Gateacre School

Over this two year course, pupils are supported on a visual and creative journey, which focuses on the learner’s personal progress. Students are encouraged to explore and experiment across a broad range of materials, developing personal ideas along the way. Students opting for A’level art will be expected to have completed GCSE Art and/or GCSE Graphic design.

The AQA Level 3 Certificate in Applied Business will give students the opportunity to learn and understand the fundamental business and entrepreneurial knowledge and skills associated with working within a business enterprise.

Students will understand the way in which any venture in business (big or small) is a function of the relationship between its people, its marketing, its finance and its ability to deliver operationally  upon its commitments.

Students will undertake a programme of assessment designed to assess not only their business knowledge and understanding, but also the way in which this knowledge and understanding can be applied to shape their practical skill in thinking and realising their own plans about business. For those who wish their learning to be practical and active, making use of their own business imagination, then the Certificate in Applied Business is a highly relevant qualification.

Biology is the science of life and how living things work.
Biology is a useful qualification for many courses and careers including Biomedical engineering, Nursing, Healthcare of people and animals, Optician, Environmental Health Sciences, Biotechnology, Physiologist, Natural Resource Management, Wildlife Biologist, Archaeology, Marine Biology, Forest management, Agricultural Industries, Anthropology, Teacher Training, Ecology, Fish Farming, Crop Management, Nutritionists and many more!

Chemistry is essential for those going on to study the subject itself or any of the following: Biology, Biochemistry, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Food Science or Chemical Engineering. It is strongly recommended for those Interested in Earth Sciences such as Geology or Metallurgy.

Chemistry is a useful qualification for many courses and careers including Psychology, Computer Studies, Accountancy and many more!

Learners will need to have at least a grade 6-6 in GCSE Combined Science; a strong footing in GCSE Mathematics is also recommended with a 6 grade being highly recommended.

The course followed will be the new AQA Chemistry GCE Advanced course, which consists of AS which is studied in Year 12 and A2 in Year 13.

Criminology is an exciting and innovative new subject option here at Gateacre. Throughout the course you will explore different aspects of criminality and the criminal justice system, with a clear emphasis on the impact that crime has upon society. You will study issues such as victimisation, the legal process in the UK as well as gaining a theoretical understanding of crime and deviance, giving you an insight into the reasons why people turn to crime and how this has real-world impacts on individuals and communities.

Drama and Theatre can open many doors to many different careers. This is an academic A Level and therefore it has currency for a range of degrees. Universities recognise the value of this subject as it develops skills that can be applied to most areas of study: team work, communication and presentation skills, self motivation and responsibility, time management, analytical skills, confidence and high levels of creativity. There is a strong practical element to the course with options for students interested in art, design, media or music to hone their skills through developing specialisms in costume, set, sound, lighting, etc. Alongside this, the theoretical aspects of the course allow students to develop their analytical skills and written communication. Students who study Drama, therefore, can also often go on to being accepted onto wider ranging degree courses such as Medicine, Law, English and Business.

English Language is one of the most popular and successful A level subjects at Gateacre. It covers many aspects of language including how children learn language, how language is structured, how we recognise varieties of English, how language operates within society and how language changes over time. Pupils are also given the opportunity to practise their own writing for different audiences and purposes, and are expected to conduct their own research and report on it. The ‘A’ level is accepted by all universities and would be of direct interest to most Arts students. Candidates would be expected to have an interest in language and to have shown enthusiasm for creative writing.

English Literature is one of the most popular and successful A level subjects at Gateacre. Students study a variety of literary periods and genres and are introduced to the conventions of literary study and critical thinking. The course also focuses on the social, historical and cultural contexts in which literary texts are written and understood. Candidates must have an interest in Literature and enjoy reading. Enthusiasm for writing is also advantageous.

Year 13 students are given the chance to complete an extra qualification called the Extended Project Qualification, its a bit like a mini thesis. It provides an opportunity for students to extend their abilities beyond their sixth form course of study, stand out and prepare for university or their future career.

History gives us a better understanding of the world we live in. It is a subject that helps develop analytical skills, communication skills and research skills. You will develop valuable life skills, such as analysis, evaluation and discussion. History is highly regarded by employers and universities. The History Department at Gateacre School has a proud record of academic achievement.

This course provides excellent preparation for higher study and employment in the field of Information Technology. The increasing importance of Information Technologies means there will be a growing demand for professionals who are qualified in this area.

Media Studies A- Level is the critical examination of media products, e.g. Film, TV and print, and the way in which we interact with them. Many different media industries are studied, such as film, magazine, music videos, computer games, radio and TV texts. Students are also expected to develop and create their own products using the skills and ideas they have acquired.

Maths is one of the most desirable and challenging A levels. The skills that the course requires and develops in both numeracy and problem solving are always highly desirable by employers both in industry and further educational institutes.
Maths A level is an excellent gateway qualification leading into a range of sectors such as finance, business, ICT, economics, psychology and engineering. It is a mark of academic distinction and highly respected in further education.
In a 2016 study by Nottingham University it was also found that “students that had successfully studied A level Maths received an average of an 11% increase in salary by the time they reached 34. No other A level attracted such a sustained and steady wage premium.”
Maths A level continues and develops concepts begun at GCSE and starts to really allow students to appreciate their importance and application in understanding the world around us, offering students the keys to the Universe.

A level Further Mathematics is fun and rewarding. It broadens your mathematical skills and promotes deeper mathematical thinking. You will be introduced to interesting new areas of pure mathematics such as complex numbers and apply mathematics in a wider range of contexts, including statistics, mechanics and decision mathematics.
Studying A level further Mathematics is likely to improve your grade in A level Mathematics. The extra time, additional practice, further consolidation and development of techniques contribute to improved results.
If you are planning to take a degree such as Engineering, Sciences, Computing, Finance/Economics and especially Mathematics itself, you will benefit enormously from taking Further Mathematics. Students who have studied Further Mathematics find the transition to such degrees far more straight forward.
Importantly students taking Further Mathematics find it to be an enjoyable, rewarding, stimulating and empowering experience.

The A-Level music course may be seen as a continuation of G.C.S.E. Music in that it is based on three key components: listening/appraising, performing and composing.

Learners who have achieved an A-Level Physics at Gateacre in the past have gone on to a range of university courses; including Maths, Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, Accountancy, Physics and Computing. Due to the nature of the subject being a course in the understanding of how things work, Physics also supports applications to courses without a direct scientific content.

The course studied is the AQA Physics GCE course which consists of AS, which is studied in Y12 and A2 which is studied in Year 13.

Aside from the insight it gives into human behaviour, Psychology is a subject that can be applied in many different careers and areas of study. The understanding of human and societal interaction is valuable in Business, Computing, Media, Law, Teaching, Nursing, and Medicine.
Many universities offer Psychology courses with a wide range of specialisms such as Sports, Educational, Health, Occupational, Forensic or Criminal Psychology. It’s an excellent A’level subject if you are curious about people, methodical and creative in your approach to learning and have good critical thinking skills.

This vocational A-LEVEL EQUIVALENT course is centred on the practical issues of the music industry. The qualification will have at its core Music Technology taught through a practical approach. All students study five Units (one of which is externally assessed) plus a series of four additional units. 

Sociology is a fascinating and stimulating subject with something to appeal to everyone. It involves exploring and asking questions about the society in which we live. Studying Sociology offers students opportunities to gain a greater understanding of society and to make sense of their own experiences within it. Sociology can be both thought provoking and challenging because it forces people to rethink some of their common-sense views and assumptions.

Apart from being beneficial at a personal level, your A Level in Languages can help with quite a few career paths. For those who want to specialise in language, there’s translation or teaching. Or maybe you want to work in the travel and tourism industry. But even as, say, an engineer or designer, being proficient in a language will give you broader career options.

The Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Sport is intended to be an Applied General qualification for post16 students who aim to progress to higher education and ultimately to employment, possibly in the sport sector. The qualification is equivalent in size to 1 A Level and aims to provide a coherent introduction to study of the sport sector at this level.