Sixth Form Prospectus

SIXTH FORM CENTREPROSPECTUS 2013–2014

City College Norwich – Sixth Form Centre

THE SIXTH FORM CENTRE

City College Norwich has a long pedigree.

It was founded in 1891 and

moved to its present site

on Ipswich Road in 1953.

A Levels have been part of

our provision for many years.

In 2007, it was decided to bring

all our A Level courses together

into a specialist Sixth Form

Centre, where full-time 16-18

year old students would be

taught by A Level experts.

In 2012, we had our best ever

A Level results, with a 98%

pass rate overall and 100% in

18 subjects. 14 students achieved

two or more A* or A grades

and most of our A2 students

progressed to Higher Education.


2 3

“The standards get higher and higher each year. Norwich, the city, and Norfolk, the county, should be immensely proud of this institution. This is a really special place.”Stephen Fry – former A Level student at City College Norwich.

Key features of the

Sixth Form Centre include:

• A more adult environment

than at school

• Highly qualifi ed subject experts

• Dedicated personal tutors to

guide you through your studies

and onto degree level study

or the fi rst steps of a career

• Our own specialist facilities.

Although a separate part of

City College Norwich, the

Sixth Form Centre benefi ts from

the College’s excellent resources

and facilities. These include a

superb Information Store with

thousands of books and other

resources, 1,200 PCs, a TV

studio and media suite, a sports

hall and well-equipped gym.

There is also a choice of fi ve

cafés and restaurants to eat in.


WELCOME TO THESIXTH FORM CENTREDear student,

You probably already know about

City College Norwich’s great

vocational courses in subjects

like business, sport and catering,

but I want to tell you about our

Sixth Form Centre, which you

may not have heard so much

about. It often surprises students,

and their parents and teachers,

to learn that around 500 young

people like you choose to study

for A Levels with us each year.

You may also be surprised to

know that we have been teaching

A Levels here for many years.

In fact, one of our most famous

ex-students is Stephen Fry,

who has said, “It all started here

[at City College Norwich]. I will

never forget it. I will never cease


4 5

CONTENTS

The Sixth Form Centre 3

Welcome to the Sixth Form Centre 5

A Message to Parents 7

Helping you Succeed 8

Tutorial Support 9

Extra Help When You Need It 10

Life at College 11

The Students’ Union 13

Your Future Starts Here 14

A Levels 16

Art 19

Biology 21

Business Studies 23

Chemistry 25

Drama and Theatre Studies 27

English Language and Literature 29

English Literature 31

Film Studies 33

French (under Modern Foreign Languages) 50

Further Mathematics 35

Geography 37

to be grateful for what it’s done,

in such a perfect way. Not a

mollycoddling way, not a stern

authoritarian way, but a civilised

way. We were not treated as

children; we were students,

not kids.”

“The standard of teaching was

astonishingly high. Norwich, the

city, and Norfolk, the county,

should be immensely proud of

this institution. This is a really

special place.”

As well as being one of the

biggest sixth forms in Norfolk,

we believe we are one of the

best. We offer a wide choice

of subjects, expert teaching,

individual care, support and

help for you to progress on to

Higher Education or employment.

We will treat you like an adult

and work with you to achieve

your goals.

I hope you will decide to join

us for the next stage in your

education and look forward

to meeting you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Steve Guratsky

Head of Sixth Form Centre

German (under Modern Foreign Languages) 50

Government and Politics 39

History 41

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) 43

Law 45

Mathematics 47

Media Studies 49

Music 53

Music Technology 53

Philosophy and Ethics 55

Photography 57

PE 59

Physics 61

Psychology 63

Sociology 65

Spanish (under Modern Foreign Languages) 51

Textiles 67

Extended Project Qualifi cation (EPQ) 69

Not Ready for A Levels Yet? 70

How to fi nd us 72

How to apply Back cover


A MESSAGETO PARENTSSuccessful completion of

A Levels is one of the most

effective routes to degree

level study and professional

careers. We believe it is

critical that young people

choose where to take their

A Levels carefully and wisely,

considering a range of

providers and being willing

to move on from a school

environment, if that is

the right choice for them.

City College Norwich helps

students achieve academic success as well as providing

somewhere to grow into confi dent

and mature young adults, ready

for the challenges of Higher

Education and employment.

As an A Level provider, the Sixth

Form Centre has adopted many of

the best practices found in sixth

form colleges around the country,

themselves widely recognised as

among the very best places for

young people to study.

Expert specialist teachers and

personal tutors are supported by

managers whose central focus

is on ensuring the best possible

teaching, learning and support for

all our students.


6 7

We are particularly proud of the

working relationships our staff

and students create, as equal

partners in a shared endeavour.

Mutual respect is a given and

we treat our students as

young adults with both rights

and responsibilities.

Part of this approach is a very

clear expectation that students

will work as hard as we do for

their futures.

As part of this approach, we:

• help students to choose the

right courses and settle in when

they arrive

• provide effective, challenging

lessons and tutorials

• use regular tests, assignments

and other work to monitor

students’ progress and tell

them how well they are doing

and how to do better

• provide help and advice when

students need it

• help students move on to the

next step in their education or

careers.

In return, we expect students to

do everything they can to ensure

their own success by working

hard and acting on the advice

of their teachers and tutors.

In particular, we require

students to:

• attend all lessons and arrive

on time

• come to lessons well prepared

and with all the books and

materials that will be needed

• work hard in and out of lessons,

completing work to the best

of their abilities and to the

deadline set.

We also recognise the

vital role of parents in this

student-college partnership,

providing encouragement and

support for students. This is why

we seek to work closely with

parents, by sending them copies

of students’ Progress Reviews,

holding Parent Consultation

Evenings and raising any

concerns by telephone or

letter as they arise.


TUTORIALSUPPORT


8 9

HELPINGYOU SUCCEED

Unlike many other sixth forms, we are very open in our recruitment. We recognise that students with widely varying educational experiences and achievements all have the potential to succeed.

Our entry requirements are

carefully designed to help you

choose the right courses, and

not to boost our position in

league tables by only accepting

students who will achieve the

highest grades.

We take the quality of learning

and teaching very seriously.

Once you have enrolled,

our approach is a simple one.

Expert teaching and support,

coupled with serious effort from

you will lead to your success.

There is a simple relationship:

EFFORT = SUCCESS

A key benefi t of studying in the

Sixth Form Centre is the focus

that teachers can specifi cally

give to A Level students. All of

our teachers are experienced

and well-qualifi ed in the subjects

they teach and specialise in.

In addition to being excellent

teachers, our sixth form staff

includes examiners, moderators

and textbook authors.

Teaching methods should be

based on evidence of what

works. Drawing on 15 years of

empirical research into effective

teaching methods by Professor

John Hattie, whose 2009 book,

Visible Learning, analysed many

thousands of studies, our staff

development programme is

focused on how we can use

active learning approaches and

detailed feedback to help you

achieve the best possible results.

Throughout your time here, we

will treat you as an equal and you

will call your lecturers and tutors

by their fi rst names. Nonetheless,

we do still have some simple

rules, designed to help you

achieve as much as possible:

• You must attend all lessons

and be on time

• You must work hard on

your courses

In addition to academic expertise, we believe that care and support are essential to your success. This is why we have a team of specialist personal tutors and friendly, supportive, experienced teachers who will work with you throughout your time here.

Sixth Form Centre students

come from schools all across

the region, so we know how

important it is for you to get to

know other students and fi nd out

about life at College when you

arrive. To help you do this, your

fi rst day will be an induction with

your tutor group.

After this you will have weekly

group tutorials on topics ranging

from contemporary politics,

to exam techniques that work

and applying for university.

You will also have regular

one-to-one meetings with your

tutor. These are a chance to

discuss your progress and resolve

any problems or diffi culties that

you might be experiencing with

your studies or personal life. You

will also receive great support and

advice about things like applying

for Higher Education and other

college courses or getting that job

or apprenticeship you really want.

A key focus in tutorial work is

on helping you achieve the best

possible results. We believe

that anyone can do well if they

• You may not eat or drink

in classes

• You must turn off mobile

devices in classes

• You must complete homework

and private study tasks to the

best of your ability and to

the deadline set.

For each of your courses you will

be set a minimum target grade,

which we believe you should be

able to achieve. On AS and

A Level courses, these targets

are based on what previous

students with similar GCSE

results to yours have achieved.

Your teachers will give you

regular feedback on tests,

assignments and other work,

including guidance on how

your work compares to the

standards needed to achieve

your target grades and how

you can improve further.

To help you achieve at least

your target grades, there

are subject support sessions.

These include extra help

if you need it and more

challenging extension work

to help you achieve the best

possible grades.

embrace the idea that effort

leads to success and that getting

things wrong simply highlights

areas for improvement.

This approach draws on the

‘mindset’ approach developed by

university of stanford psychologist,

Professor Carol Dweck.

Tutorials take place in our

specialist tutorial suite, with

its own classrooms, private

interview rooms and IT and

research facilities.

We also have a Promoting

Achievement in Learning (PAL)

team who work with tutors and

teachers to support students by

monitoring your attendance and

punctuality. They will also help you

resolve any issues that you might

face that affects your attendance.

Steven DoodyLaw and HistoryModern History,Oxford (Balliol College)Diploma in Law, College of Law, London

Lizzie Harvey Art and TextilesBA Fine Art, Norwich School of Art, MA Textile Culture, Practising artist, frequently exhibiting work

Tim Logan

Student Support

Manager

Roz Hicks

Group Tutor

Former head

of a school

sixth form

Rebecca Ford

Group Tutor

Former head

of a school

sixth form


LIFE AT COLLEGE


10 11

EXTRA HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT THE WELLBEING ZONEThe Wellbeing Zone has a range

of resources to help you with

health and wellbeing while you

are a City College Norwich

student. A Wellbeing Adviser is

available to talk to you about any

concerns you might have.

The service is friendly, discrete

and non-judgemental.

THE ADVICE SHOPThe Advice Shop can offer help

and advice on a whole range of

subjects, such as choosing the

right course for you, careers and

higher education options,

fi nancial advice, personal issues

and accommodation, as well

as providing support for

international students.

Contact The Advice Shop

on 01603 773 773.

SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIESIf you need extra help because

of a physical or learning

disability, the College offers a

range of support services that

can help you.

For further information, please

contact the Curriculum Support

Team on 01603 773 058 or

email [email protected].

TRAVEL ASSISTANCEThis may be available if you are

aged under 19, are studying at

least 16 hours per week and

live more than three miles from

the College.

For more details, please contact

the Passenger Transport Unit,

County Hall, Martineau Lane,

Norwich NR1 2SG or call the

Student Transport Hotline

on 0344 800 8020 or visit

www.norfolk.gov.uk/

post16transport for further

information. Special needs

transport is available

with support from

Norfolk County Council.

In the Sixth Form Centre, we

want you to get as much as

you possibly can out of being a

student. Being part of City College

Norwich means that there

are a huge range of excellent

facilities available to you.

THE INFORMATION STOREThe Information Store provides

access to a fantastic range

of resources to help you with

your course, whether books,

online resources, CDs, DVDs or

magazines as well as more than

200 PCs, including laptops, all

with internet access and a wide

selection of software packages.

Our specialist staff will help you fi nd

what you need for your studies.

THE STARTUP LOUNGEThe StartUp Lounge is a unique

space where students are given

the opportunity to develop

21st Century employment and

self-employment skills, innovate

and come up with ideas for

developing new products,

services and ways of working.

Students can access business

mentoring and advice from

the College’s entrepreneurs in

residence and get practical

help with job searching and

CV workshops.

STUDENT GROUPS AND SOCIETIESYou will have access to a variety

of student groups, societies

and associations, supported

by the Students’ Union.

Whether you want to meet

new people, continue a hobby,

learn something new or just get

involved in student life, there is

a group for you.

RELAXING WITH FRIENDSDuring breaks or after lessons,

you can make the most of the

many cafés and restaurants we

have on campus, offering great

food at sensible prices.

You can grab a coffee, a light

bite or a full meal, or even treat

yourself to something really

special in our fi ne dining

Debut restaurant.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT16-19 Bursary Scheme

If you are studying on a further

Education course at City College

Norwich, you could be eligible

for help from a discretionary fund

to help those on low incomes

with costs such as transport,

equipment and study trips.

There is also a 16-19 Bursary

Scheme for Vulnerable Young

people, worth up to £1,200 a

year, to be eligible for the Bursary

you need to be in one of the

following groups:

• Disabled and in receipt of

employment support allowance

and disability living allowance

• A young person in the care of

Norfolk County Council

• A care leaver

• Estranged from your

parents and in receipt of

income support.

For more information or

an application form please

contact The Advice Shop

on 01603 773 773 or email

fi [email protected].

GET FIT. GET ACTIVEYou can take part in a variety of

sports and fi tness activities.

In our newly refurbished sports

centre we have modern,

up-to-date facilities which

include a fully equipped gym

and sports hall.

An activity programme will be

available when you start at

college and will include sports

such as football, netball, rugby,

climbing, kayaking and wind

surfi ng, to name but a few.

City College Norwich also has

excellent links with the Norfolk

Football Association’s Football

Development Centre and Eaton

Vale Outdoor Activity Centre.

HAIR AND BEAUTY SPAOur Solutions salon offer a

wide range of hair and beauty

treatments at a fraction of high

street prices! These include hair

cutting and colouring, facials,

massages and tanning.


THE STUDENTS’ UNIONHello, and welcome

to City College Norwich

My name is Jeni-Marie Pittuck

and I am President of the

Students’ Union here at City

College Norwich. Let me fi rst

begin with a massive welcome

on behalf of myself and the rest

of the Students’ Union, we look

forward to meeting you! During

your fi rst month or so, you may

be interested in fi nding out how

you can make the most of being

a part of the Students’ Union.

There are a variety of social

events and activities to participate

in outside of college hours

whether it is one of our party

nights or trips to theme parks.

City College Norwich Students’

Union, like all students’ unions,

is run by its members for

our members.


12 13

It is your responsibility to tell the

college what works well and what

needs changing to highlight the

good and bad points to ensure

that the college is aware of what

students actually require from

their college. The best way in

which to develop your Students’

Union and get involved is through

our School Representative

system. This system has been

designed and built around the

wishes of our students and is

dedicated to ensuring you get

access to the education you

demand and deserve.

They will work alongside staff

from across their school in order

to achieve this, so remember that

you can talk to them at any time.

Fundamentally the Students’

Union is here to support you

and to give you a great

experience alongside getting

your qualifi cations. Through the

engagement of students in the

Students’ Union we can ensure

that focus remains on improving

the experience of all students at

City College Norwich.

We hope you enjoy your time

here and wish you every

success with your studies.

Please remember the Student

Union door is always open and

we are here to help you and

welcome you in at any time even

if it is just for a chat.

Jeni-Marie Pittuck

Students’ Union

YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE DECIDINGTO APPLY

If you are still deciding whether you want to join us, take your time.This is a big decisionand we know there are lots of options open to you. You can fi nd out more about us from this prospectus, onour dedicated website:www.norwichsixthform.co.ukor at one of our open days.

APPLYING

You can apply using an application formavailable from our Advice Shop, or to download from our website:www.ccn.ac.uk

TASTERDAYS AND

INTERVIEWS

GET OFFTO A

FLYINGSTART

Once you haveapplied to the Sixth Form Centre we will invite you to a Taster Day where you will be able to fi nd out more about us, our courses and have an in-depth guidance interview. Our aim will be to help you choose the right courses, where you will be happy and successful.

Join us in July for a day or a week to get a feel for your chosen courses, meet staff and students, and get to know your way around the Sixth Form Centre.

RESULTSDAY!

If you are taking your GCSEs this year, we will be happy to talkto you on results day, or shortly afterwards, about your Sixth Form Centre courses. If your results are better or worse than you expected, you will be able to change your courses at that time.

ENROLMENT

At the end of August or beginning of September we willinvite you to enrol.Your appointment will be based on when you applied to come to theSixth Form Centre; so the earlier you apply, the sooner you will be able to enrol. This canbe important, as some courses often fi ll up before the end of theenrolment period.

INDUCTION

Your induction at the beginning of courses is when you start getting to know other students and how everything works in the Sixth Form Centre and theCollege. We know the College can seem large compared to school, and maybe even a little intimidating, so we have designed your induction to make sure you feel settled and confi dent here.

COURSES

Your courses will start in September and will last one, two or three years, depending on which ones you take. (Most A Level students are with us for two years.) We work hard to make all our courses interesting and help you achieve as much as possible, and we expect you to work hard on them too.

WORKINGWITH YOUR

TUTOR

You will have a group tutorial every week and will discuss yourprogress in regularindividual tutorials. Your tutor will also help you move on to the next stage of your career, at the end of your courses. This will include helping you write the best possible UCAS application if you decide to go on to university.

RESULTSDAY

AGAIN!

When you receive your results at the end of your courses, we will bethere to celebrate with you and to provide advice on what to do next, if you need it.

THE RESTOF YOUR

LIFE!

Even though the Sixth Form Centre is a great place to be, we know that you will move on to do other things with your life afterwards.

You could be a scientist, a doctor, a designer, a fi lm maker, an engineer or a teacher. It is really up to you.

Whatever you decide to do, we will do everything we can to help you get there.

City College Norwich – Sixth Form CentreCity College Norwich – Sixth Form Centre

14 15

SIXTH FORM CENTREPROSPECTUS 2013–2014


16 17

A LEVELS

A Levels are among the most popular and useful qualifi cations around and are taken by most Sixth Form Centre students.

By focusing on three or four

subjects in depth, you will

develop advanced knowledge

and skills that are relevant to

both Higher Education and

employment. The majority of

our second year students go on

to Higher Education, including

Cambridge University as well

as other very selective and

prestigious universities.

A Levels are divided into an

AS (fi rst) year and an A2

(second) year. The AS year will

help you move on from GCSE

to more advanced study and

is a stepping stone to the

full A Level standard of

the second year.

Each course has two or three

modules per year. The majority

are assessed through

examinations, though some

have coursework.

A Levels vary widely from subject

to subject and include traditional

classes, practical work and fi eld

trips and visits.

One thing they all have in common

is that they are challenging.

Many of our former students

who have gone on to Higher

Education tell us that their

A Levels were as demanding as the

fi rst year of their degree courses.

In spite of these challenges, our

results are good, with an overall

pass rate of 98% in 2012, and

100% pass rate in 18 subjects.

To succeed at A Level, you will need

to have academic ability, choose

the right courses and be willing to

work hard throughout them.

Some courses also have

their own additional entry

requirements, including minimum

average GCSE points scores.

These are calculated by adding

up the points for all your GCSEs,

using the scale below, and then

dividing the total by the number

of subjects taken:

GRADE POINTS

A* 8

A 7

B 6

C 5

D 4

E 3

F 2

G 1

U 0

For example, if you have a grade

C in all of your GCSEs, your

average would be 5.0. If half are

at grade C and half at grade B,

it would be 5.5.

The minimum GCSE scores we

ask for if you want to take certain

A Level subjects take account of

national statistics in the A Level

Information System (ALIS). These

tell us if you have a good chance

of succeeding in each subject

with a particular GCSE score.

Entry qualifi cations for different

courses are explained within

their subject descriptions on the

following pages.

Choosing the right subjects can

be complicated, but we will help

you decide. We recommend

subjects that:

• You will enjoy

• You will have a good chance of

succeeding in

• Will help you move on to the next

stage in your chosen career.

If you are thinking of applying later

on for highly rated academic degree

courses, we will recommend taking at

least two of the ‘facilitating subjects’

recommended by the Russell Group

of Selective Universities, such as

English, Maths, Geography, History,

Science subjects and Modern

Foreign Languages.

To start any of our A Level

courses, you will need grades

A*-C in fi ve full GCSEs including

English. This is less than some

sixth forms ask for, but we

know that if you meet this entry

requirement, and work hard,

you will succeed.

WORKING WITH OUR PARTNER SCHOOLS TO OFFER A WIDER CHOICE OF A LEVELS

The Sixth Form Centre aims to

offer the widest possible choice

of subjects to A Level students.

Most of these are taught at City

College Norwich’s Ipswich Road

Campus, but additional subjects

can sometimes be taken in the

sixth forms of schools that we

work in partnership with.

The entry requirements for these

subjects vary and are agreed with

the schools in which they are

taught. They always include at

least fi ve GCSE passes at grades

A*-C, including English.

If you would like to take one of

these subjects, or another one

that is not in this prospectus,

please indicate this in your

application and we will try to

make it available.

Details are given in the pages

that follow.


ARTArt A Level will develop your

ability to think and work as an

artist. During the course, you

will use a range of activities

and processes to explore the

use of visual language.

Your work will be linked to

your own personal themes and

to the work of other artists and

art movements. You will learn

to think and write analytically

about your own work and that

of other artists.

Practical work begins with a

structured course, in which

drawing and painting are covered

extensively using a range of

materials such as inks, charcoal,

watercolours, acrylics and oil

paint. You will then move on to

printmaking and explore drypoint,

collograph and relief techniques

such as lino cuts.

Basic sculptural methods using

card and wire follow, and then

a range of collage and mixed

media techniques are explored.

You will be able to use

photography equipment and

experiment with darkroom

processes such as photograms,

which can form a useful addition

to more traditional techniques.


18 19

As part of the course, you will

visit galleries and exhibitions

– locally and in London. These

have included the Turner Prize

exhibition, as well as shows

featuring the work of Gauguin,

Rauschenberg and Joseph Beuys.

Each year there is also a visual

arts trip abroad to a city renowned

for its artistic heritage. Recent

destinations have included Paris

and New York. In Paris, students

experienced an outstanding

exhibition of women artists at

the Pompidou Centre and also a

magnifi cent collection of post-

impressionist art at the Musée

D’orsay. The trip to New York

included the Museum of Modern

Art, the Metropolitan Museum,

the Guggenheim Museum,

the International Museum of

Photography, the Rockefeller

Center and visits to the Statue of

Liberty, the Empire State Building,

and Grand Central Station.

Each June there is an annual

Visual Arts show, where Art,

Photography and Textiles

students show their best work

in a gallery-style environment,

which is open to the public.

To be successful on the course,

you will need to have an interest

in art and in the world around you

and be able to work independently

and with enthusiasm. You should

also enjoy visiting galleries

and exhibitions.

Assessment is through:

• A range of practical work

including experiments

contained in a work journal,

fi nished pieces of coursework

and a response to a theme set

by the exam board

• A written personal study

investigating ideas in textiles.

An A Level in Art can lead to

related courses at a college,

art school or university, and

then on to a very wide range of

careers in art and design and

other creative industries.

Art can be taken with any

subjects, but students often

choose to combine it with

other visual disciplines such

as Textiles, Photography,

Media Studies or Film Studies.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:• Five GCSEs at grades A*-C

including English and Art

or a related subject, or a

suitable portfolio of art work.


BIOLOGYBiology is the study of life

including you and all other

living organisms, from the

molecular level right through

to entire ecosystems.

Essential principles are taught

in the context of today’s themes

and issues, such as how our

actions enhance the antibiotic

resistance of bacteria and

studying lifestyle factors that

increase the risk of cancer and

heart disease.

Humans are part of the ecological

balance and their actions affect

it both directly and indirectly.

Should we try to prevent malaria

by breeding and releasing

mosquitoes that carry a gene

that is lethal for their offspring,

or cull harriers to increase the

survival of red grouse chicks?

In the AS year, the main areas

of study are:

• Biology and disease

• Variety of living organisms.


20 21

In the A2 year, the main areas

of study are:

• Populations and environment

• Control in cells and organisms.

The course combines detailed

theoretical knowledge with practical

research including laboratory work,

interpreting data to solve scientifi c

problems and writing in a scientifi c

way. The course includes visits to

the Norfolk and Norwich University

Hospital, the John Innes Centre

and fi eld studies to Holkham and

Anglesey, in Wales.

Biology is challenging, not

only because of the content

that is covered, but also in the

scientifi c skills you will need to

develop, such as in practical

work and interpreting data.

You will also need to understand

chemical processes within

organisms, so knowledge of

chemistry is also useful.

Assessment is through a mixture

of written exams and practical

work. An A Level in Biology

can be the fi rst step towards

careers in fi elds such as;

research science, marine biology,

healthcare and forensic science,

as well as medicine, dentistry and

veterinary science.

Biology is identifi ed by selective

universities as one of the subjects

they prefer applicants to have

studied at A Level.

Biology can be taken with any



Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics

or Psychology.


including English

• A GCSE at grade A*-B in

Biology or Science and

Additional Science


Mathematics

• A GCSE average points score of

more than 5.7 (see page 17 for

details of how this is calculated).

ELLIOT BYFORDPREVIOUSLY AT: Rosemary Musker High School, Thetford

A LEVELS: Biology A*, Chemistry A*, Psychology A*

NOW STUDYING:Medicine at the University of East Anglia (UEA)


BUSINESS STUDIESThis subject introduces

you to the challenges and

issues of starting a business

and then goes on to explore

the management of people,

operations, fi nance

and marketing.

The course is divided into four

units covering:

• planning and fi nancing a business

• managing a business

• strategies for success

• the business environment

and change.

During the course, you will draw

on general business principles

and current events in the world

of business to understand

and evaluate the decisions

organisations make. There is a

strong emphasis on the practical

application of what you learn.

A lot of the work is based on

data and case studies, where

you will be asked to analyse a

variety of business problems

and situations.


22 23

To succeed on the course you

will need to have an enquiring

and logical mind and a general

interest in what goes on in

business, as well as good

communication skills and

confi dence in handling data

and numbers.

Assessment is through exams

with varied question types,

including data response and

essays. There is no coursework.

An A Level in Business Studies

can lead on to a degree or

foundation degree at a Higher

Education institute or careers in

any industry, including general

management, with specialisms

such as accounting and fi nance,

marketing or human resources.

You could also start up your own

business using the skills you have

learned during the course.

Business Studies can be

combined with a wide variety of

other subjects.

Some students take it with

subjects that can be useful

in business such as Law,

Psychology or Media Studies,

while others prefer Mathematics

or Science courses.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:• Five GCSEs at grades

A*-C including English and

Mathematics

• A GCSE average points score

of at least 5.0 (see page 17 for

details of how this is calculated)

• You do not need to have

studied Business Studies

before, but if you have, you will

need to have a GCSE at grade

A*-C or equivalent.

ROSIE DICKENSPREVIOUSLY AT: Rosemary Musker High School, Thetford

A LEVELS: Business Studies A*Government and Politics A*Psychology A

NOW STUDYING: BA Music and Entertainment Industry Management at the University of Hertfordshire


CHEMISTRYAre you fascinated by

chemical reactions? Do you

want to explore the world of

atoms and molecules? If so,

then Chemistry is for you.

from medical discoveries

to microscopic organisms,

Chemistry is central to our

understanding of the universe.

Topics include:

• The structure of atoms and how

they form bonds

• Chemical reactions

• The periodic table and groups

within it

• Quantities and the

mole concept

• Groups of organic chemicals

• Making new chemicals

• Analysing the structure of

unknown substances.

Work includes lectures, note

taking, question and answer

sessions, problem solving,

written work and model building.

Classes include demonstrations

and practical laboratory work.


24 25

You will develop a range of skills

such as making observations,

collecting data, titration and

organic synthesis. Links with

the University of East Anglia

allow college students to work

alongside undergraduates,

such as on a spectroscopy day.

You are likely to enjoy and

do well in this subject if:

• You are intrigued by the

science that you have studied

so far and want to know more

• You can understand and

remember lots of facts and

abstract concepts

• You enjoy practical

laboratory work

• You can cope fairly easily with

mathematics and like to use it

in problem solving

• You are prepared to work hard

and have a go at any questions

you are set.

Assessment is through two

written exams and practical work

in each year.

An A Level in Chemistry can

lead to careers in fi elds such as

research science, healthcare

and forensic science, as well

as medicine, dentistry and

veterinary science.

Chemistry is identifi ed by

selective universities as one

of the subjects they prefer

applicants to have studied

at A Level.

Chemistry can be taken with

any other subjects, but students

often choose to combine it with

Biology, Physics, Mathematics

or Psychology.


including English


Chemistry or Science and

Additional Science


Mathematics




NENNA OKOYEPREVIOUSLY AT: Sprowston High School, Norwich

A LEVELS: Biology A, Chemistry A, Maths A, Physics B

NOW STUDYING: Chemical Engineering at University College London (UCL).


DRAMA AND THEATRE STUDIES This course takes a practical

approach and you will learn,

rehearse and perform in our

specially designed drama

studio. There is a strong

focus on drama that you may

have performed or seen in a

theatre and we aim to give

students a chance to perform

in larger venues such as the

Norwich Playhouse. We also

hope to include work with

visiting professional actors and

directors as part of the course.

You will acquire a knowledge and

understanding of the language

of drama and theatre as well as

to develop your performing and

analytical skills. You will do this

by studying plays from the point

of view of a director, designer,

performer and critic.

The course includes trips to

see theatrical performances.

These have included Emperor


26 27

and Galilean and Henry V at the

National Theatre, Dr Faustus at

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre

and Propeller Theatre’s Richard III

at Norwich’s Theatre Royal.

If you wish to read Drama at

university, we will encourage

you to apply to join the

National Youth Theatre, as an

effective way of preparing for

university auditions.

We expect students to be excellent

team players, to have initiative,

maturity and imagination and

to appreciate that writing in

detail about your thoughts and

experiences during workshops

is an essential part of developing

your skills as a performer.

A high level of attendance is also

essential as you will be involved

in group performances where

students depend on each other’s

support to succeed.

Assessment is through written

examinations, practical work and

can include technical skills such

as sound and lighting as well as

performances.

Drama and Theatre Studies can

be taken with any other subjects,

but students often choose to

combine it with English,



including English


studied Drama before, but if

you have, you will need to

have a GCSE at grade A*-C

or equivalent.


ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATUREThis course explores a wide

variety of texts from different

historical periods and genres,

written for different audiences

and purposes. These will include

novels, newspapers, journals,

plays, speeches, poems, short

stories and diaries.

You will think about the nature

of language and how it works

and consider how writers and

speakers are affected by the

context in which they live and

the medium and genre through

which they have chosen to

communicate.

You will look at dialogue and

narrative voices in literature and

compare them with the spontaneous

speech of everyday life.


28 29

You will explore how speech

conveys information about

character to the reader or listener

and how things that are left unsaid

can be just as important as those

revealed through dialogue.

You will learn the critical

skills needed to talk and write

confi dently about writers and

their work and will develop your

creative writing skills by writing

from different perspectives and

by adapting existing texts.

You will study revered writers

from the literary canon, such as

Tennessee Williams and modern

authors like Alice Sebold and

Khaled Hosseini. This year,

students have visited the National

Theatre to see Henry V.

MOLLY TODDPREVIOUSLY: Home tutored

A LEVELS: Law A*, English Language and Literature A, History A

NOW STUDYING: BA English Literature with Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia.


exams and coursework.

An A Level in English Language

and Literature can lead on to

related degree courses and any

courses or careers that require

good language, communication

and analytical skills.

English Language and Literature

can be taken with any other



Drama and Theatre Studies,



including English.


ENGLISH LITERATUREThis subject gives you the

enduring pleasure of reading

and getting to know in detail a

wide range of literary texts and

plays, from the renaissance to

the present day.

As well as reading the texts

themselves, you will consider

the social, literary and historical

context of the time they were

written and examine some critical

responses to them.

During the course, you will

learn to:

• understand the role of narrative

in literary texts

• understand the distinctive

nature of different literary

genres

• read carefully, think analytically

and write articulately

• explore texts creatively

and independently

• apply critical ideas to

literary texts.


30 31

To succeed on the course,

you will need curiosity,

enthusiasm, creativity and

commitment, and above all

a desire to read literature.

Recent texts have included:

• The Kite Runner

• The Great Gatsby

• Poetry by Robert Browning and

Alfred Lord Tennyson

• Comedies such as Twelfth

Night and The Importance of

Being Earnest

• Gothic texts such as Dracula,

Frankenstein, Doctor Faustus

and The Bloody Chamber.


exams and coursework.

An A Level in English Literature

is an ideal preparation for

a wide variety of degree

courses and careers that

require good communication

and thinking skills.

English Literature is identifi ed

by selective universities as

one of the subjects they prefer

applicants to have studied

at A Level.

English Literature can be

taken with any other subjects,

but students often choose to

combine it with; Drama and

Theatre Studies, Media Studies

or Film Studies.


including English.


FILM STUDIESA Level Film Studies will

develop your understanding

of fi lms and their social,

historical and artistic

importance. You will learn

about the fi lm-making process,

from the early pioneers through

to modern day mainstream

and non-mainstream cinema.

The focus in the fi rst year is

on British and American fi lms

and how they often embody

societal concerns and anxieties.

Students complete a series

of research projects and case

studies that investigate the

producers of fi lm and the shifting

nature of fi lm spectatorship.

World Cinema and the silent

movie era are studied in year

two. Students also complete a

single fi lm study and a research

project on a fi lm style, fi lm actor

or director of their choice.

The course will also enable you to

put theory into practice. You will

make fi lms in both years of the

course, working to briefs agreed

with your teacher.


32 33

You will have creative freedom

to experiment in a range of

different fi lm styles and genres,

from Wallace and Gromit style

Claymation, to documentary fi lm,

single camera drama pieces and

avant-garde fi lms. You will have

access to High Defi nition digital

video cameras, non-linear editing

suites, the College’s TV studio

and the Adobe Creative suite

for post-production effects,

including Adobe After Effects.

Experienced staff will offer

technical and production

advice and guidance throughout

the course.

Students’ completed fi lms are

shown at the Annual Oscars

Night at The Forum in Norwich.

You are likely to do well in this

subject if you enjoy watching

fi lms, not just for their content

but also for the meanings behind

them, and if you are keen to learn

about fi lms from the entire history

of cinema. You will also need

to be creative and well-organised

to complete your practical

work successfully.

Assessment is through course

work (40%) and written

examinations (60%).

A Level Film Studies is useful

for anyone wishing to take an arts

or humanities subject at degree

level, and can lead to careers

in the fi lm industry.

Film studies can be taken with


often choose to combine it with;

English, Drama and Theatre

Studies or Photography.


including English.


FURTHER MATHEMATICSFurther Mathematics is a

course that broadens and

deepens the maths covered

in A Level Mathematics.

It develops your mathematical

ability and introduces you to

new topics, which are vital

if you are intending to study

a mathematics degree.

Further Mathematics is

studied alongside Mathematics

A Level. See page 47 for

details of our Mathematics

A Level course.

When you study Further

Mathematics at A Level, you will

not only learn new mathematical

skills, but will also apply them to

solving problems. You will see

how the subject can be used

to show what is happening and

what might happen in different

real life situations.

The Further Mathematics course

includes further study of modules

in core (pure) mathematics, plus

statistics and/or mechanics.


34 35

Core mathematics extends

your knowledge of topics

such as algebra, trigonometry

and geometry as well as

learning some new ideas

such as calculus.

These ideas are interesting in

their own right, but they also

serve as a foundation for other

work you will do.

In statistics you will learn how

to analyse and summarise

numerical data to arrive at

conclusions and predictions

about it.

Mechanics describes

mathematically the motion of

objects and how they respond to

forces acting on them.

Many of the ideas studied

here form an introduction

to modern fi elds of study

such as robotics and

biomechanics, as well as

the more traditional ones

of engineering and physics.

There is a total of six modules

to be completed. Assessment

is mainly through written

examinations, although there

is also a small amount of

coursework.

Further Mathematics A Level

is essential if you are intending

to go onto a degree rich in

mathematics, and it could lead to

degrees in other subjects such as

Science, Economics, Engineering

or Computing. The skills you will

learn, such as thinking clearly and

logically, will be useful in a wide

range of careers.


including English

• A GCSE at grade A* or A in

Mathematics


of more than 5.7 (see page

17 for details of how this is

calculated).

JAMES HIPPERSONPREVIOUSLY AT: Wayland Community High School, Thetford

A LEVELS: Biology A*, Chemistry A*, Maths A*, Physics A

NOW: Applying to study Veterinary Science


GEOGRAPHYGeography is the study of the

earth’s surface and atmosphere,

human responses to them and,

increasingly, the effects of

human activity upon them.

It will give you an insight into

issues that affect your everyday

life, from coastal erosion and

global warming to rising global

population and food supply.

As well as working in class, you

will carry out practical fi eldwork

and take part in events such as

the biodiversity conference held

at Norwich Castle each year.


written exams in each year.

Topics include:

• Forces infl uencing our natural

environment, from global

tectonic processes to the

smaller scale landscape

processes of coasts and rivers

• Issues affecting people and

the places where they live,

including how cities and the

countryside are changing


36 37

• How people are affecting the

environment

• Decisions about the use of

resources and who makes them

• Current events and problems

such as natural disasters, the

plight of refugees and the

problems of food supply

• Fieldwork investigation,

including collecting and

analysing evidence.

An A Level in Geography could

lead on to a related degree, but

the skills you will learn such as

thinking and writing clearly and

logically and interpreting different

kinds of data will be useful in a

wide range of other subjects.

Geography is identifi ed by

selective universities as one of the

subjects they prefer applicants to

have studied at A Level.

Geography can also help you

move on to a variety of careers,

such as; conservation and

environmental management,

town planning, teaching or

international development.

Geography can be taken with any

other subjects, but Geography

goes particularly well with;

Mathematics or Science subjects

as well as; Business Studies,

Government and Politics,

Sociology and other Humanities

and Social Science subjects.



Mathematics




calculated)


studied Geography before,

but if you have, you will need

to have a GCSE at grade

A*-C or equivalent.

BEN POLLOCKPREVIOUSLY AT:Taverham High School, Norwich

A LEVELS: Geography A*, History A, Media Studies A

NOW STUDYING: International Development at the University of East Anglia, on a course that includes overseas experience


GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS Is the government right to

raise tuition fees? Are tougher

sentences the way to solve

crime? Does it matter if

politicians lie to the people?

To what extent is the

government to blame for

the economic crisis?

Government and Politics

is the study of how the UK

Government works and how

it affects ordinary people;

it is also the study of UK

government policy and

its effectiveness.

Topics include:

• Democracy

• Pressure groups

• The purpose and effectiveness

of parliament

• Education, health and

welfare policy

• Law and order policy

• Economic policy

• The European Union and the UK.

You are likely to enjoy and do well

in this subject if you are interested


38 39

in how Government works,

enjoy discussing current issues

and are good at developing

logical, reasoned arguments.

You will need to keep up-to-date

with current events by reading

quality newspapers and

watching the television news on

a regular basis, as well as doing

independent research using the

internet and other sources.


exams in each year, with a

mixture of structured, short,

mid-length and source response

questions in the fi rst year.

The second year has mid-length

questions and essays.

This A Level is likely to be

especially useful if you are

thinking about going on to

related university courses such

as; politics, international relations,

history and public policy, but

the skills you will learn, such

as thinking and writing clearly

and logically and interpreting

and evaluating evidence, will be

useful in a wide range of other

subjects as well. they will also

help you in a variety of careers

such as in the civil service, law

or journalism.

Government and Politics can be

taken with any other subjects, but

students often choose; Business

Studies, History, Law, Sociology

or English.


including English




calculated).

MICHAEL MAGGSPREVIOUSLY AT: Long Stratton High School, Long Stratton

A LEVELS: Government and Politics A, English Language and Literature A, Sociology A

NOW STUDYING: BA History and Politics at the University of East Anglia (UEA)


HISTORYThis subject covers modern

European and British history, with

themes including nationalism,

war and its impact on society,

revolution and fascism. It helps to

explain our present and collective

past as a story, or a series of

stories, whose content shifts

according to the storyteller.

As George Santayana said,

“A country without a memory

is a country of madmen.”

Themes of study include

nationalism, the impact of war

on society, Nazi Germany and

the development of British

democracy. A typical class will

include reading, analysing and

evaluating historical sources

and discussion.

History is academically

challenging. To succeed you

will need to enjoy reading,

think logically and be good at

evaluating evidence and opinions.


40 41

You must also be prepared to

read widely and deeply, to work

at developing essay writing skills

and to think analytically and

independently.


with essays and there is

coursework in the second year.

This A Level could lead on to a

related degree course, such as

History, Politics or Law, but

the skills you will learn, such as

thinking and writing clearly and

logically and interpreting and

evaluating evidence, will

be useful in a wide range of

other subjects.

History is identifi ed by selective

universities as one of the subjects

they prefer applicants to have

studied at A Level.

The skills you will learn at A Level

will also help you in a variety

of careers such as; in the civil

service, law, journalism, teaching,

archaeology and museum work.

History can be taken with any

other subjects, but students often

choose Government and Politics,

Law, Sociology or English.


including English





studied History before, but if



or equivalent.


INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT)This exciting new course

brings the study of ICT up

to date for the 21st century.

It has the backing of a

range of industries, higher

education and the National

Computing Centre.

The course has been developed

for students who wish to

progress to higher education

or to the world of work,

where an understanding how

ICT can be used in society

and organisations, and the

implications of its use, will be

a valuable asset.

In the fi rst year, there are two

complementary units concerned

with applying ICT to solve

problems and the study of the

opportunities for and effects of

using ICT in the world today.

The projects that are studied

can be quite diverse and where

possible are based upon real

life scenarios. This could be in

web design, database design,

video/animation composition

or programming application or

mobile applications.


42 43

You will have a chance to use

a wide range of software and

hardware to create solutions

to problems. The software

used includes Apple’s X-Code

Development Suite for software

development and Final Cut

Pro for video editing. Adobe’s

Creative Suite 6 is also

used, which includes Flash,

Dreamweaver, Photoshop,

Premiere and After Effects.

Microsoft Offi ce Professional

Suite is used for database

design and modelling.

The hardware used is Apple’s

range of iPod, iPhone, iPad,

iMac and Macbook devices.

Some work is also done on the

Windows PC platform.

In the second year, you will study

the use of ICT in the 21st century

and acquire skills needed in

the IT profession such as

co-operative working and project

management. You will undertake

a large project in an area that

interests you and, by doing this,

gain practical experience of

designing, creating and managing

a real ICT related system.

The course includes a mixture

of seminars and independent

learning, with work in class and

online used to deliver the core

theory. Independent study and

an individual project manager

approach will be used for

project work.

The knowledge and skills

gained on this course can be

used as a springboard on to

more advanced qualifi cations

and work in a wide range of

sectors including banking,

transport hospitals, schools,

telecommunications,

engineering, manufacturing,

retail, administration or

even entertainment.



Mathematics


studied ICT before, but if you

have, you will need a GCSE

at grade A*-C or equivalent.


LAWThis subject answers questions

such as, ‘Where does our law

come from and how does it

change?’ and ‘how does

the legal system work?’

It can be related to most aspects

of everyday life and will help you

to understand your legal rights

and participate in discussions

and debates on topical issues.

The AS course covers sources of

law and the English legal system,

giving an insight into how the

law works in the UK. It includes

case law, statute law, the court

system and the legal profession,

and provides a fundamental

knowledge for any further

study of law.

At A2 level you will study criminal

law, including the elements of

a crime (the act and the intent)

and types of crimes, and will

complete a special study

of one area of criminal law.


44 45

Classes will help you understand

the law in detail and to apply it to

a variety of situations. It is often

contentious and there are plenty

of opportunities to discuss and

debate. Students on the course

also take part in a Mock Trial

Competition and trips to the local

magistrates’ and Crown Courts

to see the law in action.

The subject is challenging

and requires hard work and

concentration, but is rewarding

and stimulating. To succeed, you

will need to have good listening

skills and a good memory,

be able to think logically and

coherently and to express

yourself clearly in essays.


written exams in each year.

This A Level could lead on

to a related degree course,

such as Law, History or Politics,

but the skills you will learn,

such as thinking and writing

clearly and logically and

interpreting and evaluating

evidence, will be useful in a

wide range of other subjects,

and will also help you in a variety

of careers such as in the civil

service, law or journalism.

Law can be taken with any other


choose; Government and Politics,

History or English.


including English

• A GCSE average points

score of more than 5.0

(see page 17 for details of

how this is calculated).

RADHA KHANNAPREVIOUSLY AT:City of Norwich School, Norwich

A LEVELS: Chemistry A, Physics A, Textiles B

NOW STUDYING: BA Law at the University of East Anglia


MATHEMATICS When you study mathematics

at A Level, you will not only

learn new mathematical skills,

but will also apply them to

solving problems. You will see

how the subject can be used

to show what is happening and

what might happen in different

real life situations.

If you are intending to study

mathematics or another

maths-rich degree at university, we

strongly recommend you combine a

Mathematics A Level with a Further

Mathematics A Level to give a

deeper insight into the subject.

See page 35 for details of our

Further Mathematics A Level course.

The course includes core

(pure) mathematics plus

statistics and/or mechanics.

Core mathematics extends

your knowledge of topics such

as algebra, trigonometry and

geometry as well as learning

some new ideas such as

calculus. These ideas are

interesting in their own right, but

they also serve as a foundation

for other work you will do.


46 47

In statistics, you will learn how to

analyse and summarise numerical

data to arrive at conclusions and

predictions about it.

Mechanics describes

mathematically the motion of

objects and how they respond

to forces acting on them. Many

of the ideas studied here form

an introduction to modern

fi elds of study such as robotics

and biomechanics, as well as

the more traditional ones of

engineering and physics.

Mathematics students enter the

UK Maths Challenge and visit the

Maths at UEA Open Day.

Mathematics can be challenging

at this level. To succeed, you

will need to be able to think

clearly and logically and, just as

importantly, to persevere when

you can’t immediately see the

solution to a problem.

There is a total of six modules

to be completed. Assessment

is mainly through written

examinations, though there is also

a small amount of coursework.

Mathematics can be taken

with any other subjects, but

students often choose; Physics,

Chemistry, Biology, Psychology,

Business Studies or Geography.

Mathematics A Level could lead

on to a related degree course,

such as in mathematics, science,

economics, engineering or

computing, but the skills you will

learn, such as thinking clearly

and logically, will be useful in

wide range of other subjects.

Mathematics is identifi ed by




Mathematical knowledge is also

essential in a wide range of careers

including ones in science, engineering,

computing and management.


including English


Mathematics




KARINA ADCOCKPREVIOUSLY AT: Attleborough High School, Attleborough

A LEVELS: Biology A*, Chemistry A, Mathematics A

NOW STUDYING: Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia (UEA)


48 49

MEDIA STUDIESThe media affects us all in

many ways. We use media

technology to connect,

investigate, learn and play.

This course will develop your

understanding of the media

and your practical media

production skills.

At AS Level, you will study a

range of contemporary and

historical TV dramas and

complete a case study on a key

area of the media. Practical work

will include designing and writing

the front page, contents page

and a double page spread for a

new magazine. This will teach

you the fundamentals of digital

photography and Photoshop

design and help you sharpen

your journalistic writing skills.

At A2 level, you will study a

range of contemporary media

issues and debates as well

as completing an extensive

cross-media promotion project.

This involves working with local

musicians and bands to produce

a promo package that includes

a music video. Past students

have worked with Ed Sheeran

and The Crookes.

Throughout the course you

will be supported by

experienced staff and have use

of HD cameras, digital SLRs

(Canon 600D), a TV studio,

Photoshop, Adobe Creative Suite

and Final Cut Pro.

Completed magazine designs

and fi lms are shown at our

annual Oscars Night at

The Forum in Norwich.

You are likely to do well in this

subject if you are interested in the

media, not just for their content,

but also for the meanings behind

them. You will also need to be

creative and well-organised

to complete your practical

work successfully.


and coursework.

A Level Media Studies is useful

for anyone wishing to take a

Humanities degree or to pursue a

career in the industry. The course

will also develop skills of critical

analysis and interpretation, essay

writing and debating.

Media Studies can be taken with


often choose to combine it

with Art, English, Film Studies,

Photography or Sociology.


including English

• You do not need to have taken

Media Studies before, but if



or equivalent.

ASHLEY BILVERSTONEPREVIOUSLY AT: Wayland Community High School (now Wayland Academy)

A LEVELS: Business Studies C, Film Studies C, Media Studies C

NOW STUDYING: BA in Film and Media Production at Edge Hill University.


MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES FRENCHAS focuses on a variety of

topics in all skill areas and no

coursework is involved. If you

wish to investigate the structure

of the courses further, visit

The Welsh Board website

at www.wjec.co.uk or the

International Baccalaureate

website at www.ibo.org.

We spend the autumn term

helping you to make the transition

from GCSE to AS, covering a

multitude of interesting topic

areas and social issues using

Elan 1 as a text book. In the

Spring term we run the exchange

to Montpellier which has proved

very helpful in developing oral

skills and improving fl uency –

both connections and confi dence

are built. This is the time when

we concentrate on the oral

examination both in lessons

and with the help of our

language assistant.


50 51

In the summer term

we work closely with past

papers in order to prepare for

the May exams.

A2 takes us to yet another level

of sophistication. We focus on

the fi lm ‘La Haine’ in preparation

for the oral and for the written

paper we read and analyse the

20th century novel ‘L’Etranger’

by Albert Camus. We also spend

time developing our translation

skills in preparation for the

summer examination.


including English


of at least 5.0

• A GCSE at grade A*-B

in French

During the spring/summer term we

will work through past papers in

preparation for the exams in May.

You should be prepared to:

• speak German in the lesson at

every opportunity

• attend regular lessons with the

Foreign Language Assistant

• do approximately 30 minutes

of homework for each lesson

• do additional Supported

Self-study using all the videos,

listening materials, the internet

and reading materials at

your disposal.

A2 takes us to yet deeper into

the language. We focus on the

fi lm ‘”Goodbye Lenin” and the

history surrounding the time of

“die Wende” in preparation for

the oral exam. For the written

paper we read and analyse the

20th century play “Der Besuch

der alten Dame” a tragic-comedy,

by the Swiss author Friedrich

Dürrenmatt. We also spend

time developing our translation

skills in preparation for the

summer examination.


including English


of at least 5.0

• A GCSE at grade A*-B in German

GERMANThe course will cover a variety of

topics which extend far beyond

basic GCSE and use a range of

materials. It is widely recognised

that knowledge of a second

language is important in today’s

society and a knowledge of

German is particularly valuable in

the science and business world.

This course will benefi t both those

wishing to study languages or

those wishing to have a language

to support other areas of study.

The exam board will be WJEC.

The main course books are called

Brennpunkt and Zeitgeist but

there will be ample opportunity

to use ICT for both research and

interactive learning. At the start

of the year we will focus attention

on the transition from GCSE to

AS Level, gradually moving into

the AS Level course itself. As our

students come from a variety of

schools and learning experiences

we ensure that grammar is taught

from the very beginning i.e. back

to basics so that all students

feel confi dent and are able to

progress more quickly.

Assessment will be carried out

at regular intervals and will cover

all 4 skills (listening, speaking,

reading and writing) and be

based on expectations for the

fi nal exam.

SPANISHThe study of Spanish enables

students to communicate

confi dently, clearly and effectively

in both the spoken and written

language. Additionally, it will enable

you to widen your knowledge and

understanding of the countries where

your chosen language is spoken.

The examinations will be

as follows:

Unit 1: AS Reading,

writing and listening

You will answer a range

of questions based on

approximately 5 minutes of

heard material and on a selection

of written stimulus texts.

You will also respond in writing

to a question based on one of

the AS topics.

Unit 2: AS Oral examination

conducted by an external

examiner

You will discuss a target-language

stimulus card based on one of

the AS topics and take part in

a conversation covering three

further AS topics.

Unit 3: A2 Reading, writing,

listening and translation

You will answer a range

of questions based on

approximately 6 minutes of

heard material and on a selection

of written texts. You will also

respond in writing to a question

based on a cultural topic area.

Unit 4: A2 Oral examination

conducted by an external

examiner

You will present a point of view

based on a target language

stimulus card from one of the

A2 topic areas and take part in

a conversation covering three

further A2 topics.


including English


of at least 5.0

• A GCSE at grade A*-B

in Spanish

NOTE: These subjects are taught at City of Norwich School (CNS) and Notre Dame High School and the information about them has been supplied by these schools.


MUSIC AND MUSIC TECHNOLOGY MUSICThe Hewett Sixth Form has a reputation for

excellent music teachers and facilities. With a

dedicated music block containing two recording

studios, six practice rooms and a wide variety of

instruments music students are always able to

go the extra mile in their studies.

In A Level Music you will develop your performance

skills, improve composition skills learned at GCSE

level and develop an understanding of harmony,

music analysis and history. You will be taught to

understand how music works by listening to set

works. You will also be given the opportunity to

perform as a soloist and/or part of an ensemble.

You will be able to choose music in any style and

play any instrument(s) and/or voice(s) as part of a

5-6 minute assessed performance.

You will also develop your composition skills

leading to the creation of a three minute piece in

response to a chosen brief. You also write a

CD sleeve note to describe aspects of your

fi nal composition and explain how other pieces

of music have infl uenced it.

In recent years, Music students have joined the

A Level French students on a trip to La Fete de

Musique in Beaugency. The A Level Music students

performed as part of the Fete and it is hoped that

foreign trips will become a regular feature of the

A Level course.

A-Level Music students also get the opportunity to

play as part of the school music production.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:• Five GCSEs at grades A*-C including English

• A GCSE at grade A*-B in Music

• Able to read traditional music notation

• Able to play an instrument or sing to a standard

equivalent of Grade 4 or above


52 53

MUSIC TECHNOLOGYThe Hewett School has invested heavily in

the specialist equipment needed to make this

course successful. With two recording studios

and a dedicated music computer suite with

industry-standard software, music technology.

You will be pushed hard and required to undertake

a lot of self study but you will fi nd it very enjoyable

and rewarding.

Music Technology, like other forms of technology,

advances rapidly. The new Music Technology

specifi cation provides opportunities to embrace

recent developments in the fi eld with the emphasis

on a wide range of practical work.

You will learn about the production and recording of

music through the use of new technology. You will

develop skills needed to produce your own CD as

well as creating your own sequenced performance.

You will also learn how to use the recording studios to

capture the sound of a live band/performer and then

process and mix the sounds to create a fi nal product.

As well as technical aspects of music recording you

will need to understand how pitch, rhythm, dynamics,

articulation and phrasing all affect the fi nal sound

produced and add your own creativity to the sounds.

Many students have studied this subject further at

university with some going straight into the music

industry. Two of our most recent students have

been signed up by a record label to produce their

own material commercially. Whether or not you end

up as the next Drum and Bass star you are able to

take this course on to Music Technology courses

at various universities or aim for a career in music/

sound production, TV, theatre or radio.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:• Five GCSEs at grades A*-C including English

• Some experience of making music and/or using

music technology

NOTE: These subjects are taught at The Hewett School and the information about them has been supplied by the school.


54


PHILOSOPHYAND ETHICS“The great virtue of philosophy

is that it teaches not what

to think, but how to think...

Philosophy is, in commercial

jargon, the ultimate

“transferable work skill”.

(The Times, 15th August 1998)

This course requires you to have

an enquiring mind, an interest in

controversial ethical issues and

a desire to examine some of the

biggest questions in the universe.

You will be involved in learning

about a range of engaging topics,

many of which will be new to you

and which will challenge your

opinions and thinking.

The course is split into two

halves; Philosophy of Religion

and Ethics.

55

NOTE: This subject is taught at City Academy Norwich and the information about them has been supplied by the school.

The Philosophy side of the

course looks at the origins of the

idea of God, whether it’s possible

that such an idea/being could

ever exist (or ever not exist!)

The Ethics side of the course

examines questions about right

and wrong, good and bad. How

do we decide what the moral

thing to do is in any

given situation? We then go

on to look at some controversial

ethical issues such as genetic

engineering, euthanasia

and abortion.

Philosophy and Ethics will help

to develop skills of reasoning,

analysis and communication that

will be valuable in any path you

choose to take.


written exams in each year,

with formative essays set

throughout the year.


including English


Philosophy and Ethics before,

but if you have, you will need to


or equivalent.


PHOTOGRAPHYPhotography is the pre-eminent

visual medium of the age,

especially since digital

photography has made it more

available and added even more

to its expressive potential.

By exploring themes such as

‘Light’, ‘Capturing the moment’

and ‘the truth’, this course will

teach you digital and traditional

darkroom photography skills,

how to express yourself and

communicate ideas through

photographs and how to

understand different layers

of meaning in images.




have included the Tate Modern,

the Haywood Gallery, the Royal

Academy, the Photographers’

Gallery, the Whitechapel Gallery,

the Sainsbury Centre in Norwich

and Norwich Castle Museum.

Each year there is also a

visual arts trip abroad to a city

renowned for its artistic heritage.

Recent destinations have

included Paris and New York.

In Paris, students experienced an

outstanding exhibition of women

artists at the Pompidou Centre

and also a magnifi cent collection

of post-impressionist art at the

Musée D’orsay. The trip to New

York included the Museum of

Modern Art, the Metropolitan

Museum, the Guggenheim

Museum, the International

Museum of Photography, the

Rockefeller Center as well as


56 57

visits to the Statue of Liberty,

the Empire State Building and

Grand Central station.

Each year there is an annual




in a gallery-style environment,

open to the public.

To succeed you will need

curiosity, independence and

initiative, and have an eye for

a good picture. You will be

willing to develop ideas and

to investigate and analyse

images and you will be

persistent and hardworking.







by the exam board


investigating ideas in

photography.

The course is taught in a

well-equipped, specialist room,

with PCs and printers for your

digital work and access to a

traditional darkroom. We provide

the essential materials for the

course, but you will need to have

your own digital SLR camera.

An A Level in photography can

lead to related courses at a

college, art school or university,

and then on to a very wide range

of creative careers, such as in

art and design or the media.

ANNALISE TAYLORPREVIOUSLY AT: Thorpe St Andrew School, Norwich

A LEVELS: Media Studies B, Photography B, Psychology C

NOW STUDYING: BA in Photography at Falmouth University

Photography can be taken with

any subjects, but students often

choose to combine it with other

visual disciplines such as; Art,

Film Studies or Media Studies.


including English

• A GCSE at grade A*-C in

Photography or another

Art-based subject or a suitable

portfolio of photographic work.


PHYSICAL EDUCATION (PE) In A Level PE you are

encouraged to develop the

skills and techniques needed

to improve physical performance.

The course has four units:

• Participation in Sport

and Recreation;

• The Critical Sports Performer;

• Preparation for Optimum

Sports Performance;

• The Developing Sports

Performer.

You will have the chance to

take on the roles of ‘performer’,

‘leader’ or ‘offi cial’ in the fi rst

year, before focusing on one of

these in the second year.


58 59

In the context of your

chosen role(s), you will:

• Review your current

participation in physical activity

• Identify opportunities locally,

nationally and internationally to

advance your participation in

physical activity

• Create a development

plan and a life plan for

your participation in

physical activity.

You will learn about sport,

from the grass roots to the elite

level, and the development

of competitive sport and will

carry out a local, national and

international study.

Healthy lifestyles, fi tness and

training, and preparation for

sports performance are also

covered extensively.

Assessment is by both exams

and coursework. Many subjects

combine well with PE, including

Biology, Chemistry, Psychology

and Business Studies.


including English, Mathematics

and Science


PE before, but if you have, you

will need to have a GCSE at

grade A*-C or equivalent

• You must be actively involved

in a sporting activity to at least

local club or school level and

be able to provide a portfolio

of evidence of previous training

and performances.

NOTE: This subject is taught at City Academy Norwich and the information about it has been supplied by the school.


PHYSICSPhysics is a fascinating

theoretical subject about how

the real world (and the rest of

the Universe) works. It asks

about everything from what

existed before the Big Bang to

how cars can use less petrol.

Topics include:

• Particles

• Quantum phenomena

and electricity

• Mechanics

• Materials and waves

• Fields and further mechanics

• Nuclear and thermal physics.

The course combines learning

about theories in physics with

practical laboratory work and

analysing data.

You are likely to do well if you

can think logically, critically and

imaginatively and are willing to

work hard. The course can be

challenging and you will need


60 61

to persevere when you can not

immediately see the solution

to a problem. It includes some

mathematical concepts and

theories, so it will also help

if you enjoy and are good at

mathematics, especially algebra.

You will be assessed through

written exams and practical work.

This A Level could lead on to

related degree courses and

careers, such as; science,

engineering or computing, and

the skills you will learn, such as

thinking clearly and logically, will

be useful in a wide range of other

fi elds. Physics is identifi ed by




Physics can be taken with any

other subjects, but students often

choose; Mathematics, Chemistry,

Biology or Geography.


including English


Physics or Science and

Additional Science


Mathematics

• A GCSE average points

score of more than 5.7

(see page 17 for details of

how this is calculated).

ALEX JANTZENPREVIOUSLY STUDIED IN DENMARK

A LEVELS: Physics A*, Maths A*, Chemistry A

NOW STUDYING: BSc Physics at Southampton University.


PSYCHOLOGYPsychology tries to answer

the questions of why people

behave as they do, how they

think and how they feel.

It looks at these questions

using a variety of scientifi c

methods such as experiments,

interviews and questionnaires.

During your AS course, you

will study memory, attachment

between children and their

parents, stress, obedience,

abnormal behaviour and

research methods.

The topics you will investigate

in your A2 year are perception,

relationships, eating behaviour,

depression, addictive behaviour

and advanced research methods.

Classes will allow you to

undertake research into these

topics and introduce you to a

wide range of interesting studies

that psychologists have carried

out in trying to understand

these behaviours.


62 63

This is a popular course taken

by students who are keen to

engage with a new subject

and be taught by experienced,

enthusiastic subject specialists.

The course is assessed through

exams, there is no coursework.

You will have plenty of practice

in exam techniques and help

from your teachers who have

themselves worked as examiners

in the subject.

The exams have short answer

questions, essays and

interpretation of data. To do

well you will need to be able to

remember factual information,

interpret questions and be able

to write concisely.

Students who have studied

psychology often go on to

university to study it further,

but may also study or work in

related areas such as teaching,

business, social work or

the police.

LAUREN BURROWSPREVIOUSLY AT: Sewell Park College, Norwich

A LEVELS: Business Studies B, Psychology B, Sociology A

NOW STUDYING: Business Management at the University of East Anglia (UEA)

Psychology can be taken with

any other subjects, in particular

science subjects, especially

Biology, but also History,

Geography, Law, Business

Studies and Sociology.


including English





studied Psychology before,

but if you have, you will need

to have GCSE at grade A*-C.


SOCIOLOGYSociology is the study of

society using a range of different

perspectives. We look critically

at how different features of

society work, such as the

family, the media and education,

opening ourselves up to new

ideas and questioning our own

experiences. There is really no

right and wrong in sociology,

only different points of view, and

critical thinking is encouraged.

Sociology will enable you to

question social organisation,

understand people’s experiences

in different social positions and

social groups and become more

articulate and fl uent in expressing

your ideas and opinions.

Students come to sociology from

a wide variety of backgrounds

and with a range of different

experiences and work with a

subject specialist with a real

commitment and belief in the

value of sociology. This makes for

lively and stimulating sociological

discussion and debates.


64 65

Classes include using topical

visual material, news articles,

interactive textbooks and more.

Sociology is an academically

rigorous subject, combining

theoretical perspectives and real

world problems. To succeed,

you will need to enjoy reading

and writing, should have a keen

interest in society and social

issues and should be prepared

to question common sense

understanding.

You will learn to compare

different ways of understanding

society so should be open to

different arguments.

Assessment is by modular

exams in the form of data

response papers.

Sociology goes well with other

social sciences and humanities

subjects and is a good subject

for a range of occupations

such as medicine, policing

and social work.


including English





studied Sociology before, but if

you have, you will need to have

a GCSE at grade A*-C.

WILLIAM BURTONPREVIOUSLY AT: Notre Dame RC School, Norwich

A LEVELS: Government and Politics A, English Language and Literature A*, History B

NOW STUDYING: BA in Philosophy and Sociology at the University of York.


TEXTILESThis subject will help you

develop a working knowledge

of materials, practices,

technology and specialist

vocabulary in textiles. You

will use these to interpret and

express your ideas and feelings

using textiles, craft and design,

practicing experimental and

analytical and documenting

skills. You will also develop a

knowledge and understanding

of the place of textiles, craft

and design in history and in

contemporary society.

Practical work will include

printing, machine embroidery,

hand stitching, felt making,

paper making and weaving.




have included the Victoria and

Albert Museum, the Textile

Museum in Norwich, the

Sainsbury Centre, the Louvre

Textile Museum and the

Hub Museum at Sleaford.

Each year, there is also a visual

arts trip abroad, to a city renowned


66 67

for its artistic heritage. recent

destinations have included Paris

and New York. In Paris, students

experienced an outstanding

exhibition of women artists at

the Pompidou Centre and also

a magnifi cent collection of post-

impressionist art at the musée

D’orsay. The trip to New York

included the Museum of Modern

Art, the Metropolitan Museum,

the Guggenheim Museum,

the International Museum of

Photography, the Rockefeller

Center as well as visits to the Statue

of Liberty, the Empire State Building

and Grand Central Station.

Each year there is an annual




in a gallery-type environment,

which is open to the public.

To be successful you will need an

interest in and understanding of the

basic elements of design and the

position of art, craft and design in the

world. Above all, you should have an

interest in creating and understanding

textiles and the determination to

develop that interest.







by the exam board


investigating ideas in textiles.

An A Level in textiles can lead to

related courses at a college, art

school or university, and then on

to a very wide range of careers in

art and design and other creative

industries.

Textiles can be taken with any


choose to combine it with other

visual disciplines such as;

Art, Photography, Media Studies

or Film Studies.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:• Five GCSEs grades A*-C

including English

• A GCSE at grade A*-C in an

Art-based subject or a suitable

portfolio of Textiles work.

SASKIA HADLEYPREVIOUSLY AT: Stradbroke School, Eye

A LEVELS: Textiles A, English Language & Literature B, History B, French D

NOW STUDYING: BA in Fashion at Norwich University College of the Arts.


EXTENDED PROJECTQUALIFICATION (EPQ)This is a one year course,

designed to make you

into a skilled researcher,

someone who can discover

information and evaluate

its importance and credibility.

You will then apply these core

research skills in producing

either a 5,000 word report on

a subject of your choice or

an artefact such as a piece of

artwork, music or video plus a

report of around 1,000 words.

You will also compile a detailed

production log as you go,

showing how you carried

out your project.


68 69

Key areas that you will learn

about on the EPQ course include:

• Project management

• Searching and collecting

information

• The importance of the peer

review process

• Evaluating information

• Data analysis

• Referencing and citation

• Report writing and

presentation skills.

Examples of students’ projects

have included:

• How the creatures of mythology

are portrayed in modern society

• As part of a pluralistic society,

should Sharia Law exist within

the British legal system?

• The history and key

developments in the sport of

snowboarding.

A key challenge of the EPQ is

to manage your time effectively,

balancing the need to do

research for your EPQ with the

demands on your time made by

your A Levels.

An EPQ is equivalent to an

AS Level, although, unlike AS

courses, an A* grade may be

awarded. If you are considering

applying to go to university, it will

both give you extra UCAS points

and demonstrate that you have

developed valuable independent

research skills.


70 71

NOT READY FOR A LEVELS YET?Most Sixth Form Centre

students begin a full time

A Level programme of three or

four subjects as soon as they

join us. However, some are

not yet ready to for this very

demanding option and need

longer to prepare for it.

We offer several ways this

can be done:

• Access to A Level

• Full time GCSEs

Access to A Level and full time

GCSE courses all begin with

an initial assessment and an

induction period. We will use this

time to get to know you well and

work out what courses will suit

you best, before fi nal decisions

are made on which programme

you will do.

The GCSE subjects offered vary

from year to year, depending on

what students choose, but they

normally include:

• Biology

• Chemistry

• English

• Mathematics

• Media Studies

• Physics

• Psychology

• Science and Additional Science

• Sociology

ACCESS TO A LEVELThis programme allows you to

start on at least one A Level

course straight away while at the

same time improving your GCSE

grades and study skills.

The programme lasts a year and

is followed by two more years of

full time A Level study.

The Access to A Level

year includes:

• One or two AS courses in

subjects where you are able to

work at this level straight away

(AS courses are the fi rst year of

A Level courses)

• GCSEs, to make sure you have

at least fi ve good grades at the

end of the year

FULL TIME GCSESFull time GCSE courses also

last a year and include up to fi ve

subjects. If you are successful

and have at least fi ve GCSEs at

grade A*-C at the end of the year,

you may then be able to progress

to more advanced courses,

such as A Levels and BTEC

National Diplomas.

Many of the students who take

full time GCSE courses have

done so before at school and are

aiming to improve their grades.

• A project qualifi cation to

improve your independent

study skills

• Work with a personal tutor to

help you make the most of your

time at college

Access to A Level is likely to be a

good choice for you if:

• You have three or more A*-C

grades at GCSE and mainly D

grades in your other subjects

• You are sure want to take A

Levels in the Sixth Form Centre

afterwards and are likely to be

successful on them

However, we also support

students who have not taken

GCSEs before, or who have

only taken a few. Often, this is

because they have missed a lot

of time at school due to illness or

for other reasons.

Our full time GCSE courses are

taught in another part of City

College Norwich, not in the

Sixth Form Centre. For more

details, contact the Advice Shop

on 01603 773773.

AARON SMITHPREVIOUSLY AT: City College Norwich, taking GCSEs

GCSES IN THE SIXTH FORM CENTRE:English B, Mathematics A*, Science A*, Additional Science A*, Psychology A

NOW STUDYING: AS Levels in Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics

HOA CHEN ZHUPREVIOUSLY AT: City College Norwich, taking GCSE, AS and A Level courses

AS AND A LEVEL RESULTS:AS Biology A, AS Chemistry B, AS Physics A, A Level Mathematics A*

NOW STUDYING: A Levels in Biology, Chemistry and Physics

HOW TO FIND US

72

We are a few minutes walk

from the City Centre on Ipswich

Road. From the St Stephens

Street roundabout (near the bus

station), follow signs to Ipswich.

A few hundred metres south

of the roundabout the A11 and

A140 divide: take the left fork and

the College is about 300 metres

further along on the left.

There is limited pay and display

parking on campus, but we also

offer a subsidised park and ride

scheme from the County Council

site on Harford roundabout (near

Tesco on the A140/A47 junction).

Please note: We make every effort to ensure that all information in this directory is accurate at the time of printing. However, changes to courses, fees, facilities or other matters may be necessary and the College cannot accept any liability arising as a result. The College reserves the right to alter, to close, or not to run courses/classes as deemed necessary on the grounds of operational constraints, financial viability or any other reason. We will notify applicants of any cancellation at the earliest reasonable opportunity.

City College Norwich – Sixth Form Centre City College Norwich – Sixth Form Centre

73


NOTES

74 75


NOTES

City College NorwichIpswich Road, Norwich NR2 2LJ

Telephone 01603 773 311

Textphone 01603 773 678

www.ccn.ac.uk

www.norwichsixthform.co.uk

THE SIXTH FORM CENTRE, YOUR BEST POSSIBLE START AFTER SCHOOLGet your application in early because some of our popular courses fi ll up quickly.

You can apply at any time but we

would recommend that you get your

application in by 31st January 2013.

However we do accept applications

right up until the courses start

in September 2013.

HOW TO APPLY

• You can apply using our

application form available to

download from our website

• Alternatively you can use the

Norfolk County Council website:

www.helpyouchoose.org

• Do not worry if you are not

completely sure about your

choices as we will help you

make the right decision for

a brilliant future

• If you cannot fi nd what you are

looking for in this prospectus,

contact our Advisers in The Advice

Shop on 01603 773 773 or by

email: [email protected].

The Adviser will then direct you

to an appropriate member of

Sixth Form Centre staff

• Return your completed

application form to:

Admissions, City College Norwich

Ipswich Road, Norwich NR2 2LJ

Image on page 40 by:

Georgina Manning,

Photography A Level student

Models:

Holly Beattie and Alex Gilmore

Cover image by:

Katherine Radmore,

Photography A Level student

Models:

Pedro Simões and Jodie Roberts

part of the

Documents

Sixth Form Prospectus