Hina Kapadia

Sixth FormCurriculum Changes

September 2015

Everyone Matters

“Differentiation is simply attending to the learning

needs of a particular student or small group of students,

rather than the more typical pattern of teaching the class as though all individuals in it

were basically alike.”

Carol Tomlinson

Do we follow the same vigorous

recruitment rubric for Sixth Form option

choices as we do for Key Stage 4?

Scenario 1: SaraMummy wants me to study

Biology, Chemistry and Physics.Daddy wants me to study History,

Geography and Economics. I want to study English Literature,

Mathematics and Art.

What does Sara need to consider before making

her option choices?

InterestAbility

Career OptionsPrevious School

Results

Scenario 2: Isa Isa has 3 A* - B GCSE passes

(Maths, Physics and Statistics) and wants to study only those

three at A Level.

Would you allow him into your Sixth Form?

Having not passed English does he have the ability to access the language skills needed to answer

the questions?

Will agreeing to his request prove

detrimental in the long run?

Scenario 3: IslaIn her GCSE’s Isla achieved A*’s in

Biology and Chemistry; B’s in History, Geography, English Language and

Literature; C’s in Mathematics, Physics and Psychology.

She wants to pursue a career in Medicine. Would you encourage this

decision? Why?

Does she have the grades to compete with

fellow applicants?

What could you offer as

alternative options?

Pathways

A LEVELS  

A minimum of 5 A*-B grades, including Maths and English Language

• University• Self-employment • Employment with

further training Higher Apprenticeship

COMBINATION OF A LEVELS & BTEC

NATIONALS

A minimum of 4 A*-B grades, including Maths and English Language

• University • Self-employment • Employment with

further training Higher Apprenticeship

BTEC NATIONALS (or equivalent)

A minimum of 5 A*-C grades, including Maths and English Language

• University • Self-employment • Employment with

further training Higher Apprenticeship

Are your students

aware of this information?

Currently all A level subjects comprise of an AS

qualification in year one and an A2 qualification in year two with the AS grade contributing to the overall A2

grade.

Principal changes:• AS qualifications and A Levels are to be ‘decoupled’. This means that the AS qualification will no longer contribute to the overall A Level grade.• A Levels will become a two year ‘linear’ course, with exams at the end of the second year.• Most A Level subjects will be assessed through exams only, except for subjects where required skills should be demonstrated.

New format from September 2015:

English Literature, Language and combinedBiology, Chemistry, Physics

Sociology

History

Psychology

Business Studies

Economics

Computer Science

Art and Design

New format from September 2016:

DanceDramaMusicGeographyModern Foreign LanguagesClassical LanguagesPhysical EducationReligious Studies

New format from September 2017:

MathematicsFurther Mathematics;• Geography;• Maths and Further maths; (now 2017 - updated December 2014)• Modern foreign languages;• Classical languages;• Physical education; and• Religious studies.

Some specific examples of the changes:

Science: 12 practical experiments in Chemistry, Biology and Physics. More mathematical knowledge expected in Physics.

History: Covering at least 200 years rather than 100 years at present. Studying two different countries including Britain.

English Literature

: 

‘Unseen Text’ to promote wider and more critical reading.

Economics: 

More mathematicsRole of central banks and financial regulation.

Computer Science: 

More focus on programming, algorithms and problem solving.

Courses It is imperative that Sixth Form schools and colleges offer courses that are suitable for the cohort of students they are catering for.

Right Choice In line with current national priorities, inspectors are paying close attention to Post-16 students who are still WORKING towards C grades in their English and Mathematics GCSE’s. The days of after-school retake classes with no one checking attendance or the quality of teaching are long gone. If you are not monitoring progress in these classes with the same rigour as you apply to Year 11, you need to start now.Ofsted 2014: ‘Require students to work towards GCSE grades A* to C in English and Mathematics – if they do not have this – or other interim/stepping stone qualifications on the way towards achieving these GCSE qualifications.’Think carefully about allowing students who do not have GCSEs in English and Mathematics to start A Level courses.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: A Levels: At least 5 GCSE’s at grade B, including English and Mathematics.

BTECs and applied qualifications: At least 5 GCSEs at grade C, including English and Mathematics.

Apprenticeships: At least 3 GCSES at grade C, including English and Mathematics.

Three Year Sixth Form: At least 5 GCSEs at grade D, including English and Mathematics.

Level 2 Programmes (vocational courses, Traineeships): Mainly grades E-F.

Students without at least grade C in GCSE English and/or GCSE Mathematics should be required to continue studying these subjects in the Sixth Form.

Entry Requirements:

History At least 5 GCSE grades A*-C, including: Grade B in English Language or Literature and Grade B in History Grade C in Mathematics.

Biology At least 5 GCSE grades A*-B, including: Grade B in English Language or Literature, Grade B in Mathematics, Grade B in Biology or Grade B in Science and Additional Science and preferably Grade B in Chemistry.

Chemistry At least 5 GCSE grades A*-B, including: Grade B in English Language or Literature, Grade B in Mathematics and Grade B in Chemistry or Science & Additional Science.

PhysicsAt least 5 GCSE grades A*-B, including: Grade B in English Language or Literature, Grade B in Mathematics and Grade B in Physics or Science & Additional Science.

Computing At least 5 GCSE grades A*-B, including: Grade B in English Language or Literature and Grade B in Mathematics. Grade B in Computer Studies is desirable but not essential.

ICT At least 5 GCSE grades A*-C, including: Grade C in English Language and Grade C in Mathematics

Geography At least 5 GCSE grades A*-B, including: Grade B in English Language or Literature and Grade C in Maths.

MathematicsAt least 5 GCSE grades A*-B, including: AS and A Level Mathematics: Grade B in Maths (although an A or A* is preferable) and Grade B in English Language or Literature. A Level Further Mathematics: Grade A or A* in Maths (although an A* is preferable) and Grade B in English Language or Literature.

Business Studies

At least 5 GCSE grades A*-B, including: Grade B in English Language or Literature and Grade C in Mathematics.

English Literature

At least 5 GCSE grades A*-B, including: Grade B in English Language, Grade B in English Literature (if offered at GCSE) and Grade C in Maths.

Psychology At least 5 GCSE grades A*-B, including: Grade B in English Language or Literature and Grade C in Mathematics.

Level 3 Business Studies

At least 5 GCSE grades A*-C including: Grade C in English Language and Grade C in Mathematics.

BTEC Level 2 Science

At least 3 GCSE grades A*-C, including: Grade C in English Language, Grade C in Mathematics, and Grade C in Core Science or Additional Science or at least Merit in Level 2 BTEC Science.

BTEC level 3 Sport

At least 5 GCSE grades A*-C including: Grade C in English Language and Grade C in Mathematics.

... Students will no longer be able to sit exams in January, in either their first or second year of A-level studies, because of evidence that this has created a ‘resit culture’.

July 2013, chief regulator of Ofqual, Glenys Stacey, explained that from

September 2013:

James Kewin, deputy chief executive of the SFCA, said:

“Our manifesto shows that Sixth Form colleges are the most effective and efficient providers of sixth form education.”

Apply the Same StandardsAll your school’s systems – training, monitoring, literacy guidelines, marking policies, student voice, performance MANAGEMENT must explicitly apply to the Sixth Form, too. CPD sessions are often followed up with monitoring visits to lessons for Years 7-11 but why not beyond? Likewise, school conduct rigorous checks of marking in Year 11 books but not Year 12 and 13. However, if you exclude the Sixth Form, the message to staff is clear:

‘expectations are not the same.’

Learning StylesUnfortunately, there is a world of difference between the approaches to GCSE and A Level study but learning styles don’t change. A mixture of VAK activities are essential if students are to succeed.  AS Level classes are smaller than those in lower down the school, and this places a much greater emphasis on students being actively involved in lessons.  Ideally there should have two teachers for each A Level subject.

A Level subjects needs 6 hours of directed study in the classroom.

Students must arrive to each lesson prepared to be lively, interested and involved; reading ahead is of course a precondition of active and informed contribution to classroom discussion. Through differentiation, teachers must guide reading. Teachers should not spoon-feed, but rather direct, advise, stimulate and encourage. Lessons should not be confined to ‘teacher talk’; discussion and exchanging views should be promoted. Students must quickly get into the habit of making their own notes in class, as new information and ideas emerge in the course of discussion. Personal and intellectual motivation is needed throughout courses.

Students should become independent learners; this is the main feature of A Level

Right Choice Close attention is being paid to Post-16 students who are still WORKING towards C grades in their English and Mathematics GCSE’s. The days of after-school retake classes with no one checking attendance or the quality of teaching are long gone. If you are not monitoring progress in these classes with the same rigour as you apply to Year 11, you need to start now.Ofsted 2014: ‘Require students to work towards GCSE grades A* to C in English and Mathematics – if they do not have this – or other interim/stepping stone qualifications on the way towards achieving these GCSE qualifications.’Think carefully about allowing students who do not have GCSEs in English and Mathematics to start A Level courses.

Balanced Curriculum Sixth Form should not be all work and no play. Through an extensive enrichment programme schools should help students become well-rounded individuals and develop the experiences and key skills looked for by the best employers and universities.

An Outstanding Sixth Form Students make excellent progress and most achieve their A-Level qualifications and progress to university. Teaching is energetic and inspirational. Students’ confidence is built so they achieve their potential. Lessons start promptly (attendance and punctuality are excellent) with good pace that promotes a vibrant learning environment and strong work ethic. Students’ individual progress is monitored very closely; prompt and effective action is taken to improve the performance of individual students who are not achieving their high target grades.Assessment is outstanding; teachers provide very detailed written feedback on marked work and give clear advice on how to improve.

An Outstanding Sixth Form Particular attention is given to improving the quality of students’ written work and their understanding of subject specialist terminology. Teachers routinely correct students’ spelling and punctuation errors.Initial assessment is used effectively; provides highly individualised and focused support. Work outside lessons develops students’ independent learning skills.Students receive information, advice and guidance from personal tutors to help them progress to higher education or an apprenticeship.Teachers use a wide range of interactive activities and skilful questioning to engage and challenge students.