Which Course?

Course Facts

Whilst AS Levels have changed to 1 year stand-alone courses in England, they remain an integral part of the full A Level in Wales.

AS/A2

• The AS course is a one year course made up of 2/3 modules. It also forms the first 40% of a full A Level.

• The A2 course is the remaining 60% of a full A Level, taken in Year 13. It again is made up of 2/3 modules, depending on the subject

• Therefore a full A Level = AS + A2.

GCSE Re-Sits

• These will be offered in Maths and English Language only and will be added to timetables in September. The School is unable to offer resit Science at GCSE and, as in 2019-20, students who hope to advance into careers and FE/HE courses who require a L2 science qualification are strongly advised to enrol on the once-weekly single Science GCSE evening course that has hitherto been offered at Pembrokeshire College.

• Maths and English Language will be compulsory for any students who achieved a grade D in these subjects in Summer 2020 (provision for students who achieved grades E, F, G or U is now not routinely offered on-site as if students failed to achieve a higher grade with dedicated Year 11 teaching then they are highly unlikely to secure a C grade on a reduced re-sit timetable). Students achieving grade D have a more realistic chance of improving to a C grade and the opportunity to re-sit will form part of their 6^th Form Contract. Students interested in pursuing any nursing degree course or career in education should be aware that Maths, English and normally a single Science are required for university applications. Students who achieved grades E, F, G or U and who wish to attempt a re-sit in Maths may be offered the opportunity to pursue an off-site evening course at a local community centre. There is also a demand for some students who achieved grades C to attempt a re-sit in Maths or English Language in order to attain a grade B as this is now a common requirement for more competitive university courses, especially in Teaching and Nursing.

• The school is attempting to facilitate this higher grade re-sit and students will be notified of any opportunities in due course.

Vocational Subjects

• Ysgol Harri Tudur/Henry Tudor School offers a range of vocational qualifications. These include Level 3 BTEC, WJEC Level 3 Diploma, Cambridge Technical Level 3 Introductory Diploma and City & Guilds courses.

• The Level 3 vocational courses are two year courses of the same qualification level as a full A Level – however emphasis is placed more on the attainment of high practical standards than on academic rigour. Whilst it is mainly focussed on continual assessment work, there is an examinable element in some subjects which contributes to the overall mark.

• Level 3 vocational courses are offered at Ysgol Harri Tudur/Henry Tudor School in Applied Science, Music Technology, Food & Nutrition, BTEC Sports Studies, IT offers a Cambridge Technical Level 3 Introductory Diploma.

• OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma in IT shares the same continual and practical assessment philosophy as the BTECs and WJEC Level 3 Diplomas. It is assessed via continual project work, allowing the students greater control over their ongoing assessment. A Cambridge Technical is marked on a Distinction*, Distinction, Merit and Pass basis like the BTEC and, like the BTEC L3 has full equivalency to A Levels in graded outcomes. Prior GCSE ICT experience in this course is not essential.

Which Type of Course Will Best Suit You?

The best indicator for this will be your GCSE results, specifically how many passes and at what grade. You should be both ambitious and realistic when considering your options, the illustration below is for guidance only, there are many people to help you answer any questions you may have – parents, careers personnel, Sixth Form students and especially staff, don’t be afraid to seek advice.

PLEASE NOTE:

• If there is insufficient demand for a subject then it may not run – so remember to make a dual application to Ysgol Harri Tudur / Henry Tudor School, even if considering applying elsewhere.

• If there is a high demand for a particular subject, a place on a course can’t be guaranteed for every student. Please return forms promptly!