Curriculum

Curriculum pathway

A flexible personalised package will be discussed to support all students’ needs on enrolment and students will be placed on one of three pathways.

  • Pathway 1: Most students will study 3 A Levels and an enrichment subject, continuing with all 3 subjects to the end of Year 13.
  • Pathway 2: Students who achieve exceptionally well at GCSE may take 4 A Levels and choose an enrichment option, continuing with all 4 subjects to the end of Year 13. Students beginning with 4 A Levels can drop to 3 A Levels but will not take an AS in the dropped A Level.
  • Pathway 3: A few students will study 2 A Levels from a given range of subjects and at least one enrichment option. Students will study GCSE English or maths as appropriate where a grade 4 has not been achieved. A broad-based open course of  ‘Future Learn’ will be followed in order to extend study experiences supporting applications for work, university or apprenticeships. Students will be expected to continue with all courses to the end of Year 13.

Academic entry guidance (for September 2024)                            

Pathway 1 & 2: 5 GCSE grade 5 or above (or equivalent), grade 4 GCSE in English and maths. For each proposed course of study, the minimum entry criteria for each must be met, this is usually a grade 6 (grade 7 science) in the subject at GCSE or associated subject.
Pathway 3: 5 GCSE grade 4 or above (or equivalent). Students will study GCSE English or Maths as appropriate where a Grade 4 has not been achieved. Grade 5 in subjects studied or associated subject.

The entry guidance below states the grades we would typically expect to have been achieved in order to demonstrate suitability for the course. Where a candidate very narrowly misses the guidance grades we will consider additional evidence for suitability on a case-by-case basis.

Overview of Sixth Form Entry Guidance 2024

Work experience

All students are expected to participate in a minimum of one week’s work experience during their time in sixth form. This week is typically the final full week of the academic year whilst in Year 12. However, students are encouraged to seek additional work experience through volunteering or participating in placements during holidays and weekends. The school is supportive of, and flexible with, students who need to complete a specific placement as a pre-requisite for their post-18 education if this is scheduled at a time outside of the allocated week. Students are expected to find their placements independently but are actively supported through a published list of partner placements and tutorials and assemblies on how to find and apply for placements.

Non-examination courses

During a weekly non-examination programme students develop character, broader skills, attitudes and confidence and also cover other areas in order to support progression. This includes a study-skills course to aid transition from key stage 4, a weekly assembly, PSHE topics on issues such as mental health and personal finance and a Post 18 progression programme supporting with UCAS, apprenticeships and other forms of employment and training. All sixth formers have access to a 1:1 careers meeting with a qualified advisor if they require it. Students also access a range of employer interactions such as interview practise and a careers forum.

Monitoring of Students’ Progress:

  • The quality and effort put into KS4 –KS5 holiday work will be taken into account when courses and pathways are offered.
  • All students will be closely monitored in the first six weeks of Year 12 and where progress is insufficient their continuance considered.
  • Subjects will only be examined at the end of Year 13 and as a full A Level course.
  • Subject will not be examined at AS Level.
  • Students will be rigorously tracked throughout Year 12 and interventions put in place where necessary.
  • A formal end of year examination schedule will be in place for Year 12. Students will have study leave over the exam period.
  • Following Year 12 exams a review of a student’s potential and decisions about the number of A Levels they will continue to study will be made. In exceptional cases students may be invited to re-sit their end of Year 12 examination before a decision about continuance is finalised.
  • In exceptional circumstances we will allow subjects to be dropped in Year 12 to a minimum of 2 A Levels. These few students will then pick up an enrichment course.
  • Students beginning with 4 A Levels can drop to 3 A Levels but will not take an AS in the dropped A Level.
  • Any changes of A Level course have to be made by the 23rd September 2022.

How do I choose which A Level subjects to study?

Ask yourself the following questions:

  • What am I good at?
  • What do I enjoy?
  • What do I want to study at university?
  • Look at courses you may be interested in on the UCAS website, and look at the entry requirements:
  • The Unifrog and U-Explore websites can also help:
  • Look at prospectus and other information in the careers section of the Learning Hub.
  • If you are not sure about what career you would like you can request a careers interview which will help you decide.