Sixth Form Prospectus 2021 for Digital

w w w. st j o s e p h s co m p . co . u k s t . j o s e p h ’ s s i x t h f o r m a w a r m w e l c o m e f o r a l l with high numbers every year achieving excellence and the vast majority going on to take up their first choice places at university. at st. joseph’s, we see our sixth formers as leaders of the school who work alongside the staff to ensure the smooth running of a friendly, informal but disciplined community. most students have an area of responsibility as prefects and will have a pastoral role as peer mentors, eco-champions, ethos ambassadors or teacher aids. we provide these opportunities so that our students can develop as well-rounded and conscientious leaders. in return we expect high standards in relation to behaviour, dress and attitude to work. our ethos demands a genuine effort from all so that all can maximise their potential. at st. joseph’s you will have many opportunities to develop talents in a range of cultural, sporting and musical opportunities. we emphasise enjoyment and excellence and encourage everyone to have a go! we look forward to welcoming you in september. eugene scourfield headteacher experience for the next step on your journey. if you have any questions about any of the information included please ask – we are happy to help. jodie gow head of sixth form our sixth form provides a stimulating environment for purposeful academic and vocational study. we have high expectations for self-discipline, motivation and organisation and support these with an excellent framework for monitoring student progress. students benefit from a full programme of advice and guidance for university application and for future careers. we pride ourselves on the pastoral care that we offer and we work proactively to ensure that students achieve their full potential. the result is that students achieve well at st. joseph’s as head of sixth form at st. joseph’s, i am immensely proud of the achievements of our students. over many years, our sixth form has become well respected for both its commitment to the highest of academic standards, and for providing a cohesive and supportive community. our students are role models for the rest of the school, and we are very proud of their academic and extra- curricular achievements. whether you are already at st. joseph’s and looking to build on your academic success so far, or joining us from a local school, you can be assured that you will receive a warm welcome in our sixth form, and all the support you need to gain the qualifications, confidence and life stjosephscomp @stjosephscomp @stjosephscomp

w w w. st j o s e p h s co m p . co . u k w h y s t . j o s e p h ’s s i x t h f o r m ? at st joseph’s, we can offer students a challenging, varied and rewarding sixth form experience. our sixth form is a place where students can seize a wide range of opportunities to develop themselves academically, socially, morally and spiritually. high quality and personalised teaching is at the core of our sixth form and this is evident in the excellent results that all our students achieve. we prepare our students for the next stage of their lives, ensuring they have the necessary academic qualifications and wider social skills to make the next step. we know that students making the transition from year 11 to the sixth form are ready to take full ownership of, and responsibility for, their own learning. our job is to support them in this process, providing the expert guidance and support that will allow them to increase awareness of their strengths and areas for development. in doing so, we help our students reach their goals for both the present and the future. our sixth form curriculum is designed to be broad, balanced and flexible, meeting the needs of every student. every student’s individual goals, aspirations and understanding of how they best learn, together with their key stage 4 results, will guide which courses and pathways are best for them. independent learning is vital for the success of every student in sixth form. at st joseph’s, our expectation is that every student will be fully engaged with their chosen subjects. a passion for the study of these subjects should be the drive for our students to explore them thoroughly, using a range of resources, including new technologies, to grasp the opportunities before them. at st joseph’s we know that success in exams alone does not prepare young people to move from sixth form into higher education, apprenticeships or employment. that is why we offer information, advice and guidance from careers advisors, with many opportunities to discover what a range of universities have to offer, and what they want from their applicants. we will arrange taster sessions and talks from university admission tutors, personnel managers and former students. every st joseph’s sixth form student has the opportunity to develop the skills and the sense of community that will help them become a leader, whether that be taking on the role of a senior prefect, supporting younger students in developing their reading, working with other year groups as a teacher aid, supporting charities or contributing to the school and local community. all members of our sixth form, are encouraged to act as a role model and inspiration for the wider school. we are committed to providing a full range of extra-curricular opportunities, including cultural enrichment trips to paris and spain, a 500 mile cycling pilgrimage across northern spain, and a wide range of sporting activities. keep in touch on twitter! follow us at @stjosephscomp

w w w. st j o s e p h s co m p . co . u k o u r c u r r i c u l u m st. joseph’s has a flexible curriculum offer including courses that can be tailored to match our students’ personal abilities, prior learning and choice of career. it is possible for a student to study a combination of as/a levels alongside vocational qualifications and, if necessary, some gcses. level 3 the vast majority of our students study at level 3. these courses comprise as/a levels and vocational equivalents such as btec diplomas. students with at least five c grades at gcse are expected to pursue three/four as subjects, in addition to the advanced welsh baccalaureate qualification. some level 3 courses have particular entry requirements - as a general guide students should achieve an a*-c grade in the subjects they wish to study but it’s suggested students contact the sixth form team to discuss this. selecting the best possible courses is a key decision for year 12 students to make, and it is often a challenging one. it is helpful for students to consider what they are really interested in, what is important to them, their career prospects and the courses available with the gcse/level 2 grades they have achieved. students should also remember that the right combination of courses is important to make the most of the opportunities beyond sixth form. students are encouraged to use university websites to research courses and their entry requirements. level 2 st. joseph’s also offers students the opportunity to resit gcse english and mathematics through taught sessions and access to dedicated study periods. it is important to note that many university courses and careers require at least a b grade in english and mathematics. the st. joseph’s core the st joseph’s core is the combination of all qualifications that are studied by all students in the sixth form. all level 3 students study the new welsh baccalaureate 2015 (as prescribed by the welsh government). the welsh baccalaureate is graded a*-e and is equivalent to an a level worth up to 56 ucas points. students participate in four challenges over a two-year period. these challenges include: the enterprise and employability challenge, the global citizenship challenge, the community participation challenge and an individual project. the ‘core’ also brings together extra and super- curricular activities that the students take part in, along with, as a catholic school, the general re element of sixth form life.

w w w. st j o s e p h s co m p . co . u k f u l f i l l i n g p o t e n t i a l st joseph’s sixth form is part of a catholic school, and as such our commitment to our faith is central to each decision that we make and everything that we do. we believe that our sixth form students play a fundamental role in building and sustaining our ethos as ambassadors of our school and local community. we are committed to the provision of an inclusive and wide-ranging education for all our pupils in accordance with the teachings of the church. the learning experiences of our students are intended to embrace a comprehensive education: academic, social, moral and spiritual. within the sixth form we are dedicated to developing as individuals to “become fully human” – to help our young people get the most out of their lives and to be the best that they can be. pastoral support is an area we pride ourselves on and the sixth form tutor team plays a crucial role in this aspect of our students’ life. tutors meet with their students once a day, either as individuals or as a tutor group, for a professional discussion, mentoring session or just a chat. the tutors will get to know each member of their tutor group extremely well and can help the students make the transition from gcses to the more independent world of post-16 education. students are monitored closely by their subject teachers who feed data and information directly to form tutors and head of sixth form. the assistant headteacher responsible for the sixth form then provides teachers and students with bespoke intervention and improvement programmes to ensure that each student achieves their potential and beyond! tutors are also a key element in the link between the school and home and will contact parents to update them on progress and any issues.

w w w. st j o s e p h s co m p . co . u k the sixth form tutor time programme is diverse and evolves as the challenges that face our students change. session can consist of classroom based activities and presentations by visiting speakers, alongside the core programme which includes: personal finance, cv writing, interview practice, careers planning, time management and the development of self-reflection skills. extra-curricular activities broaden the range of skills and qualifications, and give students the opportunity to meet and socialise. within st. joseph’s sixth form each and every student has the opportunity to become involved in a wide variety of extra and super- curricular activities. these not only provide useful additions to personal statements and application forms but help develop our students as individuals. all students are offered the opportunity to broaden their studies with specialist study visits and cultural trips to a variety of locations both within the uk and abroad, such as a business studies visit to brussels and paris, geography field work in mid- wales, politics visits to london and many more. students also have the opportunity to take part in the bi-annual 500 mile cycling pilgrimage across northern spain to santiago. in 2020, over 55% of grades achieved by our students were a* or a. stjosephscomp @stjosephscomp @stjosephscomp

ucas and careers advice we have a long and proud tradition of supporting our students in gaining access to further education or on to their chosen career pathway. our experienced tutor team and sixth form management team work with students during every stage of the university application process. the daily contact with the form teacher means we can work with students closely to maximise their chances of success, from advice and support on choosing the right course and institution, to completing the personal statement. visits to open days at local universities are also encouraged and supported, ensuring that students quickly get a feel for what kind of university they want to study at. the seren network for those students considering applications to the russell group and oxbridge universities, our partnership with the seren hub opens up a range of experiences and support to enable this: visits from oxbridge admissions tutors, tutorials on completing the application forms and workshops to prepare for the interview stage. we are proud to have sent many of our students to the russell group and oxbridge universities in recent years, and have high ambitions for our current and future students to continue this tradition. our partnership with careers wales means we have our own careers advisor on site, able to advise on possible career paths and work experience. students can access the very latest opportunities for apprenticeships, training courses and vocational enrichment experiences.

w w w. st j o s e p h s co m p . co . u k w h y c h o o s e u s ? mollie short is currently at cardiff university studying occupational therapy after achieving a double distinction* grade in health & social care, along with a distinction* in business studies and an a grade in the advanced skill challenge certificate. renee crossman achieved an distinction* grade in business studies, a double distinction in health & social care and an a grade in the advanced skills challenge certificate. renee was accepted at her first choice university in bournemouth and is currently enjoying a gap year. seren wonklyn is currently at the university of bristol studying biochemistry after attending the sutton trust summer school at bristol. she achieved a grades in biology, chemistry, government & politics along with an a* in the advanced skills challenge certificate. “choosing sixth form, was a great decision, the team were there for me at all times, no matter how big or small the situation, it’s something that i will always be grateful for.” kimberley gill achieved 3 a* grades in biology, psychology and the advanced skills challenge certificate and an a grade in chemistry. she is currently studying biochemistry at swansea university. ciara bray achieved 4 a*s in english literature, history, government & politics and the advanced skills challenge certificate and is now at warwick studying history and politics. aron finnemore achieved 4 a* grades in computer science, mathematics, physics and the advanced skills challenge certificate and is now at swansea university studying aerospace engineering with a year in industry. liz hockin achieved an outstanding 4 a* grades in english language, history, sociology and the advanced skills challenge certificate and has a place to study archaeology and anthropology at the university of oxford. “i’ve had an amazing two years that i’ll never forget.” mollie mort is now at the university of liverpool studying veterinary medicine after achieving 4 a* grades in biology, chemistry, english literature and the advanced skills challenge certificate. “the teachers at st joseph’s are amazing and always went out of their way to help me achieve the grades i needed for university.” lucy robathan was accepted at her first choice of university of bristol to study chemistry after achieving an a* in biology and chemistry, a in mathematics and an a* in the advanced skills challenge certificate.

choosing the right course for youchoosing the right sixth form courses can be a daunting process. the most important thing is for students to choose courses that they enjoy and feel passionate about. the choice of courses will also be guided by gcse results. please do contact us to discuss the entry requirements for any of our courses.we pride ourselves on supporting our students to make the right choices. during the application and enrolment process, we will talk to our students about their options, and about possible pathways through post-16 education and on to higher education, apprenticeships or the world of work.the following pages outline our most popular courses and subjects we hope to offer next year. they are all level 3 qualifications, either btec or gce a level. there are a range of other courses that may be available, either in school or in partnership with other institutions. if there is a course that you are interested in that is not listed in this prospectus, please contact the school so that we can discuss your options. we will publish our option blocks for september 2020 entry in march 2020. the details of these courses are provisional, and will run subject to demand.

w w w. st j o s e p h s co m p . co . u k applied science overview the applied science btec is ideal for students who enjoy science and would like to carry on studying the subect, but are either concerned about examinations or cannot choose an individual science. in year 12 there are units entitled “fundamentals of science”, “working in the science industry” and “scientific practical techniques”. there is a strong focus on practical work throughout the first and third units and this develops skills initially used at level 2. moving into year 13, there are a whole host of units available which range from “maths in science”, “human physiology”, “microbiology” and “industrial chemistry” to “medical physics”. most units are internally assessed by the completion of tasks within an assignment brief which will allow you to build up a portfolio of evidence, with an examination. assessment 3 x 10 credit compulsory units in year 12 internally assessed units totalling 30 credits in year 13 progression routes units within the qualification cover areas of laboratory science, forensic science, medical science, environmental science and biological, chemical and physical science to provide a route to employment in the science industry or within organisations that use science. these can include roles such as: working as a quality control technician, working in a hospital as a medical physics technician, working in a research laboratory, working in the chemical industry, working with the forensic science service or using your analytical skills in the chemistry industry. art and design overview learners develop a range of art and design projects and gain an understanding of creative processes. the btec level 3 course consists of four units with a combination of internal and external assessment. the units explore visual recording, creative processes, contextual studies and materials, techniques and processes in fine art. learners will participate in a range of workshops at the beginning of the course to expand their skills base and introduce new art techniques. there is a focus on both practical art skills and written annotation. assessment the art and design course leader will set unit assignments throughout the two year course for learners to complete. learners will complete research and preparatory work inspired by themes provided by the exam board. in addition as part of the externally set tasks learners will undertake supervised exam paper questions which will assess how learners respond and analyse art work. qualification learners will achieve an edexcel btec level 3 extended certificate in art and design which is equivalent to one full a -level at the end of the two year course. progression routes learners often enrol in a foundation art course which gives the opportunity to explore further specialisms within art and design before making an informed decision about the progression route within higher education. art and design foundation diplomas are currently free to study in wales and do not require tuition fees. previous students at st joseph’s have gone on to study architecture, fine art and film studies at university. stjosephscomp @stjosephscomp @stjosephscomp

w w w. st j o s e p h s co m p . co . u k biology gce a level overview biology opens up exciting career possibilities. from conservation to cancer research, biologists are tackling important 21st century challenges. it is also important to remember that biology is excellent preparation for non-scientific careers, thanks to the skills it provides – everything from analytical thinking to writing reports. students will study two theory units in year 12 for as level. the first explores biochemistry and cell organisation. the second focuses on biodiversity and the physiology of body systems. you will be expected to carry out practical work and to maintain a lab book in which you will record the results of your experiments. in year 13, unit 3 will focus on energy, homeostasis and the environment, whilst unit 4 explores variation, inheritance and an option of your choosing. assessment • units 1 and 2 are each worth 20% of the entire biology course. there is no practical assessment in • units 3 and 4 are worth 25% of the qualification. there is a futher practical assessment in year 13, year 12. worth 10% progression routes biology can lead to careers in medicine, veterinary medicine, physiotherapy, pharmacy and dentistry. in addition, biology students can progress to study nursing, biomedical and forensic sciences, environmental science, teaching and journalism. business studies overview business studies is a broad and wide-ranging qualification that will help you succeed in your future career no matter what you go on to do. the principles of business that you will learn underpin every organisation – from presenting a positive marketing image to developing effective presentation skills as well as operating inside the law and accurate accounting. business studies is a vocational qualification. this means that you will have the opportunity to study the theory of how businesses work by applying it to a real-life organisation. vocational qualifications, such as business studies are the equivalent to an as and a-level qualifications and can be studied alongside your other as choices. assessment in year 12 (as) students will study: • unit 1 – exploring business • unit 2 – developing a marketing campaign in year 13 (a2) students will study: • unit 3 – personal and business finance (examination) • unit 4 – recruitment and selection process the course is assessed through a mixture of structured assignments and a written examination.

w w w. st j o s e p h s co m p . co . u k chemistry gce a level overview if you have a genuine interest in chemistry and are a resilient learner, this excellent a-level will build upon, and extend, your knowledge from gcse. the course is divided into five units: • unit 1: the language of chemistry, structure of matter and simple reactions • unit 2: energy, rate and the chemistry of carbon compounds • unit 3: physical and inorganic chemistry • unit 4: organic chemistry and analysis this is a highly practical course and unit 5 provides the opportunity to demonstrate your skills, knowledge and understanding acquired during the course, together with your ability to analyse and evaluate experimental data. progression routes a-level chemistry opens the doors to many careers. as well as a practical knowledge of the subject, chemistry students develop many other skills prized by employers such as problem solving, numeracy, communication, creativity and data analysis. gaining these skills means that you can have a future in a wide range of careers, from finance to public relations. a-level chemistry is a recommended qualification for students wishing to study medicine or veterinary medicine at university. computer science gce a level overview the computer science a-level is targeted at students who are interested in computer programming, problem solving and finding out how computers work inside. there is a substantial piece of coursework which allows students to use the programming skills that they have developed during the course and an on-screen examination at the end of year 12, which examines their skills at coding and writing algorithms. the remaining marks are from three exams, one in year 12 and two in year 13. assessment year 12 : • paper theory examination. • on screen examination. year 13: • two paper theory examinations • system analysis, design and coding coursework. progression routes coding is a boom sector within most sectors of business. this course leads to degrees in computing and links up with maths and physics courses. stjosephscomp @stjosephscomp @stjosephscomp

w w w. st j o s e p h s co m p . co . u k english language gce a level overview the english language course explores the language in its written and spoken forms. you will focus on the purpose of language, and the way in which writers and speakers use language at word, sentence and text level. this course is for you if you enjoy reading and writing a range of literary and non-literary texts, exploring the effect that changes in audience, purpose and context have on language use. assessment there are two units of study in the first year. assessment is carried out through two formal examinations, focused on your analysis of written and spoken language, and your ability to write for a specific purpose and audience. in the second year, there are a further two examination units, together with a coursework unit. progression routes pupils who have studied english at a-level have followed a range of further study and career paths, including the following: english literature and english language undergraduate and postgraduate courses, journalism, law, advertising, theatre, television, radio, teaching, accounting, business management, civil service, media, psychology and the armed forces. english literature gce a level overview the english literature course is based on the study of novels, short stories, plays and poems. the course aims to build on and develop the skills you have acquired over the past five years at gcse level, and will allow you to enjoy and explore a wide variety of literature texts. this course is for you if you enjoy: reading and discussing poetry, plays and novels; giving your personal and informed views on what you have read; analysing the way a writer uses images, language and form to communicate ideas; and understanding how a writer’s background and culture affects the way they write. assessment there are two units of study in the first year. assessment is carried out through two formal examinations, assessing your reading of poetry, prose and drama. in the second year, there are a further two examination units, together with a coursework unit. progression routes pupils who have studied english at a-level have followed a range of further study and career paths, including the following: english literature and english language undergraduate and postgraduate courses, journalism, law, advertising, theatre, television, radio, teaching, accounting, business management, civil service, media, psychology and the armed forces

w w w. st j o s e p h s co m p . co . u k geography gce a level overview the as and a-level geography course is an exciting new specification that builds on knowledge gained at gcse level. it is designed to enable you to apply geographical knowledge, theory and skills to the world around you. in turn this will enable you to develop a critical understanding of the world’s people, places and environments in the 21st century. assessment year 12: • as unit 1 – changing landscapes • as unit 2 – changing places year 13: • a2 unit 3 – global systems and global governance • a2 unit 4 – contemporary themes in geography • a2 unit 5 – independent investigation (non-exam 3000-4000 word investigation) progression routes geography is a versatile and dynamic subject that can open up doors to a range of different careers and further education subjects. as well as going to study geography at university, other disciplines can be considered including engineering, environmental studies, oceanography and law. subsequent careers can include teaching, environmental law , civil engineering , armed forces or city planning amongst many others . health and social care overview choosing to study for one of our health and social care qualification is a great decision to make for lots of reasons. at the same time you are gaining many transferable skills. working in health and social care professions can also take you to different parts of the country and overseas. the opportunities are endless. at st. joseph’s we offer both the single and the double award versions of the qualification. the diploma (double award) includes a significant amount of work placement in a chosen field. health and social care is a vocational or work-related qualification. this means that students will have the opportunity to gain specific knowledge, understanding and skills that are relevant to their chosen subject or area of work. vocational qualifications such as health and social care are the equivalent to as and a-level qualifications and can be studied side by side. assessment students will study: • developing effective communication • equality, diversity and rights • development through the life stages • caring for children and young people • health, safety and security • sociological and psychological perspectives progression routes the health and social care sector employs some of the most talented and brilliant people the country has to offer. the nhs as the main employer, has continual need for doctors, nurses, ambulance staff and support staff and there are further opportunities to work for the nhs in social care in hospitals, educational settings and residential homes. job opportunities are endless. a firm understanding of health and social care would be advantageous to all future employers. a number of former students have continued their health and social care studies at universities all over the country with a mixture of internally assessed units and a written exam.

w w w. st j o s e p h s co m p . co . u k history gce a level overview the history a-level course is designed for students who are interested in reading and learning about british, european and world history, and how this impacts society today. the course takes these ideas and delves into more detail with discussions around the topics covered. the as course covers: • government, rebellion and society in wales and england c. 1485-1603 • the german reformation 1517-1530 the a2 course covers: • the american century 1880-1980 • a coursework module: the european reformation 1530-1560 assessment • • in year 12 there are 2 written examinations in year 13 there are 2 written examinations and a coursework module progression routes students will be able to go into a variety of professions including banking and finance, law, civil service, journalism, computer analysis, research, museum work as well as teaching. mathematics gce a level overview the mathematics a-level couse is for those who really enjoyed maths gcse as it builds on the skills already acquired, extending this to a more detailed understanding of pure maths . in year 12, students will complete core maths alongside applied maths which includes both statistics and mechanics. at a2, students extend this knowledge further including more involved questions in all areas. assessment year 12 as unit 1 pure mathematics as unit 2 applied mathematics year 13 a2 unit 3 pure mathematics a2 unit 4 applied mathematics progression routes maths is considered a very good a-level by both employers and higher educational establishments. as well as going on to study mathematics at university, you can consider many other disciplines including engineering, construction, architecture as well as industry led subjects like banking and finance, stjosephscomp @stjosephscomp @stjosephscomp

w w w. st j o s e p h s co m p . co . u k law gce a level overview law is a dynamic, interesting and pertinent subject that relates to every aspect of our lives. the course is designed to ensure that you are developing analytical, problem solving, critical thinking skills, with emphasis on having lively debates, focused discussions and examining legal issues. this is a two year course which looks at the legal system in england and wales. in the first year we look at how laws are made, interpreted and applied, the role of the court and the law of tort. in the second year, we build on your knowledge and focus on one area of substantive law, specifically human rights law. learning legal facts, cases, essay writing and advising fictional clients are at the heart of this course. assessment year 12 - as unit 1: the nature of law and the welsh and english legal systems written examination year 12 - as unit 2: the law of tort written examination year 13- a2 unit 3: the practice of substantive law written examination year 13 - a2 unit 4: substantive law perspectives written examination progression routes an a-level in law provides a solid foundation to progress to higher education to pursue further study of law or related subjects. it can lead to careers within the legal profession or justice system, the police, local government or large companies, or teaching. french gce a level overview the as and a level in french provides an engaging and exciting opportunity for learners to build on their previous study of modern foreign languages. through social, intellectual and cultural themes learners will be able to develop their linguistic knowledge and cultural understanding of the countries or communities where the language is spoken. an opportunity to study literature and film will allow learners to undertake a deeper analysis of language structures and increase their cultural awareness as part of an integrated approach to language learning. a strong focus is placed on building learners’ confidence and fluency in spoken french using relevant and topical themes. the requirement to research an area of personal interest related to the country or countries where the language of study is spoken aims to enhance learners’ cultural appreciation and enable them to gain a greater awareness of intercultural differences and similarities . assessment unit 1 (as): speaking: 12-15 minutes (plus additional 15 minutes preparation time) unit 2 (as): listening, reading, translation and critical response in writing . written examination : 1 hour unit 4 (a level): speaking : 11-12 minutes unit 5 (a level): listening, reading and translation. written examination : 1 hour 45 unit 6 (a level): critical and analytical response in writing (closed-book) written examination : 1 hour 30 progression routes this course provides a suitable foundation for the study of french or a related area through a range of higher education courses, such as business, leisure and tourism, international relations, translation or teacher training. most universities, will encourage students to take a year abroad irrespective of the main subject studied. by completing this course, students will be able to benefit from this experience. students can also progress to the next level of vocational qualifications or they can use their language skills for direct entry into employment. in addition, the course provides a coherent, satisfying and worthwhile course of study for candidates who do not progress to further study in this subject.

w w w. st j o s e p h s co m p . co . u k physical education gce a level overview a keen interest in sports and the theory of what makes a good sportsperson is key to this course alongside the knowledge that a large part of the course is science based. study of physical education at a-level will enhance the students’ knowledge and experience of pe and sport, as well as giving them a deeper understanding of health issues. this a-level offers a multidisciplinary approach to the study of and participation in sport, play, leisure and recreation, allowing you to study movement, performance and behaviour in relation to pe. progression routes a-level pe can take students on to a range of degrees and careers in sport and recreation as well as a variety of careers including: • sports management & teaching • medicine • physiotherapy • business & finance. former students of this subject have gone on to study at some of the uk’s top universities where they have attended exciting and challenging degree programmes such as pe teacher, sport psychology, sports management and coaching, biomedical sciences, and primary and secondary education with qts to name but a few. physics gce a level overview this exciting a-level builds on the physics gcse course, extending this to a more detailed understanding of physics and the ways in which it governs the world around us. in year 12 students will complete modules entitled “motion, energy and matter” and “electricity and light”. moving into a level, students will do modules entitled “oscillation and nuclei” and “fields and options” (there is some scope of choice with the options available). throughout all of the modules, students will carry out specified practical work in preparation for the practical examination in year 13 . assessment year 12: two external exams (40% of the qualification) year 13: two external exams (50% of the qualification) and a practical assessment (10% of the qualification) progression routes physics is considered a very good a level to have by both employers and higher educational establishments. as well as going on to study physics at university, students can consider many other disciplines including cosmology, medicine, engineering, construction and architecture. stjosephscomp @stjosephscomp @stjosephscomp

w w w. st j o s e p h s co m p . co . u k psychology gce a level overview why do people behave in the way they do? psychology is the scientific study of the relationships between the mind , the brain and behaviour. there are many different fields within psychology, all with one goal: understanding human behaviour . at as level, students will study the five approaches to psychology and their assumptions, therapies and research. these are the biological approach, the psychodynamic approach, the behaviourist approach, the cognitive approach, and the positive approach. at a2, students will investigate behaviours such as addiction, criminal behaviour , stress and schizophrenia. they will also carry out two personal investigations. psychology is enjoyable, interesting, and focuses on many essential skills such as essay-writing, numeracy, and planning research. assessment year 12, unit 1 – psychology: past to present year 12, unit 2 – psychology: using psychological concepts year 13, unit 3 – psychology: implications in the real world year 13, unit 4 – applied research methods progression routes psychology is an extremely valuable subject for many employment areas. most careers involve working with people, therefore knowledge of how people work can be applicable to a range of occupations. an a level in psychology is an ideal foundation for a degree in the subject, which can lead to a career as a psychologist in areas such as health, education, sport, forensics, and many more. other careers related to psychology are teaching, nursing, the police force, management, and any career involving working with people. psychology combines well with other sciences such as biology and mathematics, but also combines well with humanities subjects such as sociology and english. public services overview level 3 public services is targeted at students who would like to gain employment in the public services sector and have been developed to provide further training and education and progression opportunities within this sector. these jobs could include police officers, paramedics, armed forces and other uniformed public services. the qualification is the equivalent to an as and a-level qualification and can be studied alongside other as choices. students will study: unit 1 – government, policies and public services unit 2 – leadership and teamwork in the public services unit 5 – physical preparation, health and lifestyle in the public services assessment the course is assessed through the completion of structured assignments throughout the course and a written examination progression routes progression from level 3 public services could include any uniformed or non-uniformed public service including employment as police officers, paramedics, the armed forces, council workers and other public sector jobs.

w w w. st j o s e p h s co m p . co . u k religious studies gce a level overview as religious studies is a broad based study of christianity and an introduction to the philosophy of religion and ethics. the a2 religious studies course is a deeper exploration of the study of christianity and an in-depth study of the new testament texts. assessment year 12: two examinations one of 1 hour 15 minutes and one of 1 hour 45 mins. year 13: two 2 hour examinations of 1 ½ hours each. progression routes a level religious studies is a good balance for students decide to major in science and mathematical subjects. universities like to see that students have a broadly-based curriculum. naturally, a religious studies qualification at a level will enhance your employability for teaching posts in whatever subjects, sociology gce a level overview what questions do we often ask about our social world? are men and women really that different? why do we have problems such as racism? what motivates people to have social status and respect? these questions are studied in sociology. at as level, students study culture, society, and relate them to areas such as family and education. why do we have different family types? why do girls outperform boys in education? at a2 students move on to study crime and deviance, and social inequality. why do all people not have the same life chances? assessment year 12 : unit 1 – acquiring culture year 12: unit 2 – understanding society and methods of sociological enquiry year 13: unit 3 – power and control year 13: unit 4 – social inequality and applied methods of sociological enquiry progression routes sociology relates to many areas of employment. understanding social behaviour can be valuable in many careers. some popular options include social work, youth work, support work, research, and many more. an a level in sociology is the ideal starting point for a degree in sociology, which can lead to careers in areas such as the nhs, the government, education, and more. sociology combines well with other humanities subjects such as english, history, politics and law. it also combines well with other social sciences such as psychology. stjosephscomp @stjosephscomp @stjosephscomp

w w w. st j o s e p h s co m p . co . u k welsh as a second language gce a level overview the course aims to encourage students to communicate confidently, accurately and fluently both orally and in writing in a wide range of situations and contexts. there will be opportunities to critically analyse material and give a personal response to familiar and unfamiliar texts. assessment • unit 1 - group oral exam discussing the film ‘patagonia’ and the topic chosen for the personal project. • unit 2 - personal project on a topic of choice relating to wales or welsh culture. • unit 3 - written exam on the use of language and poetry. candidates will study the welsh grammar and study five set poems. • unit 4 - group oral exam discussing contemporary multimedia welsh culture and the play ‘crash’ by saunders lewis. to an english article. • unit 5 - written exam discussing the welsh language in society and provide a written response in welsh • unit 6 - written exam based on one of the four short stories studied and welsh grammar. progression routes there has never been a more exciting time to learn welsh. many careers now desire or require a working use of welsh and this course aims to provide the necessary levels of proficiency and fluency.

w w w. st j o s e p h s co m p . co . u k h o w t o a p p l y we would love to show you more of what we have to offer at st. joseph’s catholic school and sixth form centre. if you would like to find out more, or submit an application to join our sixth form, please follow the instructions below. remember, there is lots of information on our website - www.stjosephscomp.co.uk. applying online to fill in an online application, begin by visiting www.stjosephscomp.co.uk and viewing the subjects on offer, information about the sixth form and then complete an online application form. students who apply will be contacted by admissions staff to confirm the application and receive an offer of a place. the offer will be conditional upon achieving gcse or equivalent grades which meet our entry criteria. taster days in january and july, the school arranges taster sessions in order for students to experience their chosen courses at level 3 before they commit to them. this also gives students the opportunity to try courses they may be interested in but may not have experienced at gcse. enrolment will take place shortly after the gcse results are released. we will contact students with details of your enrolment date. “the staff at st joseph’s give support and attention with a level of respect that makes you feel like equals, not just teacher and student. every member of staff i came into contact with built my confidence and gave me the tools i needed to reach my highest possible grades.” “the sixth form is an amazing experience! the brilliant and engaging lessons, vast number of other activities along with dedicated support and mentoring ensures we are fully prepared for the next step.” “starting afresh at a new school can be daunting to anyone and i will admit i was nervous. however, i have met people who i believe will be friends for life - students and teachers. it is a real credit to the school that the overall standard of studentship carries through, not only in grades and merits, but into how we as a year group form relationships that will carry us beyond st joseph’s.”

w w w. st j o s e p h s co m p . co . u k h o w d o w e c o m p a r e ? for the last three years, st. joseph’s has been ranked in the top 5% of sixth forms and colleges across the whole of the uk - that’s nearly 3000 institutions! cer tificate 1 100% 1.83 of outstanding p rogress 2 1 100% 90% 2 3 90% 75% 3 75% 4 60% 5 40% 6 25% 7 10% 8 1.83 2.83 2.83 3.83 3.83 4.67 5.50 6.33 7.33 8.33 4.67 5.50 6.33 7.33 8.33 s t j os eph’s r c s chool and 6th for m centre b as ed on alps analys is of 2,580 s chools & colleges your a level performance matches : top 5% well done! the alps team 4 60% 5 40% 6 25% 7 10% 8 bott om bott om 9 9 k s 4 & k s 5 performance s ystems the student centred approach the s tudent centred approach ® ® alps alps ®