News
'A' Level Update
21st May 2008New 'A' Level Courses
In September 2008 all of our AS students (apart from the Mathematicians) will be starting the new GCE 'A' level syllabuses introduced by the QCA, the Agency which supervises public examinations. The intention is to protect the academic rigour of 'A' levels and to make them more useful to institutions of higher learning, employers, candidates and parents.
· In many subjects the number of Units (papers) is being reduced from six to four, two at AS level and two at A2 level.
· Coursework has been removed from many subjects but it remains an important element in Art, Design & Technology, English,
History, ICT, Music and the Sciences.
· An A* grade has been introduced to reward exceptional performance.
There are many detailed changes in subject courses. All of our subject teachers have undergone training to equip them to teach the new courses and they would be very pleased to show the new syllabuses to students and their parents.
The overall status and structure of GCE 'A' level is unchanged:
· The first year of 'A' level study leads to an AS (Advanced Subsidiary level) award, the second to an A2 (Advanced level).
· The AS award is valuable in its own right; when combined with the A2 it makes up a full 'A' level.
· Both AS levels and full 'A' levels earn UCAS (the university admissions service) points in proportion to the grade achieved.
· Entry into university is determined by the number of UCAS points earned.
Our Sixth Form Staff would be delighted to discuss and review the demands, benefits and challenges of the new 'A' levels with students and their parents, and to help them with any decisions which they need to make. To review the subjects we offer at 'A' level please click here.
Patrick Pender-Cudlip
Head of Sixth Form
