Post 16 Programmes of Study

Post 16 Programmes of Study

All post 16 students are expected to follow three study programmes, Extended Project (EPQ), Core Mathematics or Further Mathematics (requires the student to be taking A level Mathematics. In addition to these programmes there will be enrichment activity following an Academic tutor programme and reading time.

Each programme of study is given up to 5 hours of teacher contact time. The EPQ and Core Maths programme is given contact time but there is an expectation that students use their independent time to carry out an activity under this programme in an area of personal interest.

Hours that contribute to the typical student programme over two years:

3 Programmes of Study at 5 hours each per week over two years = 360 per qualification total hours 1080

EPQ or Core Maths – Extended Project Qualification or Core Maths 2 hours per week = 144 hours contact time

Tutor forum 1 hour per week= 72 hours

Academic tutorial and reading time 40 minutes a day = 240 hours

In addition to these programmes of study students will be expected to take part in a work experience exercise and will have the offer of Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Typical programmes

All post 16 students must have a minimum of 5 grade 5-9 GCSE subjects including English and Maths. They must have a grade 6 in the subject they intend to study at A Level or a recognised alternative. They should be choosing three A Levels plus an enrichment qualification (EPQ, Core Maths, Further Maths. The offer of a particular subject will be dependent on the numbers that select that subject. Some programmes are now run jointly with Grove Sixth Form in order to provide a broader range of subjects.

Which? Advice: http://university.which.co.uk/

If you do too many practical or vocational subjects it may restrict what you can do later down the line at university, because some university’s include these in lists of ‘non-preferred’ subjects.

This only really becomes a potential problem when you choose more than one of these subjects. To keep your university course options as flexible as possible, you’re better off combining one of these subjects with A-levels that universities traditionally look more favourably upon, such as the sciences, English, maths, history, geography and languages

Keep options wide open when choosing post 16 programmes by selecting a smart mix of the most commonly asked-for subjects in university entry requirements, known as ‘facilitating’ subjects. Pick from:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• English
• Geography
• History
• Maths
• Modern and classical languages
• Physics