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 Post 16

AS and A-Levels
All students entering Sixth Form must study Advanced Subsidiary level (AS-level) and Advanced level (A-level) subjects. The AS-levels are made up of two or three assessment units and will be examined at the end of Year 13. They represent the first half of an A-level course of study. The A-level consists of four or six assessment units. Half of these make up the AS-level qualification studied in Year 13 while the other half known as A2, are studied in Year 14 and represent the second half of the A-level course of study.
All students will normally be entered for the AS-level qualification in their chosen subjects at the end of Year 13 whether or not they wish to proceed to the full A-level qualification.
Students progressing to Sixth Form must fulfil the College’s criteria for entry into Years 9 and above. The academic requirement is a minimum of FIVE GCSE subjects with grades (A - C).  Four of these five subjects must be at grade B level. Obviously at least a grade B at GCSE would be preferable in any subject to be studied at AS-level or full A-level.


Sixth Form Subject Options
Most students are expected to choose four AS-level subjects in Year 13 and continue three of them into Year 14 as A-levels. At the end of Year 14 these students would have obtained an award of three A-levels and one AS-level.
Some students may choose four AS-level subjects in Year 13 and continue all of them into Year 14 as A-levels. At the end of Year 14 these students would have obtained an award of four A-levels.
Some students may choose three AS-level subjects in Year 13 and continue these into Year 14 as A-levels. At the end of Year 14 these students would have obtained an award of three A-levels.
Students who take three AS-level subjects in Year 13 may continue two of these into Year 14 as A-levels and take up another AS-level. At the end of Year 14 these students would have obtained an award of two A-levels and two AS-levels. Timetable arrangements will restrict the choice of the AS-level in Year 14.  Key Skills may be chosen with any of the above combinations.
Subjects are offered on the condition that there are sufficient numbers to form a viable class.

Sixth Form Courses Offered
The Sixth Form curriculum is designed to provide for both the academic study and the personal development of our students. The Sixth Form programme includes the following elements:  

Compulsory Elements:
AS-level and A-level subjects 
 
Careers Education and Guidance
 
Key Skills unit award in IT Level 2
 
Life Issues 
 
Modular Religious Education Programme (compulsory for non AS-/A-level RE students) 
 
Tutorial Programme
 
Optional Elements:
Key Skills Unit Award Level 3 in One or more of Communication, Application if Number and Information Technology 
 
Community Service Programme 
 
Student Mentor Programme
 
Other enrichment courses may be arranged depending on the demand.
Depending on timetable arrangements, the following subjects will be offered: 


Art & Design
AS
A
German
AS
A

Biology
AS
A
Government & Political Studies
AS
A

Business Studies
AS
A
History
AS
A

Chemistry
AS
A
Home Economics
AS
A

Computing or ICT
AS
A
Irish
AS
A

Technology  & Design
AS
A
Mathematics
AS
A

Drama & Theatre Studies
AS
A
Music
AS
A

Economics
AS
A
Physical Education
AS
A

English Literature
AS
A
Physics
AS
A

French
AS
A
Religious Education
AS
A

Further Mathematics
AS
A
Sociology
AS
A

Geography
AS
A
Spanish
AS
A

I t is expected that most students will choose four AS-level subjects in Year 13 leading to three A-level subjects in Year 14. UCAS points are awarded for each AS-level and each A-level obtained. The points awarded for an AS-level will be subsumed into the points awarded if that subject is taken to A-level. You will not be able to aggregate the two.
 
Key  Skills in the Sixth Form
Key Skills include Application of Number, Communication and IT.
 
Key Skills IT is compulsory for all Year 13 students and may be studied either at level 2 or level 3 depending on the students' skill base. Students who have GCSE IT and who wish to take either all three Key Skills to level 3 or just Key Skills IT to level 3 will be placed in a level 3 IT class.
 
Students may choose to study all three Key Skills of Application of Number, Communication and IT at level 3 or they may take each Key Skill separately at level 3. Each Key Skill unit passed at level 3 gains a UCAS tariff of 20 points. Key Skills at level 2 gain 10 UCAS tariff points each. The UCAS tariff obtained at level 3 can be used as AS level credits towards University entrance. If students choose the three Key Skills of Application of Number, Communication and IT at level 3 then they can obtain the full UCAS tariff of 60 points. This is the same UCAS tariff as a grade A at AS-level.
Students are encouraged to develop their academic profile by taking the Key Skill(s) that supplements their AS level profile. Universities find this of particular value, as do employers.
 
To achieve a Key Skill award at level 2 or 3 students must submit a portfolio of work for assessment and sit an external examination in the relevant Key Skill. It is possible to gain exemptions from one or more of the external examinations in Key Skills at levels 2 and 3 by obtaining GCSE (for level 2) and AS/A level grades (for level 3) in the relevant subjects. Students may have the opportunity to develop key skills through their chosen AS/A-level subjects and also via a stand alone Key Skills Programme.
 
Students who pursue English Literature, Computing and/or Mathematics at AS-level may choose to do a unit award in the relevant Key Skill. Since they will have an examination exemption they need only produce a portfolio which can be completed during the first term.
 
UCAS Tariffs and The Sixth Form Curriculum
A points system is used by many Universities for entry onto their courses.


A-level

 

AS-level



Key Skill
Each of the three main Key Skill Units

Grade
Points
Grade
Points
Level
Points

A
120
A
60
3
20

B
100
B
50
2
10

C
80
C
40
 
 

D
60
D
30
 
 

E
40
E
20
 
 



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