Art & Design
QUALIFICATION: A-Level
EXAM BOARD: AQA
ASSESSMENT: Exam and Coursework
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: 5 Grade 5+, including a Grade 6 in Art.
You will develop your practical skills using a range of media techniques and processes. It is a broad course offering the opportunity to work in two and three dimensions, including; drawing, painting, printing, constructing, and using paint, pencil, charcoal, chalk, pastel and clay. You will also be able to explore more personal themes and ideas in some depth, refining your work and ideas towards an end of year exhibition of your work.
Topics will include:
“Vanitas introduction project”
“Museum and Gallery trip inspired mini project”
Controlled Assignment
A personal study that includes sketchbooks a final piece and 3000 word essay to support the project.
Next Steps
Foundation Course
Higher Education Degree in Fine Art (Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Textiles, Printmaking), Design (Graphic, Interior, Product), Architecture, or any degree which requires some artistic or creative skills.
Illustration
Interior design, printing, teaching, graphic, web and industrial design
Freelance artist
Make-up artist
Creative Digital Media Production
QUALIFICATION: Extended Certificate, Foundation Diploma and Extended Diploma
EXAM BOARD: Pearson
ASSESSMENT: Exam and Coursework
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: 5 Grade 4+, including a Merit in Media.
This practical course offers a range of different units in Media all aimed at giving students a range of skills and knowledge required for successful employment in the media industry.
Core units cover key areas such as media representations, working to a commission and pre-production techniques.
These core units are supplemented by specialist units covering a range of practical elements including; film production, video editing and image manipulation.
You will learn in our new Mac suite and use professional software, including Final Cut, Photoshop and Motion. You will have the opportunity to create your own media products, including films, magazines and websites. You will also have the opportunity to pitch your ideas to external organisations that require support with creating promotional materials.
Year 12
Foundation Diploma:
Film Production
Media Representations
Pre-Production Portfolio
Responding to a Commission
Extended Diploma:
Film Production
Media Representations
Pre-Production Portfolio
Responding to a Commission
Film Editing
Image Manipulation Techniques
Working in the Media Industry
Year 13
Foundation Diploma:
Factual Production
Media Campaigns
Pre-Production Portfolio
Extended Diploma:
Factual Production
Media Campaigns
Specialist Subject Investigation
Digital Media Skills
Digital Magazine Production
Pre-Production Portfolio
Next Steps
University Degree in Media
Film Production
Advertising
Journalism (Sports, Print, Broadcast, Online)
Marketing and promotions
Teaching
Design and publishing
Music
QUALIFICATION: Extended Certificate
EXAM BOARD: Pearson
ASSESSMENT: Exam and Coursework
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: 5 Grade 4+, including a Merit in Music.
During the course you will develop your performance skills in a variety of situations.
Practice technical exercises to develop your technique;
Choose suitable repertoire for different performance situations;
Perform as a soloist;
Perform as part of an ensemble;
Planning rehearsal sessions;
Set SMART targets and review progress regularly.
Practice technical exercises to develop your technique;
Perform in solo and ensemble situations;
Compose and improvise musical ideas;
Use I.T to record, edit and produce musical scores;
Learn about different areas of the music industry and the opportunities available for employment.
Year 12
Working and Developing as a Music Ensemble
Creating Musical Material
Year 13
Using Musical Styles
Planning a Career in the Music Industry
Next Steps
Foundation degree/first degree in music
Freelance or session performing
Freelance work as a composer or arranger
Teaching
Performing Arts: Performance |Dance
QUALIFICATION: Extended Certificate (Acting or Dance Pathway)
EXAM BOARD: Pearson
ASSESSMENT: Exam and Coursework
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: 5 Grade 4+, including a Merit in Performing Arts.
The BTEC Level 3 course is a fun yet challenging programme, which focuses on the development of technical performance skills, devising and appreciation of professional works. Students will work collaboratively to produce extracts of devised and existing work, consistently reviewing their progress through a series of evaluations and progress reports. Four units of work are marked internally and sent off for sampling, the final unit is set and marked externally by the exam board.
Examples of learning aims covered on this course are:
Understanding the role and skills of a performer
Developing and applying acting styles, performance skills and techniques for a live performance
Reviewing personal development and performance
Exploring the different approaches of practitioners
Devising original work for a group performance
Acting:
Acting: Exploring the Principles of Voice Production
Acting: Developing vocal technique through storytelling and monologue in Acting
Acting: Understanding the key features of improvisation, developing and applying skills and techniques for performance.
Acting: Developing and applying acting styles, performance skills and techniques for a live performance
Dance:
Dance: Understanding the development of classical ballet.
Dance: Developing and applying skills in Classical Ballet
Dance: Understanding Choreographic Structures and developing and applying choreographic techniques to a performance
Dance: Understanding the four components of movement in performance and developing and applying these skills to a performance.
Year 12
Unit 34 - Developing Skills and Techniques for Performance
Unit 19 - Acting Styles (Acting)
Unit 8 - Classical Ballet Techniques (Dance)
Unit 3 - Group Performance Workshop
Year 13
Unit 21 - Improvisation (Acting)
Unit 20 - Developing the Voice for Performance (Acting)
Unit 14 - Choreography for Live Performance (Dance)
Unit 22 - Movement in Performance (Dance)
Unit 3 - Group Performance Workshop (resit if required)
Next Steps
University Degree in Performing Arts, Dance, Drama or related subject
Stage school Diploma:
Dance School: London Contemporary Dance School, Laban, Royal Academy of Dance, Northern Contemporary
Performing Arts School: Bird, Trinity College, London Theatre School, Urdang
Apprenticeship
Entertainer, e.g. holiday camps, cruises, hotels
Teacher/lecturer
Dance scientist
Outreach work, e.g. Dance therapist
Dance/Musical Theatre critic or publicist
Further opportunities:
Professional workshops, e.g. RE:Bourne
Trips to professional dance performances and professional venues
Extra-curricular dance classes with tutors from the Royal Academy of Dance
Photography
QUALIFICATION: A-Level
EXAM BOARD: AQA
ASSESSMENT: Exam and Coursework
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: 5 Grade 5+, including a Grade 6 in Photography.
You can be creative and imaginative while learning photographic techniques, such as depth of field, fashion lighting, modern photography and Macro work. This course allows you to explore aspects of both traditional and digital photography through darkroom techniques and digital manipulation. You will be encouraged to develop your skills in both traditional (black and white, chemical based photography) and digital photography areas, and refine your work as it progresses.
The majority of resources and equipment is supplied for you when you study photography, although every student is required to buy any extra paper needed (in addition to the amount we supply), sketchbooks and 35mm films. It is estimated that each year of study at AS / A2 level will cost £30, which is spread amongst the year, as the items are required.
What can I do to get the most from this subject?
Have access to your own camera (preferred, although not essential);
Have your own USB stick;
Be willing to use equipment and resources in your free time to keep up to date with the workload.
Black and White photography and darkroom skills and techniques are covered, developing into an independent sketchbook of work and subsequent final piece.
A personal study that may consist of a sketchbook of developmental work, final piece and 3000 word essay.
Next Steps
Any career where creative or design skills are required. For example; interior, graphic or product design, architecture, fashion, freelance work, advertising, weddings, advertising, teaching, music videos, film work and picture researcher.
Business
QUALIFICATION: BTEC Extended Certificate, Diploma and Extended Diploma
EXAM BOARD: Pearson
ASSESSMENT: Exam and Coursework
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: 5 Grade 4+, including a Level 2 Merit in Business.
The course provides an overview of the different elements that make up an organisation including; how the business environment works, the resources needed to run a business or organisation, how businesses market and promote products and services, how we manage human resources to managing the financial accounts of a business enterprise.
We use various case studies based on popular businesses and brands such as Apple, Tesco and Google. Students are asked to research local organisations such as Clacton Pier and Tendring District Council, to gain an overview of how these local organisations work.
The course covers the following topics:
Developing an interest in the understanding of the world at work
Starting a small business
Marketing
Business accounting
Managing a business event
Legal issues
Recruitment and selection in business
Next Steps
Higher education degree: e.g. Management, Business Studies, Marketing, Human Resources and Accountancy
Apprenticeship: e.g. Retail, Customer Service
Career Opportunities: Entrepreneur, working for a charitable organisation, administration, banking, sales and marketing. Business Studies can be applied to any career as it studies the working world.
Criminology
QUALIFICATION: Diploma
EXAM BOARD: WJEC
ASSESSMENT: Exam and Coursework
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: 5 Grade 4+, including a Grade 4 in English.
Criminology is the study of crime from a social perspective: the causes of crime, the social impact of crime, and the criminals involved in the crime. Criminologists study criminology in an attempt to better understand what motivates the criminal to act in a criminal manner.
Students study 4 units over 2 years. Each year there will be one unit examined by an internal controlled assessment and one externally examined by formal exam. Successful completion of the first two units will give the WJEC Level 3 Certificate in Criminology while completion of all 4 units the WJEC Level 3 Diploma in Criminology.
During the course, you study the following:
Unit 1 Changing Awareness of Crime: Understand of different types of crime, influences on perceptions of crime and why some crimes are unreported.
Unit 2 Criminological Theories: Gain an understanding of why people commit crime.
Unit 3: Crime Scene to Courtroom: Provide an understanding of the criminal justice system from the moment a crime has been identified to the verdict.
Unit 4: Crime and Punishment: Learn criminological theories and evaluate the effectiveness of social control to deliver criminal justice policy
Next Steps
Clinical psychology
Education
Research
Counselling
Neuroscience
Sports psychology
Criminal Justice System
Government and Politics
QUALIFICATION: A-Level
EXAM BOARD: AQA
ASSESSMENT: 100% Exam
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: 5 Grade 5+, including a Grade 6 in English.
Modern politics is experiencing considerable flux, upheaval, and change. Now is perhaps the best time to make sense of unfolding recent and current events.
A-level Politics gives students a varied insight and an in depth foundation in UK and US government and politics and political ideas. It encourages learners to develop confidence in, and a positive attitude towards, politics and to recognise its importance in their own lives and to society.
Topics Include:
Reforming the electoral system
Use of referendums in the UK
Why electors vote for the parties that they do
Why so many people do not vote in elections
The use of Direct Action by pressure groups
What the role of an MP should be
Should the House of Lords be abolished?
Is the prime minister too powerful?
What were the main reasons for the result in the US Presidential election?
Where does power lie in the US system of Government?
Next Steps
Politics is a subject that can be studied further at university and combines well with other subjects such as law, history, sociology and economics. The subject is a pathway to a career in the Civil Service, broadcasting and journalism, the legal profession, the police force and more.
Law
QUALIFICATION: A-Level
EXAM BOARD: AQA
ASSESSMENT: 100% Exam
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: 5 Grade 5+, including a Grade 6 in English.
In A-Level Law students will explore a range of legal rules by which society and everyday life is governed, including criminal law and human rights law. They will learn about how the legal system operates, and explore legal concepts such as the meaning of ‘justice’ and whether it is achieved by the courts and in individual cases.
The study of Law is suitable for students who have an interest in people and related social issues. It develops their analytical, reasoning and problem-solving skills, alongside the ability to construct balanced arguments - a skill highly regarded by any future employer.
Year 12
The English Legal System - the civil courts, including the High Court and the European Court of Justice, police powers, the criminal courts and the penal system, legal personnel including judges, barristers and solicitors as well as the role of lay people such as magistrates and jurors.
Sources of Law - the different sources of law, including the doctrine of precedent, Acts of Parliament, European Union law and law reform,and how the law develops and changes over time.
Year 13
Criminal Law - the general principles of criminal liability, including causation, intention and recklessness, specific offences including the principles of murder and manslaughter, non-fatal offences against the person and property offences such as theft, burglary and criminal damage. You will also study specific and general defences such as provocation, insanity, intoxication and duress.
Criminal Law Special Study - special study of a theme specified by the examination board.
Next Steps
This content of this course will suit you if you wish to go on to Higher Education to study Law or Business Studies, or you could work in the legal profession, local government or management. Equally the study of Law is also suitable for students who simply have an interest in people and related social issues.
Mathematics
QUALIFICATION: A-Level
EXAM BOARD: AQA
ASSESSMENT: 100% Exam
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: 5 Grade 5+, including a Grade 7 in Maths.
This course builds on the knowledge and skills that you acquired during your GCSE. It will increase your understanding of familiar ideas and introduce you to new concepts and techniques. You will apply mathematical ideas in the context of statistics and mechanics.
The Mathematics A-Level involves 3 exams that need to be completed for the A2 exam. The three exams are all 2 hours long, with Papers 1 and 2 focussing on Pure Mathematics and Paper 3 focussing on applied mathematics split equally between statistics and mechanics.
If you choose to study AS Mathematics you will take 2 exam papers where Paper 1 is 2 hours long and focusses on Pure Mathematics, and Paper 2 is 1 hour long and split between statistics and mechanics.
In addition to A-level Maths, all students will be able to access GCSE Maths if they have not yet achieved a Grade 4.
Topics include:
Basic Algebra, Co-ordinate Geometry, Polynomials, Indices, Language of Mathematics
Series and Sequences, Differentiation, Integration, Trigonometry, Logarithms
Proof, Natural Logarithms, Differentiation, Integration
Algebra, Trigonometry, Parametric Equations, Integration, Vectors, Differential Equations
Exploring Data, Probability, Discrete Random Variables, Binomial Distribution, Hypothesis Testing
Next Steps
University Degree BSc: Mathematics, Accountancy, Economics, Physics, Medical Science, Pharmacy, Engineering
Career opportunities: Working within the financial sector or within the Engineering industry.
Sport
QUALIFICATION: Extended Certificate, Diploma and Extended Diploma
EXAM BOARD: Pearson
ASSESSMENT: 42% exam-based
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: 5 Grade 4+, including a Merit in Sport.
The course covers a wide range of sport and leisure related topics.
Students will learn about how sport has been developed and implemented across various organisations and official bodies.
Students will also develop their coaching and leadership skills and in turn , this course will further their knowledge of health and fitness and employment in the sports industry.
Year 12
Unit 1: Anatomy and Physiology
Unit 25: Rules, Regulations and Officiating in Sport
Unit 7: Practical Sports Performance
Unit 4: Sports Leadership
Unit 8: Coaching for Performance
Unit 5: Application of Fitness Testing
Unit 2: Fitness Training and Programming for Health, Sport and Well-being
Unit 3: Professional Development in the Sports Industry
Year 13
Unit 19: Development and Provision of Sport and Physical Activity
Unit 10: Sports Event Organisation
Unit 9: Research Methods in Sport
Unit 23: Skill Acquisition in Sport
Unit 22: Investigating Business in Sport and the Active Leisure Industry
Unit 6: Sports Psychology
Next Steps
University to study sport based courses, PE teaching and sport psychology
Fitness training and personal training
Sports coaching
Leisure centre employment
Apprenticeship in sport
Nutritionist
Officiating
Working for primary care trust and exercise referral programmes
Childcare
QUALIFICATION: T Level ( equivalent to 3 A Levels)
EXAM BOARD: NCFE CACHE
ASSESSMENT: Paper A written examination (2 hours), Paper B written examination (2 hours), Employer-set project (ESP) (12 hours) and 3 assignments (totally 29 hours & 45 minutes).
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: 5 Grade 4+ (including English and Maths), including a L2 Merit for Childcare at Key Stage 4, if studied.
This course enables the learner to gain a variety of skills, knowledge and understanding to leave CCA with a qualification that gives them license to practice in the early years sector.
This is a coursework based qualification where high expectations and dedication is needed.
For this T Level qualification there is a compulsory 750 work placement hours.
Industry placements are intended to provide students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for skilled employment in their chosen occupation.
Core component content:
Wider context
Supporting education
Safeguarding, health and safety and wellbeing
Behaviour
Parents, families and carers
Working with others
Child development
Observation and assessment
Reflective practice
Equality and diversity
Special educational needs and disability
English as an additional language
Early Years Educator specialism component content:
Support and promote children’s play, development and early education
Develop relationships with children to facilitate their development
Plan, provide and review care, play and educational opportunities to enable children to progress.
Safeguard and promote health, safety and wellbeing of children.
Work in partnership with colleagues, parents, carers and either professionals to support children’s development.
Next Steps
Higher/Further Education: Degree in Childcare and Education, or other relevant training.
Career opportunities: these include becoming an Early years practitioner, Teacher, Nanny, Paediatrician, Midwife, Play therapist, Family Social Worker and so much more.
Health and Social Care
QUALIFICATION: BTEC National Foundation Diploma
EXAM BOARD: Pearson
ASSESSMENT: Foundation Diploma - equivalent to 1.5 A Levels
2 external written examinations and 4 units of coursework.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: 5 Grade 4+ (including English and Maths), including a L2 Merit for Health and Social Care at Key Stage 4, if studied.
Health and Social Care provides an insight into the care of various population groups.
Students will need to understand the laws and legislations required to keep premises safe as well as policies involving equal rights and opportunities.
Students will learn communication skills essential for any health or social care profession.
For this BTEC qualification there is a compulsory 100 work placement hours. Industry placements are intended to provide students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for skilled employment in their chosen occupation.
Foundation Diploma - equivalent to 1.5 A-Levels
Unit 1 - Human Lifespan Development (EXAM)
Unit 2 - Working in Health and Social Care (EXAM)
Unit 5 - Meeting Individual Care and Support Needs
Unit 6 - Work Experience in Health and Social Care
Unit 7 - Principles of Safe Practice in Health and Social Care
Unit 11 - Psychological Perspectives
Next Steps
Higher/Further Education: Degree in Health and Social Care, some Science courses or Therapy courses.
Career opportunities: these include becoming an Occupational therapist, Care worker, Rehab worker, Counsellor, Health psychologist, Social worker, Health visitor, Teacher and so much more.
Biology
QUALIFICATION: A-Level
EXAM BOARD: AQA
ASSESSMENT: 100% Exam
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: 5 Grade 5+, including a Grade 6 in Biology
This A-level will enable students to develop essential knowledge and understanding of different areas of biology, how they relate to each other and, via biology, develop an understanding of how science works.
Through increased exposure to various advanced aspects and applications of the study of biology, students will raise their level of interest and enthusiasm for the subject.
Year 12
Biological molecules
Cells
Exchange and transport
Biodiversity
Year 13
Biodiversity
Energy transfers in and between organisms
Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environment
Genetics, populations and evolution systems
Control of gene expression
Next Steps
Further study at university:
Biology
Environmental sciences
Medicine
Veterinary sciences
Biomedical sciences
Genetics
Careers Opportunities:
Marine ecologist
Science journalism/public relations
Education
Nursing/health-related professions
Animal welfare
Environmental scientist
Agriculture/Horticulture
Biotechnology industries
Pharmaceutical industries
Chemistry
QUALIFICATION: A-Level
EXAM BOARD: AQA
ASSESSMENT: 100% Exam
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: 5 Grade 5+, including a Grade 6 in Chemistry
A-Level Chemistry encourages students to develop their interest in, and enthusiasm for, chemistry. This includes developing an interest in further study and careers in chemistry.
It develops an appreciation of how society makes decisions about scientific issues and how the sciences contribute to the success of the economy and society, whilst developing essential knowledge and understanding of different areas of chemistry and how they relate to each other.
Year 12
Physical chemistry Including atomic structure, amount of substance, bonding, energetics, kinetics, chemical equilibrium and Le Chatelier’s principle.
Inorganic chemistry Including periodicity, Group 2 the alkaline earth metals, Group 7(17) the halogens.
Organic chemistry Including introduction to organic chemistry, alkanes, halogen alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, organic analysis.
Year 13
Physical chemistry Including thermodynamics, rate equations, the equilibrium constant, electrode potentials and electrochemical cells.
Inorganic chemistry Including properties of Period 3 elements and their oxides, transition metals, reactions of ions in aqueous solution.
Organic chemistry Including optical isomerism, aldehydes and ketones, carboxylic acids and derivatives, aromatic chemistry, amines, polymers, amino acids, proteins and DNA, organic synthesis, NMR spectroscopy, chromatography.
Next Steps
Higher Education Degree: Applied Chemistry, Industrial Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Chemistry, Pharmacy, Medicine etc.
Apprenticeship: Wide variety of opportunities in laboratory/technical organisations with the possibility of studying for a degree on a part-time basis.
Career Opportunities: Quality control technician or laboratory technician in a wide variety of chemical related industries from agriculture to water treatment. Any job that requires data analysis.
Psychology
QUALIFICATION: A-Level
EXAM BOARD: AQA
ASSESSMENT: 100% Exam
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: 5 Grade 5+, including a Grade 6 in Biology and/or Chemistry.
Designed to provide students with the exciting opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of psychology, allowing our students to: -
Gain hands on experience of a range of different research methods encouraging active learning.
Appreciate how psychological knowledge and understanding develops over time.
Explore applications of psychology and gain an insight into how psychological theory can be applied to real world situations.
Develop the ability to communicate effectively using appropriate language and become psychologically literate citizens.
During the course, you will:
Find out how a Psychologist conducts their research;
Study some of the most important Psychological research of all time;
Develop an interest in mental health issues, criminal psychologist and educational psychology.
Next Steps
Health Care
Clinical psychology
Education
Research
Counselling
Neuroscience
Sports psychology
Criminal Justice System
English Language
QUALIFICATION: A-Level
EXAM BOARD: AQA
ASSESSMENT: Exam and Coursework
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: 5 Grade 5+, including a Grade 6 in English Language or Literature.
Students will develop their subject expertise by exploring key language concepts and engaging with a range of texts and discourses.
The specification explores the study of English language both as a medium of communication and as a topic in its own right with an emphasis on the ability of students to pursue lines of enquiry, analyse texts produced by others and debate different views.
You will investigate many important language issues in society, addressing questions such as:
How do people use language to assert power?
Do men and women really speak differently?
Are men and women presented differently in the media?
How is technology bringing new words into the language and changing the way in which we communicate?
How do children learn to speak?
How and why has language changed from 1600s to present day?
Year 12
Topics will include:
Textual variations and representations
Methods of language analysis
Language diversity (accent, dialect, gender, ethnicity)
Year 13
Topics will include:
Children’s language development
Language change (History of the English Language)
Careers Opportunities:
Media
Journalism
Publishing
Teaching
Advertising / Marketing
Public Relations
Law
Further study at university:
Linguistics
Psychology
Sociology
Philosophy
Education
English Literature
QUALIFICATION: A-Level
EXAM BOARD: AQA
ASSESSMENT: Exam and Coursework
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: 5 Grade 5+, including a Grade 6 in English Language or Literature.
Do you like reading? Do you enjoy discussing the books you have read and the ideas they raise? Do you want to learn more about good writing and explore a range of authors, past and present? This popular course will enable you to do all of these and more.
Students will be encouraged to write in critical debate about a variety of literary forms and genres.
They are required to show personal responses and critical preferences supported by relevant terminology.
Students will explore aspects of literary themes over time as well as texts in shared contexts.
This A Level provides students with an excellent grounding should they wish to study English further.
Topics will include:
Paper 1: Love through the ages
What is assessed: poetry and one prose text, of which one must be written pre-1900, and one Shakespeare play
How is it assessed: 3 hour closed book exam (open book in Section 3 only) worth 40% of your A Level
Paper 2: Texts in shared context
What is assessed: Study of three texts: one prose, one poetry and one drama, of which one must be written post-2000. Choice of two options: Option 2A World War 1 and its aftermath and Option 2B: Modern times: literature from 1945 to the present day.
How is it assessed: 2 ½ hour open book exam worth 40% of your A Level
Non-exam assessment: Independent criteria study: texts across time
What is assessed: Comparative critical study of two texts, at least one of which must have been written pre-1900. One extended essay (2, 500 words) and a bibliography.
How it is assessed: one extended essay worth 20% of your A Level
Next Steps
Media
Journalism
Publishing
Teaching
Advertising
Marketing
Public Relations
Law
History
QUALIFICATION: A-Level
EXAM BOARD: OCR
ASSESSMENT: Exam and Coursework
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: 5 Grade 5+, including a Grade 6 in History.
This course will suit you if you enjoy investigating, comparing arguments, discussion, independent research, working in groups and doing presentations and if you want to know ‘why’ and ‘how’ events happened.
Skills required:
Considering the importance of events in the past and present, the techniques of critical thinking and the skills necessary to analyse and solve historical problems and the ability to communicate historical arguments and conclusions clearly.
Year 12 units consist of:
British History: Britain 1945-1997
European and World History: France in Revolution 1774 - 1815.
Year 13 units consist of:
Historical Interpretations and Investigations
Historical Themes – Popular Culture and the Witchcraze of the
16th and 17th Centuries
Next Steps
The study of History provides students with excellent transferable skills such as problem solving, communication and thinking skills. These skills are valued in many different professions, for example, law, business and administration, the police service, journalism, teaching and the media. History at A Level is a qualification accepted by many university degree courses. Other subjects that complement History are Politics and English.
Geography
QUALIFICATION: A-Level
EXAM BOARD: AQA
ASSESSMENT: Exam and Coursework
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: 5 Grade 5+, including a Grade 6 in Geography.
Geography is one of the few subjects which spans both arts and sciences and can therefore offer a bridge for the scientist looking for an arts subject or vice versa. It will allow the development of an insight into many current world issues and an appreciation of the complex world that we live in. It is a multidisciplinary subject that develops a wide range of skills that are highly valued by employers. It is a subject in which candidates have experienced great success.
The department will provide all the major texts needed as well as a variety of support material. You will be able to use Geographical Information Systems to interpret data and explore key themes and concepts. There is also a wide variety of fieldwork opportunities, including a residential field trip.
Physical geography
Water and carbon cycles
Hot desert systems and landscapes
Coastal systems and landscapes
Glacial systems and landscapes
Hazards
Ecosystems under stress
Human geography
Global systems and global governance
Changing places
Contemporary urban environments
Population and the environment
Resource security
Geography fieldwork investigation
12. Fieldwork requirements
13. Investigation requirements
Geographical skills
14. Geographical skills checklist
Next Steps
Cartographer.
Commercial/residential surveyor.
Environmental consultant.
Geographical information systems officer.
Planning and development surveyor.
Secondary school teacher.
Town planner.
Sociology
QUALIFICATION: A-Level
EXAM BOARD: AQA
ASSESSMENT: Exam and Coursework
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: 5 Grade 5+, including a Grade 6 in Sociology.
The methods and concepts of sociology yield powerful insights into the social processes shaping lives, experiences, problems and possibilities in the contemporary world. The ability to identify and understand these processes is valuable preparation for personal and professional participation in a changing and complex society. Sociologists understand social inequality, patterns of behaviour, forces for social change and resistance, and the workings of social systems. Sociology is an exciting discipline with expanding opportunities for a wide range of career paths.
During the course, you will:
Discover why schools work in the way that they do;
Discuss what affect your family type has on your life chances;
Find out how Sociologists conduct their research;
Develop an interest in education, crime and media.
Next Steps
Next Steps
Welfare
Housing
Human Relations
Industrial relations
Marketing
Youth work
Community work
Advertising
Journalism
Criminal Justice System.