A Level Subject Guide Get Ready
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A Level Subject Guide Get ready... to be your best! #IamNCC Top 5 reasons to choose NCC... TOP TOP COLLEGE COLLEGE IN LANCASHIRE IN THE LOCAL AREA FOR VALUE ADDED FOR VALUE ADDED IN IN VOCATIONAL A LEVELS COURSES I would never have got an Contents offer at University without the help of NCC. A huge thank you to all of my tutors! 4 Our Results Ithsham Hussain 5 Principal’s Welcome Now studying Medicine at the University of Leicester 6 NCC Graduates 10 Your Study Programme (A Level subjects, Study Skills, Tutorials, The teaching and facilities at NCC are really good! Enrichment, Gifted and Talented Support) Throw yourself into College life 14 University Guidance and get involved! (Russell Group | Oxford and Cambridge) Holly Mayor Now studying Biomedical 16 Realising Opportunities Programme Science at Newcastle University Career Pathways and Subjects Choices Being at NCC has been 18 Creative Arts a really good experience. The tutors give you so much 20 Media and Design support! 22 English and Writing Charles Choyce 24 Government and Politics Now studying Maths at the University of 26 Legal Warwick 28 Social Sciences 30 Earth Sciences The past two years have truly developed me as 32 Maths, Physics and Computer Science a person and I cannot wait to 34 Medical pursue my dreams! 36 Sport Kate Whitaker Now studying English at the University 38 Your steps to joining NCC Sixth Form of York TOP A LEVEL PROVIDER IN LANCASHIRE! The latest government performance tables place us first for Value Added scores out of all schools and colleges in Lancashire for A Levels! Value added is measured on the progress students make – meaning that students who come to Nelson and Colne College achieve their best! Visit www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance/ for more information. 2016 Department for Education Performance Tables. 4 Principal’s Welcome Thank you for taking the time to read our A Level Subject Guide. Here at Nelson and Colne College we are committed to helping our students make the right choices to shape their future. Whatever their aspirations, we are here to help each individual get to their first choice University and/or onto their chosen career path. In this Guide, you will find our recommendations of what subjects and enrichment activities would best support specific career pathways. We also share the latest statistics about various industries and give more information about our Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). We are delighted to reveal that recent Government data, from the Department for Education schools’ and colleges’ performance tables, has placed us as the top A Level provider in Lancashire for value added scores and as the sixth highest performing college in the country for the progress students make in their A Level studies! This means that students who come to Nelson and Colne College exceed their potential. In our latest set of A Level Results, we were thrilled to achieve a 100% pass rate for the fourth consecutive year and see students progress to some of the top universities in the country, including the University of Warwick, the University of York and Newcastle University. This year looks set to be just as exciting, with our students currently securing conditional offers for a range of universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, and those in the Russell Group. With exemplary staff, fantastic resources, a sixth form environment, wrap-around support, and extensive skills development opportunities, we help students reach their ambitions while creating some of the best memories of their lives. If you require any more information about the courses and activities on offer, please do not hesitate to contact our Admissions Team on 01282 440272. Amanda Melton Principal 5 NCC Graduates Just a few examples of our students’ achievements... Meet... Charles School: Colne Park High School A Level Results: A*A*A*A* in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry Where now? Studying Maths at the University of Warwick Meet... Hashaam Meet... Kate School: Pendle Vale College School: Colne Park High School A Level Results: A Level Results: A*A*A* in Maths, Physics A*A*A in English Literature, and Chemistry History and English Language Where now? Studying Maths at Where now? Studying English the University of Manchester at the University of York Meet... Maryam School: Marsden Heights Community College A Level Results: A*AB in Media, Sociology and English Language Where now? Studying English Language and Education at the University of Leeds 6 Meet... Holly School: Skipton Girls’ High School A Level Results: A*A*A in Psychology, History and Religious Studies Where now? Studying Psychology at the University of Bath Meet... Harry Meet... Matt School: SS John Fisher & Thomas School: Colne Park High School More RC High School A Level Results: A Level Results: A*A*A in Maths, Physics A*A*A in Biology, Chemistry and Further Maths and Maths Where now? Studying Mechanical Where now? Studying Medicine Engineering at Imperial College London at Hull York Medical School Meet... Rachel Meet... Joshua School: Bowland High Shuttleworth A Level Results: School: AAB in Biology, Chemistry College and Maths A Level Results: Where now? Studying Veterinary AAC in Computing, Medicine at the University of Nottingham Maths and Physics Where now? Alongside his degree, Meet... Studying Maths Oscar Joshua is currently and Computer School: Colne Primet Academy working as a Science at the Computer Scientist in A Level Results: University of Switzerland for CERN A*BB in Media Studies, Film Studies Manchester with the Large and English Language Hadron Collider, discovering new Where now? Studying Journalism (Multimedia) at the University of Salford particles. 7 This year’s ones to watch... Lotte Gleeson Dawud Afzal Conditional offer with the University of Oxford! Conditional offer with the University of Cambridge! Hall of Fame Just some of our alumni success stories... Amy Strange Sajjad Karim A Levels: English Language, A Levels: History, English Literature, Media Government and Politics Studies, Theatre Studies and and Business Studies. Psychology. After Leaving College: Achieved a BA (Hons) in Acting After Leaving College: Studied Law at the College of at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Law in Chester. Where now? An Actress across theatre, Where now? MEP for the North West in film and television. the European Parliament. Grant Davies Emily Mitchell A Levels: History, Sociology, A Levels: Textiles, General Studies and English Photography, Fine Art Language. and 3D Design. After Leaving College: Studied at the University College After Leaving College: Achieved a BA (Hons) in of Wales, Aberystwyth, to read International Politics and Costume Design at the University of Huddersfield. Strategic Studies. Owns a seam-stressing and Where now? Commander Legal 1 in Where now? the UK Armoured Division. clothing business, Sew in Love in Colne. 8 7 John Spencer A Levels: Physics, Maths, Further Maths and General Studies. After Leaving College: Studied a degree in Geology at the University of Cambridge. Where now? Working as a Senior Scientist at the NASA Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado. Natalie Haythornthwaite Ed Lee A Levels: Maths, English A Levels: History, Literature, Media Studies, Geography, Religious Studies General Studies and Physical and General Studies. Education. After Leaving College: Studied at the University of Leeds After Leaving College: Began working as a Journalist at and achieved a BA (Hons) in Linguistics and Phonetics. Leader Times Newspapers. Where now? Studying while also balancing Where now? Working as Deputy Content a professional Netball career for England. Manager at East Lancashire Newspapers. Nicky Browne Sarah Hey A Levels: Religious Studies, A Levels: Biology, History, English and Environmental Science, General Studies. Psychology and Geology. After Leaving College: Studied a degree in Philosophy After Leaving College: Studied a four year course at the and Theology at New College Oxford, before progressing University of Leicester to read MGeol. to King’s College, Cambridge. Working as a Geologist at GRM Where now? Working as a writer of Where now? children’s fantasy novels and as a lecturer. Development Solutions in Burton-On-Trent. 9 Your Study Programme As an A Level student at Nelson and Colne College your study programme will consist of the following; Core Subjects (3 A Levels) Career Aim Study Skills Enrichment Tutorial You will also be expected to carry independent study and other personal development activities alongside your programme such as additional workshops, leisure enrichment activities, volunteering or work experience, or part-time employment. 10 A Level Subjects The majority of students studying an A Level programme will focus on three subjects over two years. In exceptional circumstances, some students may be able to study four subjects. Your combination of A Levels should reflect the university, degree and career you want to progress on to. See page 17 onwards for which subjects work well together for particular career pathways. Our Subjects and Entry Requirements You will be expected to have a minimum of two Bs and three Cs in five subject areas at GCSE, to include Maths and English Language. Students will also be required to have specific grades at GCSE for certain subjects, as specified below; Biology Chemistry GCSE Biology or Science (both core Business Studies GCSE Maths at grade B or above, plus Chemistry or and additional) at grade B or above Science (both core and additional) at grade B