Two Year Courses
In line with national changes Lord Williams’s is now offering the new ‘AS + A2’ A Levels to form the main part of most students’ programmes. Students with good GCSE results are encouraged to study four subjects for their first year in the Sixth Form at the end of which they take the new AS (Advanced Subsidiary) exams. For the second year they will choose three of the subjects to follow on to the A2 exams, thus completing a full A Level. The AS courses represent the first half of the A Level, are examined at the level of difficulty appropriate for students at the end of one year of study, and provide half the ‘university entrance points’ of the full A Level. These students will generally have achieved mainly grade Bs or better at GCSE. Those still meeting the school’s minimum A Level course entry requirement of 5 grade Cs at GCSE will still be able to study just three courses through Year 12.

Some students may choose to concentrate on the full Double Vocational A Level courses (which have replaced Advanced Level GNVQs) in Business or Travel and Tourism to gain a qualification equivalent to two A Levels for university or career entry. For these courses they need to have achieved at least 4 grade Cs at GCSE.

Others can now combine more easily A Levels with a Single Award Vocational A Level in Business or Travel and Tourism to provide a more varied programme.

AS + A2 (Full A Level) Courses AS only Courses

Vocational A Level Courses
Business Travel & Tourism

One Year Courses
Students with a number of grade Ds at GCSE may choose to follow our One Year General National Vocational Qualification Intermediate Level courses. These are broadly based vocational programmes where students follow a number of units to develop skills, knowledge and understanding of a particular vocational area.

Assessment is by the compilation of a portfolio of achievement together with a number of end of unit tests. Students receive accreditation for each unit to build up to the whole GNVQ award. They can receive a Distinction, a Merit or a Pass.

Success at Intermediate Level provides a qualification which is the equivalent of at least 4 GCSEs at grade C for entry to further courses or a career. Many students choose to continue at Lord Williams’s for a further two years on Advanced courses.

The GNVQ Intermediate courses offered are:
Business
Health & Social Care
Leisure & Tourism

Further information is available from Ross Dixon, GNVQ Co-ordinator.

Key Skills
All students will work towards a new qualification in the three main key skills of
Application of Number
Communication
Information & Communication Technology (ICT)

Elements of these key skills are now signposted for achievement within each A Level course. Students will build up a portfolio of evidence of achievement with their tutors. They will ‘top up’ what they might not be gaining through their subject choices by attending key skills workshops in Sixth Form Enrichment time. These workshops will also prepare them for taking the external tests in each key skill which go on to make up the full qualification. Not only is achievement in the key skills highly valued by industry but the new qualification will also be worth ‘university entrance points’.

Personal Development
All Sixth Form students receive personal tutoring with regular individual interviews leading to personal action plans and reviews of achievement.

Students are particularly encouraged to participate in Active Citizenship working with the local or the school community to gain their Youth Award Scheme Community Award. They also follow elements of the Youth Award Scheme in International Relations and Ethics as part of the Assembly programme.

Full details of education in the Sixth Form at Lord Williams’s is given in the Sixth Form Information Pack published each October and available from the Sixth Form Administrator (01844 210510).
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