A and AS Level Subjects

All pupils are asked to choose four examined subjects for study in the Sixth Form from the list of subjects on the right.

New A Levels were introduced in September 2008 for all subjects except Mathematics. A Level grades form the standard basis for university offers and it is a requirement of the School that each pupil takes at least three A Levels. Pupils may choose to study one of their four subjects to AS Level only. An AS Level is a qualification which is based on half of the A Level syllabus and half of the assessment.

Cambridge International Examinations have developed an alternative to the A Level, known as the Pre-U. This year the School is offering the Pre-U in four subjects - Economics, German, History of Art and Physics. Economics and Physics may be assessed via an A Level or a Pre-U examination. German and History of Art will be assessed as a Pre-U only.

Each pupil chooses four main subjects. This choice will then lead to one of the following routes:
(a) four subjects through to full A Level, or
(b) three subjects through to full A Level and one subject to AS Level, or
(c) three subjects through to full A Level and one subject to Pre-U

Those pupils who have chosen route (b) will be asked before the start of the Lower Sixth to identify which subject they wish to take to AS Level. A final choice on the subject taken to AS only is made during the Easter Quarter of the Lower Sixth.

Examinations

Assessment varies from subject to subject. There will be two main examination periods for A Levels - in January and June of the Upper Sixth. Pupils taking a subject to AS only will take their AS examinations either at the end of the Lower Sixth or in January of the Upper Sixth depending on the subject. Once the AS assessment is complete, those pupils will no longer be required to attend lessons in that subject.

A Level and AS Level assessment is broken down into units. When all units are complete these are 'cashed in' (or certificated) in order to obtain a final grade. This is done at the end of the Upper Sixth. Once this grade is awarded it cannot be declined. A Level and AS Level units may be retaken, but this must only be thought of as a safety net and must only be done with consultation with teachers and tutors. When a resit is taken the higher or highest mark for that unit is the one that counts. Units have grades attached to them, but these are for guidance only. What matters is the total combined mark for all of the units. When pupils apply for university in the Upper Sixth, they may not enter marks for unit exams on their UCAS form as these will not have been certificated.

Pre-U examinations are linear and take place in the Trinity Quarter of the Upper Sixth.

Extension Courses

In addition to the mainstream examined subjects, the School offers a range of Extension Courses. Though some of these lead to formal qualifications, their purpose is to offer the possibility of support, enrichment and challenge tailored to the pupil’s needs. These courses have been divided into two categories - Short Extension Courses and Long Extension Courses.

Short Extension Courses run during the Lower Sixth only. Pupils on many Extension Courses will have the opportunity to write an Extended Essay. Long Extension Courses can continue into the Upper Sixth.

The Extended Essay

All pupils taking an Extension Course in Global Perspectives, Further History, Law Preparation, English Literature Extension, Origins of Western Thought or Science Research Projects will be expected to undertake an independent research project which will culminate in an Extended Essay or Project.

The Extended Essay will usually be based on a subject and question of the pupil’s choosing. It will give the pupil an opportunity to explore a chosen specialism in greater depth, cross boundaries with an inter-disciplinary enquiry, or make a new departure with a new subject such as Anthropology. Universities place much value on a student’s independent learning and research skills. In many cases, the essay will be assessed as part of AQA's Extended Project Qualification.

General Studies

All Upper Sixth Formers will take the General Studies course. This course is based on lectures given by eminent guest visitors on a wide range of topics. Lectures are followed by discussion in House groups. Speakers in the past have included two foreign secretaries; President Kaunda of Zambia; David Trimble, the First Minister of Northern Ireland; Lord Tebbit of Chingford, former Chairman of the Conservative Party; James Watson, the discoverer of the structure of DNA, and two other Nobel Prize winners; the ex-Head of the KGB in Britain and Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller, Head of MI5; Neville Lawrence, father of murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence; Professor Stephen Hawking; Kazuo Ishiguro; Gitta Sereny; Ian Hislop; John Simpson, Michael Buerk and Martin Bell; Sebastian Coe, Gary Lineker, Michael Atherton and Will Carling; and leading artists and scholars in many fields.

Educational Support

Educational Support continues to be available for those pupils with Specific Learning Difficulties. Lessons are normally provided on a one-to-one basis and are timetabled so that they do not interfere with the normal curriculum. A charge is made for these individual lessons. Support is provided in the following areas: essay planning and structuring; research methods; general study skills; effective revision strategies; note-taking and note-making skills.

Useful Websites

Further details of the specifications for AS and A2 courses can be found on the examination boards' websites, Edexcel, AQA and OCR. These sites contain brochures aimed at the needs of pupils. Details of the examination board and the course followed, and links to subject specific sites, are given with each subject entry.


Page last updated Wed 3 Dec 2008 09:40