Curriculum

Sixth-form linguists are also able to take GCSE Italian in a year if they so choose.

Over half of sixth-form students study at least one science subject at A Level, but students achieve highly in a wide range of subjects.

Sixth-form students are expected to spend around ten hours a week studying for each A level they take: five hours in the classroom and five hours for homework and additional independent study. Developing the ability to effectively complete both homework and independent study is a vital step on the road to acquiring the skills students need to thrive at university and beyond.

Our aspiring medics, veterinarians, dentists and Oxbridge applicants all receive bespoke support with their university applications, including preparation for the all-important aptitude tests. This often includes weekly extension classes, or additional support sessions at weekends.

All sixth form students may also choose to complete the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). The qualification gives students the opportunity to research an area of personal interest and acquire vital skills in the process. Once the research has been completed students will write an essay, construct an artefact or give a performance as well as compiling a log of the process. The final stage is to give a presentation to a supportive group of staff and peers. In UCAS points the EPQ is equivalent to half an A level, with some universities give reduced A level grade offers if students have performed highly in an EPQ.

The EPQ is just one way in which many of our students display scholarship. Our students also benefit from a unique academic enrichment programme which includes academic lunches, reading groups and regular visiting speakers from a variety of careers and academic disciplines. Teachers support our students to enter a myriad of academic competitions, secure work internships at prestigious employers, and arrange work placements. Our weekly Stretch programme exposes students to arenas well beyond the confines of the syllabus, with sessions ranging from Introduction to Arabic, to Cooking at University and the Young Enterprise Challenge.