Key Stage 5 (Years 12 & 13)

Pupils starting their GCE AS-Levels and A-Levels must pick subjects from the following choices

1. Mathematics or English Literature
2. Biology or Economics or Further Mathematics
3. Chemistry or Politics or French
4. Physics or History or Geography
5. Art & Design
6. Greek

Notes: Pupils will be advised on whether to take three or four subjects by their form teacher, the Deputy Head and the Headmaster. Entrance to UK universities will require a minimum of 3 GCE A-Level passes. A very small fraction of universities will require a fourth subject.

The only A-Levels that DO NOT require prior knowledge (usually an IGCSE) are Economics and Politics. However, you should not seriously consider Economics A-Level unless you did well in IGCSE Maths and First Language English. You should avoid Mathematics at A-Level unless you achieved a good grade at IGCSE.

The rest of the guide includes a brief introduction to the A-Level courses put together by the A-Level teachers.

And here is a useful source of more information

A brief summary…

The emphasis of this course is to be imaginative and creative in producing personal work. As well as teacher contact time, you will also be required to work independently out of school: practical work, gallery visits, research, working or communicating with artists, and much more……

In the first year, you will produce a portfolio of coursework that represents you: hobbies, interests, passion etc. In January you will be given a choice of exam questions which are open-ended and exciting starting points for you to explore. This accounts for the first 50% of the course.

In the second year, you will be able to study and research your own areas of interest within the art world, including artworks and an essay of 1,500 words. This is called a ‘Personal Investigation’ and accounts for the final 50% of the two-year course.

On the Art and Design course you will experience a range of traditional materials; techniques and processes, gallery visits and artists, as well as exploring the diversity of digital media to enhance your learning and practical work.

Where will success take you?

Many pupils go on to take higher education in art and design, some join the world of advertising as graphic designers, illustrators, typographers,  while others go on to become painters, sculptors, architects, textile/fashion designers, stage designers, photographers to name just a few.

The Collins Cambridge International AS & A Level Art & Design book: ISBN: 9780008250997 is required for the course. You will find a range of practical exercises and interesting facts relating to Art and Design. 

Why choose A-Level Biology?

The work of biologists is vital to us all. Choose Biology and

you could find yourself advancing knowledge, pioneering new

discoveries and tackling so many of the challenges facing the world we live in. Biology is fundamental to understanding the world as it is now and as it will be in future.

Career Opportunities.

Studying A-Level Biology will open up a list of career opportunities that is varied and endless. It can be used as a qualification for biologically-based courses such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, psychology, physiotherapy, veterinary surgery, zoology, agriculture and forestry.

There are also many ‘pure’ biology courses including biochemistry, genetics and biological sciences. The rapidly expanding field of biotechnology offers many opportunities in ‘applied’ biology, including industrial microbiology, bacteriology and genetic engineering. Moreover, there can be strong links with seemingly disparate career paths such as becoming a forensic scientist, biotechnology patent lawyer or even a medical illustrator.

IGCSE Requirements?

A-Level biologists will have studied biology to IGCSE or equivalent and, ideally achieved at least a grade B.

Course Content:

The Edexcel International A-Level course is taught over a two-year period.  There are 6 Units that are to be covered throughout the two years.

Units 1, 2 and 3 will cover the first year of the course (lifestyle, transport, genes and health, development, plants and the environment).

Units 4, 5 and 6 are covered in the second year of the course (The natural environment, species survival, energy, exercise and co-ordination).

There is also a significant practical component throughout the course which will be externally examined at the end of the first and second years.

Assessment:

Year 1: AS Assessment

Paper 1 (20%) Unit 1 -  Lifestyle, transport, genes and health

Paper 2 (20%) Unit 2 -  Development, plants, the environment

Paper 3 (10%) Unit 3 -  Practical biology and research skills

Year 2: A2 Assessment

Prior Knowledge of the AS course will be assessed in A2 examinations:

Paper 4 (20%) Unit 4 -  The natural environment and species survival

Paper 5 (20%) Unit 5 -  Energy, exercise and co-ordination and the

study of the Pre-release article

Paper 6 (10%) Unit 6 -  Practical biology and Investigative skills 

Is A-Level Chemistry for me?

If you are curious about what electrons really do all day, how chemistry can be green, how new polymeric materials can be both a blessing and a curse, and much, much more then Chemistry might be the A-Level for you.

Moving on from IGCSE…

Ideally you should have achieved a grade B or above in IGCSE Chemistry. However, A-Level does not assume much previous knowledge and there were so many simplifications at IGCSE that you might sometimes think you are learning a completely new subject! A-Level contains slightly more mathematics, but if you understand ratios then you should be fine. Chemistry is a difficult A-level, but despite this reputation, many students achieve good grades: 28% of entries were awarded the A* in 2023. Textbook is optional as the course is taught using prepared workbooks.

What do I gain from taking Chemistry A-Level?

By taking Chemistry you develop your problem solving, numeracy, practical, and organisational skills. You also learn to express abstract ideas in writing. As a result, it's a highly respected and useful qualification for higher education and employment in a wide range of areas.

Careers using Chemistry

It is essential if you wish to study chemical engineering, medicine, pharmacy, and other biomedical sciences like neuroscience or genetics. However, chemistry teaches you so many skills that some pupils have studied A-Level Chemistry and gone on to study finance and law.

Course content

Year 12  contributes to 50% of the overall A-Level grade

Unit 1: Structure, Bonding and Introduction to Organic Chemistry

Unit 2: Energetics, Group Chemistry, Halogenoalkanes and Alcohols

Unit 3: Practical Skills in Chemistry I

Year 13

Unit 4: Rates, Equilibria and Further Organic Chemistry

Unit 5: Transition Metals and Organic Nitrogen Chemistry

Unit 6: Practical Skills in Chemistry II

Ask your IGCSE chemistry teacher or form teacher to help you decide if Chemistry A-Level is the right choice for you. 

Economics A-Level Course Content

There are four themes to the A-Level. These are

Theme One – basic economic theory that explores how decisions and choices are made to produce and buy goods from the side of the supplier and customer. This theme also considers how these market forces can fail and produce undesirable outcomes.

Theme Two – this theme asks what government wants to achieve in the economy and what economic policy does it use to attempt to achieve those goals. This theme introduces big topics such as inflation, unemployment and economic growth.

Theme Three – this theme is concerned with business economics. This is how businesses set out to achieve their goals, which usually revolve around maximising profit. There is a study of the different market structures that businesses operate in and how the behaviour of firms will be affected by the type of market that exists. This theme also considers competition law and how firms are restricted from practices that are anti-competitive. It is by far the most mathematical theme.

Theme Four – this theme considers the global economy and explores globalisation, international trade, exchange rates, trade balances, the benefits of trading and monetary blocs such as the Eurozone and what countries can do to raise their international competitiveness. This theme also contains a study of development economics, looking at the features of less -developed economies and assessing potential solutions to the problems they face.

FAQ:

What standard of Mathematics is required?

Pupils who achieved an A or B grade at IGCSE Mathematics should not have too much difficulty coping with the maths in Economics A-Level. If you got less than a B grade at IGCSE you may find the mathematics seriously challenging.

What level of English is required?

Many pupils do not realise that more pupils struggle in Economics because of weak English than weak mathematics. To succeed you must be able to read challenging articles and textbooks well and often. You must be able to write extended answers employing appropriate terminology and using structured analytical paragraphs that communicate your thoughts in depth but also clearly. If you struggled with English IGCSE, you may find it very challenging to attain appropriate standards of depth in their written work. For these reasons, you are expected to have at least a B grade at IGCSE First Language English or an A grade in IGCSE English as a Second Language.

Do I need to have studied Business Studies at IGCSE to take A-Level Economics?

Not at all.

What can I study at university with an Economics A-Level?

Economics is a respected A-Level as it demonstrates that you can write well, that you are numerate and that you can analyse source material (if you get a good grade)! Of course, it can lead to economics-related degree courses but might also be taken by a student considering law, journalism, politics, finance, management and many other degree courses.

How is the course assessed?

The AS-Level consists of two exams taken at the end of the first year. Candidates are asked to answer every style of question, from multiple choice to mathematical questions to essays. The full A-Level consists of a further two exams taken at the end of the second year, which, combined with the Year 12 exams, make up the full A-Level. This is the International A-Level, and the Year 12 exams, which make up the AS-Level, also contribute to the full A-Level.

Literature undeniably expresses the joys, sorrows and concerns that we as human beings share. For example, we can read a poem written a hundred years ago and relate to the emotions and concerns expressed in the poem because we too have had similar experiences. In this respect, Literature is timeless and its appeal is universal.

The best motivation for studying English Literature is having a real passion for the subject. Yes, English has become the most widely spoken language in the world but one of the most appealing aspects of studying it is being able to immerse oneself in its broad range of literature: past and present. In recent years, pupils studying this subject at A level have read works written in English by writers from all around the world. In this way, the plays, stories, novels and poems studied have led to a deeper understanding of these widely different cultures and the ways in which these contexts have shaped meanings.

One of the key aspects of studying literature is interpretation. This is often not so straightforward and we have to build a strong argument for what we believe is a correct reading of a text. As such, some of the course’s assessment objectives are specifically designed to help pupils refine their analytical and interpretative skills whilst forming an original personal response. Moreover, at A level, pupils will be introduced to various schools of literary thought with a view to incorporating and evaluating these informed opinions in their own responses.

From an A level course in English Literature a pupil will learn skills whose usefulness go beyond this subject and are highly valued by universities. These include developing higher order thinking skills, presenting ordered and coherent arguments, and engaging in independent learning and research.

English Literature is a highly esteemed academic subject and although many graduates eventually decide to enter the teaching profession, a wide variety of career paths is available to them. These range from media and journalism, publishing, advertising, marketing, PR, human resources, the creative arts, to name but a few.

What is the course content?

We follow the Cambridge International Examinations Syllabus (9695) which consists of seven set texts over the two years of the A level course. There is also an Unseen text paper in the AS exam.

In 2024-25, Year 12 will be covering two units: Unit 1 – Post 2000 Poetry and Prose and Unit 2- Drama. We start off with Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, the classic American Southern Gothic drama, set in New Orleans, which explores the timeless themes of sex, gender and mortality. In sharp contrast, Year 12 will also explore Shakespeare’s Othello, which delves into the themes of jealousy, betrayal and racism. For the Prose component, we will cover Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus, set in Post Colonial Nigeria, which traces the emotional turbulence of 15-year-old Kambili, on her journey towards the discovery of love and freedom.

Year 13 will be studying two very different drama texts: Shakespeare’s tragic masterpiece King Lear and Tom Stoppard's contemporary stage play Indian Ink. For Paper 4 pupils will study Jane Austen's classic novel Persuasion, as well as a collection of selected poems by the highly acclaimed Stephen Spender.

How is the subject assessed?

The assessment of English Literature is purely exam-based. Pupils will sit two papers for AS and two more for A level, in which they will be required to answer either a passage-based or a general question on each of their set texts. There is specific weighting for each of the assessment objectives.

The first reason for studying any language is that it develops general and specific cognitive faculties, in allowing a balance between logical and creative abilities.

It is also an opportunity to explore another culture and through this understand one’s own. It equally helps us dealing more efficiently with social relationships.

Research shows that 30 to 45 % of the words in English are of French origin. Thus, studying French allows us to better master English at an advanced level.

A second language is a requirement for some university degrees at both the undergraduate and graduate level.

Considered as one of the most influential languages in the world, not least in the world of diplomacy, French opens doors for positions in international law, politics, commerce, education, literature, arts...

French is a subject taught in most universities worldwide and is offered as a choice for lots of studies.

WHAT IS THE COURSE CONTENT?

The course is divided into topics:

IAS:             - Youth matters

                  - Lifestyle, health and fitness

                  - Environment and travel

                  - Education and employment

IAL:             - The four AS topics

                  - Technology in the French-speaking world

                  - Society in the French-speaking world

                  - Ethics in the French-speaking world

HOW IS THE SUBJECT ASSESSED?

All four skills are assessed separately in AS (1+2) and A2 (3-4):

- Unit 1 (speaking: response + discussion)       8-10 minutes

- Unit 2 (listening, reading, writing)                    2:30 hrs

- Unit 3 (speaking: debate)                                11-13 minutes

- Unit 4 (listening, reading, research*)              2:30 hrs

*The research topic consists in the critical analysis of a classic French movie.

Speaking exams are held in early May, while written exams are later in May/June.

Geography is not only dynamic, up-to-date and relevant, it is one of the most exciting, adventurous and valuable subjects to study today. So many of the world's current problems boil down to geography and need the geographers of the future to help us understand them. Global warming, sustainable food production, natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, the spread of disease, the reasons for migration and the future of energy resources are just some of the great challenges facing the next generation of geographers.

A knowledge of geography can enrich your life by stimulating your mind and as a subject possibly even encourage you to have the attitude to go out and see for yourself, rather than be told by others. Choosing A-Level Geography can open the doors to a university degree, either specifically in Geography or by combining Geography with other A-Levels to gain a place on a degree programme in another subject. A-Level Geography is recognised for its academic ‘robustness’ and the Guardian newspaper’s view on Geography is that ‘it’s the must-have A-Level’ (August 2015).

Most importantly, it also helps people into the world of work.  So many employers prize the knowledge and skills that studying Geography can provide, be it knowing how the world works, planning research and report writing, working in a team, using new technologies and communication skills – and much more. You will find geographers working in a wide range of jobs, from cartography to planning, working in the environment to travel and tourism, or in international charities or retail. Studying Geography can help you achieve careers that are professionally and financially rewarding and also enjoyable.

WHAT IS THE COURSE CONTENT?

We follow the Cambridge International AS and A Level syllabus for Geography.

Y12

Physical Topics:

Hydrology and fluvial geomorphology

Atmosphere and weather

Rocks and weathering

Human Topics:

Population

Migration

Settlement dynamics.

Y13

Physical Topics:

Coastal environments

Hazardous environments

Human Topics:

Environmental management

Global interdependence

HOW IS THE SUBJECT ASSESSED?

You will sit two exams at the end of Year 12, one on the core physical topics and one on the core human topics. Each exam is worth 50% of your AS-Level grade (or 25% of your final A-Level grade).

There are a further two exams at the end of Year 13, one on the physical topics and one on the human topics. Each one makes up 25% of your final A-Level grade. The exams are all 1 hour 30 minutes long and contain resource-based questions as well as essay questions. 

Why choose this subject?

You choose to learn Greek because this language   has the longest history of written records in the Western World. The oldest written evidence of the Greek language dates between 1450 and 1350 BC. Greek is the language of Homer, of the great Philosophers who influenced western thought, of Herodotus- the first historian, of the great dramatists who shaped theatre and inspired the world of Art. It is estimated that the English language has borrowed around 100,000 words from Greek, which makes up to 12% of the English vocabulary. Greek is also used in medicine, the sciences and philosophy.

You do not choose a subject because it seems easy. You choose a subject because you love it, and you want to broaden your knowledge. Therefore, you must be determined to work hard and have the will to overcome any difficulties that might arise. Whether you are Greek or not, the Pearson International A-Level Course is a wonderful opportunity to improve and develop your language in all areas.

The level of Greek which is taught at AS and A-Level is very high. It is not comparable at all with that of the GCSE. It must be emphasised that both courses are very demanding and therefore a strong background in Greek, in all areas, is required.

The course consists of 2 Units:

Unit 1: AS-Level

This Unit consists of three sections: A) Reading B) Grammar C) Essay

Section A: You will need to understand, retrieve, and convey information from a short series of different language texts.

Section B: You will be assessed in your ability to manipulate the Greek language, grammar & vocabulary to form or complete meaningful sentences. You will be asked to carry out tasks such as sentence transformation and grammar exercises that require the correct form of certain structure.

Section C: You will be asked to write a 240–280-word essay in Greek, in response to a short Greek- language stimulus and related bullet points. You will be assessed on the effectiveness and relevance of your communication as well as the quality of language you produce.

Unit 2: A-Level

This Unit consists of three sections:

Section A: You will be expected to translate a short paragraph from English into Greek.

Section B:                             You will be asked to write a 240–280-word essay in Greek in response to a general topic. You will choose to write creatively or discursively on the topic through the two options provided.

Section C: You must answer either ONE question in Greek that relates to the Greek historical period 1960-1974 or ONE question on Kavafy’s poetry.

A choice of the two questions will be offered for each of the prescribed topics and texts. It must be of 300- 400 words, and you will be assessed for the content, quality of language, critical analysis, and organisation of ideas.

Studying history helps us understand what it is to be human. History helps us understand change and how we got to this point, so through studying history we can grasp how and why things develop as well as understand what elements of an institution or a society persist despite change over time.

History also allows us to examine our moral sense by examining the decisions people made in complex contexts. It forces us to ask “Why did they do that? Can I understand their motivations and behaviours and if not, why not?”

History teaches us how to read. It helps us develop the ability to distinguish between the objective and the self-serving among statements, it helps us to use evidence to evaluate interpretations both in the past and in the present. It helps us to question the versions of the past and the present that we are fed by politicians, the media and our cultural norms. In short, it helps us spot fake news!

BUT I’LL NEVER GET A JOB? Professional historians teach, work in museums and media centres, do historical research for businesses or public agencies or participate in the growing number of historical consultancies. But most people who study history do not become professional historians. Historians make great lawyers and are valued by employers right across the spectrum, since by studying history they have developed research skills, the means to identify and evaluate explanations, they can handle complex data, and are sought out by companies that need analysts since historians have been trained to identify, assess, and explain patterns.

There is no denying that it is less scary to study something that will lead to a clearly defined career path, but studying history applies directly to many careers and can clearly help prepare us for the world of work.

Ultimately, studying history helps shape well-informed critical citizens who can make a valuable contribution to the workplace as well as question received wisdom, teach, handle complexity, and communicate ideas convincingly.

Plus, it’s got some really good stories.                                                       

WHAT WILL I STUDY? In Year 12, we follow the Edexcel Route F syllabus: Searching for rights and freedoms in the twentieth century.

This consists of two courses for AS & A-LEVEL: Option 1F-In search of the American Dream: the USA, 1917–96 and Option 2F.1-India: The road to independence, 1914-48.

In Year 13, we add Option 35.1: Britain: losing and gaining an empire, 1763–1914 as well as a coursework unit on any topic of your interest.

WHAT ABOUT EXAMS? The America and India options are assessed at the end of Year 12 through two exams which combine to give the pupils an AS-Level qualification. The two units are then re-examined at the end of Year 13 along with the British Empire unit and coursework, which all combine to give an A-Level grade.

More detail can be found on the subject blog 

Why choose Mathematics A-Level?

Certainly, there is no unique answer to why someone should choose Mathematics A-Level. Choosing A level subjects is a big decision, and you need to make sure you enjoy the subjects and think about where those subjects can lead to. Mathematics A-Level opens a multitude of options afterwards and is a good choice for students considering higher education in any science or mathematics-based subjects, ranging from biochemical sciences, natural sciences, engineering, medical science and psychology to philosophy, economics, accountancy, management and actuarial science.

Pupils who choose A-Level Mathematics are encouraged to think logically and analytically. Studying Mathematics at A-level enables you to understand the statistics used in the news or helps you to make sense of the economy, medicine and even law. It provides you with the basic tools that are used in real-world applications along with some of those applications. For example,

• Prime numbers can help you understand what makes the internet secure
• Mechanics can help you understand how planes fly
• Statistics can help you understand how DNA tests work.
• Calculus can help you understand how the stock markets work.

These fundamental mathematical skills are useful across all kinds of disciplines and careers. Some people may not be interested in any of the above, but they may choose Mathematics A-Level simply because they can see the beauty of mathematics. They may choose it because they like the buzz after solving a difficult problem or the logical structure of the subject or how the different topics of mathematics fit together.

Career opportunities for students who study A-Level Mathematics are limitless, but could include: industry, accountancy, finance, economics, healthcare, medicine, veterinary science and engineering.

WHAT IS THE COURSE CONTENT?

As from September 2018 we will follow the new Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Level in Mathematics. The full A-Level course consists of 6 units.

During the AS year pupils complete International Advanced Subsidiary – IAS. For this they need to complete 3 units, the Pure Mathematics 1 P1 and Pure Mathematics 2 P2, which are compulsory, and Statistics 1 which is our optional module.

During Year 13 pupils complete the International Advanced Level – IAL. For the IAL pupils must complete another 3 units, the Pure Mathematics 3 P3 and Pure Mathematics 4 P4, which are compulsory, and Statistics 2 which is our optional module. There is no flexibility to the optional modules.

HOW IS THE SUBJECT ASSESSED?

Each module weighs 16 % of the total A-Level mark. At the end of the Year 12 pupils are assessed on the P1, P2 and S1 units which count towards the 50% of the total mark. This mark is combined together with the mark of the P3, P4 and S2 units which are assessed at the end of Year 13 to give an A-Level grade.

There is no coursework involved.

Why choose Further Maths A-Level?

The simple answer is because it is complex and fascinating, it takes your knowledge of mathematics one step further!

You get a clearer idea of what mathematics at university level will be. You see topics more abstract than anything you were taught before, which gives you an amazing insight to what mathematics really is. You also see topics that have practical applications which helps you realise that mathematics is not just an exercise for the mind.

You discover where those things you have learnt but did not make sense come from. We do not learn off by heart, we explore different explanations and search to prove everything. So, in a way, the FURTHER you go into your MATHEMATICS, the more you understand what you were studying before.

Mathematics is one of humanity’s most amazing achievements. It is abstract and yet it has to do with our reality in ways we do understand (bills or time …) and in ways we do not YET (evolution of planets, stars and galaxies or … time). It also has to do with much more than our reality, it has to do with space and time in higher dimensions which we do not perceive in our everyday lives, yet we CAN think about. If this is not out of this world, then what is?

But we need to be realistic! We need to talk about your future. Again, here …. the sky is the limit! With Further Maths, you embark on a serious and in-depth study of diverse branches of higher mathematics, and you therefore have a better chance to guarantee a place in different engineering courses or to follow a career as a statistician, a great economist or artificial intelligence and robotics researcher.

Ultimately, studying Further Maths helps you in any career in science, not just because you will have a respected A-Level to present as a qualification but mostly because the effort you put into learning this subject is the best equipment for a career in mathematics, logic and philosophy, physics, biology, biotechnology, nanotechnology, astronomy, chemistry, computer science, engineering, architecture, economics, statistics and many more.

WHAT IS THE COURSE CONTENT?

We follow the new Pearson Edexcel International Advanced A Level in Further Mathematics which consists of six units.

During the AS level year pupils complete the International Advanced Subsidiary – IAS in Further Mathematics. For this they need to complete 3 units, the Further Pure Mathematics Module FP1, the Mechanics Module M1 and the Decision Mathematics Module D1.

During the A Level year pupils complete the International Advanced Level – IAL in Further Mathematics. For the IAL pupils must complete another 3 units, the Further Pure Mathematics Module FP2, the Further Pure Mathematics Module FP3 and the Mechanics Module M2.

There is no flexibility to the optional modules.

HOW IS THE SUBJECT ASSESSED?

Each of the modules weighs 16 % of the total A-Level mark.

At the end of Year 12, pupils are assessed on the FP1, M1 and D1 Modules which count towards 50% of the total A-Level mark. This mark is combined with the mark of the FP2, FP3 and M2 modules which are assessed at the end of Year 13 to give the total A-Level grade.

There is no coursework involved.

*Please note that the Further Mathematics A-Level is offered only to pupils who achieve a high A or an A* mark in their Mathematics IGCSE and are also taking Mathematics A-Level 

Physics is crucial to understanding the world around us, the world inside us and the world beyond us. It encompasses the study of the universe from the largest galaxies to the smallest subatomic particles. Physics challenges our imagination and leads to great discoveries and technologies which change our lives.

Physicists gain skills that make them versatile and adaptable; they bring a broad perspective to any problem they work on. They are not bound by context because they learn how to consider any problem. This inventive thinking makes physicists desirable in any field. A bachelor’s degree in Physics is a great foundation for careers in finance, computer science, biology, medicine, astronomy, engineering, law, journalism and many more! 

 A-Level Physics gives you the opportunity to explore the phenomena of the universe and to look at theories that explain what is observed.  This subject combines practical skills with theoretical ideas to develop descriptions of the physical universe.  You will learn about everything from kinematics to cosmology and many recent developments in fascinating topics, such as particle physics. If you are interested in the limits of space, the beginning of time and everything in between, this is the subject for you. Physics is more than a subject – it trains your brain to think beyond boundaries.

Studying Physics at A-Level, you will…

• develop critical thinking and use a range of mathematical and problem-solving skills that will support your knowledge and understanding of Physics.
• gain experience in a variety of practical techniques and procedures and develop an understanding of scientific methods.
• widen your learning through a number of key transferable skills valued by universities and employers such as adaptability, initiative, and teamwork.

What is the course content and how is the subject assessed?

We teach the Edexcel International Advanced Level Physics syllabus.

The AS-Level is examined at the end of Year 12 and includes

Unit 1: Mechanics and Materials

Unit 2: Waves and Electricity

Unit 3: Practical Skills in Physics I

The A-Level is examined at the end of Year 13 and consists of

Unit 4: Further Mechanics, Fields and Particles

Unit 5: Thermodynamics, Radiation, Oscillations and Cosmology

Unit 6: Practical Skills in Physics II

For further information and to download the specification, visit this link

Why choose this subject?

Who should study politics, and why? The short answer is that everyone should study politics - all members of society should have a better understanding of the general rules under which they live. For these rules to be effective, as many people as possible should actively participate in making them, upholding them and, maybe, changing them. A healthy society is a society in which citizens actively participate in political activity and do so with insight and understanding.

If politics exists because people disagree, studying politics must mean studying how, why and when people disagree and doing so not as neutral observers but as active participants. Politics is therefore particularly likely to suit pupils who:

• Have an interest in the world around them- ones who want to know more about British society, how it works and how it could work.
• Enjoy debate, discussion and argument- ones who are comfortable with the fact that in politics there are no simple ‘rights’ or ‘wrongs’.
• Like to think for themselves- ones who want to develop their own views, rather than accept the views of others.
• Enjoy weighing up and evaluating evidence in order to assess and communicate ideas and arguments.
• Enjoy reading challenging articles and textbooks and writing extended answers employing appropriate terminology. (If you struggled with English or History IGCSE then this might not be the right A-Level for you).

What will you learn?

At AS-Level you will gain an understanding of how the UK political system works, and how it is linked to contemporary concerns and events.

• Component 1: UK Politics looks at how people in the UK are linked to government, through the themes of democracy, rights and duties of individuals and groups, elections and other forms of political participation, party policies and ideas, and voting behavior and the media.
• Component 2: UK Government focuses on the main institutions of UK government such as Parliament and the Prime Minister. Its core themes are distribution of policymaking power, the effectiveness of the key bodies in carrying out their roles, the European Union and relationships between the branches of government.

1. At A-Level you will study the core ideas and principles of four political ideologies (Conservatism, Liberalism, Socialism and Feminism).

• Component 3: Global Politics which gives you an opportunity to develop an understanding of the international and global dimensions of political activity through grounding abstract political concepts in contemporary real-world examples and case studies.

How is the subject assessed?

You will take three externally assessed exams: components 1, 2 and 3 in Year 13. You can also sit the AS-Level exam in year 12. The AS-Level is a stand-alone qualification, marks achieved in the AS will not count towards the A-Level.

What can I do after I’ve completed the course?

With a GCE in Politics, you can progress to higher education courses such as degrees in politics, international politics/relations and political science as well as to degrees in related subjects such as history, geography, economics, law, social policy etc. It can also lead to a variety of careers within areas such as journalism and broadcasting, management, publishing, public policy and policy research, interest groups, local government and the voluntary sector, as well as, of course, within politics itself.