Curriculum
Offer
Choices
booklet (PDF)
Over 30 subjects are available in the SL6
collaboration. The majority of courses lead to A-Level. The
general entry requirement for A-Level courses is GCSE at Grades
A* - C in at least five subjects, usually from higher papers,
including at least a Grade C in English and Mathematics. We
normally expect an average point score of 4.7 for students joining
an A-level programme of study. We also offer a one year
intermediate vocational programme for students who gain at least
4 GCSEs at Grade D and who wish to build up a portfolio of GCSE
or Key Skills passes at Grade C and above, perhaps with a view
to continuing at A-Level after an intermediate year. There are
individual subject requirements, which are set out in the options
leaflets. Most students in Year 12 are expected to study at
least 4 subjects at AS-level, though many will opt to study
5 subjects, one of which is often General Studies or Critical
Thinking or a distance learning course. The AS examinations
are usually completed by the end of Year 12 and are valuable
qualifications in their own right. In Year 13, students
normally choose to continue with three of their AS subjects
to A-Level, though some students may wish continue with a fourth
subject to a full A-Level qualification
The Sixth Form team and the subject teachers
will you help you select appropriate courses for your particular
skills and talents, taking into account your future career and
higher education plans. While we have high expectations
of our students, it is important to remember that the Sixth
Form exists for everyone who is determined to develop both their
academic abilities and their personal skills in order to achieve
the best qualifications they can.
Choosing the right courses
in the Sixth Form
When choosing your subjects, the following
factors should be taken into consideration:
-
How interested you are in the subject.
This is very important as you will be spending up to two years
studying this subject in depth.
-
How competent you are in this subject.
For most subjects, we normally expect you to have achieved
a pass at grades A* – B at GCSE in that subject.
-
Whether the type of study suits your particular
learning style. For example, you need to find out if a subject
requires a great deal of reading and essay writing, or if
it is more concerned with problem solving, or involves practical
skills.
-
Whether the subjects you choose meet the
requirements needed for the university course or career that
you have in mind.
Options and Option Blocks
When you make your initial application to
the Sixth Form you choose 4 or 5 subjects from all the subjects
on offer. On the basis of this information we draw up the timetable.
However, while we do our very best to accommodate each student's
preferred subjects, we cannot guarantee that you will be able
to study your first four choices, for example a course may be
over- or undersubscribed. We will therefore ask you to choose
at least one reserve subject and will you will be able to confirm
or adjust your choices once the final timetable has been drawn
up. Students may also change their choice of options both before
and after GCSE grades are published, providing that there is
still room available on the courses. The majority of our students
are expected to study General Studies, Critical Thinking or
a distance learning course for their 4th or 5th subject. Students
choose their Enrichment activity at the start of the school
year for half the year, and may change their choice of activity
after Christmas.
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