Welcome to the CCSS Sixth-form Course Guide

Over the past decade the number of students continuing in full-time education after GCSEs has grown steadily. Sixth-form colleges have become a very popular (and effective) alternative to staying on in school, and at the same time, the range of courses available to sixth-formers has diversified, with more and more subjects becoming established at A-Level. More choice is welcome, but it can make it less easy to sort out the best way forward.

Selecting the best sixth-form environment - whether to change school, and if so which college will suit you best - needs careful thought, and the purpose of this web-site to help you decide whether you would enjoy the approach to sixth-form education adopted at CCSS.

The pattern of A-level courses changed in September 2000. Taking 3 A-levels remains the normal route into university.

However, on a two-year programme, most take four subjects in the first year and at the end of that year will take public examinations in all four, called AS exams.

During the second year you take three of your lower-sixth subjects further, preparing for A2 exams in them. Your final A-level grade will depend on your AS and A2 marks in that subject.

Each AS and A2 syllabus is divided into three parts, called Units (also sometimes called Modules). Each unit is examined, either by a written paper, or through project/practical work, or a combination of both.

The page on choosing helps with ideas on how to select the right programme, while the page on questions deals with some of the issues people often ask us about. The subject descriptions are arranged alphabetically. Each description explains what the subject is like to study in terms of what you cover, the sort of work you have to do and the skills you develop. You will also find information on how the subject is examined, and the directions in which it can take you.

If you visit us you will be able to discuss course choice in detail and to talk to the people who teach the subjects you are considering. However, do please contact us if you need more details meanwhile.

Our A-Level Course Guide for academic year 2007-2008 can be downloaded here. New A-Level and GCSE Course Guides for academic year 2008-2009 will be available shortly.