Subjects for 2023/24
Students on the Musical Theatre, Commercial Music and Acting courses are expected to take three A-Level subjects. Dance course students can study up to three subjects due to the Trinity Diploma.
Art and Design
EXAM BOARD – AQA FINE ART (7202)
MINIMUM GRADE 6 REQUIRED IN ART GCSE
Component 1: Personal investigation
Non-exam assessment (NEA) set and marked by the school and moderated by AQA during a visit.
No time limit
96 marks
60% of A Level
Component 2: Externally Set Assignment
Non-exam assessment (NEA) set by AQA; marked by the school and moderated by AQA during a visit.
Preparatory period followed by 15 hours of supervised time
96 marks
40% of A Level
Biology (AS)
EXAM BOARD – AQA 7401
MINIMUM GRADE 6 REQUIRED IN SCIENCE (DOUBLE AWARD) OR IN SCIENCE, MATHS AND ENGLISH
Topics Covered
1. Biological molecules
2. Cells
3. Organisms exchange substances with their environment
4. Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms
Paper 1
Written exam
1 hour 30 minutes
Topics 1-4 including relevant practical skills
75 marks
50% of AS
Short answer questions (65 marks) and comprehension question (10 marks)
Paper 2
Written exam
1 hour 30 minutes
Topics 1-4 including relevant practical skills
75 marks
50% of AS
Short answer questions (65 marks) and extended response questions (10 marks)
Biology (A Level)
EXAM BOARD – AQA 7402
MINIMUM GRADE 6 REQUIRED IN SCIENCE (DOUBLE AWARD) OR IN SCIENCE, MATHS AND ENGLISH
Topics Covered
All AS content (topics 1-4) plus:
5. Energy transfers in and between organisms
6. Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments
7. Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems
8. The control of gene expression
Paper 1
Written exam
2 hours
Topics 1-4 including relevant practical skills
91 marks
35% of A Level
Short and long answer questions (76 marks) and extended response questions (15 marks)
Paper 2
Written exam
2 hours
Topics 5-8 including relevant practical skills
91 marks
35% of A Level
Short and long answer questions (76 marks) and comprehension question (15 marks)
Paper 3
Written exam
2 hours
Topics 1-8 including relevant practical skills
78 marks
30% of A Level
Structured questions including practical techniques (38 marks), critical analysis of given experimental data (15 marks) and one essay from a choice of two titles (25 marks)
Business (AS)
EXAM BOARD – AQA 7131
MINIMUM GRADE 5 REQUIRED IN ENGLISH AND MATHS
Subject Content
1 What is business?
2 Managers, leadership and decision making
3 Decision making to improve marketing performance
4 Decision making to improve operational performance
5 Decision making to improve financial performance
6 Decision making to improve human resource performance
Paper 1
Written exam
1 hour 30 minutes
Topics 1-6
80 marks
50% of AS
There are three compulsory sections: Section A – 10 multiple choice questions (10 marks), Section B – short answer questions (20 marks) and Section C – two data response stimuli with questions (25 marks)
Paper 2
Written exam
1 hour 30 minutes
Topics 1-6
80 marks
50% of AS
One compulsory case study consisting of approximately seven questions (80 marks)
Business Studies (A Level)
EXAM BOARD – AQA 7131
MINIMUM GRADE 5 REQUIRED IN ENGLISH AND MATHS
Subject Content
1 What is business?
2 Managers, leadership and decision making
3 Decision making to improve marketing performance
4 Decision making to improve operational performance
5 Decision making to improve financial performance
6 Decision making to improve human resource performance
7 Analysing the strategic position of a business (A-level only)
8 Choosing strategic direction (A-level only)
9 Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies (A-level only)
10 Managing strategic change (A-level only)
Paper 1
Written exam
2 hours
Topics 1-10
100 marks
33.3% of AS
There are four compulsory sections: Section A – 15 multiple choice questions (15 marks), Section B – short answer questions (35 marks) and Sections C and D – a choice of one essay question from two options in each section (25 marks)
Paper 2
Written exam
2 hours
Topics 1-10
100 marks
33.3% of AS
Three compulsory data response questions made up of three or four part questions (33 marks each)
Paper 3
Written exam
2 hours
Topics 1-10
100 marks
33.3% of AS
One compulsory case study followed by approximately six questions (100 marks)
Chemistry A (AS)
EXAM BOARD – OCR H032
MINIMUM GRADE 6 REQUIRED IN DOUBLE SCIENCE OR SEPARATE SCIENCE
Modules
1 Development of practical skills in chemistry
2 Foundations in chemistry
3 Periodic table and energy
4 Core organic chemistry
Paper 1: Breadth in chemistry
Written exam
1 hour 30 minutes
Modules 1-4
70 marks
50% of A2
Paper 2: Depth in chemistry
Written exam
1 hour 30 minutes
Modules 1-4
70 marks
50% of A2
Chemistry (A Level)
EXAM BOARD – OCR H432
MINIMUM GRADE 6 REQUIRED IN DOUBLE SCIENCE OR SEPARATE SCIENCE
Modules
1 Development of practical skills in chemistry
2 Foundations in chemistry
3 Periodic table and energy
4 Core organic chemistry
5 Physical chemistry and transition elements
6 Organic chemistry and analysis
1: Periodic table, elements and physical chemistry
2 hours 15 minutes
Modules 1,2,3 and 5
100 marks
37% of A2
2: Synthesis and analytical techniques
2 hours 15 minutes
Modules 1,2,4 and 6
100 marks
37% of A2
3: Unified chemistry
1 hour 30 minutes
Modules 1-6
70 marks
26% of A2
4: Practical endorsement in chemistry
Non exam assessment
Dance (A Level)
EXAM BOARD – AQA 7237
MINIMUM GRADE 5 REQUIRED IN ENGLISH AND MATHS
Core Content
1 Performance
2 Choreography
3 Critical Engagement
Component 1: Performance and choreography
Practical exam: You’ll be assessed on your solo performance linked to a specified practitioner within an area of study, performance in a quartet and group choreography.
80 marks
50% of A Level
Component 2: Critical engagement
Written exam: You’ll be assessed on your knowledge, understanding and critical appreciation of two set works: One compulsory set work within the compulsory area of study and one optional set work within the corresponding area of study, from a choice of four.
2 hours 30 minutes
100 marks
50% of A Level
Section A: Short answer questions (25 marks) and an essay question (25 marks). Section B: two essay questions on the second set work/area of study (25 marks)
Drama & Theatre Studies
EXAM BOARD – EDUQAS 601/8554/5
MINIMUM GRADE B/6 REQUIRED IN ENGLISH LITERATURE. GCSE DRAMA DESIRABLE.
Component 1: Theatre workshop
Non-exam assessment
Internally assessed
Externally moderated
20% of qualification
Component 2: Text in action
Non-exam assessment
Externally assessed by a visiting examiner
40% of qualification
Component 3: Text in performance
Written exam
2 hours 30 minutes
40% of qualification
English Literature
EXAM BOARD – OCR H472
MINIMUM GRADE B/6 REQUIRED IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
Component 1: Shakespeare: Drama and poetry pre-1900
Written paper
60 marks
Closed text
2 hours 30 minutes
40% of A Level
Component 2: Comparative and contextual study
Written paper
60 marks
2 hours 30 minutes
40% of A Level
Component 3: Literature post-1900
Comparative essay – synoptic assessment
Non-exam assessment
40 marks
20% of qualification
Film Studies
EXAM BOARD – EDUQAS WJEC A670QS
MINIMUM GRADE B/6 REQUIRED IN ENGLISH LITERATURE
Component 1: Varieties of film and filmmaking
Written exam
2 hours 30 minutes
35% of A Level
Component 2: Global filmmaking perspectives
Written paper
2 hours 30 minutes
35% of A Level
Component 3: Production
Non-exam assessment
30% of A Level
French
EXAM BOARD – AQA 7652
MINIMUM GRADE 7 REQUIRED IN FRENCH GCSE
Paper 1: Listening, reading and writing
Written exam
2 hours 30 minutes
100 marks
50% of A Level
Paper 2: Writing
Written paper
2 hours
80 marks
20% of A Level
Paper 3: Speaking
Oral exam
21 – 23 minutes (including 5 minutes preparation time)
60 marks
30% of A Level
Further Maths
EXAM BOARD – EDEXCEL 9FM0
MINIMUM GRADE 8 REQUIRED IN MATHS GCSE
Paper 1: Core Pure Mathematics 1
Written exam
1 hour 30 minutes
75 marks
25% of qualification
Paper 2: Pure Mathematics 2
Written exam
1 hour 30 minutes
75 marks
25% of qualification
Paper 3: Further Statistics 1 OR Decision Mathematics 1
Written exam
1 hour 30 minutes
75 marks
25% of qualification
Geography
EXAM BOARD – AQA 7037
MINIMUM GRADE 6 REQUIRED IN GEOGRAPHY GCSE
Component 1: Physical Geography
Written exam
2 hours 30 minutes
120 marks
40% of qualification
Component 2: Human Geography
Written exam
2 hours 30 minutes
120 marks
40% of qualification
Marked by teachers, moderated by AQA
Component 3: Geography Fieldwork Investigation
3,000 – 4,000 words
60 marks
20% of qualification
History
EXAM BOARD – OCR H505
MINIMUM GRADE 6 REQUIRED IN HISTORY GCSE
Component 1: British Period Study and Enquiry
Written exam
1 hour 30 minutes
50 marks
25% of qualification
Component 2: Non-British Period Study
Written exam
1 hour
30 marks
15% of qualification
Component 3: Thematic study and Historical Interpretations
Written exam
2 hours 30 minutes
80 marks
40% of qualification
Component 4: Topic Based Essay
3,000 – 4,000 word essay
Non-exam assessment
40 marks
20% of qualification
Mathematics
EXAM BOARD – AQA 7357
MINIMUM GRADE 7 REQUIRED IN MATHS GCSE
Paper 1:
Written exam
2 hours
100 marks
33.33% of qualification
Paper 2:
Written exam
2 hours
100 marks
33.33% of qualification
Paper 3:
Written exam
2 hours
100 marks
33.33% of qualification
Music
EXAM BOARD – EDUQAS 7357
MINIMUM GRADE 5 REQUIRED IN MUSIC THEORY / GRADE 7 IN MUSIC GCSE
Component 1: Performing
Option A – minimum of three pieces – 35%
Option B – minimum of two pieces – 25%
Component 2: Composing
Option A – four to six minutes – 25%
Option B – eight to ten minutes – 35%
Component 3: Appraising
Written examination
2 hours 15 minutes
40% of qualification
Music Technology
EXAM BOARD – EDEXCEL 9MT0
MINIMUM GRADE 4 REQUIRED IN MUSIC THEORY / GRADE 5 IN MUSIC GCSE
Component 1: Recording
Non-examined assessment: externally assessed
20% of the qualification
60 marks
Component 2: Technology-Based Composition
Non-examined assessment: externally assessed
20% of the qualification
60 marks
Component 3: Listening and Analysing
Written examination
1 hour 30 minutes
25% of the qualification
75 marks
Component 4: Producing and Analysing
Written/practical examination
2 hours 15 minutes
35% of the qualification
105 marks
Physics (AS)
EXAM BOARD – OCR H156
MINIMUM GRADE 6 REQUIRED IN SCIENCE (DOUBLE AWARD) OR SEPARATE SCIENCE, ENGLISH AND MATHS
Component 1: Breadth in Physics
70 marks
1 hour 30 minutes
50%
Component 2: Depth in Physics
70 marks
1 hour 30 minutes
50%
Physics (A Level)
EXAM BOARD – OCR H556
MINIMUM GRADE 6 REQUIRED IN SCIENCE (DOUBLE AWARD) OR SEPARATE SCIENCE, ENGLISH AND MATHS
Component 1: Modelling Physics
100 marks
2 hours 15 minutes
37%
Component 2: Exploring Physics
100 marks
2 hours 15 minutes
37%
Component 3: Unified Physics
70 marks
1 hour 30 minutes
26%
Component 4: Practical Endorsement in Physics
Non-exam assessment
Psychology (A Level)
EXAM BOARD – AQA 7182
MINIMUM GRADE 6 REQUIRED IN SCIENCE AND ENGLISH GCSE
Paper 1: Introductory Topics in Psychology
Written exam
2 hours
96 marks
33.33%
Component 2: Psychology in Context
Written exam
2 hours
96 marks
33.33%
Component 3: Issues and Options in Psychology
Written exam
2 hours
96 marks
33.33%
Photography
EXAM BOARD – AQA
MINIMUM GRADE 5 REQUIRED IN ART GCSE
Component 1: Personal Investigation
Non-exam assessment
No time limit
96 marks
60%
Component 2: Externally Set Assignment
Non-exam assessment
Preparatory period + 15 hours supervised time
96 marks
40%
Religious Studies (AS)
EXAM BOARD – AQA 7061-2B
MINIMUM GRADE B/6 REQUIRED IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES / ENGLISH GCSE
Component 1: Philosophy of religion and ethics
Written exam
2 hours
120 marks
67%
Component 2: Study of religion
Written exam
1 hour
60 marks
33%
Religious Studies (A Level)
EXAM BOARD – AQA 7062-2B
MINIMUM GRADE B/6 REQUIRED IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES / ENGLISH GCSE
Component 1: Philosophy of religion and ethics
Written exam
3 hours
100 marks
50%
Component 2: Study of religion and dialogues
Written exam
3 hours
100 marks
50%