Sixth Form Prospectus - The Perse School

42 43SpanishTechnologyWhy study Spanish?Course contentWhy study Technology?Spanish is spoken in over 23 countries throughout the world so studyingit creates a wealth of opportunities. It is an increasingly popular subjectin the Sixth Form and it can be combined equally well with English,History, Economics and Law amongst others. It is highly valued byuniversities and employers as a broad-ranging and academic subjectwhich exercises a wide range of skills. Through the study of languagesstudents can develop their oral and analytical skills as well as theirlinguistic competence and ability to express themselves both verballyand in writing in a mature and competent manner. Taking Spanish atA level is not solely about learning a language, it is a subject whichallows individuals to develop their intellectual skills in a challengingand rewarding environment.We are always thrilled by the number of Perse students who go onto study Spanish or Hispanic Studies at university. In recent years onaverage a third of pupils who have studied Spanish at A level have takenthe subject at degree level. One of our former pupils recently achieveda starred first from Trinity College Cambridge having studied Modernand Medieval Languages.We aim to support and extend all pupils who wish to apply for Spanishat university through a range of activities, including mock interviewsand study-day visits.We follow the AQA exam syllabus which has a classiccontent mix with contemporary and stimulatingmaterial.The four AS topics are:• Media • Popular culture • Healthy living/lifestyle• Family/relationshipsThe four A2 topics are:• Environment • The multicultural society• Contemporary social Issues• Cultural topic – two of the following should be covered:– A target language-speaking region or community– A period of 20th century history from a targetlanguage-speaking country or community– The work of an author from a target language-speakingcountry or community– The work of a dramatist or poet from a targetlanguage-speaking country or community– The work of a director, architect, musician or painterfrom a target language-speaking country or communityWe offer a course in the ‘Systems and Control’ option of Design andTechnology by AQA. This means electronics, computing and mechanisms.You will work with and study a variety of materials, components, systemsand production methods to develop an understanding of the workingcharacteristics and properties. Clear communication of ideas is stronglyemphasised. Coursework will be assessed mainly on the basis of a writtenreport which will be completed as homework.This is a highly applied course. Most of the work done in the classroomwill be practical investigations and will endorse the theory covered in classand for homework. Over the year you will spend nearly two-thirds of thetime on your own individual advanced project; you choose what you wantto do. Examples of projects include an electronic card shuffler, coin sorter,guitar tuner, robot arms/vehicles and a radio-controlled hovercraft.If you want to become an Engineer in any discipline, or you enjoy findingout how things are made or how they work, then Technology at leastto AS is an obvious choice. If the idea of ‘designing and making’ doesn’timmediately grab you then this is not the course for you. Our experienceis that A level Technology can be very useful for students applying forEngineering at competitive universities.Candidates wanting to continue Technology in the Upper Sixth can takeA2 Systems and Control. This course has a similar format to the AS butwith more emphasis on Design & Manufacture.The course is assessed as follows:-• 50% 2 hr written paper on Materials, Components& Applications (May)• 50% 50 hr (approx.) Coursework. (Submitted April)