Parents-Information-Handbook-2016-2017

Page 97
Making ‘A’ Level subject choices - Year 11
Section 3c - The Curriculum
Procedures for making A Level Subject choices
A Sixth Form booklet is published and given to Year 11 students and their parents in the autumn
term at the Sixth Form Information Evening; the booklet gives details of the Sixth Form
curriculum and the ‘A’ Levels offered.
‘Subject Preference’ forms are issued to Year 11 students at the end of January. Students are
asked to make provisional choices of the subjects to study. The Heads of Years 11 and 12, the
Head of Careers and Year 11 Form Tutors provide support for students as they make these
decisions.
Option blocks are formed based on the information contained on the ‘Subject Preference’ forms.
The option blocks are designed to accommodate the widest possible choice of combinations of
subjects. Students are informed that there is no guarantee that all combinations will be possible,
but we will do our best to satisfy provisional choices.
Five option blocks are produced. Students then choose one subject from four of the five blocks.
At a later stage, students may change their choice within a block, or from a different block,
providing no more than one subject is chosen in each block.
Students are informed that if a subject does not have a sufficient number opting for it, to provide a
viable course, it may be withdrawn from the programme; however, we shall keep you informed of
developments and advise you, where possible, of alternatives.
Very capable students may decide to complete 4 A’ levels. In almost all cases, and because of the
workload involved, two of the these subjects will be Mathematics and Further Maths.
Making ‘A’ Level subject choices – Year 12
Most students start four subjects at the start of Year 12 then drop one of these subjects by the end of the
Autumn term, once they are confident of the three subjects they wish to study for ‘A’ Level.
A few students may choose three subjects from the start of Year 12.
A few of the most able students may choose to complete ‘A’ Levels in four subjects. In most of these
cases, two of the subjects are Mathematics and Further Mathematics. Completing four ‘A’ Levels is also
feasible for students for whom English is not their first language – the fourth ‘A’ Level being in their
first language.
In all the above cases, guidance is given to students on an individual basis, taking into account their
Higher Education or career aspirations.
Section 3c - Procedures for making A Level Choices - Sixth Form