Home » Leweston Seniors » Curriculum » Sixth Form Curriculum

Sixth Form Curriculum

The curriculum and its delivery in the Sixth Form is quite different from that in the lower years. Courses are added to those available at GCSE which include History of Art, Government and Politics, Psychology, Economics and Business Studies and Health and Social Care. Courses are different in emphasis with Health and Social Care for example, being more vocational with its work placement aspects.

Underpinning the range of academic requirements and abilities of Sixth Formers, some GCSE's, ASs, A2s and Pre-U courses are offered. Leweston is the first school in the region to introduce the new Cambridge Pre-U qualification from September 2008. These courses differ from A Level courses in that they are taught as a coherent chronological whole with the assessment at the end of two years and the emphasis on independent study. Although these courses with a greater range of marks at the top end, are particularly supported by the universities, the courses and assessments are suited to the "A Level" ability range. Learn more.

Following discussion with Head of Year 11 and the Sixth Form, girls while still in Year 11 choose an appropriate 3, 4 or 5 courses for the Sixth Form and the timetable is constructed around these choices. To exceptional extent therefore, each student's curriculum is bespoke. Ten hours of teaching per fortnight are given to each course and students have approximately 10 hours of study period within school time each fortnight. Teaching group sizes range from one to thirteen students and the teaching and learning style which is often tutorial in form, encourages students' independent work. The small groups enable tutors to have a clear understanding of each tutee's academic work and progress and they intervene in support of this.

At least nine hours a fortnight are given to activities which underpin students' development outside their exam work and also compliment it. Mass is a central point of each week and general R.S with its consideration of spiritual and ethical matters supports but is not confined by the Catholic ethos of the school. Many study skills are developed and presented in the Key Skills and Critical Thinking periods, while the P.E afternoons allow Sixth Formers to participate in "sports" from kick boxing to tennis, from netball to yoga. Every Sixth Former has a module of 'Survival Nutrition and Cookery'. PSHE is a carefully constructed course over two years and is concerned for example, with health matters, university and life skills. These extra-curricular activities genuinely enrich the students' intellectual, spiritual and personal lives.