Academic

The syllabus aims to develop our students’ interest in literature and literary studies, allowing them to engage creatively and critically with a substantial body of texts. The course explores how students respond to what they read, considering the context in which the texts were written and how traditions have changed throughout the history of English literature.

The AS/A- Level qualification requires students to:

• use detailed knowledge and understanding of individual works of literature
• explore the relationships between texts and appreciate the significance of cultural and contextual influences on readers and writers.

Students will come into contact with a wide range of poetry, prose and drama, including at least one Shakespeare play and both classic and modern literature.

In this course, students will learn how to work with complex functions and understand how to calculate forces in mechanics.

• They will cover topics such as geometry, calculus, trigonometry and algebra.
• They will gain the ability to manipulate figures and use abstract reasoning and logic in problem-solving.

It’s a course often combined with Sciences. The A-Level qualification has particular relevance to careers involving accountancy, finance and engineering, with employment opportunities in the fields of architecture, economics, politics and law.

The course is wide-ranging, covering many approaches to creating Art and Design, with four broad aims to develop the student’s work, imagination, creativity and intuitive powers. They will learn about and understand the contexts and inter-relationships between Art, craft and design.

All students will be introduced to ideas, processes, materials and techniques relevant to different aspects of Art and design. Assignments will explore drawing, painting, sculpture, mixed-media, contextual study work, informing coursework and contributing to a portfolio for application to art foundation courses.

This course is particularly relevant to careers involving Art and Design, Fine Art, 3D design – including model making, stage design, sculpture, graphics or illustration with employment opportunities in professional creative industries.

The course helps our students develop their analytical and evaluation skills to assess their work’s validity, reliability and credibility and others encountered through their more extensive reading.

Some of the subjects covered:

• Photosynthesis
• Global warming
• Evolution
• Nutrient recycling
• DNA profiling and PCR
• The structure of bacteria and viruses
• Infectious diseases and immunology
• Anaerobic and aerobic respiration
• The heart
• Homeostasis
• The nervous system
• The impact of exercise on the body
• Hormonal coordination
• Brain structure and development
• Imbalances in brain chemicals
• The Human Genome Project

The AS/A-Level Business Studies is built around a core unit with an enterprise theme to enable students to think of a new business idea and how they might research and develop it. The qualification will introduce students to international business, equipping them to work in or manage a global company. It is particularly relevant to careers involving business or ICT, with employment opportunities in retail, administration, business management or self-employment.

The AS/A-Level Chemistry builds on and expands the knowledge and skills acquired at the IGCSE level. The syllabus is built around the themes of ‘The Core Principles of Chemistry, ‘Application of Core Principles of Chemistry’, ‘Chemistry Laboratory Skills’ and ‘General Principles of Chemistry’.

Topics covered will include:

• AS-Level: ‘formulae, equations and amount of substance’, ‘atomic structure and the periodic table, ‘bonding and structure’, ‘introductory organic chemistry and alkanes’, ‘energetics’, ‘intermolecular forces’, ‘redox chemistry and groups I, II and VII’, ‘introduction to kinetics and equilibria’ and ‘organic chemistry: alcohols, halogenoalkanes and spectra’.
• A-Level: ‘kinetics’, ‘entropy and energetics’, ‘chemical equilibria’, ‘acid-base equilibria’, ‘organic chemistry: carbonyls, carboxylic acids and chirality’, ‘redox equilibria’, ‘transition metals and their chemistry’, ‘organic chemistry: arenes’, ‘organic nitrogen compounds: amines, amides, amino acids and proteins’.

The course focuses on developing knowledge and understanding of crucial Chemistry concepts and applying these concepts in novel contexts.

The AS/A-Level Computer Science course is designed to encourage students to develop their understanding of the fundamental principles of computer science and how computer programs work in various contexts. A high grade in Mathematics would be an advantage due to the logical thought processes needed for this course, but it is not compulsory.

AS-Level:

• Theory Fundamentals
• Information Representation;
• Communication and Internet Technologies;
• Hardware;
• Processor Fundamentals;
• System Software;
• Security, Privacy & Data Integrity;
• Ethics & Ownership;
• Database and Database modelling Fundamental Problem Solving and Programming;
• Algorithm design & Problem-solving;
• Data Representation;
• Programming;
• Software Development.

A-Level:

• Advanced Theory.
• Data Representation;
• Communication and Internet Technologies;
• Hardware;
• System Software Security;
• Monitoring and Control systems Further Problem Solving and Programming;
• Computational Thinking & Problem-solving;
• Algorithm design methods;
• Further Programming;
• System Software Security;

AS and A-Level Computer Science will help develop a range of skills, such as thinking creatively, analytically, logically and critically. Students will also appreciate the ethical issues that arise with current and emerging computing technologies.

The AS Design Technology: Product Design course is a one-year course comprised of two components that, combined, make up the full AS qualification. It is possible to then progress to study for and sit the full A-Level.

Through this course, students develop an awareness of the significance of design and technology to society, learn more about production processes and industrial practices, and develop critical evaluation skills to use in various technical, aesthetic, economic, environmental, social and cultural contexts.

They will learn how to apply this knowledge in practice by gaining an understanding of a wide range of materials and the processes used in product design and manufacture.

The AS/A-Level Drama and Theatre course aims to develop an analytical framework for making, performing, interpreting and understanding Drama and theatre and give them the necessary knowledge to understand the practices used in Twenty-First Century theatre-making. The course components differ depending on the course type, AS or A-Level.

In the AS/A-Level Economics course, students will learn about the fundamental forces that affect our lives, such as employment, prices, international trade and poverty, touching on Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. It is particularly relevant to careers involving business, economics, law or politics, with employment opportunities in retail, administration, and business management.

Students will enhance their linguistic skills and develop their capacity for critical thinking based on their knowledge and understanding of the language, culture and society of the country or countries where the language is spoken.

They will read contemporary and more classical works of literature and watch films to be able to develop knowledge and understanding of the social issues and political and artistic trends taking place in the countries of their studies. At AS, they will study four themes and at A-Level, three more themes.

The AS/A-Level Geography course builds upon skills gained at IGCSE Level study. Students increase their understanding of our planet’s physical, human and environmental processes.

For AS-Level, the main topics are:

• Core Physical Geography
• Core Human Geography

For A-Level, the main topics are:

• Physical Geography
• Human Geography

Geography is a well-respected subject that can lead to many university courses and career options. Relevant careers include chartered surveying, land and water management, town and transport planning, sustainability, development, teaching, conservation, environmental consultancy, tourism and social welfare.

The AS/A-Level History course emphasises historical knowledge and the analytical skills required for historical research. Students learn about cause and effect, continuity and change, similarity and difference, and are required to interpret and analyse historical evidence as part of their studies.

The course is viewed as a high-status qualification, which supports a wide range of university courses and careers. It is of particular relevance to careers involving law, politics, education, journalism and the media, with employment opportunities in the fields of the civil service and government, public relations, marketing and the management of historical sites.

AS/A-Level Mandarin – for students with a minimum Grade 6 at IGCSE in Mandarin in all sections assessed; speaking, listening, reading and writing or students who have achieved five IGCSE grades A-C in other subjects.

Both courses are meant to enhance the students’ linguistic skills and develop their capacity for critical thinking based on their knowledge and understanding of the country’s language, culture, and society.

The AS/A-Level Mandarin is viewed as a high-status qualification, which supports a wide range of university courses and careers. Of particular relevance to courses involving languages/ linguistics, politics or the media. Employment opportunities in fields such as business, education, translation/interpreting or recruitment.

Our students will develop a critical understanding of international media through different media products and concepts. They will also develop practical skills in production processes and technologies and an appreciation for media and its role in their everyday lives. There will be an exploration of the impact of media across various cultures and how this can influence opinions and values.

Students in the AS/A-Level course will learn about context and the elements of music to enhance and develop their musical interests and skills of composing, performing and analysis skills. They will study in the same manner as at GCSE but at a higher level, with a more complex exploration of harmony and tonality and the other elements of music when it comes to performing, composing and understanding music.

The syllabus for the AS/A-Level Physics includes the main theoretical concepts fundamental to the subject and the development of practical skills.

Topics covered will include:

• AS-Level: Mechanics, including rectilinear motion, forces, energy and power. Materials, including fluid flow, viscosity, and solid materials properties; Waves, including diffraction, refraction and polarization and an introduction to Quantum Physics; Electricity, including circuit design and the conductivity of materials.
• A-Level: Further Mechanics, including circular motion, gravitation and momentum; Fields, including electric fields, magnetic fields and particle physics; Radiation and Waves, including nuclear decay, oscillations, cosmology and astrophysics.

The courses are designed to foster creative thinking and problem-solving skills, which are transferable to any future career path in Sciences.

The AS/A-Level Psychology course will cover cognitive psychology, biological psychology and social psychology, including topics such as mental illness and addiction. Besides psychological theories, students will also learn about different experimental methods used within psychology, statistical analysis and the broader implications of psychology in society. The course will use classic and contemporary studies.