SCIENCE & MATHS
Prospectus 2016-2018
SCIENCE & MATHS
SCIENCE & MATHS
HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium
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Foreword 3
Introduction
introduction & consortium Aims & objectives 4Entry to the Sixth Form 5Advice and Guidance 5 life in the Sixth Form 5How the consortium operates 6the Sixth Form curriculum 6
Art, Design & Technology Courses
Art & Design (Fine Art) 7Art & Design (Photography) 8Design & technology (Graphic Product Design) 9Design & technology (3D Product Design) 10 Design & technology (Food technology) 11Design & technology (textiles) 12
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Business & ICT Courses
Business 13Business BtEc level 3 14Economics 15ict 16it BtEc level 3 16computing Science 17
languages, literature & culture courses
French, German & Spanish 18latin 19classical civilisation 19English language & literature 20English literature 21
Humanities & Social Science courses
Geography 22Philosophy & Ethics 23History 24Government & Politics 25Health & Social care BtEc l3 26Health & Social care 26Psychology 27Sociology 28
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Science & Mathematics Courses
Biology 29chemistry 30Physics 31Applied Science BtEc level 3 32mathematics 33Further mathematics 33
Media , Performing Arts & Physical Education Courses
Drama & theatre Studies 34Performing Arts (Acting) BtEc level 3 35music 36music technology BtEc level 3 37media Studies 38Physical Education 39
Enrichment Studies Courses
community Sports leadership 40Higher Sports leadership 40Extended Project Qualification 41Ancient Greek 41Enrichment Activities 42-43Destinations 44Delivery of courses 45-46contact Details and Key Dates 47
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Contents
HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium 3
We are pleased that you are seriously considering remaining in full-time education and doing so in the Hitchin Schools’ Sixth Form consortium. it is a consortium of Hitchin Boys’ School, Hitchin Girls’ School and the Priory School. Being part of a school Sixth Form is more than studying for qualifications. there are other benefits to be had from working with people you know, in a familiar environment. there is also a very significant contribution you can make as a sixth form student to your school and to the consortium in a whole variety of ways which, in turn, will be of further benefit to you when you move on to higher education or employment. the consortium has existed for many years but we constantly review what we offer and seek ways of improving still further the opportunities for post-16 students across the consortium.
A significant change from September 2015 has been the first teaching of the new reformed A level and AS qualifications for some subjects. this process will continue in September 2016 with a further six subjects changing over to the new linear A levels, plus changes to the BtEc qualifications. At the time of going to press, the exam board specifications for the new courses had not all been finalised. Students will be provided with full details of the courses on offer once these are available.
Each of the schools in the consortium has excellent arrangements in place to guide you in making your choices. We will provide advice, designed to offer you the most appropriate programme. After reading this prospectus carefully do talk to your teachers, Heads of Year, Heads of Sixth Form, careers Advisers and students already following the courses in which you are interested. You will then be able to make your choices from an informed position.
In the meantime we wish you every success in your examinations.The Head Teachers of Hitchin Boys’ School, The Priory School and Hitchin Girls’ School
ForEWorD
HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium 3
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introDuctionWelcome to the Hitchin Schools’ Sixth Form consortium Prospectusfor the period September 2016 to July 2018. We hope that you find theinformation contained in it useful. Further information is availablefrom the Head of Sixth Form at each of the schools and at the SixthForm open Evenings.
the three Hitchin secondary schools, Hitchin Boys’, Hitchin Girls’ andthe Priory are working together as a Sixth Form consortium to enablemore than 650 students to have access to a wide range of AS, A2 &BtEc courses.
ConSorTIuM AIMS AnD oBjECTIvES• Toofferlearningenvironmentswhereyoufeelsafe,valuedand
informed.• Tomeettheneedsofallstudentsthroughahighqualityprovisionof
appropriatelearningandenrichmentopportunities.• Toprovideclearprogressionopportunitiesalongrelevantandflexible
pathways.• Toensureyoureceivecomprehensiveandimpartialadviceand
guidanceinordertoachieveyourfullpotential.• Togiveyoutheopportunitytodeveloptheknowledge,skillsand
confidencetosetyourselfdemandingtargetsandthedeterminationtoachievethem.
• Toprovideyouwithaplatformfromwhichyoucanprogresstoemploymentortohigherorfurthereducation.
• Toprovidebestvaluethrougheffectivedeploymentofresourcesandspecialiststaff.
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ChoosingwhichsubjectstostudyinSixthFormcanbeadauntingprocess:nobodywantstomakethewrongdecision!Thinkaboutsubjectsyouarepassionateabout,andthosewhichcouldhelpyouinlaterlife.IknewthatIwantedtostudysomethingchemistry-relatedatuniversity,soIchoseChemistry,Physics,MathsandFurtherMaths,andLatinatAS.Contactinguniversitiesoremployersishelpfulatthisstage,soyouknowexactlythenecessaryentryrequirements.
ThegreatthingaboutA-Levelsisthatyouarerequiredtoconcentrateonfewersubjects,whicharebettersuitedtoyourinterests.Thisallowsyoutofocus,studyandenjoymoreintensely.
STuDEnT ProFILEFreya - Head Girl
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Introduction
EnTry To THE SIxTH ForMYouareencouragedtomoveontotheSixthFormprovidedthatyouarecapableofbenefitingfromthecourseswhichareavailableandthatyouhaveapositiveapproachtoyourwork.ThelevelofcourseyoucouldprogressontowilldependontheresultsyouachieveatKeyStage4.MinimumentryrequirementstoourConsortiumare5A*-CatGCSEorequivalent,includingMathsandEnglish.Somesubjectswillhaveadditionalspecificrequirementsandwheretheseapply,theyaredetailedontheindividualsubjectpage.Youmustbeunder18on1stSeptember2016tojointheSixthForm.
AftertheOpenEveningyouwillbeaskedtocompleteanapplicationformindicatingthecourseswhichyouwouldliketotakeintheSixthForm.Thesechoiceswillbediscussedwithyouinindividualmeetingsandinductionsessionswillbeheldineachschool.TasterlessonsineachsubjectarerunacrosstheConsortiumduringadesignatedtwodayperiodinthesecondhalfofthesummerterm.
ADvICE AnD GuIDAnCEAllthreeschoolswereawardedtheYouthConnexionsQualityAwardinCareersEducationandGuidanceandholdtheInvestorsinCareersAwards.ImpartialadviceandguidanceregardingoptionsafterKeyStage4isavailableforyoufromavarietyofsourcesincludingsubjectteachers,YearHeads,CareersCo-ordinators,HeadsofSixthFormandHeadTeachers.CareeradvisersareavailableinschoolonaregularbasisandwillbeinattendanceattheSixthFormOpenEvenings.
IntheSixthFormyouwillbeassignedtoatutorandatutorgroupforthewholeofyourSixthFormcourse.Thetutor,supportedbyyourHeadofSixth,isresponsibleforyouracademicguidanceandpastoralcare.Academicguidancewillincludeaspectssuchasmonitoringprogress,offeringsupportanddiscussingwhetherprogressionfromYear12toYear13stagesofacourseisalwaystherightmove.CareerseducationandguidanceisanintegralpartoftheSixthFormprogrammewiththeaimofhelpingyoutomakeinformed,appropriatechoicesaboutyourfuture.Youwillreceiveadviceandassistancefromnominatedpersonnelateachschoolwhenmakingapplicationstouniversityorcollege,andforapprenticeshipsandworkexperience.ThereisanintegratedreferenceprocessforUCASapplicationsbetweenthethreeschools.Wheretalksandpresentationsaremadefromindustryrepresentatives,weaimtomaketheseaccessibletostudentsacrosstheConsortiumwhereverpossible.
LIFE In THE SIxTH ForMTheSixthFormprovidesaseriesofopportunitiesforyoutodevelopnotonlyyouracademicandvocationalattainmentsbutalsoyourselfconfidenceandskillssuchascommunication,teamworkingandmanagementofyourownlearning.Youwillbeencouragedtotakemoreresponsibilityforyourwork,particularlywithregardtoitsplanningandcompletionoverlongerperiodsoftime,thepreparationrequiredforlessonsandtheamountofreadingneededtogainthenecessarydepthandbreadthofknowledgeineachsubject.WithmorelessonsineachsubjectthanatKeyStage4,thereismorechancetodevelopaclosercontactwithteachersandreceivemoreindividualattention.
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Youwillhaveasmallnumberofprivatestudyorassistedlearningperiodsduringeachweekandthistimeshouldbeseenasachancetomakeprogresswithworkorotherrelevantactivities.
Thereisawiderangeofextra-curricularandenrichmentactivitiesinwhichyoumaycontinuetodevelopyourownskillsandabilitiesandincreaseyourrangeofinterests.Therearealsoopportunitiesforyoutohelpstaffwiththerunningofactivitiesforotherstudentsinyourschool.Forexample,youareencouragedtohelpsupportteachersinlessonswithjuniorstudentsandtoparticipateinsport,musicanddrama.Itistobehopedthatyouwilltakeupsomeoftheopportunitiesavailable.
Theimportantfactoroverallistomaintainagoodbalancebetweenthedemandsofacademicworkandalltheotherdemandsonyourtime.
ART & TECH
Introduction
How THE ConSorTIuM oPErATESEachschooloffersarangeofSixthFormcourseswiththeopportunitytotakecoursesatotherschoolswithintheConsortium.Generally,itwillbepossibletoaccommodateyouonthecoursesofyourchoice,however,wheredemanddictates,thefollowingcriteriawillapply:
1.Somecoursesarejointtaughtacrosstwoormoreschools.Studentsfromallthreeschoolshaveequalrightofaccesstothesecourses.
2.Somecoursesareonlydeliveredatoneortwoofthethreeschools.Placesonthesecourseswillbegiventostudentsfromtheotherschoolsoncethedemandforplacesinthehostschoolhasbeenassessed.
3.Insomecasesitisdifficulttotimetableallthesubjectswhichyouwouldliketotakewithouttherebeingatimetableclash.Mostofteninthissituationitwillbepossibleforyoutotakeasubjectatoneoftheotherschoolstoresolvetheclash.
4.Pleasenotethatincaseswhereonlyasmallnumberofstudentschooseaparticularcourseitmaynotbepossibletorunit.
YoumustnegotiateyourcourseswithyourownHeadofSixthForm.StudentsfromoutsidetheareawishingtobetaughtwithintheConsortiumneedfirsttoapplytotheSixthForminoneoftheschools.
Transportisprovidedatcertaintimesduringtheschooldaytomoveyoubetweensites,whererequired,forconsortiumlessons.Youareexpectedtomakeyourownwaytoandfromyourteachingsiteatthebeginningandendoftheday.
THE SIxTH ForM CurrICuLuMStudentsjoiningtheSixthFormareencouragedtofollowabroad,challengingcurriculum.ThereareoverfortydifferentcoursesavailablewithintheConsortium.
reformed A-Level and AS Level CoursesInFebruary2013,TheSecretaryofStateforEducationinitiatedthereformofA-Levelswithaviewtomakingthequalificationsmoreambitious;betterpreparingyoungpeopleforemploymentandfurtherstudyandgivingeveryonegreaterconfidenceintheintegrityandreliabilityofthequalificationssystem.TheGovernmenthasstatedthatthepurposeoftakingA-Levelsisprimarilyforentrytouniversityandchangesareneededsostudentsarebetterpreparedtostarttheiruniversitycourse.
AllnewA-Levelswillbelinear,withassessmentbyexaminationtakingplaceattheendoftwoyearsofstudy.TherewillbeminimalcourseworkcontentandtheASLevelqualificationswon’tcounttowardsthefinalgradeofanA-Level.
ThenewASLevelswillbestand-alonequalificationsintheirownright.Theywillremainbroadlyattheircurrentstandard.Therewillbeoneexaminationserieseachyear,withthefirstassessmentplannedforJune2016.
FromSeptember2015,thereformedASandA-Levelqualificationsappliedtothefollowingsubjects:Art&Design,Business,ComputerScience,Economics,EnglishLiterature,EnglishLanguage&Literature,History,Biology,Chemistry,Physics,PsychologyandSociology.FromSeptember2016the
reformedqualificationswillalsoapplyto:French,German&Spanish,Geography,Philosophy&Ethics,Drama&TheatreStudies,MusicandPhysicalEducation.
AllotherA-Levelsubjectswillremainunchangeduntiltheirreformedqualificationsareintroducedin2017.
Existing A-Level CoursesExistingAdvancedLevel(A-Level)coursesaremodular,usuallyconsistingoffourunits;twoatAdvancedSubsidiary(AS)Level,studiedinYear12andtwoatA2-Level,studiedinYear13.TheAS-unitsformthefirsthalfofthefullA-Levelaswellasbeingaqualificationintheirownright.ExaminationofASandA2unitstakesplaceinMay/Juneofeachyear.AllASandA2coursesaregradedonasixpointscalewithpassgradesfromA*toE.
BTEC CoursesTheBTECLevel3qualificationsarechangingfromSeptember2016andspecificationswerestillbeingfinalisedatthetimeofgoingtoprint.MostBTECcoursesofferedintheconsortiumwillbeafourunitcourseequivalenttooneA-Level.BTECBusinesswillbean8unitcourseequivalenttotwoA-Levels.AllBTECcoursesaregradedasPass,Merit,DistinctionorDistinction*.Theyarevocationalcoursesandareassessedthroughassignments,bothinternally&externallymarkedandexaminations.
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6 HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium
ART & TECH
Thesepracticalcourseswillenableyoutodevelopthecreativeandintellectualskillsforimaginativegrowthandtoaccessthevastarrayofartanddesignfurtherstudyandcareers.Itisanexcellentcomplementtomanyotherareasofstudy,asitteachesyoutobeanalytical,tosolveproblemscreativelyandtogainaculturalawareness.
Youwillexplorerelevantimages,artefactsandresourcesrelatingtoFineArtandmayusetraditionalmethodsand/ordigitaltechniquestoproduceFineArtwork.Youwillbeexpectedtodemonstratespecialisationinparticularmaterials,mediaorprocesses.Drawingskillsshouldbeunderstoodanddevelopedaswaysofrecordingandcommunicatingintentions,ideasandemotions.Thereisanimportantfocusisonyourrecordingthroughusingdrawingorotherappropriatevisualforms.
AS LevelYouwillhaveachoiceofendorsedtitlestochoosefrom.Eachismadeupofoneexternallysettaskwhichwillbeinternallymarkedandexternallymoderated.Therewillbeaselectionofthemesandwithineachthemetherewillbeachoiceoftextualandvisualstartingpoints,briefsandstimuli.Youwillbeabletoworkentirelyinnon-digitalmedia,entirelyindigitalmedia,oracombinationofboth.
A Level Thereisachoiceofendorsedtitlestochoosefrom,eachmadeupoftwocomponents.Bothcomponentsareinternallymarkedandexternallymoderated.
Component 01: Personal investigation Element1:PracticalportfolioWithintheportfolio,youareexpectedtodevelopapersonalresponsebasedonasetthemeleadingtoafinishedrealisationoroutcome.Itshouldconsistofasustainedproject,themeorcourseofstudy.Itmaybepresentedinappropriateformatsforthespecialismchosene.g.sketchbooks,mountedsheets,maquettes,prototypes,digitalpresentations,animation,scalemodelsorillustratedwrittenwork.
Element2:RelatedstudyThisisawrittencomponent,throughwhichyouarerequiredtoestablishtherelatedcontextofyourpracticalportfolio.Thismaybeestablishedbyexploringthegenre,subjectmatter,movementorhistoricalframeworkofthestartingpoint,courseofstudyorselectedtheme.Theaimoftherelatedstudyistoenableyoutodevelopandcommunicateyourknowledgeandunderstandingofarthistoricalmovements,genres,practitionersandartworks.Italsobuildsyourunderstandingoftherelationshipbetweensocietyandart:arthistoricalterms,conceptsandissues;methodsofresearching,investigatingandanalysing;andhowworksareinterpretedandevaluated.
Component 02: Externally set task Inthiscomponent,anearlyreleasepaperwillbeissuedandwithachoiceofthemes,eachwithwrittenand/orvisualstartingpoints,briefsorstimuli.Youwillchooseoneoptionforwhichyouwillgenerateanappropriatepersonalresponse,duringasetamountofsupervisedtime,forassessment.Youwillbegivenapreparatoryperiodforresearch,planninganddevelopmentofideas.
Art & DESiGn (FinE Art) – AS and A level
Art, Design & Technology
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ART & TECH
ThecreativeindustriesaregrowthindustriesandBritainleadstheway.ThequalificationcanleadtoFoundationStudiesatHigherEducationinanyartand/ordesigncourseanddegreecoursesspecialisingindistinctareasofArtand/orDesign
CourseSpecification:oCr H201 (HGS & TPS) EDExEL 8FA0 (HBS)
HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium 7
ART & TECH
Youwillbeabletoexplore,researchandacquiretechniquesanddevelopyourskills,knowledgeandunderstandinginarangeofphotographicmedia.Youwillbeexpectedtodemonstratespecialisationinparticularmediaorprocessestoallowanappropriatedepthofstudy.Thiscanbeachievedbyworkingtowardtheextensionanddevelopmentofparticularthemes,ideasorissues.
Youshouldexplorerelevantimages,artefactsandresourcesrelatingtotraditionaland/ordigitalphotography.Youmayusetraditionalmethodssuchasphotographicfilmand/ordigitaltechniquestoproduceimages.Animportantfocusisonyourrecordingthroughusinglens-basedorotherappropriatemedia.Drawingskillsshouldbeunderstoodanddevelopedasappropriatetothewaysofrecordingandcommunicatingintentions,ideasandemotionsinthecontextofPhotography.
CourseSpecification:oCr H203 – HGS and TPSEDExEL 8Py0 – HBS
Art & DESiGn (PHotoGrAPHY) – AS and A level
Art, Design & Technology
8 HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium
IchoosePhotographybecauseIwantedtoexpressmycreativitythroughanewmedia.Photographyhasofferedmetheopportunitytolearnnotjustabouthowacameraworks,butabouteditingsoftwareandprofessionalstudioequipment.Thecourseteachesyoutoworkthroughideaswithindependence,alongsidelearningtoworkwithothers.Thisisbecauseweareencouragedtoadapttopicstoourowninterestsandideas.MyothersubjectsareHealthandSocialCareandSociology.Photographycomplementsthesesubjectsasitoffersadifferentwayofworking.IhavecreatedablogandenjoyedpresentingmyachievementsthroughbothvisualandwrittenassessmentsI’vealsohadtheopportunitytoshowcasemyworkthroughexhibitionsandtovisitgalleries.ItisafunandrewardingsubjectandoneIhopetopursueasafuturecareer.
STuDEnT ProFILEBhavini
9 HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium
Gooddesignisvitaltoourworldandeconomy,andassuchyouwillbechallengedtothinkcreativelywhilstproducinggraphicproducts.Thesecouldbeanythingrangingfrompackagingdesignsandpromotionalmerchandise,throughtoarchitecturalscalemodelsofbuildings.Graphicproductdesignencompassesawiderangeofdesigndisciplinesbutisfirmlyrootedintheskillsrequiredtodesignandmakehighqualityproducts.Productsthatarefitforpurpose,satisfywantsandneeds,andenhanceourdailylives.ThisnewqualificationstructurewillallowyoutodeveloparangeofICTskillsusingindustrystandardsoftware(Photoshop,IllustratorandAutoDeskinventor)andpracticalskillsonarangeofoutcomesatASwhichdemonstrateyourcreativityandgrowingability,andapplythesetoadesignandmakeprojectatA2.
AtASyouwillpresentacompilationportfoliowhichdemonstratesyourabilitytoinvestigateaproduct,respondcreativelytoabriefandtomanufactureahighqualityoutcome.Thiswillcontributetowards60%oftheASgrade.Theremainingassessmentisbasedontheoreticalknowledgeofmaterialsandprocesseswhichyouwillhaveacquiredthroughouttheyear.
AtA2,youwillneedtoadopttheapproachofaprofessionaldesignertoseeaproductthroughtorealisation.Youwillalsoconductstudiesinto
DESiGn AnD tEcHnoloGY (GrAPHic ProDuct DESiGn)– A level
ART & TECH
Art, Design & Technology
ART & TECH
HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium 9
commercialdesign,anddesigningforthefuture;asustainableapproachtowardsmodernproductdesign.Theportfolioandpracticalisworth60%oftheA2grade,withtheexampapercompletingthefinal40%.
AqualificationinGraphicProductDesigncouldleadtoarangeoffurthereducationorcareeropportunitiesinanynumberofdesignrelatedfields,including,butnotlimitedto;Architecture,GraphicDesigner,Product/Industrialdesigner,BrandconsultantandInteriordesigner.
CourseSpecification:Edexcel 8Gr01 and 9Gr01
Inyear12,IstudiedBiology,FurtherMaths,ArtandGraphicDesign.IchosethesesubjectsbecausetheyweresomethatIdidbetterinatGCSEandtheyweresubjectsthatIreallyenjoyed.IdidnotknowwhatIwantedtodoaftersixthformsoIalsochosetheseastheyopenedupanumberofcoursesthatIcouldstudyatuniversity.InowhopetostudySportandExerciseScienceatuniversitysohavecarriedonwithBiology,ArtandGraphics.
GraphicDesignatASgaveagoodbasicunderstandingofsketchingtechniquesandresearchtechniqueswhiledoingavarietyofdifferenttasks.ThisgaveagreatfoundationforA2wherethebriefgivenwasmuchlessspecificandyoucouldtailorittoexactlywhatyouwantedwhichmakesthelessonsmuchmorefunandexciting.ForexampleIchoseamicroarchitecturebriefasarchitecturewasthespecificareaofGraphicDesignthatinterestedmemost.
STuDEnT ProFILEHelen
AtASlevelyouwillstudyMaterials&Components.ArecordofworkundertakenduringtheyearispresentedtotheexamboardasaDesignPortfoliocontributingtowards50%oftheASgrade.Theremainingassessmentisbasedonawrittenpaperreflectingaknowledgeofmaterialsandcomponentswhichyouwillhaveacquiredthroughouttheyear.
AtA2,youwillstudyDesignandManufacture.Asinglesubstantialproductistobeproduced,reflectingagreaterunderstandingofthecomplexrelationbetweendesignneed,commercial,marketingandmaterialprocesses.Awrittenexaminationwillreflectadevelopingknowledgeofdesigninsocietyandmanufacturingprocesses.
Aqualificationinproductdesignwilldemonstrateyourabilitytomanageextendedtasks,resolveconflictingdemandsandtoorganisethelogisticaldemandsofbringingresources,labourandcostsinontime.Theseskillscouldleadtoarangeoffurthereducationorcareeropportunitiesinmanydisciplines,butclearlybuildsaperfectfoundationforanydesignrelatedfield,suchasInteriordesign,Setdesign,Productdesign,Architecture,Motorsport,Engineering,AerospaceEngineering,andmanymore.
CourseSpecification:AQA 1551 and 2551
Thiscoursehasbeendesignedtoencourageyoutotakeabroadviewofdesignandtechnology,todevelopyourcapacitytodesignandmakeproductsandtoappreciatethecomplexrelationsbetweendesign,materials,manufactureandmarketing.
StudentswithaninterestinProductDesignwillpossessanenquiringmind,learntothinkcreatively,andbepreparedtochallengeexpectations,tointerveneandimprovethequalityoflifebysolvingproblems.Workingasindividualsandcollectively,youwillproducethreedimensionalproducts,modelsorworkingprototypes.
Toachievethis,youwillcombinepracticalandintellectualskillswithanunderstandingofcreativity,aesthetics,cultural,social,economicandenvironmentalissues.Designstudieswillfocusontheworkofpastdesigners,designmovementsofthe20thCenturyandcontemporarydesign.
ART & TECH
Art, Design & Technology
DESiGn AnD tEcHnoloGY(3D ProDuct DESiGn) – A level
10 HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium
DESiGn AnD tEcHnoloGY (FooD tEcHnoloGY)– A levelThissubjectoffersthechancetostudyanenjoyableandacademicsubjectthatdevelopsyourabilitytocometounderstandtherelationshipsbetweendesign,materials,manufacturingandmarketing.
Thecoursecoversnutrients,energyanddietforhealthpromotion;issuesrelatedtomassmedia,theenvironmentandfoodsafety;andnewproductdevelopmentforconsumersintodaysworld.
Youwilllearnthroughpracticalproductanalysisandevaluationoffoodasacentraltheme.Applicationoffoodscienceandnutritionisessentialalongsideanunderstandingofsocietyandhealthpromotionrelevanttothefoodindustry.
Assessmentisbyacombinationofwrittenexaminationandcoursework.Yourpracticalworkwillbepresentedasacourseworkportfoliotoshowyourbestlevelsindesign,ideageneration,planning/makingandevaluation.
YouwillfindawealthofdegreecoursessuchasNutritionandDietetics,Medicine,HealthPromotion,ConsumerandMarketing,Teaching,FoodandManufacturing,FoodScience,FoodTechnology,BusinessandFoodManagement,AppliedScience,EnvironmentScienceandFoodMedia.
CourseSpecification:AQA 1541 and 2541
ART & TECH
Art, Design & Technology
HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium 11
AftermyGCSESresultsIchosetotakeBiology,Geography,BusinessStudiesandFoodTechnology.Foodtechhasalwaysbeenoneofmyfavouritesubjectsduetothefactitcombinesboththeoryandpractical.WithintheAlevelcourse,Biologyhashelpedmewiththefundamentalsandformetohaveabasicunderstandingaroundthesubjectofbiologicalmolecules.IhopetogotouniversitynextyeartostudyFoodScienceandNutritionwithBusinessandIfeelthiscoursehasputmeintherightdirectiontopursuethis.
STuDEnT ProFILELizzi
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BUSINESS & ICT
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theDesignProposal,Making/modelling,Evaluation&TestingandCommunication&Presentation.Courseworkmaytakeanumberofforms:asingledesignandmakeproject,twosmallerprojects,and/oraportfolioofwork.
ThefirstA2unit,DesignandManufactureenablesyoutofurtherdevelopyourknowledgeandunderstandingofmaterialsandcomponents,designandmarketinfluencesandprocessesandmanufacture.Thisunitisassessedbywrittenexamination.
TheA2courseworkunitallowsyoutoillustrateyourunderstandingofallthreestrandsofthespecificationatahigherlevelthanthatproducedforAS.Youareexpectedtoworkmoreindependentlyonyourpracticalcoursework,whichisledbyyourownresearchandinvestigation.
CourseSpecification:AQA 1561 and 2561
AqualificationintextilescouldleadtoarangeoffurthereducationorcareeropportunitiesinanydesignrelatedfieldincludingProductDesign;FashionDesignandTextilemanufacture.
Thecourseisdesignedtoencourageyoutotakeabroadviewofdesignandtechnologyandtodevelopyourcapacitytodesignandmakeproducts.
AtAS,inthefirstunit,Materials,ComponentsandApplication,youwillhavetheopportunitytostudyandworkwithavarietyoftextilematerialstoenableyoutounderstandtheworkingcharacteristics,physicalproperties,costandavailabilitywhichinfluencethechoiceofmaterialsindesignsituations.Youwillgainknowledgeofthemanufacturingsystemsandpracticesusedinthetextileindustryandanunderstandingofhowmaterialsandcomponentsareworkedastoiles,prototypesormodelsaspartofadesignrealisation.Thisunitisassessedbywrittenexamination.
Thesecondunit,LearningThroughDesigningandMaking,isadesignandmakecourseworkunitandwillbeassessedunderthefollowingcriteria:InvestigationandClarificationoftheProblem,Developmentof
DESiGn AnD tEcHnoloGY (tExtilES) – A level
ART & TECH
Art, Design & Technology
BUSINESS & ICT
Business & Computing
contemporarycontexts,allowingyoutodevelopanholisticunderstandingofbusinessissuesfromalocaltoglobalperspectivewhileanalysingthestrategic,complexandinter-relatednatureofbusinessissuesbothnationallyandinternationally.
CourseSpecification:wjEC Eduqas (HGS)InthisAQAcourse,wedemonstratetheinterrelatednatureofBusinessusingbusinessmodels,theoriesandtechniquestosupportanalysisofcontemporarybusinessissuesandsituations.Thecontentofthecourseisdesignedtoengageyouthroughtopicsandissuesthatarerelevantintoday’ssociety,throughkeycontemporarydevelopmentssuchasdigitaltechnology,businessethicsandglobalisationtopics.ThecompleteA-Levelcoursecoversthefollowingtopics:
• WhatisBusiness• Managers,leadershipanddecisionmaking• Decisionmakingtoimprovemarketingperformance• Decisionmakingtoimproveoperationalperformance• Decisionmakingtoimprovefinancialperformance• Decisionmakingtoimprovehumanresource
performance• Analysingthestrategicpositionofabusiness• Choosingstrategicdirection• Strategicmethods:howtopursuestrategies• Managingstrategicchange
FortheASLevel,therewillbetwo1.5hourwrittenexamsassessingsomeofthetopicsabove.FortheA-Level,therewillbethree2hourexams,assessingallofthetopicsabove.
CourseSpecification:AQA (7131 & 7132) (HBS)
BuSinESS – AS and A level
ThisWJECcoursewillintroduceyoutothedynamicbusinessenvironmentandtheimportanceofentrepreneurialactivityincreatingbusinessopportunitiesandsustainingbusinessgrowth.
Youwillbeencouragedtodevelopanunderstandingofbusinessinarangeofcontextsanddevelopacriticalunderstandingoforganisationsandtheirabilitytomeetsociety’sneedsandwants.Youwilllearnthatbusinessbehaviourcanbestudiedfromarangeofperspectives;togenerateenterprisingandcreativeapproachestobusinessopportunities,problemsandissues;andtobecomeawareoftheethicaldilemmasandresponsibilitiesfacedbyorganisationsandindividuals.Duringthecourseyouwillacquirearangeofrelevantbusinessandgenericskills,includingdecisionmaking,problemsolving,thechallengingofassumptionsandcriticalanalysisandyouwillapplynumericalskillsinarangeofbusinesscontexts.
TheASqualificationiscomprisedof2components:BusinessOpportunities–assessedby1hrexaminationBusinessFunctions–assessedby2hrexamination
TheALevelqualificationiscomprisedof3components:BusinessOpportunities&Functions–assessedby2hr15minexaminationBusinessAnalysisandStrategy–assessedby2hrexaminationBusinessinaChangingWorld–assessedby2hr30minexamination
YouwillhavetheopportunitytodevelopawiderangeofessentialskillsrequiredforAlevel,highereducationandemployment.Thefocusofthecourseistonurtureanenthusiasmforstudyingbusinessusing
ART & TECH
IchoseBusinessAlevelbecauseIwasinterestedinunderstandinghowbusinessesoperatearoundme.Ilikedbeingabletoapplymybusinessknowledgetocasestudiesinschool,andunderstandrealworldproblemsandstrategies.
IparticularlyenjoyedgoingonthetriptoNewYorkandstudyingbusinessactivityinanothercountry.AttendingseminarsinMacy’sdepartmentstoreandMadameTussaudsgavemeaninsightintohowhugenationalcompaniestailortheirstrategiestoconsumerbehaviour.VisitingtheSkystudiosinLondonwasareallyenjoyable,‘handson’daywhichincludedatourofthestudiosandworkinginteamstodesignandpresentamarketingsolutiontosomeoftheissuesthatSkywerefacing.Thedaygavemeanideaofthefuturejobsavailableforbusinessstudentsandhowexcitinganddiversethoserolescanbe.
Businessistaughtinastructuredwaythatwillhelpyouunderstandthecoursecontentbyapplyingittoreallifecasestudies,includingbusinessesthatyoumayalreadybefamiliarwith.IwouldrecommendBusinessasitisasubjectthatcoversmanyareassuchasmarketing,financeandconsumerbehaviour.Italsopreparesyouwhendealingwithyourownfinancesandlivingindependently.IhopetonowstudyBusiness,MarketingandRetailManagementatUniversity.
STuDEnT ProFILELucy
HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium 13
BUSINESS & ICT
14 HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium
BtEc l3 nAtionAl DiPlomA in BuSinESS
BUSINESS & ICT
Business & Computingn
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ThenewBTECLevel3NationalDiplomainBusinessisapractical,work-relatedcourse.ItistheequivalentoftwoAlevels.Duringthecoursethereistheopportunitytotakepartinatleasttwoweeksworkexperienceinanareaofbusinessthatinterestsyou.
Thecourseismadeupofeightunits,6mandatoryandtwooptional,whichinclude:
• ExploringBusiness
• DevelopingaMarketingCampaign
• PersonalandBusinessFinance
• ManaginganEvent
• InternationalBusiness
• PrinciplesofManagement
Youwilllearnbycompletingassignmentsthatarebasedonrealisticworkplacesituations,activitiesanddemands.Youwillfocusonaparticularsubjectareaanddeveloparangeofspecialistskillsandknowledge.Thecourseisassessedthroughamixtureofcompletingassignments,completingtasksincontrolledconditionsandcompletingawrittenexam.Gradesawardedarepass,merit,
distinctionordistinction*.BTECLevel3NationalDiplomasarevaluedbyemployersandleadtocareeropportunitiesinbusinessareassuchasFinance,HumanResources,ManagementorMarketing.LearnersmayalsoprogressintoHigherEducationDegreeCourses.
CourseSpecification:EDExCEL: BTEC LEvEL 3 nATIonAL DIPLoMA
ThisspecificationhasnotyetbeenfinalisedsomaybesubjecttochangebeforethestartofteachinginSeptember2016
HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium 15
BUSINESS & ICT
EconomicS – AS and A level
Business & Computing
BUSINESS & ICT
HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium 15
Youwillfocusonbuildingknowledgeofcoremicroeconomic,macroeconomicandbusinessconceptsandapplyingthemtobusinesscontextsandevidencerelatingtothemacroeconomicenvironment.Youwillapplyyourknowledgeandunderstandingtofamiliarandunfamiliarcontextsintheassessmentanddemonstrateanawarenessofcurrenteconomiceventsandpolicies.
TheALevelwillbestructuredintofourthemes:
• Markets,consumersandfirmswhereyouwillexplorethewayinwhichconsumersmakechoicesandentrepreneurscreatedesirableproducts.
• Thewidereconomicenvironmentwhichhelpsyoutoexplorehowfirmscanbecomemorecompetitive.
• Theglobaleconomywhichhastheinternationaleconomicenvironmentasitsfocus.
• Makingmarketsworkwhichconsidersdegreesofcompetitionwithinmarketsandencouragesyoutoapplyyourunderstandingastohowgovernmentsmayimprovethefunctioningofmarketsandtheeconomy.
Youwillbeassessedby3examinationsattheendofthe2years.
Paper1-MarketsandhowtheyWork-drawsontopicsfromthemes1and4.
Paper2-CompetingintheGlobalEconomy-drawsontopicsfromthemes2and3.
Paper3-TheEconomicEnvironmentandBusiness-isbasedonapre-releasedcasestudyandyouwillberequiredtoapplyyourknowledgeandunderstandingfromallfourthemes.
CourseSpecification:EDExCEL Economics B (9EBo) - TPS
OurapproachtoEconomicsistoapplyeconomictheorytosupportanalysisofcurrenteconomicproblemsandissues,encouragingyoutoappreciatetheinterrelationshipsbetweenmicroeconomicsandmacroeconomics.
Thecontentofthecoursecovers:
The operation of markets and market failure
• Economicmethodologyandtheeconomicproblem
• Pricedeterminationinacompetitivemarket
• Production,costsandrevenue
• Competitiveandconcentratedmarkets
• Themarketmechanism,marketfailureandgovernmentinterventioninmarkets
The national economy in a global context
• Themeasurementofmacroeconomicperformance
• Howthemacroeconomyworks:thecircularflowofincome,AD/ASanalysis,andrelatedconcepts
• Economicperformance
• Macroeconomicpolicy
AtASassessmentisthroughtwo1.5hourexams.AtA-Leveltherearethree2hourexams.
YouarerequiredtoachieveaminimumofagradeBinmathematicsatGCSEinordertoaccessthiscourse.
CourseSpecification: AQA (7135 & 7136) - HBS
Business & Computing
BUSINESS & ICT
16 HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium
ThisexcitingcoursebringsthestudyofICTuptodateforthe21stcentury.Ithasthebackingofarangeofindustries,highereducationandtheNationalComputingCentre.
Thecoursecontentincludes:
• PracticalProblemSolvingintheDigitalWorld
• LivingintheDigitalWorld
• TheUseofICTintheDigitalWorld
• Coursework:PracticalIssuesInvolvedintheUseofICTintheDigitalWorld
AtASthecourseisassessedthroughtwowrittenexamswhicharebasedonpracticalworkcompletedthroughouttheyear.
AtA2thecourseisassessedthroughonewrittenexamandaprojectbasedpieceofcoursework.
CourseSpecification:AQA 1521 and 2521
inFormAtion & communicAtiontEcHnoloGY (ict) – A level
BtEc l3 ExtEnDED cErtiFicAtE inFormAtion tEcHnoloGYThisqualificationisdesignedforstudentswhoareinterestedinanintroductionintothestudyofcreatingITsystemstomanageandshareinformationalongsideotherfieldsofstudy,withaviewtoprogressingtoawiderangeofhighereducationcourses,notnecessarilyinIT.ThequalificationisequivalenttooneAlevel.
Thereare4unitsthatareassessedinavarietyofways:
• InformationTechnologySystems-exambased
• Creatingsystemstomanageinformation–tasksetbyexamboard
• Usingsocialmediainbusiness-assignmentbased
• Websitedevelopment–assignmentbased
Withinthesefourunitsyouwilllearnaboutdatabases,specialistICTsoftware;multimediadesigne.g.computergame,animationorvideo,andsystemsanalysisanddesign.TheywillprovideopportunitiesforadetailedstudyoftheInternetandlearninghowtoproduceahighqualitywebsite.
YouwilldevelopanunderstandingoftherelationshipsbetweenhardwareandsoftwarethatformanITsystem,managingandprocessingdatatosupportbusinessandusingITtocommunicateandshareinformation.
CourseSpecification:Edexcel BTEC Extended Certificate Information TechnologyThisspecificationhasnotyetbeenfinalisedsomaybesubjecttochangebeforethestartofteachinginSeptember2016
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HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium 17
comPutEr SciEncE – AS and A lEvElAdvancesincomputingaretransformingthewayweworkandournewComputerSciencespecificationischangingwiththetimes.
Thecoursecontentincludes:
• Fundamentalsofprogramming
• Fundamentalsofdatastructures
• Fundamentalsofalgorithms
• Theoryofcomputation
• Fundamentalsofdatarepresentation
• Fundamentalsofcomputersystems
• Fundamentalsofcomputerorganisationandarchitecture
• Consequencesofusesofcomputing
• Fundamentalsofcommunicationandnetworking
• Fundamentalsofdatabases
• BigData
• Fundamentalsoffunctionalprogramming
• Systematicapproachtoproblemsolving
• Thecomputingpracticalproject
AtA-levelassessmentofthecourseisthroughoneon-screenexam,onewrittenexamandapracticalcomputingproject.
YouarerequiredtoachieveaminimumofagradeBinmathematicsatGCSEinordertoaccessthiscourse.
CourseSpecification: AQA (7516 and 7517)
Business & Computing
BUSINESS & ICT
HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium 17
language.Asfarastheconsortiumanduniversitiesareconcerned,languagesarecompatiblewithalmostanycombinationofsubjects,whetherarts,sciencesoramixture.
YouarerequiredtoachieveaminimumofagradeBinyourchosenlanguageatGCSEinordertoaccessthiscourse.
CourseSpecification: AQAThisspecificationhasnotyetbeenfinalisedsomaybesubjecttochangebeforethestartofteachinginSeptember2016
Language, Literature & Culture
18 HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium
FrEncH, GErmAn & SPAniSH – A levelBuildingonGCSE,ALevelwillfocusonthefollowingthemes:Socialissuesandtrends,politicalandartisticculture,literarytextsandfilms,andanindividualresearchproject.
Paper1isaListening,Reading&Writingpaper,assessedinanexamworth40%ofthefinalgrade.Paper2isaWritingpaper,worth30%ofthefinalgrade,inwhichyouwouldwriteaboutatextorafilmthatyouhavestudied.
Paper3isaSpeakingExam,whichlastsapproximately20minutesandisworth30%ofthefinalgrade.Thiswouldbebasedonanindividualresearchprojectandadiscussionofoneofthesub-themesmentioned.
TheALevelqualificationprovidesanexcellentplatformforbroadeninganddeepeningknowledgeofthelanguageanditsapplicationinlistening,reading,writingandspeakingwork.ModernForeignLanguagesarealsobecomingincreasinglyimportantintheSixthFormbecauseoftheireverincreasingrelevancetotheworldofwork.Aswellasprovidingafascinatinginsightintoothercultures,allcoursesaredesignedtoprovidetheopportunitytoexploreintellectuallystimulatingtopicsincludingsocialissuesandcurrentaffairs.
Languageskillsareincreasinglysoughtbyemployersinawiderangeoffields;indeed,manyinternationalcompaniesexpectfluencyinmorethanoneforeign
MyASlevelsubjectswereSpanish,Economics,Politics,andHistory.AsmyyearatASprogressed,IfoundthatSpanishbecamemyfavouritesubject.Thechangefromstudyinghowtosaybasicthingstotalkingindepthaboutmoreinterestingtopicssuchasthemedia,cinema,andmusichasimprovedmyappreciationfortheSpanishcultureandlanguage.Myteachershavesupportedmewellthroughouttheyear,especiallywiththechangeinstyleofthespeakingexamfromGCSE.IwouldhighlyrecommendSpanishtoanystudentwhoenjoyeditatGCSEandwantstohaveaskillthatwillbeveryusefulintheirfuture.
STuDEnT ProFILESam
LANGUAGES & LIT
Language, Literature & Culturen
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Language, Literature & Culture
HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium 19
clASSicAl civiliSAtion - A levelThiscourseprovidesyouwiththeopportunitytostudyGreekandRomancivilisationthrougharangeoftopics.AswellasappreciatingClassicalliteratureintranslationandvariousbackgroundtopicswealsofocusonthecultureofGreekandRomansociety.
AtASthecoursecoverstwomodulesfromthefollowingselection:ArchaeologyandtheClassicalWorld;Homer’sOdysseyandSociety;GreekTragedyinitsContext.AtA2,twomodulesfromthefollowingselectionarestudied:RomanBritain;ArtandArchitectureintheGreekWorld;VirgilandtheWorldoftheHero;RomanHistory:TheUseandAbuseofPower.
Eachyearbothmodulesarestudiedconcurrently.Lessonsfocusondiscussionofthetopicsandthewidersocialandhistoricalcontext.Anelementofindependentstudyisexpected,andregularessays/contextquestionsareset.Allunitsareassessedbywrittenexamination.Thereisnocourseworkoption.
CourseSpecification: oCr Ho41 and H441
LANGUAGES & LIT
CourseSpecification: TBC
TheLatinspecificationshavenotbeenaccreditedbyOfqualandhaverecentlybeenreturnedtoexamboardsforfurtherreview.TheexistingOCRspecificationisbeingstudiedbycurrentYear12&13students.TheabovedetailshavebeenextractedfromtheOCRproposednewqualificationspecificationtogiveyouabroadunderstandingofthelikelycoursecontent.
HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium 19
TheASsubjectsIchosewereLatin,Classics,BiologyandChemistry.SomemightthinkitwasanoddcombinationbutIthoughttheycomplementedeachotherwellasitalwayshelpstobeabletorecognisetherootofadvancedvocabulary.IenjoyedthecourseimmenselyanditwasespeciallyfascinatingstudyingRomanwritersandhowtheymanipulatethelanguageforvividliteraryeffects.Ithelpedmetokeepupmyessaywritingandanalyticalskills.Theteachersreallygotheextramiletohelpwhileguidingyouthroughoutyourcourse.Ibelieveitisuniquesubjecttostudyandallowsyoutoacquiredistinctskillsasonlyahandfulofschoolsofferit.IhavebeenstudyingLatinforalmost7yearsnowandwillbesorrytoletitgoasIleaveforUniversity.
STuDEnT ProFILEAyesha
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Thiscoursewillhelpyoutoacquiresomeunderstandingoftheculture,politicsandsociallifeofRomeatsignificantperiodsinhistory,whilststudyingelementsofthelanguageandliteratureoftheClassicalworld.
AtASleveltwocomponentsarestudied:LatinLanguage(unpreparedprosetranslationpluseithershortEnglishsentencestotranslateintoLatinorcomprehensionquestionstoansweronashortpassageofLatin);LatinLiterature(prescribedtextscoveringproseandverse).Learnersarerequiredtounderstandandappreciatetheliterarycontextforthesettextsbyreadinganappropriatesupportingselectionofancientliteratureintranslation.TherearefourcomponentsatAlevel:UnseenTranslation(ProseandVerse);ProseCompositionorComprehension;ProseLiterature(twoProsetextsarestudiedindepth,andlearnersalsostudyadditionalliteratureintranslationinordertounderstandthecontextfromwhichthesettextshavebeentaken);VerseLiterature(twoVersetextsarestudiedindepth,andlearnersalsostudyadditionalliteratureintranslationinordertounderstandthecontextfromwhichthesettextshavebeentaken).Twohoursperweekwillbedevotedtothestudyoftheprescribedtexts;therestwillbespentonlanguagework.Anelementofprivatestudyisexpected.AllunitsareassessedbywrittenexaminationinbothASandA2.Thereisnocourseworkoption.
YouarerequiredtohavestudiedLatinatKeyStage4ortohaveachievedA*atGCSEinModernForeignLanguageinordertoaccessthiscourse.
lAtin – AS and A level
LANGUAGES & LIT
Language, Literature & Culture
EnGliSH lAnGuAGE & litErAturE – AS and A level
Thiscourseoffersopportunitiesforyoutodevelopyoursubjectexpertisebyengagingcreatively,criticallyandindependentlywithawiderangeoftexts.Usingliteraryandlinguisticconceptsandmethods,youwillanalyseliteraryandnon-literarytextsinarangeofmodesandgenres,intheprocessgaininginsightsintothenatureofdifferentdiscoursesandideasaboutcreativity.Youwilldevelopskillsasproducersandinterpretersoflanguagebycreatingtextsandcriticallyreflectingonyourownprocessesofproduction.Thekeyareasoflearningare–therepresentationofplace,pointofviewandgenreinprose,theformsandfunctionsofpoeticvoice,theroleoftheindividualinsociety,conflictindrama,creativetransformationsoftexts,andresearchingandwriting
Paper 1: Telling Stories• OnecompulsoryquestionontheAQAAnthology:
Paris(40marks)• Onequestionfromachoiceoftwoonprosesettext
(35marks)• Onequestionfromachoiceoftwoonpoetrysettext
(25marks)
Paper 2: Exploring Conflict
Section A – writing about Society• Onepieceofre-creativewritingusingsettext(30
marks)
• Criticalcommentary(25marks)
• Onequestionfromachoiceoftwoondramasettext(45marks)
• non-exam assessment (coursework) 20% of A Level
• Apersonalinvestigationthatexploresaspecifictechniqueortheme.
ForbothASandA2,studentswillstudyFrankenstein,TheGreatGatsby,anonfictionanthologyofextractsfromdifferentgenresonthetopicofParisandapoetryanthology.Therewillbeamixtureofcreativewritingandanalyticalessaywritingtoassesstheunits.
TheEnglishLanguage&LiteraturespecificationshavenotbeenaccreditedbyOfqualandhaverecentlybeenreturnedtoexamboardsforfurtherreview.Theywillbesubjecttofurtherchangeandschoolswilldecidethecourseorcoursestobeofferedoncefinalspecificationsareavailable.
TheexsistingAQAspecificationisbeingstudiedbycurrentYear12&13students.TheabovedetailshavebeenextractedfromtheAQAproposednewqualificationspecificationtogiveyouabroadunderstandingofthelikelycoursecontent.
CourseSpecification:AQA 7706 and 7707
20 HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium
I’vealwaysadoredEnglish-boththelanguageandtheliteratureside-butIwasn’tentirelysureofwhetherornotIwouldbecapableoftakingALevelEnglishLanguageandLiterature.InowrealiseitwasoneofthebestdecisionsI’vemade.ALevelEnglishLanguageandLiteraturedelvesintoawiderangeofworksthatgavemetheknowledgeandanalysisskillsthatwillbenefitmelaterinlife.Ihavediscussedmanyopinionsandideasbasedaroundthemeaningsandcontextsofthetextswehavestudied,whichhasfurtheredmypassion.
Myfavouritepartofthiscoursewasthecreativewritingaspect,asitallowedmetoexpressmycreativityandideasinawaythatchallengedmeyetthrilledme.Ialsolovedgettingtostudyasubjectbasedsostronglyaroundbooks,andbeingabletoreadwiderthanIthoughtIcould.Icannotwaittostudythisatuniversityandhopefullyonedaypursueacareerthatisfocusedonlanguageandliterature.
STuDEnT ProFILEMillie
LANGUAGES & LIT
LANGUAGES & LIT
EnGliSH litErAturE – AS and A levelWorkingfromthebeliefthatnotextexistsinisolationbutistheproductofthetimeinwhichitwasproduced,thiscourseencouragesyoutoexploretherelationshipsthatexistbetweentextsandthecontextswithinwhichtheyarewritten,receivedandunderstood.Studyingtextswithinasharedcontextenablesyoutoinvestigateandconnectthem,drawingoutpatternsofsimilarityanddifferenceusingavarietyofreadingstrategiesandperspectives.
Acrossthecourse,youwillstudytextsbothdiachronically(producedacrossaverybroadtimeperiod)andsynchronically(producedwithinaclearlydefinedtimeperiod).Ineachtask,youwillberequiredtoargueandtoshowpersonalresponsesandcriticalpreferences,supportedbytheterminologyrelevanttothetopicsandcontextswithwhichyouareengaging.
English Literature at HGS & HBSForbothASandAlevel,studentswillstudyOthello,TheGreatGatsby,TessoftheD’Urbervilles(HGS),TheRotters’Club(HBS)andapoetryanthology.
TherearetwounitsfortheASqualification,eachequallyweightedandassessedbya1hr30minsexam.Thefirstunitwillinvolvethestudyoftwotexts:oneShakespeareplayandoneAQAAnthologyofLovePoetrythroughtheAges(Pre-1900orPost-1900).Thesecondunitwillinvolvethestudyoftwoprosetextsandtheexaminationwillincludeanunseenproseextract.
TherearethreeunitsfortheALevelqualification:
unit 1: Love through the Ages
Studyofthreetexts:onepoetryandoneprosetext,ofwhichonemustbewrittenpre-1900,andoneShakespeareplay.
Assessedbyexaminationwhichwillincludetwounseenpoems
unit 2: Texts in Shared Contexts - Modern Times: Literature from 1945 to the Present Day
Studyofthreetexts:oneprose,onepoetry,andonedrama,ofwhichonemustbewrittenpost-2000.Assessedbyexaminationwhichwillincludeanunseenextract
unit 3: Coursework
Comparativecriticalstudyoftwotexts,atleastoneofwhichmusthavebeenwrittenpre-1900.Oneextendedessay(2500words).
English Literature A level at TPSForbothASandAlevelstudentswillfollowtheLITBspecification,followingtherouteof‘AspectsofTragedy’(ASandAlevel)and‘ElementsofCrimeWriting’(Alevelonly).
AtASLevelstudentsareexaminedviatwopaperswhichhavea50%overallweightingeach.
Language, Literature & Culture
HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium 21
Paper 1- Literary Genres: Drama (closed book exam)
Studyoftwotexts:oneShakespearetext(Othello)andonefurtherdramatext(DeathofaSalesman-byArthurMiller).
Paper 2- Literary Genres: prose and poetry (open book exam)
Studyofoneprosetext(TheGreatGatsby-F.ScottFitzgerald)andonepoetrytext(SelectionofJohnKeatspoetry).
AtALevelstudentsareexaminedviatwopapers,bothofwhichareworth40%each.Thefinal20%ismadeupofanon-examassessment:TheoryandIndependence.
Paper 1- Literary Genres (closed book exam)
Studyofthreetexts:oneShakespearetext(Othello),onedramatext(DeathofaSalesman)andonefurtherpre-1900text(Keatspoetry).
Paper 2: Texts and genres (open book exam)
ElementsofCrimewriting-textsTBC.Studyofthreetexts:onepost-2000,onepoetryandonefurthertext(oneofwhichmustbewrittenpre-1900).
non-exam assessment
Studyof2texts:onepoetryandoneprosetext,informedbythestudyoftheCriticalAnthology
Twoessaysof1250-1500words,eachrespondingtoadifferenttextandlinkingtoadifferentaspectoftheCriticalAnthology.Oneessaycanbere-creativebutwillneedtobeaccompaniedbyacommentary.
CourseSpecification:AQA Lit A (7711, 7712) – HGS & HBSAQA Lit B (7716,7717) – TPS
Thecourseaimstostudytherelationshipbetweenpeopleandtheirenvironmentatavarietyofscalesfromlocaltoglobal.Itdevelopsanunderstandingandknowledgeofgeographicalissuesandofferstheopportunitytouseanddevelopgeographicalskills.AlevelGeographyenablesyoutoappreciatethedynamicnatureofthesubject;howplaces,environmentsandissueschangeandhowpeoplerespondtothosechanges.
Thecoursecoversarangeofphysicalandhumangeographytopicswiththepossibilityofeachinstitutionstudyingaslightlydifferentcombination.ThePhysicalGeographyoptionsinclude;hotdesertenvironmentsandtheirmargins,coastalsystemsandlandscapes,hazards,waterandcarboncycles,ecosystemsunderstressandcoldenvironments.HumanGeographyoptionsinclude;changingplaces,contemporaryurbanenvironments,globalsystemsandglobalgovernance,resourcesecurityandpopulationandtheenvironment.
Inaddition,studentscompletefieldworkanddevelopgeographicalskillsasacorepartofthecourse.AtASstudentswillbeexaminedonthisandforthefullA-levelstudentscompleteapersonalGeographicalInvestigationworth20%oftheoverallqualification.Thisisanopportunityforstudentstoinvestigateanareaofgeographyofinteresttothemandcanstem
HUMANITIES
Humanities & Social Sciences
GEoGrAPHY – AS and A levelfromanypartofthecourse.Aspartofthistheyareexpectedtocollectdatainthefield.StudentswillbesupportedthroughthisatbothASandA-levelwithfieldworkopportunities.
Allunits,otherthantheA-levelGeographicalInvestigationwillbeassessedbywrittenexamination.
GeographyisarigorousALevelandisrecognisedassuchbyuniversitiesandemployersalike.Itswiderangingskills,whichincludeanalytical,ICT,statistical,researchandpresentation,andsubjectarea,meansgeographystudentsgoontostudyawiderangeofsubjectsfromlawtoengineeringandentermanyprofessionssuchasworkingfortheenvironmentagency,accountancyandmarketing.
CourseSpecification:AQA
ThisspecificationhasnotyetbeenaccreditedbyOfqualsomaybesubjecttochangebeforethestartofteachinginSeptember2016.
22 HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium
I’mcurrentlystudyingGeography,MathsandClassicalCivilisationforA2.Geographyallowsyoutostudyandexplorethecomplexitiesoftheinterconnectednatureofthephysicalandhumanenvironment.Withoutthegeographystaff,IdonotthinkIwouldbeaspassionateaboutgeographyasIamnowandIfeelthattheircommitmenttothesubjectandpupilsonlyenhancesstudyinggeographyevenfurther.RepresentingtheUKattheStudentGlobalLeadershipInstitute2015inHawaii,allowedmetoworkwithstudentsfromallovertheworld,andappreciatetheimportanceofstudyinggeographywhenaddressingglobalchallenges.
A-levelsarebynomeansaneasytask,butifyouhitthegroundrunningandutiliseyourtimeeffectively,thenitcanbeanextremelyrewardingtwoyears.WithbeingpartofaconsortiumIfoundmeetingnewpeopleespeciallyfunbutalsohavingmoreindependencewhichpreparesyouforthestep-uptoUniversity,whereIwishtoreadGeography.
STuDEnT ProFILEHannah
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HUMANITIES
Humanities & Social Sciences
HUMANITIES
HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium 23
PHiloSoPHY AnD EtHicS – AS and A levelTheaimsofthiscoursearetoencourageyoutoidentifyfundamentalquestionsofhumanexistenceandtoexploresuchquestionswithinthecontextofareligioustradition.
TheCourseisbrokenintothreesections;Philosophy,EthicsandDevelopmentinReligiousThought.
TheASPhilosophyunitwillcoverAncientGreekPhilosophers,argumentsfortheexistenceofGodinChristianity,LifeAfterDeathandtheSoulandChallengestoReligiousBelief.
IntheASEthicsunityouwillstudyNormativeEthics,AppliedEthics(e.g.euthanasia)andEthicalLanguage.
IntheASunitonDevelopmentinChristianThoughtyouwillstudytherelationshipbetweenGodandHumansandthepersonofJesusChrist.
AtA2thePhilosophy&Religionunitwillcover,Religiouslanguage;ExperienceandtheNatureofGod.
ForA2EthicsunityouwillbestudyingMetaethics,freewillanddeterminism,ConscienceandtheDivineCommandTheory.
InA2DevelopmentonChristianThoughtyouwillstudyrevelation,secularism,pluralismandGenderTheology.
Allsixunitsareassessedbywrittenexamination.
PhilosophyandEthicsisahighlyrespectedqualificationthatleadsintoawiderangeofuniversityqualificationsandcareersthatrequiregoodverbalandreasoningskillssuchasjournalism,law,medicineandpoliticsaswellascareersthatinvolveagoodunderstandingofpeoplesuchasnursing,psychology,socialwork,teachingandpoliceworktonamejustafew.
CourseSpecification:TBC
ThePhilosophyandEthicsspecificationshavenotbeenaccreditedbyOfqualandmaybesubjecttofurtherchange.Schoolswilldecidethecourseorcoursestobeofferedoncefinalspecificationsareavailable.TheexistingOCRspecificationisbeingstudiedbycurrentYear12&13students.TheabovedetailshavebeenextractedfromtheOCRproposednewqualificationspecificationtogiveyouabroadunderstandingofthelikelycoursecontent.
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Historyasasubjectishighlyvaluedbybothuniversitiesandemployers,duetotheknowledgeandtransferableskillsitdevelops,rangingfromanalysisandcomprehensiontoresearchandpresentationskills.
InadditiontoenhancingyourknowledgeofperiodsofBritishandEuropeanhistory,thiscoursewillbroadenyourawarenessofaspectssuchaspolitics,religion,cultureandsociety,andprovideanunderstandingofhowandwhychangeshaveoccurredovertime,andhowallofthisimpactsontheworldtoday.
History A Level units at HGS
• Russia,1917-91:fromLenintoYeltsin• TheGermanDemocraticRepublic,
1949-90• PublichealthandthestateinBritain,
1780-1939• Coursework–TheUSAinthe
TwentiethCentury
History A Level units at TPS
• GermanyandWestGermany:1918-89• Spain,theCivilWar,Dictatorshipand
Democracy:1930-78
HiStorY - AS and A level
• RebellionandDisorderundertheTudors:1485-1603
• Coursework:TheCausesoftheFirstWorldWarorTheArabIsraeliConflict
History A Level units at HBS
• Britainc1785-c1870,Democracy,ProtestandReform
• TheUnificationofGermany1840-71• CivilRightsandRaceRelationsintheUSA1850-
2009
• Coursework–TheCivilRightsMovement:1870-1970
Akeycourseifyouareplanningtocontinueontouniversitytostudyhistoryrelatedsubjects.Italsoprovidesastronggroundingforyoutopursuemanyothersubjectareasatdegreelevel.ItcombineswellwithsubjectssuchasEnglishLiterature,Economics,GovernmentandPolitics.
CourseSpecification:EDExCEL 8H10 and 9H10
HUMANITIES
24 HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium
Humanities & Social Sciences
HistoryhasbeenasubjectthatIhaveenjoyedeversincestartingschoolinYear7.Thelessonsarevaried,challengingandthetopicsvarywidelyyearonyear,fromlearningabouttheAmericanWestinYear10,totheArabIsraeliConflictinYear13.ThebestpartaboutHistoryhoweveraretheteachers,whoaregenuinelyenthusiasticabouttheirsubjectandmakethelessonsasfunaspossible.IwanttostudyLawatuniversitynextyearandHistorycomplementsthecourseperfectlyduetohavingtolookateventsfrommultiplepointsofview.
STuDEnT ProFILEChristian
HUMANITIES
HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium 25
HUMANITIES
Humanities & Social Sciences
GovErnmEnt & PoliticS – A levelThiscoursewillencourageyoutodevelopacriticalawarenessofthenatureofpoliticsandtherelationshipbetweenpoliticalideas,institutionsandprocesses.YouwillacquireknowledgeandunderstandingofthestructuresofauthorityandpowerwithinthepoliticalsystemsoftheUK,EUandUSA,plusaninformedunderstandingoftherightsandresponsibilitiesoftheindividual.
ForthefirstASUnit,ContemporaryPoliticsoftheUK(F851),youwillstudypoliticalparties,pressuregroups,electoralsystemsandreferenda,UKparliamentaryelectionsandvotingbehaviourintheUK.ThesecondASUnit,ContemporaryGovernmentoftheUK(F852)coverstheconstitution,theexecutive,thelegislature,thejudiciaryandtheEuropeanUnion.
AtA2youwillstudyContemporaryUSGovernmentandPolitics(F853)whichincludesstudyingelections,presidentialandcongressional,politicalparties,pressuregroups,theconstitution,congress,thepresidency,theSupremeCourtandcivilrightsandliberties.ThenyouwillstudyUSGovernmentandPolitics(F855)whichinvolvescomparingandcontrastingdifferentfeaturesofBritishandAmericanpoliticsand,whererelevant,makingconnectionstoandcomparisonswiththepoliticalsystemoftheEuropeanUnion.
Inadditiontoyourtimetabledlessonsyouwillbeexpectedtobealerttothecourseofeventsintheworldofpoliticsthroughnewspapers,televisionandontheinternet.Allunitsareassessedbywrittenexamination.
Thestudyofgovernmentandpoliticsprovidesasolidbasisforthoseproceedingintohighereducation.Thesubjectiswellviewedbyuniversitiesandisrecognisedasasoundbaseforfurtherstudyinthearts,humanitiesandsocialsciences.Itprovidesacapacityforanalysis,anabilitytocommunicateandanunderstandingofthedecision-makingprocess.
CourseSpecification:EDExCEL 8GPo1 and 9GPo1
IdecidedtotakeGovernmentandPoliticsatA-levelasitcomplementedmyotherASsubjects;History,PhilosophyandEthicsandClassics.IwashesitanttotakePoliticsduetoitbeingacompletelynewsubjecttome;however,thePoliticsdepartmentwereinstantlyengagingandverysupportive.IamnowoneyearintothecourseanditismyfavouritesubjectandI’mconfidentIwouldliketocontinuemyPoliticsstudiesatdegreelevel.ThereasonIenjoyPoliticssomuchisthatitinvolveskeepingup-to-date with current affairs, and learningaboutthestructureandworkingsofourpoliticalsystemwhichI find incredibly interesting. Ithasdeveloped myanalytical skills which benefit myother subjects. I highly recommend politics toanyoneinterestedinthisarea.
STuDEnT ProFILEEllie
HUMANITIES
26 HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium
Humanities & Social Sciences
HEAltH AnD SociAl cArE– A level
HEAltH & SociAl cArE – BtEc l3 ExtEnDED cErtiFicAtE Thiscourseoffersanintroductiontothebroad
vocationalareaofHealthandSocialCare.Assessmentisbyacombinationofwrittenexaminationandcoursework.
TheunitsatASlevelare:HumanGrowthandDevelopment,CommunicationandValuesandPositiveCareEnvironments.AfurtherthreeunitsarestudiedatA2:-MeetingIndividualNeeds,PromotingHealthandWell-beingandInvestigatingDisease.
Youwilldeveloparangeofresearchskills,usingbothprimaryandsecondarydatalearningtoworkindependentlybyeffectivelyplanningandmonitoringyourworkload.Youwilldeveloptheabilitytomeetdeadlinesandproducewellpresentedassignments,throughtheuseofICT.Youwillbuildaportfolioofcompletedwork,whichyouwillhaveworkedonbothindependentlyandingroupsandthroughthisdevelopteamworkandpresentationskills.
Youwillalsoundertakeworkexperienceinahealth,socialcareorearlyyearssettingtofurtheryourknowledgeandunderstandingofthediverseandcomplexnatureoftheHealthandSocialCaresector
CourseSpecification:Edexcel 8741 and 9741
Thisisavocationally-relatedqualificationwhichdevelopsthemesrequiredforworkorfurtherstudyintherewardingHealthandSocialCaresector.Youwillstudyfortwoyears,takingtheNationalExtendedCertificatewhichisequivalenttooneAlevel.Coreunitsinclude:WorkinginHealthandSocialCare,HumanLifespanandDevelopmentandMeetingIndividualNeeds.OtherunitsmayincludeSociologicalandPsychologicalPerspectivesonH&SCandPhysiologicalDisordersandtheircare.Assessmentisvaried;twoofthecoreunitsareexternallyassessedwithexamination.Otherformsofassessmentincludepresentations,roleplays,writtenassessmentsandreflectivediaryentries.Thecourseisexcellentforuniversitylevelstudyorworkinglifeinanoccupationwithinthehealthorsocialcaresectors.
CourseSpecification:EDExCEL BTEC L3 Extended CertificateThisspecificationhasnotyetbeenfinalisedsomaybesubjecttochangebeforethestartofteachinginSeptember2016
IchoseHealthandSocialcarebecauseitprovidesme with a variety of skills that are required formany different career paths. It teaches me lifeskillsthatcanbeusedinboththeworkplaceandinmypersonallife.IenjoyHealthandSocialcarebecausetheclasscangetinvolvedinstimulatingdiscussionsaboutwhatwe’relearningwhichgivesusadeeperunderstandingofwhatwe’redoing.
STuDEnT ProFILELexi
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HUMANITIES
HUMANITIES
HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium 27
PSYcHoloGY – AS and A levelTheaimofthiscourseistogainanunderstandingofkeytopicsandtheknowledgeandskillsrequiredintheacademicstudyofpsychology.Thisisdonethroughlookingatsomeofthemainapproachesinpsychology–biological,cognitive,behaviouralandsocial.Youwillbeexpectedtotakeanactivepartinalllessonstofullydevelopyourunderstanding.
Youwilllearnabouttheoriginsofpsychologyanditsemergenceasascience.Youwillalsolearnaboutthestructureandfunctionofthenervoussystemandtheroleofhormonesinhumanbehaviour.Youwillgainanunderstandingoftheresearchmethodsanddatahandlingtechniquesusedinpsychology.Youwillalsodevelopanunderstandingofethicalissuesandcarryoutpracticalresearchactivities.
Allunitsareassessedbywrittenexamination.Thereisnocourseworkoption.FortheASLevelqualificationyouarerequiredtosittwopapers.Paper1:IntroductoryTopicsinPsychologywillcoverSocialInfluence,MemoryandAttachment.Paper2:PsychologyinContextwillstudyApproachesinPsychology,PsychopathologyandResearchMethods.
ThenewfullA-Levelqualificationwillrequireyoutositthreepapers.Paper1:IntroductoryTopicsinPsychologywillcoverSocialInfluence,Memory,AttachmentandPsychopathology.Paper2:PsychologyinContextwillstudyApproachesinPsychology,BiopsychologyandResearchMethods.Paper3:IssuesandOptionsinPsychologywillstudyIssuesandDebatesinPsychologyandonetopicfromeachofthefollowing:Relationships;Gender;orCognitionandDevelopment;Schizophrenia,EatingBehaviour;orStress;andAggression;ForensicPsychologyorAddiction.
Studyingpsychologywillhelpyougainagreaterunderstandingofyourselfandotherpeople.Youwillbetterunderstandyourinteractionwithothersandincreaseyourunderstandingofthecausesofpsychologicaldisorders.Thefocusoncriticalthinkingandanalysisofevidenceinthissubjectcomplementsthestudyofphilosophy,biology,sociologyandmanyothersubjects.
Coursespecification:AQA 7181 and 7182
SocioloGY – AS and A levelDuringthecourseyouwillbeencouragedtodevelopyourownsociologicalawarenessthroughactiveengagementwiththecontemporaryworld.Sociologistsareinterestedinexplainingwhysocietyworksthewayitdoesandtheextenttowhichourbehaviour,experiencesandlifechancesareshapedbyoursocialclass,age,gender,ethnicityandlocality.Thoseinterestedinthesubjectwillwanttounderstandtheworldinwhichtheylive–howandwhyitfunctionsasitdoesandwhohaspowerandwhodoesnot.Studyingsociologymakesyoulookattheworld,andyourplaceinit,incompletelynewways–youwillneverbethesameagain!
ThesubjectcanbetakenasanASawardattheendofoneyearofstudyorasanAlevelaftertwoyearswhichwillenableyoutodemonstrateawiderrangeandgreaterdepthofknowledgeandunderstandingandmorehighlydevelopedskillsofapplication,analysis,interpretationandevaluation.
ThetopicsstudiedatASareeducation,researchmethodsandachoicefromFamilies and households,Culture and identity,Health and work,poverty and welfareandthisisexaminedintwopapers.AtAlevelyouwillstudyeducation,theory,research methods,crime and devianceandachoicefromonefromfamilies and households,culture and identity,work,poverty and welfare and healthandonefrombeliefs in society,global development,the media or stratification and differentiation.TheALevelisassessedby3writtenexaminations.
InEducationyouwillstudytheroleoftheeducationsystem,investigatedifferencesinachievementbyethnicity,genderandsocialclass,theexplanationsfortheselookingattheimportanceofculture,economicdifferencesorteacherexpectationsandlabellingand
peoplejoincultsorsectsandwhatimpactdothesehaveonpeople’slives?
The medialooksathowthemediarepresentsage,class,ethnicity,gender,sexualityanddisability,theimpactofglobalisationandpopularcultureandtheprocessesofselectionandpresentationofthecontentofthenewslookingattheextenttowhichthemediaisbiasedtowardscertainpoliticalviews.
Crime and Deviancefocusesonwhoismostlikelytocommitcrime?Whatfactorsaccountfortheperceivedriseinanti-socialbehaviour,violentcrimeandgangs?Whataretherelationshipsbetweenclass,age,ethnicity,gender,locationandcrime?Howhavesociologistsdevelopedtheoriestounderstandcrimeandsocietymoregenerally?
Sociologyisawellrespectedacademicdiscipline.Thecoursewillbeexcellentpreparationforfurtherstudyatuniversityandisusefulforanumberofcareersincludinglaw,teaching,socialwork,journalism,television,thepolice,nursing,thecivilserviceaswellastheworldofbusinessandcommerce.
Coursespecification:AQA 7191 and 7192
28 HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium
Humanities & Social Sciences
HUMANITIES
howchangesingovernmentpolicyforexampletheabolitionoftheEMAandtheraisinguniversitytuitionfeesmayimpactontheseinequalities.
InFamilies and Households youwilllookintothechangingrelationshipswithinthefamilywithreferencetogenderroles,domesticlabourandpowerandpatternsregardingmarriage,divorceandchildbearingandtheresultingdiversityoffamilyandhouseholdstructuresincludingthegrowthofloneparenthoodanditsconsequences.Askhowthenatureofchildhoodandthestatusofchildrenhaschangedandlookatthe‘darkside’offamilylife–women’sexploitation,domesticviolence,childabuseandfamilylinkstomentalillness.
Culture and Identitylooksatdifferentconceptionsofcultureandidentityincontemporarysociety.Therolethatage,disability,ethnicity,gender,nationality,sexualityandsocialclassplayinshapingouridentitiesareconsideredaswellashowcultureandidentifyaffectspatternsofleisureandconsumption.
HealthinvestigatestheunequaldistributionofhealthandillnessbothintheUKandinternationally,therolesplayedbymedicineandhealthprofessionalsaswellasthestudyofthenatureandsocialdistributionofmentalillness.
work, poverty and welfarelooksatsociologicalexplanationsofthenature,existenceandpersistenceofpovertyincontemporarysociety,alongwithresponsesandsolutionstoit.Thesignificanceofworkandworklessnessisalsoinvestigated,includingtheeffectsofglobalisation.
Beliefs in Societyasksquestionssuchas:Isreligionstillrelevanttoyoungpeople?Whatfactorshelptoexplainsecularisationandtheriseofreligiousfundamentalismandextremismincontemporarysociety?Doesreligioncontrolandoppressusorcanitbeaforceforliberationandsocialchange?Whydo
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HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium 29
YouwillfollowtheOCRBiologyAcoursewhichcoversthekeyconceptsinbiology.Teachingofpracticalskillsisintegratedwiththeoreticaltopicsandtheyareassessedthroughthewrittenexampapers.Ifyoutakethe2yearAleveloptionthereisalsoapracticalendorsementthatmustbecompleted.
TheAlevelcourseissplitinto6teachingmodulesandthereare3exampaperstobetakenattheendofYear13.Thesepaperscovertheentire2yearcourse,includingtheworkcompletedinYear12.Thereisalsoapracticalnonexamendorsementtobereported
SCIENCE & MATHS
BioloGY – AS and A level
separatelyattheendofthecourse.Classteacherswillassessthesepracticalskillsinlessons,withaminimumof12practicalactivitiestobecarriedoutoverthe2years.Thisisreportedseparatelytotheexamgradeasapassorfail.Themathscontentofthecourseisintegralandwillform10%ofthemarksavailablewithinthewrittenexaminations.
TheAScoursenolongercountstowardstheAlevelbutisastandalonequalificationexaminedattheendofyear12.Theexaminationconsistsof2papersbothhaving50%weighting.Thereisnocourseworkorpracticalendorsementsbutpracticalworkwillstillbeanessentialpartoflessons.
IfyoudecidetosittheASandthenwanttocontinuetoAlevelyouwillneedtorevisittheAScontentasitisincludedintheAlevelexams.
TheASbiologycourseisdesignedtobeinterestingandchallengingandwillgiveyouagoodgroundinginthesubject.A2biologyintroducesmoreadvanceandcomplexconceptsanddevelopstheskillsrequiredforfurtherbiologicalstudies.
YouarerequiredtoachieveaminimumofagradeBintheBiologytriplesciencepaperoradditionalsciencepaperinordertoaccessthiscourse.
CourseSpecification:oCr H020 and H420
Science & Maths
IhaveknownfromYear11thatIwouldliketoreadmedicineatuniversity.ThereforeIchosemysubjectsbasedonmyaspirationwhichincludedBiology,Chemistry,MathsandFurtherMaths.
DuetothepassionIhaveformysubjects,Ihavethoroughlyenjoyedthemandbeenabletocompletemyselfstudywithease.InSixthFormIhavefoundthatitisessentialtochoosesubjectsyouenjoyotherwiseyoumayfinditdifficulttofindmotivationtofulfilyourpotential.
MyexperienceatSixthFormhasbeenrewardingwithlotsofexperiencesandopportunities.IwouldrecommendtheHitchinconsortiumtoanybody.
STuDEnT ProFILEHannah – Head Girl
Science & Maths
30 HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium
cHEmiStrY – AS and A level
• Paper2assessesthecontentfromModules1,2,4and6
• Paper3assessesthecontentfromModules1to6.YouarerequiredtoachieveaminimumofagradeBintheChemistrytriplesciencepaperoradditionalsciencepaperinordertoaccessthiscourse.
CourseSpecificationoCr H032 and H432
SCIENCE & MATHS
withothersubjects.ItcanbetakenastheonlyscienceatALevel,becausealthoughchemistrycontributeswelltoothersubjects,itdoesnotrelyonknowledgefromotherareas,althoughtodowell,youmusthaveconfidenceinbasicmathematicalmethods.
ChemistryAissplitintosixmodules:Modules1to4constitutethestand-aloneASLevelqualification;Modules1to6,combinedwiththePracticalEndorsement,make-upthefullALevel.
Themodulescanbesummarisedas:
• Module 1: Development of practical skills –thismoduleunderpinsthewholeofthespecification,andcoversthepracticalskillsthatyouwilldevelopthroughoutthecourse.Thepracticalskillsinthismodulecanbeassessedwithinwrittenexaminationsand(forALevelonly)withinthePracticalEndorsement.
• Module 2: Foundations in Chemistry-coversconceptsrequiredthroughouttheremainingmodulesincludingatoms,compounds,moleculesandequations.
• Modules 3 and 4:ASLeveltopicscovertheperiodictableandorganicchemistry.
• Modules 5 and 6:ALeveltopicscoverphysicalchemistrysuchasratesofreaction,equilibriaandmoreorganicreactions.
AtASLevelyouwillbeassessedintwoexaminationpapersonanycontentfromModules1to4.
AtALevelyouwillbeassessedinthreeexaminationpapersasbelow:
• Paper1assessesthecontentfromModules1,2,3and5
I am studying Chemistry, Biology, Maths and FurtherMaths. I decided to do Chemistry in Year 12 becauseit was necessary in order for me to be able to studymedicineatuniversity.
I found that I really enjoy Chemistry and decided topursue it toA2Levelbecausewhile itcanbeappliedtomanyothersubjects, itprovides lotsofvarietyanda unique opportunity to demonstrate practical skills.The logical nature of the subject helps me to graspnewtopicsandaidsunderstanding,althoughIstillfindmyselfconstantlychallenged.
STuDEnT ProFILEFaiza
Theaimsofthecoursearetodevelopyourinterestinchemistry,toappreciatehowsocietymakesdecisionsaboutscientificissues,todevelopyourskills,knowledgeandunderstandingofhowscienceworksandtodevelopknowledgeandunderstandingofdifferentareasofchemistryandhowtheyrelatetoeachother.
Achemistryqualificationiswidelyrecognisedasevidenceoflogicalthinkingandaninterestintheworldaroundyou.ApassatALevelisessentialforachemistrydegreeaswellasformedicineandveterinaryqualifications.Itisstronglyrecommendedforthosetakingbiologicalsciences,butlinksinwell
SCIENCE & MATHS
SCIENCE & MATHS
HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium 31
Science & Maths
PHYSicS – AS and A levelTakingALevelphysicswillallowyoutocontinuetostudyphysicsforoneyearorfortwoafterGCSE.Aswellasextendingyourknowledgeandunderstandingofphysics,thecourseaimstodevelopyourinterestandenthusiasminthesubject.Thecoursewillprepareyouforprogressintofurthereducation,followingcoursesinPhysics,Engineering,Medicine,oroneoftheothersciencesorrelatedsubjects.
StudentswillfollowtheOCRPhysicsAcourse,whichcoversthekeyconceptsinphysics.Theseincludemechanics,electricityandelectromagnetism,atomicandnuclearphysics,wavesandtheUniverse.Teachingofpracticalskillsisintegratedwiththeoreticaltopicsandtheyarebothassessedthroughthewrittenexampapers.
ThenewAlevelcourseissplitinto6teachingmodulesandthereare3exampapers,tobetakenattheendofYear13.Thesepaperscovertheentire2yearcourse,includingtheworkcompletedinYear12.Thereisalsoapracticalnonexamendorsement,whichisreportedseparatelyattheendofthecourse.Classteacherswillassessthesepracticalskillsinlessons,withaminimumof12practicalactivitiestobecarriedoutoverthe2years.Thisisreportedseparatelytotheexamgradeasapassorfail.Themathscontentofthecourseisintegralandwillform40%ofthemarksavailablewithinthewrittenexaminations.
TheAScoursenolongercountstowardstheAlevelbutisastandalonequalificationexaminedattheendofyear12.Theexaminationconsistsof2papersbothhaving50%weighting.Thereisnocourseworkorpracticalendorsementsbutpracticalworkwillstill
beanessentialpartoflessons.StudentswishingtocontinuetoA-levelaftersittingtheASpaperswillneedtorevisittheAScontentasitisincludedintheAlevelexams.
TheASphysicscourseisdesignedtobeinterestingandchallengingandwillgiveyouagoodgroundinginthesubject.A2physicsintroducesmoreadvancedandcomplexconceptsanddevelopstheskillsrequiredforfurtherstudiesinthesubject.
YouarerequiredtoachieveaminimumofagradeBinthePhysicstriplesciencepaperoradditionalsciencepaperinordertoaccessthiscourse.
CourseSpecification: oCr H156 and H556
IalwaysknewthatIwantedtostudyMathematicsat Bristol University so I decided to chooseoptionsbasedonmeetingmyaspirations.IstudyMathematics,FurtherMathematicsandPhysicsandfindthatthethreesubjectscomplimenteachotherwell.TheSciencedepartmentaresohelpfulandalwaysaretheretohelplearningoutsideoflessontime.
STuDEnT ProFILEjoe
SCIENCE & MATHS
TheBTECLevel3NationalExtendedCertificateinAppliedScienceisdesignedtoreflectaspectsofemploymentwithintheappliedsciencesector.Itisequallysuitableforstudentswhoareplanningtoenteremploymentdirectlyandforthosewhowishtoprogresstohighereducation.ThequalificationisequivalentinsizetooneAlevelandisrecognisedbyhighereducationprovidersascontributingtomeetingadmissionrequirementsformanycourses,including,butnotexclusively,thosewhicharescience-related.Thecoursehasbeendevelopedinconsultationwithemployersandprofessionalbodiestoensurethecontentisappropriateandconsistentwithcurrentpractisewithinthesector.Youwilldevelopkeyskillsincludingplanninginvestigations,collecting,analysingandpresentingdataandcommunicatingresults.Youwillstudythreemandatoryunitswhichcoverapplicationsofscience,practicalscientificproceduresandtechniquesandscienceinvestigationskills.Theseareallsetinthecontextoftheappliedsciencesector.Thereisalsoanoptionalunitinwhichyouwillbeabletofocusonaparticularappliedsciencepathwayinhighereducation.Optionalunitscouldinclude:
• PhysiologyofHumanBodySystems
• ApplicationsofInorganicChemistry
• ElectricalCircuitsandtheirApplication
Assessmentisinternalandthroughavarietyofdifferentmeans.Everyunitinthecoursewilladdtowardsyourfinalgrade.
CourseSpecification:Pearson BTEC Level 3 national Extended Certificate in Applied ScienceThisspecificationhasnotyetbeenaccreditedbyOfqualsomaybesubjecttochangebeforethestartofteachinginSeptember2016.
APPliED SciEncES– BtEc l3 nAtionAlExtEnDED cErtiFicAtEin APPliED SciEncE
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mAtHEmAticS – A level
FurtHEr mAtHEmAticS– A level
Thecoursecovers:ASUnits-IntroductiontoAdvancedMathematics,ConceptsforAdvancedMathematicsandoneappliedmodule.A2Units-MethodsforAdvancedMathematics,ApplicationsofAdvancedMathematicsandafurtherappliedmodule.AppliedmodulesaretakenfromeitherMechanics,StatisticsorDecisionMathematics.
Youwilllearnthroughavarietyofmethodsincludingproblemsolvingexercisesandpracticaltasks.Forsomeunitsyoualsohavetocompletealongerpieceofcoursework.Thisallowsyoutousetheknowledgeyouhaveacquiredinamorepracticalsituation.AllunitsareassessedbywrittenexamwithacourseworkelementinUnit3.
VirtuallyanycareerpathisenhancedbybeingabletoofferAlevelMathematics.
CourseSpecification:OCRSpecification:3895 and 7895 (TPS)
TheAQAcourseprovidesatraditionalexaminationassessmentofMathematics.AtAS,twoofthepapersareCorePureMathematics,comprisingAlgebra,Co-ordinateGeometryandCalculus,whichinvolvesdifferentiationandintegration.ForthethirdpaperyoucoverdifferentapplicationareasfromStatisticsorMechanics.A2hastwomoreCorePurepapersandanotherpaperonStatisticsorMechanics.
Muchofthecoursewillbe‘traditionalteaching’withyougainingconfidenceinthevariousmathematicalprocesseswhilstimprovingyourlogicandreasoning.Youwillgainanunderstandingofhoweachmathematicalprocesscanbeappliedtodifferentproblemsandmustaddressreallifesituationsandreducethemtomathematicalform.
ThereisatpresentnocourseworksoextendedworkwillcomefromlinkingtogetherthedifferentareasofMathematics.Allunitsareassessedbywrittenexamination.
CourseSpecification:AQASpecification:5361 and 6361 (HGS & HBS)YouarerequiredtoachieveaminimumofagradeBinmathematicsatGCSEinordertoaccessthesecourses.
YoucanextendyourstudyofMathematicsbytakingASorA2levelFurtherMathematicsalongsidethestandardA-level.ThecourseservestoreinforcetheconceptsandtechniquesoftheMathematicsspecificationwithproblemsofamoresearchingnatureandwillprovideachancetostudynewandmoresophisticatedmathematicalconcepts.Astrongcommitmenttothesubjectisrequiredandyoumustbepreparedtoworkinyourowntime.
ThecoursecanonlybetakeninconjunctionwithAS/A2Mathematicsandisdelivereddifferentlyateachinstitution.AtHitchinGirls’SchoolFurtherMathsisrunasa“doublemaths”subject,itistaughtalongside3othersubjects,meaningstudentscancomplete4,4.5oreven5fullA-levelsoncompletingthecoursethroughyear13.
FurtherMathematicsissuitableforthosewhowishtostudyMathsbasedsubjectsatUniversitysuchasEngineering,ComputerScience,Economics,PhysicsandMathsitself.YouwillbeabletoshowyourselfasanablemathematiciantoUniversitiesandtheemploymentmarket.
CourseSpecification:AQA 5371 and 6371 (HGS & HBS) oCr 3896 and 7896 (TPS)
Science & Maths
HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium 33
MEDIA & ARTS
34 HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium
Thiscourseisdesignedtohelpyoupursueyourinterestsandskillsinarangeofpracticaldramaelementsincluding:
• acting
• directing
• costumedesign
• setdesign
• maskandtechnicaldesign.
AtASyouwillperformextractsfromoneofachoiceofplaystoillustrateyourunderstandingofakeytheatricalpractitioner.Youwillstudyonesetplayfromachoiceofsevenandanalyseandevaluatetheworkoflivetheatremakers.Youwillattendliveperformancesaspreparationforthispartofthecourse.
IfyoutaketheA2course,youwilldeviseandperformapieceoforiginaldrama,aswellasrehearsingandperformingextractsfromachoiceofsetplays.Youwillalsolearnhowtoanalyseanumberofsetplaysfromavarietyofperspectives,tounderstandhowthedirector,designerandperformerapproachesthetheatricalexperience.Youwillseelivetheatricalperformancestosupportyourstudyforthewrittenexamination.
ADramaandTheatrequalificationhasthesupportofhighereducationinstitutionsasaspecialistqualification
MEDIA & ARTS
DrAmA AnD tHEAtrE StuDiES– AS and A level
fordramaandtheatrerelatedcoursesbutequallyitprovidesaworthwhileexperienceforstudentswishingtouseitaspartoftheentryrequirementsintoothersubjectareas.Itisalsoausefulqualificationforstudentswishingtopursueacareerthatinvolvescommunicationandpeopleorientatedskills.
CourseSpecification:
AQA 7261 and 7262ThesequalificationsareawaitingfinalaccreditationfromOfqual,somaybesubjecttosomechangespriortothestartofteachinginSeptember2016.
Media, Performing Arts & Physical Education
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IhavejustcompletedmyASlevelsinICT,MediaStudies,Drama,EnglishLiteratureandLanguage.TheseareallsubjectswhichdevelopcreativityandtechnologicalunderstandingwithinpupilsandtheyaresubjectsIfeelpassionatelyabout.MediastudieshasproventobemyfavouriteareaoflearningasthisisaverydiversesubjectanditisstronglyaimedatthecareerpathIhaveinmind.MydesirefortheareagrewafterworkingwithindustryprofessionalsbothfromtheBBCandITVwhobothhavevisitedtheschoolinoneofthemanyopportunitiesHBSoffer.IhopetogoontostudyBroadcastJournalismandonedaybepresentingontelevisionorradio.MyfavouriteaspectofbeinginthesixthformisbeingabletofurthermyeducationwithanoutstandingarrayofopportunitiesandfacilitiesmadepossiblebytheexistenceoftheSixthFormConsortium.”
STuDEnT ProFILEjoe - Head Boy
PErForminG ArtS (ActinG) – BtEc l3 nAtionAl ExtEnDED cErtiFicAtEThenewBTECNationalsinPerformingArtsuseacombinationofassessmentstylestogivestudentsconfidencetheycanapplytheirknowledgetosucceedintheworkplace–andhavethestudyskillstocontinuelearningonhighereducationcoursesandthroughouttheircareer.Thisrangeofvocationalassessments–bothpracticalandwritten–meanstudentscanshowcasetheirlearningandachievementstobesteffectwhentheytaketheirnextstep,whetherthat’ssupportingapplicationstohighereducationcoursesorpotentialemployers.
PerformingArtfrom2016willconsistof4units.Thetotalguidedlearninghoursremainsat360.Thereare4units,threearemandatory2unitsat90guidedlearninghours,1at120guidedlearninghoursandanoptional60hourunit.
Theunitsareasfollows:
unit 1 Investigation Practitioners workshop
Thisunitisexternallymarkedandcontainspracticalandwrittenstudylookingataparticularpractitionerorpractitioners
unit 2 Developing Skills and techniques for live performance
Thisunitismarkedbyusandmoderatedbytheexamboard.It
containsaseriesofworkshopsaimedatdevelopingstudentsskillsanditwillinvolveliveperformance.
unit 3 Group Performance workshop
Thisisamajorperformancedesignedtoshowcaseallthekeyperformanceandanalyticalskillsencounteredonthecourse
Therewillbeoneotheroptionalunitwhichwillbedecideduponbasedontheskillsetofthelearninggroup
Units1and3areexternallysettasksandallotherunitsarecentreassessedandmoderated.
Thecourseisessentiallypracticalwithwrittenanalysisandresearchbasedlearning.Theexternalassessmentmeansthatstudentsneedtobeequippedwithstronganalyticalskillsaswellaswell-developedabilityinperformance.
Coursespecification:EDExCEL BTEC L3 national Extended CertificateThisspecificationhasnotyetbeenaccreditedbyOfqualsomaybesubjecttochangebeforethestartofteachinginSeptember2016.
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muSic – AS and A levelThiscoursepreparesyouforanycareeroruniversitycoursethatinvolvesmusicorperformingarts.Itgivesyouagoodexperienceofperformanceandallowsyoutofurtherdevelopallyourmusicalskillsandinterests.
Duringthiscourseyouwillcontinuethekeyskillsofcomposing,performingandlisteningtomusicthatyoustudiedatGCSEandstudymusicfromawiderangeofstylesandperiods.Youwillgettheopportunitytotakepartinlotsofperformancesandtogotoseeandworkalongsideprofessionalmusicians.
ALevelunitscover:
• Asoloorensemblerecitalperformanceofatleast8minutes;
• 2compositions,totalling6minutes;
• Studyofsetworks,listeningskillsandharmony.
ForthosestudentswhowishtotakemusiconlytoASlevel,theunitscover:
• Asoloorensemblerecitalperformanceof6minutes;
• 2compositions,addingupto4minutes30seconds;
• Studyofareducednumberofsetworks,inadditiontolisteningskills.
Youwilllearnextendedcomposingskillsandanalyseawidevarietyofinstrumentalandvocalmusic.Youwilllearnhowtoevaluateyourownperformingskillsandhowtoprepareavariedandinterestingprogramme,aswellasfindingoutaboutthehistoryanddevelopmentofmusic.
PerformancewillbeassessedregularlyatASlevel,givingmultipleopportunitiesforstudentstorefineandenhancetheirskills.ALevelstudentswillhavepracticeconcertsbeforetheirfinalrecitals,whichusuallytakeplaceinMarch.Ateachlevel,allunitsareexternallyassessed;performanceandcompositioneachmakeup30%ofthefinalmarkandthefinalexaminationisworth40%ofthetotal.
CourseSpecification:
Edexcel 8Mu0 and 9Mu0ThisspecificationhasnotyetbeenaccreditedbyOfqualsomaybesubjecttochangebeforethestartofteachinginSeptember2016.
IchosetostudyMusicALevelthisyearasyougettheopportunitytobecreativeinperformanceandcomposition alongside learning about differentmusical genres. The variety offered in Musicmakesitareallyenjoyablecoursetostudy.Italsoincreasesyourconfidenceandhelpsyoutodevelopskillssuchastimemanagementandindependentlearning. Additionally, the Consortium lets youmeetnewpeopleandexperienceotherschools.Iamlookingforwardtohopefullystudyingmusicatuniversitynextyear.
STuDEnT ProFILEHannah
new
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muSic tEcHnoloGY – BtEc l3 ExtEnDED cErtiFicAtEThisisatwoyearcoursewhichprovidesyouwithanopportunitytodevelopyourinterestsinthefieldofmusictechnology.TheawardattheendofthesecondyearisequivalenttooneAlevel.Studentsareencouragedtotakeadvantageofallsoundmanagementaspectsoftheirdepartmentsandtoplayanactiveroleinasmanyofthemaspossible.Itisadvisablethatyouareattheveryleastfamiliarwiththevarietyofequipmentusedinthemusicindustry.Thereare3unitsstudiedduringthefirstyearofthecourseandafollowing3unitsduringthesecondyear.Youwillfollowthecompulsoryunit‘MusicProductionTechniques’andwillberequiredtoproduceamultitrackrecordingandresearchproductionevents.ThiscompulsoryunitofthecourseisexternallyassessedbyEdexcel.Youwillalsostudyunitssuchastheacousticsformusicians,eventsmanagementandsequencingsystems.ThroughoutthecourseyouwillhavetheopportunitytoworkwithavarietyofresourcesincludingAppleMacOSXandLogicX,32ChannelMixersand12channeldigitalmultitrackrecorders.Bydevelopingyourpracticalskillsandauraldiscrimination,thiscourseaimstogiveyoutheskillsandknowledgeyouwillneedtoprogressintotheglobalmusictechnologyindustryorontoarelatedfurtherorhighereducationcourse.
CourseSpecification:EDExCEL BTEC L3 national Extended CertificateThisspecificationhasnotyetbeenaccreditedbyOfqualsomaybesubjecttochangebeforethestartofteachinginSeptember2016.
MEDIA & ARTS
MusicTechnologyisabrilliantsubjectforanyoneinterested in contemporary music or soundengineering.Thelargeamountofpracticalworkgivesyougreatexperiencewithsomanyaspectsofmusicperformanceandrecording.Forme,manyof theunitshavegivenmesomuchknowledgearoundmixingandrecordingyourself,somethingwhich is very useful to anyone who wants topursueacareerinmusic.Ontheflipsidethere’salsogoodopportunitiestodevelopmusically,withotherunits involvingworkwithcompositionandperformance.
STuDEnT ProFILEjack
HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium 37
Media, Performing Arts & Physical Education
new
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MEDIA & ARTS
MEDIA & ARTS
mEDiA StuDiES – A levelMediaStudiesisanexcitingbutdemandingcourse.ItcombinescriticalanalysisofarangeofmediaformsincludingTV,film,magazines,websitesandvideogameswithwrittenresearchskillsandcreativepracticalproductions.
Itisanexcellentstartingpointtodevelopintomediaspecialistsandprogressacademicallytostudythesubjectfurther.Employersrecogniseitasasubjectthat
duringthisunit.Youwillalsoberequiredtoreflectuponyourownroleasproducerandapplythekeymediaconceptstoyourownproductions.
CourseSpecification:oCr H140 and H540 (TPS)ThefirstASunitMedia representations and responsesaimstoprovideyouwithaframeworkforanalysingthemediaandrequiresyoutoexplorerepresentationsandaudience/userresponses.Youwillbeencouragedtoexplorethemediathroughastudyofgenre,narrativeandrepresentationandmakeconnectionsbetweenthetextsandaudience/userresponsestothem.
ThesecondunitMedia Production Processesisdesignedtoenableyoutodemonstrateknowledge,understandingandskillsinmediaproductionprocessesthroughresearch,planning,productionandevaluation.
AtA2yourthirdunit,Media Investigation and Production developstheknowledgeandskillsacquiredatAS.Inparticularitisdesignedtodemonstratetheimportanceofresearchininformingmediaproductionandtodeveloptheskillsacquiredinthepreviousunit.
Yourfinalunit,Media-Text, Industry and Audienceisdesignedtodevelopyourunderstandingoftheconnectionsbetweendifferentelementsofthecourseandtodevelopyourknowledgeandunderstandingoftherelationshipbetweenmediatexts,theiraudiencesandtheindustrieswhichproduceanddistributethem.
CourseSpecification: wjEC 2291 and 3291 (HGS)
Media, Performing Arts & Physical Education
38 HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium
demonstratesbothacademicandpracticalability.Anemphasisonpracticaltasksenablesyoutodeveloptheskillsandknowledgerequiredinmanyindustries,suchasadvertising,broadcasting,journalism,filmproduction,webandgraphicdesign.
ThefirstASunit,Foundation Portfolio in MediaisthepracticalproductionfortheASLevel.Itfocusesonyouasproducersandrequiresyoutoresearch,planandcreateanentirelynewmusicmagazine.Youarerequiredtodemonstrateyourknowledgeandunderstandingofthepracticalprocessaswellasyourcreativityandtechnicalskills.
Thesecondunit,Key Media Conceptsistheexaminedunit.YouarerequiredtoinvestigatethekeyconceptsthatareatthecoreofMediaStudies.Youwillenhanceyouranalyticalskillsandexploreavarietyoftexts.Thefocusofthisunitistherepresentationsevidentinthemedia,inbothhistoricalandcontemporarytexts,withtheemphasisontelevisiondramas.Followingthisyouwillstudytherelationshipbetweeninstitutionsandaudienceswithinthefilmindustrybothhomeandabroad.
AtA2thethirdunitisAdvanced Portfolio in Media,hereyouaregiventheopportunitytodevelopyourpracticalskillsfurther,continuingyourworkinthemusicindustrybutnowproducingmovingimages.Youwillsourceyourownsongsbeforecreatingapromotionspackageforthatsong,amusicvideo,aCDcoverandapromotionalposteroradvertisement.
ThefinalunitisCritical Perspectives in Media,asynopticunit,designedtoallowyoutodemonstratetheknowledgegainedthroughyourtwoyearsofstudy.Relationshipsbetweensocialmediaanddemocracy,audiencesandcensorshiporyoungpeopleandmodernaudiencesallmaybeexplored
PHYSicAl EDucAtion – AS and A levelThecoursetakesamulti-disciplinaryapproachencouragingthedevelopmentofdifferentmethodsof
enquirydrawnfromarangeofdisciplines.Thefocusisonparticipationandperformanceinphysicalactivityaspartofabalanced,activeandhealthylifestyle.
At AS level you cover three units:
Paper1(1hour15minutes)Physiologicalfactorsaffectingperformance,includingAppliedAnatomyandPhysiology,ExercisePhysiologyandBiomechanics.(35%ofAS)
Paper2(1hour15minutes)Psychologicalandsocio-culturalthemesinPhysicalEducation,includingSkillAcquisition,SportsPsychologyandSportinSociety.(35%ofAS)
Non-ExaminationAssessment.PerformanceinP.E.toincludeperformanceorcoachingofonesportoractivityandtheEvaluationofPerformanceforImprovement(EPI)(30%ofAS)
At A level you cover four units:
Paper1(2hours)Physiologicalfactorsaffectingperformance,includingAppliedAnatomyandPhysiology,ExercisePhysiologyandBiomechanics.(30%ofAlevel)
Paper2(1hour)Psychologicalfactorsaffectingperformance,includingSkillAcquisitionandSportsPsychology.(20%ofAlevel)
Paper3(1hour)Socio-culturalissuesinphysicalactivityandsport,includingsportandsocietyandcontemporaryissuesinphysicalactivityandsport.(20%ofAlevel)
Non-ExaminationAssessment.PerformanceinP.E.toincludeperformanceorcoachingofonesportoractivityandtheEvaluationandAnalysisofPerformanceforImprovement(EAPI)(30%ofAS)
Youwillbeexpectedtoworkingroupsandengageinindependentlearning.Youmustbeabletoparticipateinpracticalactivityandshowcommitmenttoyourpracticalareaoutsideoflessontime.Eachyearyouwillhaveapracticalassessmentinthespringtermandwrittenexaminationsinthesummerterm.
ThiscourseisexcellentpreparationifyouwishtoprogresstodegreelevelstudyinPhysicalEducation,SportsScience,SportsStudies,Teaching,Leisure&Tourism,SportsManagement,SportsTechnology,PhysiotherapyandCoaching.
CourseSpecification:0Cr H155 and H555ThisspecificationhasnotyetbeenaccreditedbyOfqualsomaybesubjecttochangebeforethestartofteachinginSeptember2016.
MEDIA & ARTS
HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium 39
Media, Performing Arts & Physical Education
IhaveapassionformysportandstudyingA-levelPEhashelpedmetolearnthetheorybehindthepractical,andhowmybodyisworkingphysicallyandmentallywhilstexercising.
PE,beingaconsortiumsubjectmeans thatyoumeetandlearnwithnewpeoplewhodoawholevariety of sports, useful for practical examplesintheexam.Duetotheconsortium,havingnewteachers from the other schools means youhave new and active ways of learning. Some ofthe topicsarecurrent, linkingmyknowledgetosport in the news, especially with the Olympicsnext summer. The revision conference in Aprilwasparticularlyusefulenablingyoutomeettheexaminersandunderstandhowtoanswerexamquestions consolidating what you have learnedovertheyear.
STuDEnT ProFILELauren n
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40 HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium
ENRICHMENT STUDIES
Enrichment Studies
40 HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium
communitY SPortS lEADErSHiP – l2 Award
HiGHEr SPortS lEADErSHiP – l3 certificate
TheLevel2Awardisanationallyrecognisedqualificationthatenablessuccessfullearnerstoleadgroupsofpeopleinsport/activity,underindirectsupervision.
Thequalificationteachesgenericleadershipskillssuchasorganisation,planning,communication,observation,evaluationandteamworkthroughthemediumofsportwithinthecommunity.Itisafunandpracticalqualificationwithnoentrancerequirementsorfinalexaminationstosit.Thetwoandhalftermcoursewillcover8units.Theyareleadershipskillsforasportsleader,adaptingsessions,safeguardingparticipants,establishingandmaintainingasafecommunityactivitysession,planning,leadingandevaluatingcommunitysessions,organisingsportsevents,developingfitnessinparticipantsandpathwaysforleadersincommunitysportandrecreation.Youwillbeassessedbythetutoronattendance,completing10hoursofvoluntaryserviceandachievingandproducingevidencefortheassessmentcriteriaforeachunit.
CourseSpecification:Sports Leaders uK – level 2
Thisnationallyrecognisedqualificationthatenablesyoutoleadunsupervisedgroupsofpeopleinsportandrecreationalactivities.Itteachesgenericleadershipskillssuchasorganisation,planning,communicationandteamworkthroughthemediumofsport.
ToaccessthecourseyoushouldhavesuccessfullycompletedaLevel2AwardinSportsorCommunitySportsLeadership.YoumustholdorgainacurrentFirstAidcertificateandgainorholdaNationalGoverningBodyAward.InorderforyoutocompleteyourLevel3Certificateyoumustcomplete30hoursdemonstrationofleadershipwithinthecommunity.Thesemustbe10hoursinthemandatoryunit2andtwofromthethreeoptionalareasofchildren,olderpeopleorpeoplewithdisabilities.Therearenofinalexaminationstositandthecourseisamixtureofpracticalandclassroomlessons.Theawardisworth30UCASpoints.
•Unit1–Developingleadershipskills
•Unit2-Provisionofsportwithinthecommunity(mandatoryunit)
•Unit3–Leadsessionsdesignedtoimprovefitness
•Unit4–Organiseandleadasportseventorcompetition
•Unit5-Legalandethicalresponsibilitieswhenworkingwithothers
•Unit6-Leadsport/activitysessionsforchildren(optionalunit)
•Unit7-Leadsport/activitysessionsforolderpeople(optionalunit)
•Unit8-Leadsport/activitysessionsfordisabledpeople(optionalunit)
Coursespecification:Sports Leaders uK – Level 3
STuDEnT ProFILEHGS Sports Leaders
WehavethoroughlyenjoyedparticipatinginLevel2AwardinCommunitySportsLeadership.Thisawardhasenabledustodevelopmanyusefulskillsincludingorganisational,teamworkandcommunicationskills.Duringthecourseweindependentlyplannedandledsessionsatdifferentprimaryschoolswhichfurtherdevelopedtheseskillsandwefoundthatthiswasthemostenjoyableaspectofthecourse.Aswellasleadingsessionswealsohelpedtodeveloptheskillsofthechildrenbyencouragingthemtoparticipateinallactivities.Wealsohavetheopportunitytobeinvolvedinlocalprimaryfestivalswhereweassisttheorganisersrunningtheevent.Weumpire,coach,deliverwarmupsandgenerallyorganisetheprimarychildren.Fromtheskillslearntearlierinthecoursewewereabletoorganisetheprimaryruralnetballtournament.Wehavegainedinconfidencetoumpireandofficiate,communicatewithteachersandyoungerstudents.Thecourseismainlypracticalbutincludesaspectsoftheorywhichhelpsustounderstandthereasonsbehindtheapproachwetakewithcoachingchildren.Thiscoursehasbeenhelpfulindevelopingkeyskillsandhasbeenarewardingqualification.
HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium 41
ENRICHMENT STUDIES
Thiscourseisanidealsubjectforanyonewhorelishesanintellectualchallenge.ItprovidesyouwiththeopportunitytolearnClassicalGreekandreadaselectionofGreekliterature,aswellasgaininganinsightintotheculture,politicsandsociallifeofAncientGreeceatsignificantpointsinhistory.
InYear12(2hoursperweek)youwilllearntherudimentsoftheAncientGreeklanguage.Youwilllearngrammarandvocabularyviatranslationinpreparationforthestudyofthesettexts.InYear13(3hoursperweek)twocomponentsarestudied–UnpreparedProseTranslation(pluseithershortEnglishsentencestotranslateintoClassicalGreekorcomprehensionquestionstoansweronashortpassageofClassicalGreek)andprescribedtextscoveringProseandVerse.
AllunitsareassessedbywrittenexaminationinYear13.Duetothehoursavailable,agreatdealofcommitmenttoindependentstudyisexpected.
YouarerequiredtohavestudiedLatinorGreekatKeyStage4ortohaveachievedA*atGCSEinaModernForeignLanguageinordertoaccessthiscourse.
Coursespecification:TBC
TheClassicalGreekspecificationshavenotbeenaccreditedbyOfqualandhaverecentlybeenreturnedtoexamboardsforfurtherreview.TheexistingOCRspecificationisbeingstudiedbycurrentYear12&13students.TheabovedetailshavebeenextractedfromtheOCRproposednewqualificationspecificationtogiveyouabroadunderstandingofthelikelycoursecontent.
AnciEnt GrEEK – AS level
Enrichment Studies
TheLevel3ExtendedProjectoffersyouafreeprojectchoicesoyoucanexploreindepthanaspectofasubjectyouarestudyingoratopicinwhichyouhaveapersonalinterest.ItisassessedatA2levelandworthupto70UCASpoints.
TheEPQwillhelpyoudevelopandimproveyourcritical,reflectiveandindependentlearningandtoapplyyourdecision-makingandproblemsolvingskills.Youwillneedtoutiliseandextendyourskillsinplanning,research,analysis,synthesis,evaluationandpresentation.Youwillneedtoapplyalltheseskillscreativelyanddemonstrateinitiativeandenterprise.
Youwillbeassignedtoastaffmentor/supervisorwhowilldeliverthetaughtelementoftheprojecttoincludeprojectmanagementskills,researchandpresentationtechniques,andmethodsofevaluationandanalysis.Thesesessionsmaybeteacher-ledorincludegroupdiscussionandfeedbackbetweenpeers.
ExtEnDED ProJEct QuAliFicAtion (EPQ)
ENRICHMENT STUDIES
HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium 41
Therearefourassessmentobjectives:Manage;UseResources;DevelopandRealise;andReview.TheProjectcantakeavarietyofformsi.e.dissertation,investigation,artefact,performanceordesign.Thefinaloutcomeneedstobeaccompaniedbyawrittencomponentandpresentation.TheProjectwillbeinternallyassessedandexternallymoderatedontheskillsdemonstratedthroughoutthewholeprocess.
TheExtendedProjectQualificationwillbeavaluableadditiontoyourstudiesifyouareconsideringmakinganOxbridge/Medicineapplication,consideringapplyingforahighlycompetitiveundergraduatedegreecourseorifyouhaveaparticularareaofinterestthatyouwouldliketodevelopfurther.
Coursespecification:oCr (HGS) AQA (TPS & HBS)
STuDEnT ProFILEHGS Sports Leaders
ENRICHMENT STUDIES
Subject Specific Activities
GeographyFieldTripstoSnowdonia&LakeDistrict
Geographybiennialoverseasvisitse.g.Iceland
RoyalGeographicalSocietyFieldworkSummerSchool
RoyalGeographicalSocietyStudyDays
GeographicalAssociationAnnualConference
HealthandSocialCareLecture
Philosophy&EthicsConference
HETTriptoAuschwitz
PhobiasWorkshopatLondonZoo
BletchleyPark
BusinessStudiesTriptoNewYork
Business&EnterpriseTriptoHarryPotterStudios
BusinessStudyflexevent
PeterJonesBusinessTycooninSchoolsCompetition
ClassicstriptoItaly/Greece
SeniorClassicsSociety
ClassicsPlay
MFL“ProjectPolyglot”workingwithUniversityof
ENRICHMENT STUDIES
CambridgeandRoutesintoLanguages
KS5MFLEnrichmentDay
WiderReadingClub
DebatingClub
TheatreTrips(e.g.GreatGatsbywithprecedinglecture
bookedforDecember2015)
MusicTour
MusicConference
OvernightArtTriptoLondon
D&TTriptoBarcelona/Paris
FoodTechnology-AttendedtheGoodFoodShow
PhysicsLecture
TalkbyanInternationalSpeciesSpecialist
ChemistryChristmasLecture
ChemistryAnalystcompetitions
PhysicsOlympiadcompetitions
PhysicstripstoCERN
VisittoBayfordburyObservatory
Astronomymasterclasses
SolarRotationProject
Chemistrymasterclasses
SeniorMathsChallenge&SeniorMathsTeamChallenge
PEConference
Charity & Community
Charityevents(organisedandrunbystudents)
HertfordshireUniversity-
StudentQuestionnaireResearchProject
TheYoungPersonoftheYearAwardforHertfordshire
EcuadorDayEvents
NationalCitizenshipAssemblies
Enrichment opportunities & Activities
42 HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium
Thereareawiderangeofenrichmentactivitiesandopportunitiesthatareavailabletoyouwithinyoursubjects,yourschoolandacrosstheConsortium.Belowareaselectionofthosethatwereofferedduringthe2014-2015academicyear.
Sports Activities/Clubs
Badminton Hockey
Rugby Football
Netball Gymnastics
Rounders Dance
Tennis Athletic
ENRICHMENT STUDIES
HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium 43
ENRICHMENT STUDIES
MockElection
QuestionTimeDebatewithLocalCandidates
Megadrive
HertfordshireLibraries
AmbassadorsProgramme
CEIAG & oxbridge Activities
HertfordshireUniversityConvention
2-dayPost18OptionsEvents
OxbridgeConferenceinSurrey
Headstartactivities
Mockinterviews
CareersResearchProject
CareersFairs
HertfordshireUniversity-LawPsychologyTalk
FutureLearn
ApprenticeshipTalks
Consortium Council Events
ColeSwinburneCup–Interschoolcompetition-6eventsperyear
In & Around School
Helpinginlowerschoollessons
Planning&runningassemblies
ReadingMentoringforYear7
FoundersDayCelebrations
CelebrationEveningforYear12Students
PSHE
TesticularCancerAwareness
CoppafeelBreastAwareness
ChlamydiaAwareness
PHASEenrichmentsessions
StudentFinance
HealthChampions
Drugs&AlcoholAwarenesstalk
DukeofEdinburghAward
WorldChallenge
SGLItriptoHawaii
LearntoLive
AIDSAwareness
44 HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium
Leaver Destinations Summer 2015
Total number of Students
NumbertoHigherEd/FurtherTraining
NumbertakingaGapYear
NumbertoEmployment
NumbertoApprenticeships
Unknown/Yr14
Breakdown by subject Area
Art&Design
BusinessStudies/Management
ClassicalStudies/Archaeology
Computing/IT
Drama/Music
Education
Engineering/Technology
English/CreativeWriting
Medicine/Healthcare
Humanities
Journalism/Media
Languages
Mathematics/Finance
Science/Medicine
SocialSciences/Law
Sports
11
21
4
6
6
8
25
15
14
19
8
2
19
36
24
11
5
9
2
3
3
3
11
7
6
8
3
1
8
16
10
5
289
230
22
5
10
22
number %
80
8
2
3
8
10 20 30 40 500
50 100 150 200 2500
IhavealwayslovedMusicandEnglishequally,sowhencomingintosixthformIknewIwantedtostudyboth.Mythirdsubjectwaseasy,IchoseHistorybecauseIenjoyeditandithasparallelsbetweenEnglishliteratureandanalysingMusic.Thedifficultycamedowntochoosingmyfinalsubject.WhenIwenttotheoptionsevening,Imadesuretoexploremanydifferentsubjects,andeventuallydecidedonMediaStudies.OneofthehighlightsofSixthFormistheconsortium,asIstudyMusicattheBoys’SchoolandatthePriory,allowingmetomeetnewpeopleandexperiencedifferentteachinginanothermusicdepartment.Thesupportfromtheschoolforpost-18choiceshasbeenincredible,asIhaveappliedtobothmusiccollegeanduniversity,asIamyettodecidewhichsubjectIwouldliketostudyfurther.
STuDEnT ProFILELiam – Head Boy
HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium 45
COVER - INTRO - GENERAL
Delivery of Courses
ART & TECH
BUSINESS & ICT
LANGUAGES & LIT
HUMANITIES
Art Design & Technology HBS HGS TPS
Art&Design(FineArt) • • •
Art&Design(Photography) • • •
Design&Technology(GraphicProductDesign) •
Design&Technology(3DProductDesign) • •
Design&Technology(FoodTechnology) •
Design&Technology(Textiles) •
Languages, Literature & Culture HBS HGS TPS
ClassicalCivilisation •
EnglishLanguage&Literature •
EnglishLiterature • • •
French • • •
German • • •
Latin • •
Spanish • • •
Humanities & Social Sciences HBS HGS TPS
Geography • •
Government&Politics • •
Health&SocialCare-ALevel •
Health&SocialCareBTECL3ExtendedCertificate •
History • • •
Philosophy&Ethics • • •
Psychology • • •
Sociology • • •
Business & ICT HBS HGS TPS
Business • •
BusinessBTECL3NationalDiploma •
ComputerScience •
Economics • •
ICT •
ITBTECL3ExtendedCertificate •
COVER - INTRO - GENERAL
46 HitcHin ScHoolS’ SixtH Form conSortium
SCIENCE & MATHS
MEDIA & ARTS
ENRICHMENT STUDIES
Delivery of Courses
Science & Mathematics HBS HGS TPS
AppliedScienceBTECL3ExtendedCertificate • •
Biology • • •
Chemistry • • •
FurtherMathematics • • •
Mathematics • • •
Physics • • •
Enrichment Studies HBS HGS TPS
CommunitySportsLeadershipLevel2&3 • • •
AncientGreekASLevel •
ExtendedProjectQualification • • •
Media, Performing Arts & Physical Education HBS HGS TPS
Drama&TheatreStudies • •
MediaStudies • •
Music • • •
MusicTechnologyBTECL3ExtendedCertificate •
PerformingArtsBTECL3ExtendedCertificate •
PhysicalEducation • • •
•=Provisionalplanneddeliverybyschools(s)indicated.Teachingwillbesharedforsomesubjectsbyatleasttwoschools.
HBS=HitchinBoys’SchoolHGS=HitchinGirls’SchoolTPS=ThePriorySchool
COVER - INTRO - GENERAL
ConTACT DETAILSWe hope that you found the information contained in the Prospectus useful. Further information is available from the Head of Sixth Form at each of the schools and at the Sixth Form open Evenings.
IMPorTAnT DATES
thursday 15th october 2015 - open Evening at the Priory Schooltuesday 20th october 2015 - open Evening at Hitchin Boys’ SchoolWednesday 21st october 2015 - open Evening at Hitchin Girls’ SchoolWednesday 3rd February 2016 - Additional open morning for external students
HITCHIn BoyS’ SCHooLHitchin Boys’ SchoolGrammar School WalkHitchin SG5 1JB01462 432181Headteacher: mr m Brown Head of Sixth: mrs J lansdown
THE PrIory SCHooLthe Priory SchoolBedford roadHitchin SG5 2ur01462 622300Headteacher: mr G Edwards Acting Head of Sixth: Mr n Parsons
HITCHIn GIrLS’ SCHooLHitchin Girls’ SchoolHighbury roadHitchin SG4 9rS01462 621300Headteacher: mrs F manning Head of Sixth: miss t Stojko
Hitchin 14-19 Consortium Co-ordinatormrs E leigh tel: 01462 621300 ext 4856
SpecialthankstoourstudentsTyraCampbell,CrystalChinogurei,CharlieCrichton,JadeDeamer,CharleyGaidoni,TomHill,LewisLehrfreund,LibbyMales,HannahMurrayandBhaviniPatadiaforundertakingallthephotographyfortheprospectus.
BA
INES design &
print 01707 876555 Printed on environm
entally friendly paper A57305
SCIENCE & MATHS
SCIENCE & MATHS
SCIENCE & MATHS