Culcheth Hall School

Welcome to Culcheth Hall School 6th Form!

This web page contains a brief introduction to the courses on offer so that you can have some idea of the depth and breadth of the subjects available.

Please read this page carefully and if you would like to be part of the 6 th Form at Culcheth Hall then complete and return the application form (on-line soon) to school as soon as possible. We will then arrange an interview with you to design your course and following this an offer of a place will be made.

The 6th Form will have the benefit of a separate study area and common room whilst still being able to take part in all the activities that make Culcheth Hall so successful.

Work experience is an integral part of the course and every effort will be made to tailor this to your individual needs.

Culcheth Hall School has given high quality education and support for many years and we are always willing to work with you to help you achieve the outcome you wish for, whether higher education or the introduction to a career. Please come and discuss your future with us and look at the opportunities we have to offer.

The Applied GCE ‘A’ Level courses consist of 2 sections which can be certificated separately. The first part of the course is an AS level which will normally be completed within 1 year, after which, a GCE AS certificate can be awarded. To gain an ‘A’ level in the subject a further course of study takes place which builds on the AS level and can take a further year to complete. A GCE ‘A’ level certificate is then awarded.

The AS and Advanced GCE’s in Applied Art and Design have been designed to form qualifications which provide knowledge and understanding of this vocational area. They are ideal qualifications for those students who want a broad background in Art and Design which will allow them to progress to further or higher education, training or employment.

The course of study can reasonably be undertaken by students entering this vocational area for the first time. Progression through Advanced Level will provide a suitable basis for further study in related subjects in Higher Education as well as a valuable preparation for careers in any area of Art and Design.

The AS units provide students with a broad and balanced experience in a vocational approach to art, craft and design.

Students are expected to work in a manner that reflects current professional practice; responding to the wishes of a client or audience, meeting their needs and working within their constraints. The skills, knowledge and understanding gained at AS Level will provide a basis for progression to A2.

The A2 units require students to study vocational art, craft and design to a greater depth, and they place an emphasis on practical skills and techniques. At A2 there is a significant emphasis on analytical and evaluative skills.

The fundamental philosophy of this course is that, in order to understand the nature of Art and Design, candidates must actively experience the Art and Design environment. This can be achieved through a variety of approaches, including work experience, links with local employers, case studies and research.

Assessment is designed to give credit for what students can do as well as for what they know and understand. It is based on both portfolio evidence, which is marked by the centre and moderated by AQA, and external assessments. The external assessments are set by AQA, marked by the centre and moderated by AQA.

The Advanced Subsidiary (AS) award will comprise three AS units. The Advanced Level award will comprise three AS units and a further three A2 units. The A2 units, set at a higher level than AS, are designed to assess knowledge, understanding and skills expected of candidates who have completed the second half of a full Advanced Level qualification.

Business

Business Students These AS and Advanced GCE’s are broad-based vocational qualifications designed to allow students flexible progression route, moving on to higher education or further training and/employment.

The AS and Advanced GCE in Applied Business have been designed to form qualifications which provide knowledge and understanding of this vocational area. They are ideal qualifications for those students who want a broad background in Applied Business which will allow them to progress to further or higher education, training or employment.

The course of study can reasonably be undertaken by students entering this vocational area for the first time. Progressing through Advanced Level will provide a suitable basis for further study in related subjects in Higher Education as well as a valuable preparation for careers in any area of business.

The course encourages students to actively experience the business environment. This can be achieved through a variety of approaches, including work experience, links with local employers, case studies and research. Opportunities also exist to develop a practical approach through schemes such as Young Business Enterprise.

Assessment is designed to give credit for what students can do as well as what they know and understand. It is based both on portfolio evidence which is marked by the centre and moderated by AQA and external assessments which are set and marked by AQA.

The Advanced Subsidiary Single Award is comprise three AS units.

The Advanced Level Single Award will comprise three AS units and a further three A2 units. The A2 units, set at a higher level than AS, are designed to assess knowledge, understanding and skills expected of candidates who have completed the second half of a full Advanced Level

AS may be completed at the end of the first year and A2 by the end of the second year.

Business Units

Unit	Title
AS Unit 1	Investigating Business
AS Unit 2	People in Business
AS Unit 3	Financial Planning and Monitoring (External Test)
A2 Unit 8	Business Planning
A2 Unit 10	Promotional Activities
A2 Unit 12	Managing People (External Test)

Health and Social Care

The AS and Advanced GCE in Health and Social Care have been designed to form qualifications which provide knowledge and understanding of this vocational area. They are ideal qualifications for those students who want a broad background in Health and Social Care, which will allow them to progress to further or higher education, training or employment.

The course encourages an understanding of the nature of Health and Social Care, students’ learning is applied to a range of work related contexts. This can be achieved through a variety of approaches, including work experience, links with local employers, case studies and research.

Students are expected to produce portfolio evidence for some units and sit external tests for others.

The qualifications will:

lead to a final Advanced Subsidiary qualification, allowing students to broaden their studies and to defer decisions about specialism;
to make up the first half (50%) of an Advanced Level qualification

The Advanced Subsidiary Award will comprise three AS units and the Advanced Level Award will comprise a further three A2 units. Set at a higher standard than AS, A2 is designed to assess knowledge, understanding and skills expected of candidates who have completed the second half of a full Advanced Level qualification.

Health and Social Care Units

Unit	Title
AS Unit 1*	Effective Caring
AS Unit 2	Effective Communication
AS Unit 3	Health, Illness and Disease
A2 Unit 11	Working in Health and Social Care
A2 Unit 12*	Human Development: Factors and Theories
A2 Unit 16	Early Years Education

*Units marked with an asterisk will be externally assessed.
All other units will be internally assessed through portfolio evidence.

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AS/A2 Geography

The AQA specification will be studied, but this is changing and details are not available as yet.

However, AQA describes the new specification as stimulating and challenging building on GCSE and easing progression into Higher Education and employment. It will balance traditional Geography with contemporary and engaging subject content. The key themes will be management of change and sustainability.

Students will study key themes of both physical and human geography but there will also be choice. Fieldwork will be at the core both at AS and A2 and there will be opportunities to develop further skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation.

The content of the specification will be updated and topical but include the most popular and successful features of the current specification.

If you are fascinated by language, this course provides the perfect way to increase your awareness of the relationship between language and literature by looking at how language is made and used.

By presenting you with a range of texts representing all the main genres, including non-literary sources, the course will help you to analyse and evaluate texts in a logical and methodical way and stimulate your interest in different areas of the subject. You will develop the ability to work with care and precision and be encouraged to consider the differing contexts of language and literature.

Programme of Study
This subject will be a facilitated on-line course with a weekly 2 hour tutorial. The course is an AS level which is made up of Units 1, 2 and 3 (usually taken in the first year of study). This will then form the basis for the A level award in which Units 4,5 and 6 must be added. The awards are certificate by AQA.

Requirements
A pass at A-C in either GCSE English or English Literature, or at an equivalent level.

‘A’ Level Geography

The relevance and broad nature of geography in our increasingly environmentally aware world makes this an interesting and invaluable course. It not only develops an understanding of the physical nature of our planet, it also explores human inter-relationships and our responses to challenges, constraints and change. First-hand study of a location of your choice is essential as part of the coursework in both the AS and A2.

Topics include

Unit 1: The physical environment
Unit 2: The human environment
Unit 3: Geographical investigation
Unit 4: Physical and human geography
Unit 5: People and environment
Unit 6: Investigative skills

Programme of Study

This subject will be a facilitated on-line course with a weekly 2 hour tutorial. The course is an AS level which is made up of Units 1, 2 and 3 (usually taken in the first year of study). This will then form the basis for the A level award in which Units 4, 5 and 6 must be added. The awards are certificated by OCR.

Requirements

Preferably a B or above at GCSE, but suitable candidates without Geography at GCSE would be considered.

The study of psychology will help you to gain a better understanding of your own behaviour as well as that of other people. You will develop an understanding of different areas of psychology such as cognition, development, social and individual differences, and learn how topical issues such as eyewitness testimony, eating disorders and stress can be better understood and managed using psychological methods.

Requirements
A pass at A-C in GCSE English and Maths is desirable, but no formal qualifications are required.

Certificate of Personal Effectiveness is a framework through which key skills and activities are developed. It is a modular, credit-rated, activity-based course.

CoPE at level 3 is equivalent to an A at A/S level and has recognition from UCAS attracting an offer of 70 UCAS points.

The certificate is obtained by the completion of a portfolio of evidence (there is no examination) of all the activities undertaken. This will demonstrate the wider key skills of Working with Others, Improving Own Learning and Performance and Problem Solving. This is done through units where they plan and carry out research involving communication and discussion.