Sixth Form Enrichment
Senior
The Sixth Form's Enrichment programme seeks to go beyond the confines of examination specifications, introducing the students to new and challenging ideas, and giving them a flavour of what subjects might be like should they decide to pursue them at undergraduate level.
Advance Electives:
Our Advanced Electives programme is designed to equip pupils with the ability to think critically, problem solve, collaborate and develop intellectual resilience. For a full list of courses and what they cover, please see the drop down menu below:
This is a course that allows pupils to flourish as a writer. It includes experimenting with fiction, nonfiction, poetry and script, eventually specialising in a chosen form. The course consists of a portfolio which is worth 60% and two exams at the end of Year 13. Pupils are expected to read and write regularly and to attend weekly workshops where they feedback on one another's writing.
This course is suitable for Pupils interested in creative writing and gaining a qualification in this at the end of Year 13.
Accreditation in Languages for Business teaches a range of useful skills across reading, writing, listening and speaking in your chosen language (French, German or Spanish). You will develop an expert knowledge of vocabulary and terminology that can be used in real life business situations.
You can do level 2 in Year 12 for which you'll get a graded certificate, and then Level 3 if you continue into Year 13, which is worth 16 UCAS points if all modules are completed.
This is course is for pupils who have studied their chosen language at GCSE (but don't have to be doing A Level).
By the end of the course pupils will have an overview of the history of western art through painting, sculpture and a bit of architecture. The course will venture into some analysis of particular works as well as giving you a general understanding of and appreciation for a wide range of art. It will help you understand and recognise cultural influences that we still see in current society today.
There are no specific formal requirements. It would work nicely alongside subjects such as Art, History, Politics or Languages, but it is open to anyone who wants to learn more about art history and cultural debates. And most importantly, there is no requirement to be a good artist yourself.
This Advance Elective starts in the Spring Term and is compulsory for aspiring Oxbridge applicants for STEM subjects and Economics.
This course looks at various aspects of musicianship and the music profession to get you thinking about music in completely different ways from the traditional learning of an instrument or playing in an ensemble. Throughout the course you'll develop creative musical schools, including arranging music, how to use studio equipment, recording and manipulating sound, and also look at leadership and personal skills including practise discipline.
We've purposely designed the course so that it is open to all. You don't need to have taken GCSE music and you might not have even done grades on an instrument or voice. What matters is that you want to learn more about music and musical skills.
The course gives you’re an overview of what Environmental Science is and why it is important, looking at the main life support systems and the threats to these. We will also look at examples of successful management strategies and complete an independent project to apply these.
This course is open to anyone. It would suit those interested in Geography, Biology, Politics, the environment, sustainability, or development.
F1 in schools is a global STEM challenge. A group of three to six students form a team, think of a name, allocate job roles and start to design their miniature formula one car of the future. The teams follow a systematic engineering design process to manufacture and race their cars making sure they comply with a comprehensive set of technical regulation. To do this they use professional CAD software like Autodesk Fusion and manufacture their car components using CNC machines.
F1 in schools is for those interested in STEM subjects, project management, marketing, teamwork, innovation and communication.
This course will help you increase your academic performance using Word and Excel. It is about using ICT to help with academic work across your subjects. The course will include data analysis which is useful for subjects such as Science, Geography, Psychology and for preparation for university and employment.
This course would be useful for all those who want to improve their ICT skills, which will help with all A level subjects.
This course will develop the skills and qualities needed to become a successful entrepreneur. By choosing this course, pupils will be challenged to create a sustainable service or product decide on the steps needed to take their idea forward, and action this. It will include input from a range of entrepreneurs to help develop the service or product.
It is open to any student regardless of A level choices and will suit anyone who has an interest in starting their own business or being the next leading innovator or entrepreneur.
International relations is a subject that involves the study of how countries interact with each other as well as the roles of other players on the international stage, for example, the United Nations, transnational corporations or indeed terrorist groups. We'll look at some of the main theories associated with the subject, including liberalism, realism, Marxism, and constructivism, thinking about their main features and also the extent to which they're applicable in the 21st century.
It is particularly of interest to students of History, Politics, Geography and Economics, and to anyone concerned about the problems facing the world today and how those problems may be approached and resolved.
An educational journey through the fascinating world of criminology. This course is designed to provide you with a comprehensive overview of the key concepts, theories and practical applications in the field of criminology.
At the end of this course, you will have a solid understanding of criminological principles, theories and practical applications. You will be equipped with the knowledge to critically analyse criminal behaviour and the skills to engage in forensic investigations.
Whether you are considering a career in criminal justice or just have an interest in understanding crime, criminality and its societal influences, this course is for you.
This course includes the study of drug design, development and how drugs are specific to different parts of the body. It is a hybrid between biology and chemistry and a good opportunity for those interested in this field. It will also look at antibiotics, pain relief and immunotherapy, as well as sleep, mental health and neurodegenerative diseases.
This course is suitable for pupils studying of Biology and Chemistry A level. Recommended for those Interested in Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary.
This Advance Elective is set to run in the Spring Term, and is a good follow on to the ‘Intro to Pharmacy’ elective and will help prepare you for applying for Medicine, Dentistry and the UCAT.
Designed for students aspiring to pursue Medicine or Dentistry, this course requires Chemistry, with Biology and Maths recommended.
The course covers the application of Maths in the real world. It is wide ranging and uses GCSE tools in a practical context. This course is not for A Level Mathematicians, but would be useful for Geography, Psychology, Biology, Business Studies.
The course looks at social psychology, which is the study of how the thoughts, feelings and actions of individuals are influenced by the actual or perceived thoughts, feelings and actions of others. It will equip you with the understanding and knowledge to affect change in individuals, groups and societies. We will achieve this by exploring how social psychological theory can be applied to solve real world problems across a range of social issues. You will be introduced to relevant theoretical models and examples of how these have informed applied interventions.
Not for those who are doing A Level Psychology - open to everyone else.
The course will cover the philosophical, political and economic underpinnings of Western Democracy. It will consider the concept of ‘Liberty’ and freedom, the role of law and other political structures in protecting freedom, and whether the current structure remains viable in maintaining individual freedoms.
This course is for anyone interested in Philosophy, Politics, Law or Economics.
Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is an exciting opportunity for students to take charge of their own learning and is designed to contrast with the normal experience of studying in the A-Level classroom.
The student picks a subject focus that is based on his or her own interests and independent of any A-Level subject content. The end product may be an academic report or an artefact, such as a film, a concert, a painting or a website. The process of planning, researching, recording and reviewing is deemed just as important as the final result, and as a consequence the project is marked holistically, with each component being given equal weight. The EPQ is a stand-alone qualification and is equivalent to half an A-Level, graded from A*-U.
The students who pursue an EPQ have timetabled lessons in which they learn key skills that range from note-taking and time management to referencing and presentation techniques. These skills can then be deployed in the students’ own projects. The library staff are available to advise and facilitate research and can order appropriate reading material, and students are also assigned a teacher-supervisor who provides support throughout the process.
Completing an EPQ can be a rewarding academic experience in the Sixth Form, as well as an attractive addition to any UCAS application. Success in the EPQ indicates to universities that the student is an independent learner and self-manager, essential qualities both in a university setting and in the world of work. A successful project will also mean that a student is able to talk authoritatively about their chosen subject if called for interview at a university of their choice.
The University of Cambridge offers this consideration about the project: "We welcome the Extended Project and would encourage applicants to undertake one as it will help to develop independent study and research skills valuable for higher education."
General Studies
Our programme of General Studies provides students with an opportunity to engage with a variety of topics beyond their A-Level courses. The aim of the programme is to broaden students’ understanding of, and stimulate their interest in, a range of social, cultural, political and world affairs. The programme also addresses issues associated with higher education and future career opportunities.
General Studies sessions are held every week for one hour and feature a variety of outside speakers. Students also attend presentations on PSHCE topics, including the responsible use of alcohol, drug awareness and personal and sexual health. Last year’s programme also featured a range of presentations from speakers from the arts, sport, politics, outdoor pursuits and the voluntary sector. Each of these sessions includes time for students to participate in discussions about the issues raised.
Lower Sixth Seminars Programme and Academic Societies
Students in the Lower Sixth are encouraged to participate in a seminar programme designed to explore areas of academic interest not covered by the examination courses. These seminars encourage discussion and debate and help students to develop the confidence and communication skills required in academic university interviews.
In addition, a range of academic societies enable students from both the Lower and the Upper Sixth to explore their subjects in all their diversity, often by means of attending presentations by speakers from the world of higher education. Fieldwork, theatre and concert visits and lecture courses all play a role in ensuring that Sixth Form academic life is vibrant, stimulating, varied and challenging.