamBoard

Linktotheexamboardinformation:

https://www.aqa.org.uk/programmes/aqa-baccalaureate/extended-project/the-aqa-epq

Aims

▶

Toprovidestudentswiththeopportunitytocompleteanindividualprojectona topicthattakesthembeyondthecurriculumtheyarestudyingatAlevel

▶

Toallowstudentstoobtain,engagecriticallywithandusearangeofsourcesof informationinordertoreachsupportedoutcomes

▶

Thiscourseallowsstudentstobeanalyticalintheirapproachandcreativein theirundertaking

EntryRequirements

Thisissuitableforstudentswhoarecommittedandconfidentinmanaginganotherqualificationontopof theirAlevels.

Itisrecommendedthatstudentsachieveagrade6inGCSEEnglishLanguageastheEPQinvolvesa writtenreportofeitherc.1,000words(fortheartefactoption)oranextendedessayofc.5,000words.

StudentswhowishtoundertaketheEPQwillbeconsideredonanindividualbasis.

Content

TheEPQoffersstudentsthechancetoresearchtheirownareaofacademicinterestandtowriteitupasa dissertationwiththehelpofasupervisorandaseriesoffocusedresearchskillsseminars.Ratherthan producinganessay/dissertation,studentsmayopttoproduceanartefact;suchasapieceofart.

TheEPQconsistsofaproductionlogbookthatallstudentscompletethroughouttheprocess,anessayor writtenreportaccompanyinganartefactandalivepresentationtoanon-specialistaudience.

Duringthecoursestudentswilllearnto:

▶

Manage–identify,planandcompleteaprojectthroughapplyingorganisational skillsandstrategiestomeetidentifiedobjectives.

▶ Undertakeresearchandidentifyresourcesthatareappropriatetotheirchosen questionandallowthemtobeanalytical.

▶ Developandrealise–throughusingarangeofskillstheywillneedtosolve problems,makeappropriatedecisionsandbecreativeintheirapproachinorder toachievetheiraims.

▶ Reviewtheirworkthroughouttheprocessandcarefullyconsidertheirlearning.

Assessment

Studentswillattendcompulsorylessonstolearntheskillselementthatwillassisttheminthisprocess.

Allassessmentwillbebasedononeofthefollowing,dependingonwhichtypeofEPQtheychooseto complete: Projectswillbecompletedandsubmittedbymid-OctoberofYear13.

WhatdoEPQstudentsgoontodo?

▶ Havinggainedconfidenceinresearchandwritingskillsstudentsaremore preparedfortheiruniversitycoursesandinundertakingsignificant independentstudy.

Essay-basedEPQ FurtherMathematics

▶ ExploreanareaofacademicinterestoutsideoftheconstraintsofAlevelsubjects thatcaninfluencefuturestudy.

▶ CanhelpenhanceUCASapplicationsorprovidecontentforaninterviewandhelp meettheconditionsofauniversityoffer.

FurtherMathematics

ExamBoard Qualification Specificationcode

Edexcel Alevel 9FMO

Edexcel ASlevel 8FMO

Linktotheexamboardinformation:

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/mathematics-2017.html

Aims

▶ Toallowstudentstodevelopabroadunderstandingofaspectsofmathematics beyondtheAlevelspecification

▶ Todevelopskillsinproofandanalyticalreasoning

▶ Toallowstudentstoexperienceawidevarietyoftopicsinmathematics

Content

ThiscoursecanonlybetakenwithAlevelMathematics.

Thiscoursegivesamuchwidermathematicalbasisandisrecommended,atleasttoASlevel,fortheable mathematicianorforastudentwhoisconsideringstudyingMathematicsorrelatedsubjectssuchas PhysicsorEngineeringatuniversity.Halfofthecoursecoversfurthertopicsinpuremathematicssuchas complexnumbers,matrices,hyperbolicfunctionsanddifferentialequations.Theremaininghalfofthe coursewillconsistofoptionsinpuremathematics,statistics,mechanicsordecisionmathematics.These optionswillbedeterminedbytheinterestsofeachcohortofstudentsandthestrengthsoftheteaching team.

Assessment

TeachingofFurtherMathematicsfollowsteachingofMathematicsAlevelandnoexaminationswouldbe takenuntilYear13.

ASlevel

Paper %offinal assessment Typeofassessment

Timingof assessment

1PureMathematics 50% Writtenexamination SummerofYear1

2Optionpaper Outof

Alevel

Paper %offinal assessment Typeofassessment Timingof assessment

1CorePureMathematics 25% Writtenexamination SummerofYear2

2CorePureMathematics 25% Writtenexamination SummerofYear2

3Firstoptionpaper;oneof

• FurtherPure1

• FurtherStatistics1

• FurtherMechanics1

• Decision1 25% Writtenexamination SummerofYear2

4Secondoptionpaper; anotherchoicefrom

• FurtherPure1

• FurtherStatistics

• FurtherMechanics

• Decision 25% Writtenexamination SummerofYear2

WhatdoAlevelFurtherMathematicsstudentsgoontodo?

▶ StudyMathematicsatuniversity

▶ StudyEngineering,Physics,ComputerScienceorotherdegreeswithsubstantial mathematicalcontent

▶ Applytheirskillsinacreativefieldsuchasgraphicdesign

• Pure

• FurtherStatistics

• FurtherMechanics

• Decision 50% Writtenexamination SummerofYear1

Geography

Linktotheexamboardinformation: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/geography/as-and-a-level/geography-7037

Togainadeepunderstandingofhowplaces,environmentsandissuesare constantlychangingandhowthehumanpopulationrespondstothis fieldwork

Therearethreecomponentstothecourse;humangeography,physicalgeographyandfieldworkand geographicalskills.Thetopicscoveredinclude:

GeographicalSkills

Alevelstudentsarerequiredtocompleteanindividualinvestigationbasedonaquestionorissuedefined anddevelopedbythestudentrelatingtoanypartofthespecificationcontent.Studentsaretherefore requiredtoattenddaytripstocarryoutfieldworkoverthecourseinavarietyoflocations.

Unit %offinal assessment Typeofassessment

Timingof assessment

1PhysicalGeography JuneofYear2

2HumanGeography JuneofYear2

3Geographicalskills andfieldwork 3000–4000written investigation

WhatdoAlevelGeographystudentsgoontodo?

Ongoing: March(Year1)to December(Year2)

Geographyisanenablingsubjectthatopensahugevarietyofopportunitiesinfuturepathways.Past studentshaveusedtheirAlevelGeographytocompletedegreesinthefollowing: InternationalDevelopment GeographyandEconomics

▶ Human,SocialandPoliticalScience

Geographyalsosupportsstudentswishingtoundertakeadegreeinthesciences,mathematics,media relatedsubjects,geology,conservationorteaching.

GovernmentandPolitics

Linktospecification:

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/politics-2017.html

Aims

▶ Developaninterestin,andengagementwith, contemporarypolitics

▶ Developknowledgeandaninformed understandingofcontemporarypolitical structuresandissuesintheirhistoricalcontext,both withintheUnitedKingdom(UK)andglobally

▶ Developacriticalawarenessofthechanging natureofpoliticsandtherelationshipsbetween politicalideas,institutionsandprocesses

Content

Thekeyrequirementinthissubjectistheabilityto criticallyanalyse,interpretandevaluatepolitical informationinordertoconstructcoherentarguments andmakesubstantiatedjudgements.

UKPolitics

Thisunitinvolveslookingatpoliticalrepresentation intheUKincludingpoliticalparties,electoral systems,votingbehaviourandthemediaandthecore politicalideologiesofconservatism,liberalismand socialism.

▶ Developknowledgeandaninformed understandingoftheinfluencesandinterests whichhaveanimpactondecisionsingovernment andpolitics

▶ Developknowledgeandaninformed understandingoftherightsandresponsibilitiesof individualsandgroups

UKGovernment

ThisunitinvolveslookingataspectsofBritish governmentincludingtheBritishconstitution,roleof Parliament,primeministerandexecutiveand relationshipsbetweenthebranchesaswellasone non-coreideologywhichisanarchism.

ComparativePolitics

ThisunitinvolveslookingattheUSConstitution, Congress,theroleandpowersoftheUSpresident, elections,politicalparties,pressuregroupsandcivil rights.Thereisalsoacomparativeelementwhichwill involvestudentscomparingtheUSandUKsystems.

WhatdoGovernmentandPoliticsstudentsgoontodo?

▶ Manypoliticsstudentsgoontostudythesubjectatdegreelevelandoftencombineitwithanother subjectsuchasInternationalRelationsorHistory.Politicsstudentsfollowvariouscareerpaths afteruniversityincluding,workingforanNGO,journalism,civilservice,teachingandaccountancy.

History

ExamBoard Qualification Specificationcode

OCR Alevel H505

Specificationlink:

https://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/170128-specification-accredited-a-level-gce-history-a-h505.pdf

Aims

▶ Todevelopaninterestinandenthusiasmforhistoryandanunderstandingofits intrinsicvalueandsignificance

▶ Toacquireanunderstandingofdifferentidentitieswithinsocietyandan appreciationofaspectssuchassocial,cultural,religiousandethnicdiversity,as appropriate

▶ Toimproveaseffectiveandindependentlearnersandascriticalandreflective thinkerswithcuriousandenquiringminds

▶ Toacquireanunderstandingofthenatureofhistoricalstudy,forexamplethat historyisconcernedwithjudgementsbasedonevidence

▶ Tomakelinksanddrawcomparisonswithinand/acrossdifferentperiodsand aspectsofthepast

Content

Thekeyskillrequiredistheabilitytowriteessays,constructingwrittenargumentsinalogicalmanner, selectinganddeployingrelevantevidenceinordertodevelopyourpointsfully.Studentswillneedtobe abletocommunicatetheirunderstandingofhistoryinaclear,coherentandeffectivemanner.Theyshould beabletoanalyseandevaluatesourcematerialinrelationtoitshistoricalcontext.Theyshouldalsobeable toworkindependently,enjoyresearchandbewellorganised.

AlevelHistoryinYear12involvesaBritishperiodstudy,Britain1783-1846andanon-Britishperiodstudy ontheColdWarinEurope1945-1995.

BritishPeriodStudy

ThisoptionconsidersthedevelopmentofBritishgovernmentfromWilliamPitttoRobertPeelandis examinedthroughacombinationofessaysandsourceanalysis.

NonBritishPeriodStudy

ThisoptionexaminestheoriginsanddevelopmentoftheColdWarinAsiafrom1945-1993andisexamined throughtheevaluationofhistoricalinterpretationsandashortessay.

AlevelHistoryinYear13willinvolvethestudyofathematicpaperonRussia1855-1964andacoursework essayof3-4,000words.

ThematicPaper

ThispaperfocusesuponathematicstudyofRussialookingatkeyevents,individualsorissueswithinthe theme.Therearetwoelementstothisassessmentofhistoricalthemes.Firstly,thethematicessaywhich requiresstudentstoconsiderdevelopmentsoverapproximately100yearsandsecondlythein-depth interpretationselement.Forthiselementstudentsusetheirdetailedknowledgeofspecifiedevents, individualsorissuestocomprehend,analyseandevaluatethewaythepasthasbeeninterpretedby historians.

Coursework

StudentswillstartresearchingthisaftertheYear12examsandwillworkunderstaffguidance.Theywill completeoneessayof3-4,000wordsonGladstoneorDisraeli.Thisessaywilldrawuponarangeof primaryandsecondaryhistoricalsources.

Assessment

Unit %offinal assessment Typeofassessment Timingofassessment

1PitttoPeel1783-1853 25% Examination EndofYear2

2ColdWarinEurope 15% Examination EndofYear2

3RussiaanditsRulers 40% Coursework EndofYear2

4Courseworkessay 20% One4,000wordessay MichaelmasterminYear2

WhatdoAlevelHistorystudentsgoontodo?

ManyAlevelHistorystudentsgoonandstudythesubjectatdegreelevel,whileothersapplyforcoursesin Law,PoliticsandInternationalRelations.

Latin

ExamBoard Qualification Specificationcode Alevel

Linktotheexamboardinformation:

https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as-a-level-gce-latin-h043-h443-from-2016/

Aims

▶ toenhanceknowledgeofadvancedLatingrammarandvocabulary

▶ toenhancetranslationbothfromandintoLatin

▶ tofosterknowledgeandappreciationofclassicalcultureandliterature, especiallypoetry,politics,oratoryandsociety

Content

Year1

Duringourfirstyear,wereviewandreviseGCSEgrammarbeforemovingontothemorecomplexsyntax facedatAlevel.Ateverypoint,thereistimetoreflectonthenatureoflanguagesandcommunication,and toimproveourunderstandingthroughtranslationfromLatintoEnglishandfromEnglishtoLatin.Aswe movethroughtheyear,westarttotranslateun-adaptedpassagesofLatinfromauthorsincludingOvid, Livy,CaesarandPliny,aswellasothers.Wealsoconsolidatevocabularythroughregularvocabularytests onthemostcommonwordsinLatinverseandprosewriting.Aswellaslinguisticstudy,wealsolookat twoworksofliteratureassettexts:oneisverse,theotherisprose.Thesetextsarewrittenbysomeofthe mostinfluentialRomanwriters,includingthelikesofVirgil,Horace,Catullus,Cicero,SenecaandTacitus, aswellasothers.WestudythisliteratureintheoriginalLatinandconsideritshistoricalcontext,literary styleandgenre,aswellaslookingattheliteratureasevidenceforRomanculture.

Year2

Inthesecondyear,wecontinuetotranslateun-adaptedpassagesofLatin,bothproseandverse,in preparationforthetwolanguagepapersatAlevel.Astheyearcontinues,studentsbecomemoreconfident intranslatinglonger,morecomplexsentencesandevenlearnhowtoscanthemetreofLatinversepoetry. Wealsolookattwofurthersettexts,oneverse,theotherprose.Weshallbuildontheskillsalready developedinYear1tobecomeconfidentatanalysingandevaluatingliterature,bothasanartformandas evidencefortheRomanworld.Bytheendofthecourse,studentswillbewellpreparedtoreadgenuine LatintextsaspartoftheirunderstandingoftheancientMediterraneancultures.

Linktotheexamboardinformation:

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/mathematics-2017.html

Aims

▶

Toallowstudentstodeveloptheirproblemsolvingandanalyticalskills

▶

Todevelopskillsinproofandanappreciationofthelogicandbeautyof mathematics

▶

Toallowstudentstoexperienceavarietyoftopicsinmathematicswhichforma basisforfurtherstudyofrelatedtopicsatuniversity

Content

FluencywithGCSEalgebraisavitalskilltoestablishatthebeginningofthecourse.

ThecoursebuildsrapidlyonGCSEskillswithalgebraandtrigonometry.Studentsmeetavarietyoftopicsin puremathematicsincludingalgebraandfunctions,coordinategeometry,sequencesandseries,exponentials andlogarithms,andcalculus.Theappliedmathematicscontentincludesstatisticaldistributionsand hypothesistesting,kinematics,andforcesandNewton’slaws.

ModernForeignLanguages FrenchandSpanish

ExamBoard Qualification Specificationcode

AQA ASorAlevelinFrench,or Spanish

ASFrench7651 AFrench7652 ASSpanish7691 ASpanish7692

Specificationlink:

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/as-and-a-level

Aims

▶ Todeveloplinguisticskillsalongsideunderstandingofthecultureandsocietyof thecountrieswheretheMFLisspoken

▶ Tobeabletounderstandandanalysetextsandfilmsinthechosenlanguage

▶ Toselectabroadareaofstudytoprescribecertainaspectsforindependent research

Content

▶ TheAlevelspecificationbuildsontheknowledge,understandingandskillsgained atGCSE.Itconstitutesanintegratedstudywithafocusonlanguage,cultureand society.Itfostersarangeoftransferableskillsincludingcommunication,critical thinking,researchskillsandcreativity.Thecontentissuitableforstudentswho wishtoprogresstoemploymentortofurtherstudy,includingamodernlanguages degree.

▶ Studentswilldeveloptheirknowledgeandunderstandingofthemesrelatingto thecultureandsocietyofcountrieswhereFrench/Spanishisspoken,andtheir languageskills.Theywilldothisthroughthestudyofauthenticspokenand writtensourcesinthetargetlanguage.

Assessment

Unit %offinal assessment Typeofassessment Timingof assessment

ASListening,reading andwriting 45 Terminalexamination EndofYear1

ASWritingand translation 25 Terminalexamination EndofYear1

ASSpeaking 30 Terminalexamination EndofYear1

A2Listening,reading, writingandtranslation 50 Terminalexamination EndofYear2

A2Writing 20 Terminalexamination EndofYear2

A2Speaking 30 Terminalexamination EndofYear3

WhatdoAlevelmodernforeignlanguagesstudentsgoontodo?

▶ Manystudentscontinuetheirlanguagelearningtoadegreelevel,butoften, studentsincorporatetheirlanguageintoacombineddegreeorassomemodules withintheirdegreesinLaw,Economics,etc.

▶ Languagesareahighlyvaluableskillthatwillenhanceyouropportunitiesof employabilityandwillallowyoutoexperienceotherculturesfully.

ModernForeignLanguages Chinese

ExamBoard Qualification Specificationcode

Edexcel AlevelinChinese 9CN0

Linktotheexamboardinformation

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/chinese-2017.html

Aims

▶ TodevelopanadvancedlevelknowledgeandunderstandingoftheChinese language,cultureandsociety

▶ Toenablethestudentstocommunicateconfidentlyandaccuratelyinspeaking andinwriting,includingthroughonlinemedia

▶ TodevelopinsightsintothecultureandcivilisationofcountrieswhereChineseis spoken

▶ Toengagecriticallywithintellectuallystimulatingtexts,filmsandothermaterials inChinese,developinganappreciationofsophisticatedandcreativeusesofthe languageandunderstandingthemwithintheirculturalandsocialcontext

▶ Toequipstudentswithtransferableskillssuchasautonomy,resourcefulness, creativity,criticalthinking,andlinguistic,cultural,andcognitiveflexibilitythat willenablethemtoproceedtofurtherstudyoremployment

▶ Todevelopstudents’capacityforcriticalandanalyticalthinkingthroughlearning Chinese

▶ Todevelopasindependentresearchersthroughlearningthelanguage

Content

Itconsistsoftwoexternally-examinedpapersassessinglistening,readingandwritingandaspeaking assessment.Thespeakingassessmentisexternallysetandconductedbyateacherexaminer.All assessmentsaremarkedbyPearson.Theassessmentwillbeavailableintraditionalandsimplified characters.StudentsmustcompletetheirspeakingassessmentinApril/Mayandallotherassessmentsin May/Juneinanysingleyear.

Duringthecoursestudentswill:

▶ Understandandrespondtotextswritteninthetargetlanguageandtospoken material

▶ Manipulatethetargetlanguageaccuratelyinspokenandwrittenformsto demonstrateacapacitytochooseappropriateexamplesoflexisandstructures

▶ Selectinformationandpresentitinthetargetlanguage,organisingarguments andideaslogically

▶ DemonstrateknowledgeandunderstandingofaspectsofChinesesociety

Assessment

Unit %offinal assessment Typeofassessment Timingof assessment

1Listening,Readingand Translation 40 Externallyassessed speakingtest EndofYear2

2Writtenresponsetoworks andtranslation 30 Externallysetand markedwrittenpaper EndofYear2

3Speaking 30 Externallysetand markedwrittenpaper EndofYear2

WhatdoAlevelChinesestudentsgoontodo?

▶ ThiscourseprovidesstudentsasteppingstoneforuniversitycoursesinChinese andChineseStudies.

Inadditiontoprovidingasecurefoundationforstudyinhighereducation,EdexcelAlevelChineseequips learnerswitharangeofskillsforcareersinbusiness,educationandthearts.

Music

ExamBoard Qualification Specificationcode

Eduqas ASandAlevel A660P

Linktotheexamboardinformation:

https://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/music-as-a-level/#tab_overview

Aims

▶

Togivestudentsanunderstandingofawidecontextofmusic,fromBaroqueto MusicalTheatre,ClassicaltotheTwentyFirstCenturydevelopingtheir analyticalskills

▶ Tofosterstrongperformanceskillsinaninstrumentorvoice

▶ Todevelopcreativeskillsincomposition

Content

AlevelStudy(twoyears)

Studentswillbeexaminedoverthreecomponents:Performing,ComposingandAppraising.TheAppraising sectionisworth40%oftheoverallAlevel.CandidatescanchoosewhichofPerformingandComposingis worth35%andwhichisworth25%dependingontheirstrengths.

Component1–Performing:ExternalAssessment

Ifstudentselectforthistobeworth35%,theywillperformarecitalof10to12minutestoavisiting examiner.Thiscanbeonanyinstrumentorvoice.

Component2–Composing:ExternalAssessment

Ifstudentselectforthistobeworth35%,theywillcomposethreecompositionslasting8-10minutes intotal.Iftheyelectforthiscomponenttobeworth25%,theywillcomposetwocompositionslasting 4-6minutes.

Component3–Appraising:ExternalAssessment

Thisisawritten/listeningpaperof2hours15minutes.Questionsincludesetworkanalysisusingablank score,extendedresponsesonawidercontextofmusicalperiods,unpreparedextractsofmusicwithand withoutascoreandcomparisonquestions.

PartA:TheWesternClassicaltradition.StudentswillstudyHaydn’sSymphonyNo.104inDMajor (‘London’)andMendelssohn’sSymphonyNo.4inAMajor(‘Italian’),puttingthemintothecontextofthe developmentofthesymphony.Theywillbeexaminedonthisinalisteningexaminationwheretheywill haveblankscoresofbothsetworks.

PartB:StudentswillstudythehistoryofMusicalTheatreandthestylesofsixinfluentialmusical theatrecomposers.

PartC:IntotheTwentiethCentury:Studentswillstudymovementsfromtwosetworks:Poulenc’sTriofor Oboe,BassoonandPianoandDebussy’sThreeNocturnes.

Unit %offinal assessment Typeofassessment

Timingof assessment

1Performing: Either35%or25% External(recital) April/May(Year2)

2Composing: Either35%or25% External(portfolio) April(Year2)

3Appraising: 40% External(listening examination) June(Year2)

ASlevelStudy(Oneyear)

Ifstudentsdecidethattheywillnotundertakethetwoyearcourse,theywillbeabletotaketheAScourse overoneyear.ShouldastudentchoosetoenterfortheASlevel,theywillbeexpectedtoundertakesome independentstudytoputtogetheracompleteportfoliooftwocompositionsbyEaster.

ForassessmentatASleveltheschemeofworkissimilartothatforAlevel,withshorterexaminations coveringlessmaterial.

▶ Component1:Performing(30%):Arecitalof6–8minutes

▶ Component2:Composing(30%):Twocompositionsofatotallength of5–7minutes

▶ Component3:Appraising(40%):Alisteningpaperof1hour30minutescomposed ofonlyPartAandPartBoftheAlevelappraisalcomponentabove

IfyoucurrentlyplayamusicalinstrumentorsingtoatleastGrade5levelandyouenjoylisteningtoawide rangeofmusic,theAS/Alevelcourseswillappealtoyou.Compositionistaughtindetailtoallowyouto createimpressivecompositionsevenifyouhavenotcomposedbefore.

WhatdoAlevelMusicstudentsgoontodo?

Musicisaverywellrespectedcourseforuniversityentranceforaverywiderangeofarts,humanitiesand languagecourses.Itisafacilitating/entrysubjectifyouwishtoapplyforamusicdegreeatuniversity.

Photography

ExamBoard Qualification Specificationcode

OCR Alevel H603

Linktotheexamboardinformation: http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/170210-specification-accredited-a-level-gce-art-and-design-h600h606.pdf

Aims

▶ Todevelopstudents’technicalskillsandvisualunderstanding,aswellas developingstudents’creativethinkingskills

▶ Tobroadenstudents’contextualknowledgeofhistoricalandcontemporary photography

▶ Toenabletostudentstoexpresstheirideascreativelyusingawiderangeof photographictechniquesandprocesses

Content

ThePhotographyAlevelcourseoffersstudentstheopportunitytospendtimelearninganddeveloping theirtechnicalphotographicskillsaswellastheirvisualunderstanding.Studentswillspendtheirfirst termlearningthebasicsofphotographyandcompletinganin-depthintroductiontophotography.

▶ Students’learningwillinclude:

▶ Shooting,developingandprinting35mmimages

▶ Usingthephotographicstudio,flashesandbackdrops

▶ UsingbothfilmanddigitalSLRcameras

▶ Usingmediumformatcameras

▶ EditingandmanipulatingimagesusingPhotoshop

▶ Understandingcompositionandhowtoreadandanalysephotographicimages

Studentswillthenhavetheopportunitytoemployalltheskillsandtechniquesthattheyhavelearntinthe firsttermtodeveloptheircourseworkprojectsthroughthefirstyear.Theywillcompletetwocoursework projectsinthesecondandthirdtermsofyearone.

Inthesecondyearstudentswillcompleteonepersonalinvestigationcourseworkthatisaccompaniedbya relatedstudy(1000wordsminimum).Studentswillcompleteanexternallysettaskthetitleofwhichis receivedfromtheexamboardinFebruaryofyeartwo.Thiswillbedevelopedduringthetermthrough discussionandindividualTutorialswithteachers.The15hourpracticalexamwilltakeplaceafterEaster andduringthistimestudentswillcompletetheirfinalpieceofworkforthisproject.

Assessment

Unit %offinal assessment Typeofassessment Timingof assessment

Component01 PersonalInvestigation Coursework(including RelatedStudy) 60%

Coursework(Internally marked,externally moderated) MayofYeartwo Component02 Externallysettask 40%

Externallysettask (Internallymarked, externallymoderated) MayofYeartwo

WhatdoAlevelPhotographystudentsgoontodo?

PaststudentsofPhotographyhavegoneontopursuevariouscoursesandcareersincluding:

▶ Fashionphotography

▶ Theatresetdesign

PhysicalEducation

Linktotheexamboardinformation:

https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as-a-level-gce-physical-education-h155-h555-from-2016/

Aims

▶ StudyingAlevelPhysicalEducationwillgiveyouafantasticinsightintothe amazingworldofsportsperformance.Notonlywillyouhavethechanceto performorcoachinonesportthroughthenon-examinationassessment component,youwillalsodevelopawide-rangingknowledgeintothehowandwhy ofphysicalactivityandsport.

▶

Thecombinationofphysicalperformanceandacademicchallengeprovidesan excitingopportunity.Youcanperform,andthen,throughacademicstudy,gainthe knowledgetoimproveyourandothers’performanceorcoachingthoughthe applicationofthetheory.

▶

Youwilllearnthereasonswhywedothings,whysomepeopleoutperformothers –mentallyandphysically.Youwillalsodelveintotheethicalconsiderations behindtheuseofdrugs,theinfluencethatmoderntechnologyishavingon physicalactivity,sportinitsearlydaysandthepsychologicalconsiderationsin sport.

Unit %offinal assessment Typeofassessment

• AppliedAnatomyand Physiology

• ExercisePhysiology

• Biomechanics

• SkillAcquisition

30%oftotal 2hourwrittenpaper June

Timingof assessment

• SportsPsychology 20%oftotal 1hourwrittenpaper June

• SportandSociety

• Contemporaryissuesin PhysicalActivityandSport 20%oftotal 1hourwrittenpaper June

• PerformanceorCoaching

• EvaluationandAnalysisof Performancefor Improvement(EAPI) 30%oftotal Non-examassessment (NEA) April/May

WhatdoAlevelPhysicalEducationstudentsgoontodo?

AlevelPhysicalEducationcanbeusedtohelpstudentsgainaccessintouniversityforarangeofdegree courses.Itishowever,particularlyusefulandappropriateforthosestudentswhointendtogoontostudy physicaleducation,sportsscienceorexercisescienceaswellascourseslinkedtothehumanbodyor humanbehaviour.

TheAlevelP.E.coursemightalsobeparticularlybeneficialforthosestudentsintendingtopursueacareerin PhysiotherapyespeciallyiftheycombineP.E.withBiologyatAlevel.OthercareerpathsmayincludeP.E. teaching,healthpromotion,sportsnutrition,personaltraining,sportstherapy,coachingandsports psychology.

ExamBoard Qualification Specificationcode

AQA AS Alevel 7407 7408

Linktotheexamboardinformation:

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/as-and-a-level/physics-7407-7408 Aims

▶ Toexplorenewexcitingareassuchasparticlephysicsandcosmology

▶ Toapplymathematicstoreal-worldproblemsanddevelopproblem-solvingskills

▶ ToexpandyourknowledgeoftopicsintroducedatGCSEsuchas:forces,waves, radioactivity,electricityandmagnetism

Content

ThecoremodulescoveredintheAlevelareasfollows:

▶ Measurementsandtheirerrors Particlesandradiation Waves Mechanicsandmaterials Furthermechanicsandthermalphysics

ThereisoneoptionmoduletakeninYear13takenfromthefollowinglist: Astrophysics

WeareabletoofferastrophysicsduetothevastresourcesavailableatRMStoteachthisunitincludinga planetariumandanobservatory.Thedepartmentishappytoteachanyoptionbutbeawarethatthiswill bebasedonthepopularvoteforeachset.

Assessment

Unit %offinal assessment Typeofassessment Timingof assessment

Paper1 34% Writtenexamination EndofYear2

Paper2 34% Writtenexamination EndofYear2

Paper3 32% Writtenexamination EndofYear2

Practical Endorsement MET/NOTMET component Studentswillcomplete12 requiredpractical investigationsover2years. Continuously throughouttheyear

StudentswillhavetheoptionoftakingtheASonly;thiswillbeassessedasfollows:

Unit %offinalassessment Typeofassessment Timingof assessment

Paper1 50% Writtenexamination Endofyear1 Paper2 50% Writtenexamination Endofyear1

Note:StudentscontinuingtocompletetheAlevelPhysicscoursewillnottakeASexaminations. WhatdoAlevelPhysicsstudentsgoontodo?

▶ Apprenticeshipsinavarietyoffieldsincluding:nuclearandcivilengineeringand themotorindustry

▶ Engineeringcourseatuniversityincluding:mechanical,civil,aeronautical, electricalandaerospace

▶ Studyphysics,astronomy,mathematicsatuniversity

▶ Studyfinance,economicsorbusinessatcollegeoruniversityduetogood mathematicalmodelingskills

▶ TakeupjobsintheUK/EuropeanSpaceAgency

▶ Undertakestudyorworkinmedicalincluding:veterinaryscience,medical doctorsandmedicalphysicists

▶ Studyarchitectureorgraphicdesign

▶ Workwithinthecomputergameindustryorfilmindustry

Psychology

Linktotheexamboardinformation:

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/psychology/as-and-a-level/psychology-7181-7182/specification-at-a-glance

Aims

▶

Tointroducestudentstothefundamentalsofpsychologygivingthemabroad understandingofthesubjecttoenablethemtostudythebehaviourofhumansand otheranimals.

▶

Byprovidingstudentswiththeopportunitytoviewhumanbehaviourfrom differentperspectivesandapplytheirknowledgeandunderstandingtoreallife situations,toequipthemwithmanytoolstoenhancetheirinteractionwithpeople inallareasoflife.

▶ Throughthestudyofscientificprocessandresearchmethods,toenablestudents todevelopcriticalanalysis,independentthinkingandresearchskills.

Content

Thefirstyearprovidesthefoundationsofsomeofthecoreareasofpsychology,whilethesecondyearhasa greateremphasisontheinvestigativemethodandthedevelopmentofthevariousoverarchingissuesand debatessuchasnature/nurture,ethicalissuesanddeterminism.Specificoptionsstudiedincludegender, stressandaddictionasexamplesofbehavioursthathavevitalrelevancetoyoungpeopletoday.

Paper1–IntroductoryTopics

▶

Paper2–PsychologyinContext

▶ Approaches(Learning,Cognitive,Biological,Psychodynamic,Humanistic), Biopsychology,ResearchMethods-extendingtheknowledgeoftheinvestigative processtoincludetheapplicationofinferentialstatisticsanddesigningabrief investigation.

Paper3–IssuesandOptions

▶ IssuesandDebatesinpsychology,GenderorRelationships,Stress,Addictionor ForensicsorAggression.

Unit %offinal assessment Typeofassessment

Timingof assessment

Paper1–IntroductoryTopics 33.3% EndofYear2

Paper2–PsychologyinContext 33.3% EndofYear2

Paper3–IssuesandOptions 33.3% EndofYear2

WhatdoAlevelPsychologystudentsgoontodo?

▶ Significantnumbersofourstudentsgoontostudypsychologyatuniversity(34% in2021)whichprovidesthepotentialtostudyfurtherforcareersinclinical, educationalorforensicpsychology,ortomoveintoareassuchashuman resources,thebusinessworldorteaching.

▶ OtherstudentshavegoneontostudyavarietyofsubjectssuchasCriminology, Pharmacy,Law,Teaching,Medicine,Biology,Internationalrelations,Geography, Business/Marketing.

ReligiousStudies

ExamBoard Qualification Specificationcode

OCR

Linktotheexamboardinformation: https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/by-subject/religious-studies/

Aims

▶ Todevelopaninterestinarigorousstudyofreligionandbeliefandrelateittothe widerworld

▶ Todevelopknowledgeandunderstandingofphilosophical,theologicaland ethicalideas

▶ Todevelopanunderstandingandappreciationofreligiousthoughtandits contributiontoindividuals,communitiesandsocieties

▶ Toadoptanenquiring,criticalandreflectiveapproachtothestudyofphilosophy, religionandethics

▶ Toreflectonanddeveloppersonalvalues,opinionsandattitudesinthelightof academicstudy

▶ Toengagewithphilosophicalideasandargumentsanddevelopanalysisand evaluativeskills

▶ Toengagewithmajorissuesrelevanttostudentstodayandtoacquireknowledge andacriticalunderstandingofthese

Content

StudyingReligiousStudiesatAlevelencouragesyoutothinkaboutreligion,thebehaviourofpeopleandto lookbeyondyourownexperiencesinconsideringultimatequestions.TopicscoveredrangefromAncient GreekPhilosophytoBusinessEthics,fromGenderinSocietyandReligiontotheexistenceofaConscience andmuchinbetween.Youwilldevelopanalyticalandevaluativeskills.Youwilllearntocreatereasoned argumentsandtoidentifystrengthsandweaknessesinideasandargumentsputforwardbyphilosophers andkeythinkers.

Assessment

Unit %offinal assessment Typeofassessment Timingof assessment

PhilosophyofReligion 33.3% Examination EndofYear2

ReligiousEthics 33.3% Examination EndofYear2

Developmentsin ChristianThought 33.3% Examination EndofYear2

WhatdoAlevelReligiousStudiesstudentsgoontodo?

▶ Theskillsdevelopedinthiscourseareofgreatusetouniversitycoursesin anydiscipline.

▶ TheRussellGroupoftopuniversitieshasmadeitclearthatReligiousStudiesA levelprovides‘suitablepreparationforuniversitygenerally’.

▶ ManyofourAlevelstudentshavegoneontostudyPhilosophyorTheologyat university,oftenalongsideanothersubject.

▶ Beingabletoseedifferentpointsofview,thestrengthsandweaknessesof argumentsandanalysingideasareallskillswhichassistintheworkplaceas wellasuniversityeducation.

Sociology

6.SociologicalTheory

1.EducationwithTheoryandMethods SummerYear2

2.TopicsinSociology:Family;Religion 33.3% SummerYear2

3.CrimewithTheoryandMethods 33.3% SummerYear2

WhatdoAlevelSociologystudentsgoontodo? anunderstandingofpeople.

Textiles

Linktotheexamboardinformation: https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/art-and-design/specifications/AQA-ART-SP-2015.PDF

Aims

▶ Todevelopstudents’practical,technicalandexpressiveskillstogetherwiththeir intellectual,imaginativeandintuitivepowers

▶ Toimprovestudents’aestheticunderstanding,criticaljudgementandcontextual knowledge.Observingtheworldbeyondtheirownlives

▶ Tobuildconfidenceanddevelopindividuallyasacreativepractitioner

Content

Thetwo-yearTextilescourseismadeupthreemaincomponentsthatenablestudentstospendtime developingtheirskillsandmakethenecessaryprogressfromGCSEtothestandardrequiredatAlevel.

SkillsBasedProject

▶ 60%ofAlevel(September–FebruaryYear12)

Studentswillfollowastructuredprogrammeofteachingthatexploresarangeofpracticalskillsandwaysto documentandrecordtheirownideaswithinaselectedtheme.Duringthistimestudentswillgainagreater appreciationfortheworkofotherartistsanddesigners,findinginspirationfortheirowndevelopment.

Component1:PersonalInvestigation

▶ 60%ofAlevel(February–JanuaryYear12-13)

Thepersonalinvestigationisapracticalinvestigationintoanidea,issue,conceptorthemechosenbythe student.Thisispresentedasaportfolioofpracticalworkwhichissupportedbyawrittenelementof10003000words.

Component2:ExternallySetAssignment

▶ 40%ofAlevel(February MayYear13)

Thequestionpaperissetbytheexaminationboardandconsistsofeightstartingpoints,fromwhichstudents selectonetoinspireaportfolioofwork.

Assessment

Unit %offinal assessment Typeofassessment Timingof assessment

Component1:Personal Investigation 60% Markedoutof96

Internalassessmentofa portfolioofworkproduced overseveralmonths. Externallymoderatedbya visitingexaminer. MayandJune

Component2:Externally SetAssignment

40% Markedoutof96

Aprojectofpreparatory workfollowedbya15hourpracticaltimed examination MayandJune

WhatdoAlevelTextilesstudentsgoontodo?

▶ TherearemanycareerswhichuseTextiles,SurfaceDesignandFashionDesign. MostrequireyoutocontinueyourstudiesinfurthereducationatUniversityor ArtCollege.Inpreparationforthenextstep,weprovidesupporttostudentsas theypreparetheirportfoliosandadvisethemoninterviewquestionsand techniques.ProgressingfromTextilesAlevel,paststudentshavegoneonto studyFashionDesign,TextilesDesign,FashionMarketingandHistoryofArt.We areproudtohavehadmanyofourstudentsgainplacesonundergraduate coursesdirectfromSixthFormatarangeofprestigiousuniversitiesincluding Edinburgh,Leeds,Loughborough,NottinghamTrentandUniversityoftheArts, Farnham.

▶ AnAlevelinTextilesdoesnotnecessarilyhavetoleadtoacareerwithinthe creativeindustry.Successwithinthesubject,theabilitytothinkcriticallyand creativelyareseentobefavourableskillsbymanyuniversities.Studentsinthe pasthavegoneontostudyEnglishLiterature,Anthropology,Architecture,History ofArtandAutomotiveDesignatuniversitiessuchasExeter,Bristoland Southampton.

SubjectGuidance fromUniversities

Thefollowingpagesprovideageneralguidetosubjectsneeded forcertaindegreecoursesatuniversitiesandcollegesofhigher education.Theinformationinthetablesareaguideandnot comprehensive;norshouldtheinformationbeinterpreted tooliterally.Theseareguidelines.

DegreeCoursesacceptingArtsand Humanitiessubjects

Subjects SubjectsrequiredatSixthFormlevel

AmericanStudies

Archaeology

English

FineArt(alsootherartcourses)

Somepreference/occasionalrequirementforEnglish orHistory

Mostsubjectsacceptablebutthereisapreferencefor humanities

Englishrequired;foreignlanguageuseful

ArtdegreecoursesrequireAlevelArtandoften requireaportfolioandholdinterviews

History

Historypreferredorrequiredbymostestablishments. Englishandforeignlanguagescanbeuseful

ForeignLanguages

AnAlevelinthemainlanguagetobestudiedis normallyrequiredformostEuropeanlanguages, particularlyFrenchandGerman.TwoAlevel languageswouldinmostcasesbeanadvantage. ‘Unusual’languagese.g.ArabicandChinesecanbe learntfromscratch

Music

Politics

Musicrequiredbymost.Ahighstandardof performance(GradeVII)usuallyrequired.Asecond instrumentmayalsobepreferred.

Mostsubjectsacceptable;History,Economics, Mathematics,ForeignLanguages,Englishand Geographycanbeuseful.

Theology

ReligiousStudiesnotessential;ModernLanguages, EnglishandHistorycanallbeuseful

DegreeCoursesacceptingSciencesubjects

Subjects SubjectsrequiredatSixthForm

Agriculture(andHorticulture/ Forestry)

Chemistryisessentialandpreferablytwofromsciences/ Economics/Geography/Mathematics/Psychology

Bacteriology,Microbiology, Biochemistry AsforAgriculture Biology/botany/zoology/ecologyetc. Chemistryandbiologyalmostessential

Building

ChemicalEngineering

Chemistry(andPolymerScience)

ComputerScience

AtleastoneofMathematicsandPhysics–preferablyboth

PreferablyChemistry,MathematicsandPhysics.Definitely twoofthese

ChemistryandatleastonefromMathematics,Physics, Biology(StrongMathematicsGCSEifnottakenatAlevel)

Mathematicsrequired/preferredatmanyplaces.Many coursesacceptamixtureofartsandsciences.Computing notessential

Dentistry ChemistryandonefromPhysics,BiologyorMathematics Engineering MathematicsandPhysicsessential.DesignandTechnology couldbeuseful

FoodScience,Nutrition,Dietetics

Geology(andEnvironmentalScience)

MathematicsandStatistics

Chemistryalmostessentialwithatleastoneotherscience Alevel.SomeacceptPsychology,Geography,Economics

AcombinationofsciencesisrequiredandGeographyisalso useful

OneorsometimestwoMathematicssubjectsessential. FurtherMathematicsrequiredattopuniversities

Medicine ChemistryessentialandtwofromPhysics,Biologyand Mathematics

Metallurgy(andMaterialsScience)

PhysicsandChemistryaremostpreferred.Mathematicsis sometimesneededortakeninsteadoftheothersciences

Nursing Sciences,particularlyChemistryandBiologyareoften preferredorrequired

OphthalmicOptics Minimumoftwosciences–Physicsuseful

Pharmacy/Pharmacology

DegreeCoursesacceptingArtandScience Subjects

Forthesecourses,arangeofsubjectsisacceptableunlessstatedotherwise

Subjects SubjectsrequiredatSixthForm Accountancy

Mathematicsrequired/preferredbyafewplaces.Businessand Economicsareuseful Architecture

Mathematicsusuallyrequired,Physicspreferredbymost;many universitiesrequireArtaswell.Mostrequireaportfolioof artworkandrequireyoutoattendandinterview.Geography, English,history,DesignandTechnologycouldalsobeuseful

Economics

Mathematicsusuallyrequired.FurtherMathematicsdesiredfor mostcompetitiveuniversities.Historyusefulforsomecourses.A levelEconomicsnotalwaysrequiredbutisuseful

Education AnAlevelinthespecialistsubjectofstudyisnormallyrequired.

Geography

Hotel/Catering Management/ Operations

Geographyrequiredatmostplacesalthoughsomeonlypreferit orwillacceptstudentswithoutit.Geology,Biology,History, Languages,Mathematics,Physics,ChemistryandEconomicscan allbeuseful.

Avarietyofsubjectscanbeusefulincludingsomesciences, EconomicsandBusiness

Law Usefulsubjectsincludeessay-basedsubject.Onefacilitating subjectisusuallyrequired

Librarian/Information Services

Sciencesandartsareequallyacceptablewithasciencemore usefulforInformationScience.

Philosophy Artsandsciencesequallyacceptable.Mathematics,RSand Philosophyuseful

Psychology

Someplacesrequiresciences,Mathematics.Statisticsisuseful. Otherplacesaremoreflexible

ChemistryessentialandtwooutofPhysics,Mathematics andBiology

Physics PhysicsandMathematicsessential

VeterinaryScience

Chemistry,BiologyandPhysicsalmostessential. Mathematicsacceptableatoneortwouniversitiesinstead ofBiology/Physics

Sociology(including AppliedSociology, SocialAdministration andSocialWork)

Sociology,PsychologyandGeographyareuseful