Maida Vale School Sixth Form Booklet

Sixth Form Curriculum
Modern, innovative, passionate teaching and learning.
• We operate a longer teaching day than
most other schools. Lessons start at
8.30am and finish at 4.00pm, providing
students with six hours of academic
sessions per week in each of their three
Sixth Form subjects.
• Lessons are blocked in sessions of either
3 hours or 1.5 hours allowing quality
contact time to have a noticeable effect on
progression and allowing greater flexibility
and innovation in teaching approaches.
We expect that students will be able to
learn by doing rather than more traditional
teaching approaches. This is the case in all
subjects and most noticeably in the more
creative and practical subjects such as Art,
Design and the Sciences.
• We do not timetable ‘free periods’ but,
rather, we expect students to develop their
independent learning strategies through
up to six hours of timetabled, subjectspecific
study sessions which take place in
the supervised ILC.
• 1.5 hours per week is timetabled for
IS – Individuals in Society. This subject is
Maida Vale School’s exciting combination
of personal, social and health education;
sex and relationships education; religious
studies; careers; current affairs In Sixth
Form, even further emphasis is placed on
careers planning and research as well as
on applications for UCAS, European or
American universities, or apprenticeships.
The IS programme is supported by a
multitude of external speakers.
• 1.5 hours per week is timetabled during
Year 12 to support the Extended Project
Qualification (EPQ). All students are
encouraged to complete this course
(equivalent to half an A Level) to develop
their independent learning skills amidst
a topic that they have chosen themselves
and are, therefore, particularly passionate
about it. EPQ projects – artefacts or theses
– are continuing to garner huge credence
at interview for both universities and
apprenticeships.
• Sixth Form students have one afternoon
per week of Games, allowing them to
break from study and enjoy the energy
and happiness derived from physical
activity. Team sports and fixtures continue
to take place against other schools, while
alternative activities are offered such
as: Dance, Pilates, Yoga, Rock Climbing,
Boxing, Spinning, Gym training with a
Personal Trainer.
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