AS and A levels
The AS/A level programme is a two year programme of study. Students will study AS levels in the first year (Year 12) and take AS level exams in the summer. Progression from AS levels to A2 is subject to students demonstrating the capacity to benefit from the A2 course. The A2 is more demanding academically than AS level, so students who are having difficulties coping with the demands of the AS would probably not be admitted to the A2. Generally the Sixth Form will be looking for a minimum of a C grade at AS in order to progress to an A2.
In year 13 students will continue with some, or all, of their AS level subjects, studying the second part of the A level syllabus (A2) so that they complete full A levels by the end of their second year of Sixth Form studies. For issues or questions relating to curriculum progression from AS to A2, or from AS courses to courses at another Sixth Form college, please contact rory.fox@braintreesixthform.com For a more general discussion of progression into employment or progression to university please contact sarah.steadman@braintreesixthform.com
For admission to the AS/A level programme students will be expected to have achieved at least 5 GCSEs A*-C (including Maths and English). Some subjects have additional admissions requirements and the information below explains where this is the case.
The number of AS levels to choose will depend upon the number of GCSEs studied, and the grades achieved. As a guideline we suggest the following:
| GCSE achievement (or equivalent) | AS levels Suggested Programme |
| 8 GCSEs with mainly A and B grades, or higher | 4 or 5 AS levels or the IB Programme |
| 8 GCSES with mainly B grades, or higher | 3 or 4 AS levels |
| 5 GCSEs with mainly C grades | 2 - 3 AS levels plus other courses |
In addition to their AS/A level studies students will follow a programme of Enrichment which takes place on a Wednesday afternoon and includes opportunities for a range of extra curricular activities and sports.
A sample timetable for a student studying 4AS levels and AS Critical Thinking (which is not timetabled as a full AS course) is illustrated above.
Subjects Available
|
AS/A2 Art & Design (Fine Art)
Students following this course will be introduced to a wide range of art practices and concepts through practical work in the studio and research into the work of other artists. There will be a structured and progressive approach to the exploration of materials and equipment including drawing, 3D work in clay & other materials, printmaking, painting and the use of digital media. Visits will be made to art galleries, museums and other places of visual interest. Students are encouraged to work independently and to develop an understanding of how their work relates to the history of both art and ideas. Students develop practical art skills which allow them to creatively explore and respond to their personal experience through their artwork.
Click here to download the full course outline (PDF)
Entry qualifications
If GCSE Art/Textiles or Graphics has been taken a grade B is required. Admission to the course is conditional upon production of a portfolio of work that demonstrates an appropriate level of skill and commitment.
AS/A2 Biology
Students following this course will build on concepts and skills that will have been developed in their GCSE Science specifications, presenting Biology as an exciting, relevant and challenging subject. There will be a structured and progressive approach to the essential principles, in contexts that students find interesting, stimulating the enthusiasm for Biology. There will be number of practical activities which will help develop practical skills alongside the understanding of concepts and principles. Students will be prepared with an appropriate and relevant foundation of knowledge and skill, either to become specialists in further study of Biology in Higher Education; or as non-specialists to become better informed citizens in the 21st century. The principles of 'How Science Works' permeate the whole course. Field work and trips will be undertaken to supplement the practical work.
Click here to download the full course outline (PDF)
Entry Qualifications
A grade B at either GCSE Biology or Additional Science is required.
AS/A2 Business Studies
Students following this subject will develop a critical knowledge and understanding of business organisations and their ability to meet society’s needs and wants. They will investigate the nature of business and how it operates within the market, how businesses are classified, the objectives they set and try to achieve, as well as the types of external influences they face, which includes varying degrees of competition. Students will acquire a range of relevant business skills, including decision making, problem solving, challenging assumptions and quantifying and managing information.
Entry qualifications
GCSE grade C in English and Maths is required.
AS/A2 Chemistry
The AS and A-level Chemistry courses have been designed to be a practical experience for students, with students following this course spending time doing both practical and theory work. The practical activities included will help the students to consolidate their understanding of the main aspects of Chemistry and prepare them with the skills required to study science at higher levels. Students will study, for example, aspects of Chemistry that are often seen in the media or that affect their lives; including green chemistry, pharmaceuticals and climate change. The course is designed to prepare students for progression either into higher education or employment.
Click here to download the full course outline (PDF)
Entry qualifications
B grade in Core Science, Additional Science or B in Chemistry.
AS/A2 Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking is a skills based subject. It differs from all other subjects in that it does not involve learning facts. Students learn how to think and reason, as well as how to write in a coherent and logical way.
The course involves the student in analysis and evaluation of information and argument to encourage development of a range of intellectual skills. The study of Critical Thinking supports reasoning to use in life, work and further academic study. The skills learnt in this subject are completely transferable to other subjects and will provide a sound base for essay based subjects. It gives an opportunity to think deeply and in a structured and academic way, about the issues that are key to participating in society. It enables students to come to decisions that are based on evidence and argument rather than assumption or prejudice.
Click here to download the full course outline (PDF)
Entry qualifications
Students would be expected to have a good level of achievement in a range of GCSE courses including Science and Humanities subjects.
AS/A2 Drama and Theatre Studies
This wide ranging course aims to promote knowledge and understanding of all aspects of theatre and drama work. Students will experience and participate in a wide and varied range of theatrical activities so that they broaden their knowledge and appreciation of the diversity of theatrical expression in international texts and settings. Practical workshops, discussion and research will culminate in presentations contrasting two different practices. Practical workshops will help to provide experience of the technical skills required to deliver performance work from a range of roles. Emphasis is on practical experience and students have the opportunity to explore theatre from a variety of perspectives, as directors, performers and as part of the backstage production team.
Click here to download the full course outline (PDF)
Entry qualifications
A grade B in either Drama or English is required.
AS/A2 Design Technology: Product Design (3D Design)
This course is designed to encourage students to take a broad view of design and technology, to develop their capacity to design and make products and to appreciate the complex relations between design, manufacture and marketing. Students produce a written or electronic design portfolio and manufactured outcomes. Through study and first hand experience in practical work, students gain an understanding of the physical and mechanical properties of a broad range of materials and components. Coursework projects provide the opportunity for students to learn about the use of computer aided design (CAD) and computer aided manufacture (CAM). Through the study and detailed analysis of a wide range of products, students begin to develop an understanding of broader issues for the designer such as environmental sustainability, ergonomics and consumer safety.
Click here to download the full course outline (PDF)
Entry qualifications
Students wishing to take this course will not necessarily be expected to have completed a GCSE in Design Technology. However they will require a range of GCSEs and some will be at B grade.
AS and A2 English
English Language and Literature
Students will develop their linguistic knowledge and analytical skills in order to write fluently and coherently, in an informed way, in response to questions on literary and non-fiction texts. At AS Level students will build on skills gained at GCSE level, focussing on language use and style, as well as issues within given texts. They will also study the features of spoken English in order to analyse speech. At A2 level students will study poetry, prose and drama in preparation for a written examination and complete coursework on an aspect of two texts.
Click here to download the full course outline (PDF)
English Literature
Students will develop their knowledge of literature through study of a range of literary eras and genres. They will develop their analytical skills and be encouraged to give considered personal responses. At AS level students will study both classic and modern prose and poetry leading to assessment by a written, open-book, examination. They will also produce a portfolio of two pieces of coursework based on study of two drama texts from the tragedy genre, one of which will be a Shakespeare play. At A2 level students will develop knowledge and ideas on the significance of genre through focus on either Gothic or Pastoral literature. This will be assessed by a written examination. They will also undertake independent study based on comparative study of two related texts and a pre-released anthology of critical material. They will be expected to produce a portfolio of two pieces of written coursework in response to this study.
Click here to download the full course outline (PDF)
Entry qualifications
A grade C at GCSE English or English Literature is required.
AS/A Geography
Students following this subject will be introduced to the main geographical issues and concepts that are relevant to the modern, contemporary world, enabling them to make better informed decisions and be sensitive to a wide range of viewpoints and challenges. The course examines physical and human geography and how they interconnect. It explores the concepts and processes that help explain geographical phenomena and the diversity of landscapes. Environmental issues and sustainability is a central theme. Students will be given the opportunity to further develop fieldwork skills and study geographical issues and impacts on a variety of scales from the local to the global. There is natural progression from GCSE to AS and A-level within the course.
Click here to download the full course outline (PDF)
Entry qualifications
Students should have a GCSE C grade, or higher, in Geography or a similar subject eg History or Leisure and Tourism.
AS/A2 History
Students will study a blend of British and European/World History at AS and A2 level, incorporating two modules for the AS and a further two for the A2, covering: significant events, individuals and issues; a range of historical perspectives; the diversity of society; the history of more than one country; a substantial element of English history; and, continuity and change over a period of time. At A2 level, students develop as learners through the production of an independent study on a topic of their choice.
Click here to download the full course outline (PDF)
Entry Qualifications
Students should have a GCSE C grade, or higher, in History or a similar subject eg Geography, English.
ICT AS/A Level Course Description
This is an intensive course which allows students to develop a broad range of ICT skills together with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of ICT. This course provides the ideal foundation for students who wish to pursue ICT at degree level or as a career. Students can either achieve the AS qualification if they successfully complete the two mandatory units at AS level or achieve the Advanced qualification if they complete four units in total. This course comprises written examinations and practical skills, which are assessed through coursework.
Click here to download the full course outline (PDF)
Entry qualifications
Students wishing to take this course will not necessarily be expected to have completed a GCSE in ICT. However they will require a range of GCSEs, including Mathematics, and some will be at B grade.
AS/A2 Mathematics/Further Mathematics
Mathematics and Further Mathematics AS and A levels are essentially an expanding package of Mathematical modules. There are 18 modules covering the subjects Pure Mathematics, Further Pure Mathematics, Mechanics, Statistics and Decision Mathematics. Each module is equally weighted and is tested entirely by written examination. Different combinations of modules can be taken. The modules are increasingly challenging and allow students to gain fluency in the use of Algebra; knowledge of Differentiation and Integration; Trigonometry and other core topics. Students then apply their knowledge to solving real world problems such as the minimum amount of material needed to create the largest volume container or the most effective route for a postman to deliver mail.
Click here to download the full course outline (PDF)
Entry qualifications
For AS and A2 level Mathematics students will require Grade B as a minimum at GCSE. For Further Mathematics students will require Grade A or A*.
AS/A2 Media Studies
The course aims to give students an understanding of specific media texts, how they are produced, the institutions that produce them and the audiences who interpret them. Students explore ways in which messages and meanings are constructed in the media and use analytical and critical frameworks as a means of understanding them. Research is undertaken and pupils develop skills in the production and evaluation of a variety of media texts. Students plan and construct media products using appropriate technical and creative skills in 2D media such as video, print, audio and website.
Click here to download the full course outline (PDF)
Entry qualifications
A GCSE grade C in English is required. GCSE Media Studies is desirable but not essential.
AS/A2 Modern Foreign Languages
Offered in French, German and Spanish
The aim of the course is to develop the student’s ability to communicate effectively, read and understand texts, write extended essays in the foreign language and develop listening comprehension. The course will be based on life in the present day. At AS level, topics include youth culture and concerns; lifestyle; health and fitness; the world around you; and, education and employment. Three additional topics: customs, traditions, beliefs and religion; national and international events, and literature and the arts are studied at A2.
At AS level students will be tested on unit 1: spoken expression and response (30%) and unit 2 understanding and written response (70%). At A2 level students will be tested on unit 3 : spoken expression and response (35%) and unit 4 : understanding and written response (65%). Students will explore the culture and traditions of the countries and communities where the language is spoken through the topics studied.
Click here to download the full course outline (PDF)
Entry qualifications
Grade B at GCSE in the relevant language is required.
AS/A2 Level Music
This course extends students GCSE skills of Performing, Composing and Listening. Students are encouraged to study a wide range of music from folk, jazz, popular and classical traditions of Western and non-Western origin. Throughout the course students will develop skills in using relevant Music Technology. There will be opportunities to attend concerts and workshops throughout the course. This will give further insight, depth of understanding and appreciation of the music studied. The difference between the AS and A2 examinations is that there is less content in the AS qualification. The expected standard is the same as that for the A2 qualification.
Click here to download the full course outline (PDF)
Entry qualifications
Grade B in GCSE music is normally required. It is expected that students will have instrumental or vocal achievement at Grade 5 or higher.
AS/A Level PE
This course builds on the student's experience from Key Stage 4 and GCSE PE to enhance their knowledge and increase their understanding of factors that affect performance and participation in physical education. The qualification provides students with skills and knowledge regarding both physiological and psychological effects of sport and physical activity. Students will also be offered the opportunity to experience and develop an interest in a variety of roles in sport such as performer, official and/or leader/coach at AS and then be able to specialise in one of these at A2. The course also addresses current contemporary topics in sport such as the impact of specialised training, sports technology and increasing commercialisation of sport.
Click here to download the full course outline (PDF)
Entry qualifications
A grade C or above in GCSE PE. If a GCSE in this subject was not taken, then a grade C or above in a Science subject is necessary.
AS/A Level Physics
The AS and A-Level physics course offered provides a very good basis for students to progress into Further Education, to follow courses in Physics , Engineering or to enter employment where a knowledge of physics would be useful. Amongst other things the course includes the study of electricity, magnetism, forces, fields, motion and the frontiers of physics. Students are given the opportunity to develop their interest and enthusiasm as they progress through the course where the emphasis is on understanding rather than purely memory work, with time spent doing both practical and theory work.
Click here to download the full course outline (PDF)
Entry qualifications
Students wishing to study AS/A Level Physics should have at least a grade B at either GCSE Physics or Additional Science and a grade B for GCSE Mathematics.
AS/A2 Psychology
This subject could be described as the scientific study of human behaviour and mental processes. Students will study behaviour from a variety of different theoretical perspectives. Psychologists use scientific methods, but their subject matter is human beings, so Psychology is a subject that links the Humanities and Sciences. Students will examine key theories and research studies which exemplify biological, cognitive and learning perspectives in Psychology. They will design, conduct and report on their own experimental research investigation. Students following this course need to be open-minded and tolerant of ambiguity and to enjoy debating complex and sensitive issues.
Click here to download the full course outline (PDF)
Entry qualifications
Students would be expected to have a good level of achievement in a range of GCSE courses including Science and Humanities subjects.
AS/A2 Religious Education
The overall aims of this course are to provide an understanding of some key issues in the Philosophy of Religion and Ethics and thereby develop students’ capacity for creating coherent and carefully balanced argument. Students will have the chance to develop transferable skills that will be invaluable for whatever university course or career they may choose in the future. They will be able to think more clearly and logically, spot flaws in arguments and express themselves fairly but firmly in group discussions. They will find themselves having impassioned discussions inside and outside the classroom as they follow in the footsteps of some of the great thinkers.
Click here to download the full course outline (PDF)
Entry qualifications
Students would be expected to have a good level of achievement in a range of GCSE courses including Science and Humanities subjects.
AS/A2 Sociology
Sociology is about you. It is to help you have a wider knowledge and understanding of the society in which you live. As members of society all students should come to the course equipped with some knowledge of the social world, but through the study of sociology they will develop a deeper understanding of this social world and examine issues that directly affect the way of life in Britain. During the AS course the students examine the topics of families and households, education and sociological methods, and in the A2 beliefs in society, crime and deviance, theory and methods. The course enables students to consolidate their knowledge of contemporary social processes.
Click here to download the full course outline (PDF)
Entry qualifications
Students would be expected to have a good level of achievement in a range of GCSE courses including Science and Humanities subjects.