A-Level Subjects

Fine Art- AQA

Students studying Fine Art will be introduced to a variety of experiences exploring a range of art media, processes and techniques. Traditional methods are studied as well as new media – the use of drawing for different purposes is studied, using a variety of methods and scales. You will work in one or more areas of Fine Art such as drawing and painting, mixed media (collage), printmaking and photography. Relevant images, artefacts and resources relating to a range of art, craft and design are studied, from the past and from recent times, including European and non European examples.

Photography- AQA

Photography jobs are as vast as the medium is visible in the world. This course will make you a great creative thinker, able to construct your photographic images so they contain high visual appeal and visual communication. In this way you will be able to carve out your desired career in photography. The course is directed by AQA with assessment criteria making this course as much about project management as it is about photography, giving you the skills and academic requirement to enable you to build projects of your own. This will mean that you will be able to apply this knowledge to any other subject or profession where project management features.

Biology- AQA

A Level Biology encompasses the cellular basis of all living things, the transformation of energy that underlies the activities of life, and the genetic basis for inheritance in organisms. You will study the evolutionary relationships between organisms and the diversity of life on earth, to include microorganisms, plants, and animals. The structural and functional relationships studied in biology draw on the sciences of chemistry and physics for its foundations and applies the laws of these disciplines to living things. A Level Biology is designed for progression to HE in mind and is a facilitating subject which means that it is valued by a range of different degree courses as you develop many transferable skills.

Whether it is setting up your own small business or working for a global multinational, many of the key areas of understanding and useful skills are introduced within the A Level Business Studies course. You will be provided with a valuable insight into the world of business and why organisations make the decisions that they do and how this impacts upon markets and individuals. The course will also help you develop numerical and literacy skills in an applied setting through class work and assessments. Perhaps most importantly, the course will require you to reflect upon the commercial environment around you and understand how it impacts on your daily life.

Chemistry- OCR
You will learn about advanced chemistry concepts, across physical, inorganic and organic chemistry topics and how this can be applied to a range of real-life applications. You will also develop your experimental skills and how to apply your knowledge to solve real-life problems.

If you enjoy the study of the substances that make both us and our surroundings, then chemistry is a subject you should consider. Chemistry is everywhere: in the food we eat and the water we drink, from the clothes we wear and our mobile phones to the medicines that keep us healthy. Chemistry is truly the “central science”. Emphasis throughout the course is on developing your knowledge, competence and confidence in practical skills and problem solving, together with enhancing your understanding of key chemical ideas and how they link to each other. All this makes A Level Chemistry a challenging and interesting course.

Classic Civilisation- AQA/OCR

Studying Classical Civilisation gives you an understanding of some of the most engaging literature, architecture and art ever produced, as well of some of the greatest individuals and most significant historical events of the Greek and Roman worlds.

A Level Economics- AQA

A wide-ranging subject, highly regarded by employers and universities which relates to real-life situations and complements other subjects. You will study micro and macro economic issues affecting the world around us, learning to apply economic theories and understand key
interrelationships.

English Language – AQA

In this exciting and diverse subject, you will study various texts including articles, speeches and advertisements, while focusing on fundamental questions about language: what does your use of language say about you? Where do words come from? How do children learn to speak and write?

You will develop your analytical skills, apply theories and learn a range of terms by exploring spoken, written and digital texts. We consider incredibly diverse ‘real world’ texts including everything from a short informal text message to a formal speech in the House of Commons.

English Literature – AQA

By studying English Literature, you will learn the vital skills of close textual analysis and literary criticism. You will compare and contrast a range of exciting, challenging, and stimulating works from 1610-2021, while considering the historical and cultural contexts.

Film Studies – OCR

There is so much more to Film Studies than simply watching films. When watching a film, we might regard it as relaxation or escapism. However, the in-depth study of film involves coming from a very different starting point. As well as gaining an appreciation of film as an art form in terms of its visual storytelling, studying film can enhance your understanding of the world in terms of competing values, attitudes, and beliefs. Our course also incorporates a creative production element where you will be able to put what you have learnt into practice by making a short film or writing a screenplay.

Further Mathematics – Edexcel

Further Mathematics provides an excellent preparation for a wide range of university courses as well as being a versatile qualification that is well respected by employers. Further Mathematics is an essential requirement for many degree level Mathematics courses. By studying Further Mathematics you will increase your knowledge and understanding of mathematical techniques and their applications as well as enhancing your study of other subject. Further Mathematics is designed to stretch and challenge able young mathematicians by introducing you to new techniques and concepts, such as complex numbers and matrices, as well as studying material from A Level Mathematics in greater depth.

French – AQA

During this course, you will learn vocabulary based on a variety of topic areas as well as grammar rules, which will enable you to make sense of the language and to use the language accurately. You will develop all four language skills: speaking, reading, listening, and writing through a wide range of materials, both inside and outside the classroom.

You will be able to develop your knowledge of French speaking countries and their culture by studying various topics as part of your course, as well as a French language film and novel.

Geography – Edexcel

Inspired by Geography as a key discipline relevant to understanding the world’s changing places and peoples, you will also develop a sense of achievement as you grow as a critical, independent thinker and as an informed and engaged citizen.

Do you have a keen interest in our ever-evolving world? This course provides an exciting issues-based investigation of both physical and human aspects of the subject. Applying your geographical knowledge, understanding and skills to the world around you, you will engage critically with a wide range of contemporary issues such as tectonic hazards, climate change, resource sustainability, globalisation, and superpowers.

Physics – AQA

You will learn about advanced physics concepts, including classical areas such as mechanics, forces, waves and magnetism, as well as modern physics topics including quantum physics, particle physics and astrophysics, and how to apply these ideas to solve real-life problems.

A Level Physics is an academic course designed to increase your knowledge, skills and understanding of the physical sciences and support your ability to apply that knowledge to solve problems. The course is studied as part of a programme of A Levels and has both theory and experimental components to the course. Physics allows you to understand the fundamental structure of the universe from atoms (or smaller!) to galaxies (or bigger!) and how the matter within the universe interacts. Through focused lectures we will explore these topics and how to use mathematical approaches to apply these ideas to a large range of real-life situations.

Politics – Edexcel

Are you interested in studying an ever-changing and engaging subject, relevant to real-world events?

Studying A-level Politics will give you an enhanced understanding of the world around you and who shapes the structures and manifestations of power.

This course will begin with helping to provide an understanding of British politics and an introduction to the key ideologies in politics. In the second year, you will study US or Global Politics so examine the key concepts of the course and how they operate on the macro level between states and intergovernmental organisations. Politics is constantly changing, and you will be required to keep abreast of those changes; this makes politics a dynamic and interesting subject. This combined with the course content will enable you to reflect on your own political beliefs in a structured and rigorous way.

Psychology – AQA

If you are interested in people and curious to explore reasons for their behaviour, then this is the course for you. Successful Psychology students are scientists and apply objective research methods to answer fundamental questions about human beings.

Successful Psychology students have an appetite for understanding how scientific principles can be applied to human behaviour and high achieving Psychology students develop analytical and problem-solving skills, have a keen eye for detail and enjoy using evidence to develop academic arguments. Alongside psychological concepts and theories you will acquire desirable soft skills such as communication, team working and relationship building, and specific competences in data collection, statistical analysis and report writing. Psychology is unique in that it fits well with a wide range of other subjects from the Arts and Sciences.

Sociology – AQA

Sociology attempts to explain human behaviour and the world around us. For example, why people commit crime, underachieve at school, or join religious cults. It is a subject that should make you ask questions about the society you live in.

A Level Sociology will introduce you to points of view on society, including those which largely approve of the way it works (Functionalism) to those which argue for change (Marxism and Feminism). In Sociology, much of what we investigate is open to interpretation; it is therefore desirable if students enjoy discussions and debates. You must also like reading and writing as these are essential elements of the course. By studying Sociology, you will learn to think critically and independently about society and your place in it, gain the tools to think for yourself, and develop an informed understanding of the world around you.

If you are interested in learning a language, and take an interest in Spanish culture, this course will be perfect to develop your speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills and broaden your knowledge of Spain and other Spanish speaking countries.

Spanish is one of the official languages of the European Community and the United Nations and Spain is one of the UK’s closest European partners. There are ever increasing opportunities for Spanish speakers to work in Europe and Latin America. During this course, you will learn vocabulary based on a variety of topic areas as well as grammar rules, which will enable you to make sense of and use the language accurately.