Advice
Choosing A level subjects can be a daunting experience for some whereas for others it is a straight forward process. For students who know the career they wish to follow then careful research is needed to ensure that the correct combinations are chosen for University courses or other post-18 routes. If students do not yet know which route they wish to follow then picking A level subjects they enjoy is critical. As two years are spent studying A level courses it is imperative that students have a genuine interest and passion for their chosen subjects.
Facilitating Subjects
Some universities (not all) will require at least one and occasionally two facilitating subjects. They are termed facilitating as they enable students to access a wide range of courses. The facilitating subjects are:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- English Literature
- Geography
- History
- Physics
- Modern and Classic Languages
- Maths
- Further Maths
Studying Four A levels
A small number of students choose to study four A levels. This should only be undertaken if students meet the required GCSE requirements (7 GCSEs at Grade 8 or 9) and are confident they will cope with the pressure of four A levels. All students attend a meeting with the Deptuy Head (Curriculum) before taking on four A levels.
A level Choices and University Courses
For students who already have an idea of the degree courses they wish to study at university then selecting the right A levels can be critical. We recommend that students use the UCAS website to look up courses at a variety of universities to determine whether there are A level requirements. Some courses e.g. Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science all require Chemistry and many require Biology. There are a number of other degree courses that require specific subjects.
Further Enquiries
If you have any queries regarding A level choice you can use UCAS or specific university websites to confirm requirements. For any other advice including combinations of A levels please speak to any member of the Sixth Form team, subject teachers, Careers Lead, or University Admissions Tutors.
Induction process
We have a comprehensive induction process into the Sixth Form. This begins on Sixth Form Induction Day. During the Induction Day students have an opportunity to find out about life in the Sixth Form, attend taster lessons for all their subjects and attend an introductory session about the EPQ. They are given bridging work to complete over the summer and all new students are allocated buddies and have an additional ‘getting to know you session’. In September the induction continues, with students spending time with their new form tutors, attending sessions for Sixth Form study skills and participating in team-building exercises.
16 – 19 Bursary Fund
There is a bursary fund available through the school, which is for any students for whom their access to or completion of education is inhibited by financial constraints or barriers. Students and parents can apply confidentially through the school website.
Facilities
Following refurbishment, our Sixth Formers now have access to a custom-designed Sixth Form Common Room which is a mixed purpose area for study and relaxation. There is a dedicated Sixth Form Study Room also available, together with a number of IT rooms and other study spaces.
Privileges
We allow all Sixth Form students to leave the school site at lunchtime, and after October half-term in Year 12 all Sixth Formers are allowed to travel home from 12:35 pm provided they have no afternoon lessons. Our Sixth Formers do not have to wear a uniform but do adhere to a dress code.
Use of laptops and technology
Many of our students make use of personal laptops and tablets to aid their studies. In most subjects, students are encouraged to make use of technology - many lesson resources and tasks are shared using Microsoft Teams and other, subject specific online learning platforms. If students do not have access to their own laptops or tablets, there are IT facilities available in school for Sixth Form use.
