A Level and BTEC Subjects

A Level art is designed to build on the skills, knowledge and understanding introduced at GCSE. Pupils are required to develop practical work supported by critical/contextual studies in one or more of the following disciplines: drawing, painting, mixed-media, sculpture, installation, printmaking, moving image (video, film, animation), and photography.

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A Level biology focuses on biological molecules, and cells; how organisms exchange substances with their environment; genetic information, variation and the relationships between organisms; energy transfer in and between organisms; how organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environment; genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems; and the control of gene expression. Practical work is a key part of the course and pupils develop all important skills to equip them for further scientific study.

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We understand that true success in business is not solely measured by financial achievements but by the impact we have on society. That’s why our A Level business course integrates character education principles, empowering our pupils to become ethically responsible leaders who make a positive difference in their communities.

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A Level chemistry builds upon the material covered at GCSE chemistry and extends it into many areas, dividing the subject into its three traditional areas of inorganic, organic and physical chemistry. The work in the Lower Sixth year covers the fundamental principles of these three areas, with the Upper Sixth work then building and expanding on them.

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Pupils can choose to study both Latin and classical civilisation at A Level.

A Level Latin offers the opportunity to take the study of Latin language and literature to a much deeper and more satisfying level.

Classical civilisation is a subject which allows pupils to explore the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome without needing to read the original languages. It explores the literature, art and ideologies of those societies and places them into their social and historical contexts, making this subject a superb complement to other humanities A Levels, such as English or history.

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A Level computer science provides a wonderful balance alongside a wide range of other subjects and a significant number of our pupils intend to study computer science at university. The course we follow is accessible with no previous academic study of computer science.

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The A Level course focuses on product design which is tested through an exam and design and production coursework.

Pupils seeking careers and university courses in industrial design, engineering, architecture, product design and other specialist design disciplines should be considering this course as a fundamental ingredient in their skill set.

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The A Level drama course focuses on a variety of theatre practitioners, including Brecht, Stanislavski, Katie Mitchell, Frantic Assembly and Berkhoff, which will in turn inform the performance units of the course. Pupils are also required to produce a number of creative/performance logs to accompany their practical work. This allows them to reflect on the process of working towards performance.

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Economics studies the logic of the choices we make as a society. We start at the elementary level of consumers buying goods and services and go on to develop an understanding of how and why governments choose between different national objectives. We will look at a range of issues from trying to understand why some economies are not developing as rapidly as others, to looking at how individual consumers behave in the exciting new field of behavioural economics. The course will give you a thorough grounding in economic ideas and an understanding of what makes the economic system tick.

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Just look around you – electronics are everywhere! Electronics specialists are in demand.

In the A Level electronics course, you will learn about the basic principles and building-blocks of electronic systems and how to use these basic ideas to design and build more complex systems.

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English literature involves exploring some of the most influential poems, novels and plays that have shaped, and continue to shape, the world we live in. If you are interested in the big ideas which have forged who we are as thinking individuals and have an ear for language and the way words create music and light, then English literature is the subject for you.

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The Level 3 extended project allows pupils to study a topic area which extends their learning in an area of study, as a standalone qualification. Learners devise an analytical dissertation question which expands their learning in their field of study, in a related area, or in an area that is relevant to their own personal interests.

The EPQ is offered as a dissertation and takes place in part through the Futures programme. Learners are provided with taught sessions designed to develop research skills and referencing conventions. Individual supervisions punctuate the programme at pivotal moments although the essence of the programme is to provide a framework for independent research. Those who complete this qualification find themselves very well-equipped for the demands of undergraduate life having finished their own academic research presented in a format that conforms to the conventions required in academia. The EPQ is looked on favourably by a range of leading universities.

Exam board: Edexcel

Course name: Extended Project Qualification Level 3

Beyond the curriculum

The skills developed through the EPQ are extremely useful at undergraduate level and in later academic life: e.g. researching a variety of different types of sources, critical thinking, use of referencing and creating a bibliography, extended writing, evaluation of a project and presenting to an audience. Recent research by Cambridge also suggests that taking the EPQ is generally associated with a lower likelihood of dropping out of university and improved outcomes in the final class of degree obtained’.  

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Geography occupies a central position in understanding and interpreting issues affecting people, places and environments across a range of spatial and temporal scales. As a multi-disciplinary subject, it presents you with the contextual knowledge and understanding of the big global problems we face today and equips you with the analytical and evaluative skills needed to manage these effectively. You will investigate the principal meteorological, hydrological and geomorphological processes operating in the physical world as well as the social, demographic, economic and political systems in place in the human world.

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Exeter School offers a modern history course that attempts to strike a balance between British, European and world history. The overarching theme is: ‘The Development and Erosion of Democracy 1800–2000’. Building on knowledge and skills learnt at GCSE the course develops a greater understanding of the modern world, not least key themes such as imperialism, nationalism, capitalism and communism. Important skills in the handling and evaluation of historical source material are developed to enhance your critical reading and understanding of the past.

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Mathematics A Level continues to develop the topics studied in GCSE or IGCSE mathematics, and introduces methods and techniques used in many subjects at university level and beyond.

The mathematics course covers a range of pure and applied mathematics, including mechanics and statistics. Mechanics at A Level is not essential for A Level physics but could be advantageous if you are considering university courses such as physics or engineering.

Statistics is increasingly important in many fields such as biology, geography, business, economics and marketing. Mathematics is also an interesting subject to study for its own sake.

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In a post-Brexit UK, it is even more important to speak other people’s languages. To do this well, we must not only know the language but also understand the different cultures and ways of thinking. Most school leavers in the UK have no formal qualification in a foreign language, and most of those who do, will be able to offer GCSE level at most. Therefore, an A Level in a modern language will set you apart from the rest.

It is hugely practical. According to the British Council’s Languages for the Future project, ‘there can be no doubt that the UK needs more of its people to speak foreign languages – for employability, for trade and the economy, and for our cultural life’. You will be in demand in the workplace and will also have an advantage over your peers when competing for university places.

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Besides being immensely satisfying, great fun, and a wonderful outlet for personal expression and creativity, research shows that studying music also enhances academic study. Nothing teaches you better how to learn. Learning a musical instrument means learning about getting things wrong and taking steps to put things right. Mastery in music comes only with precision, patience, and painstaking striving for perfection.

Music at A Level is not intended just for pupils aiming to study music at a university or conservatoire. It is equally suitable as one of a mixed group of subjects leading to qualifications in other areas. It is highly facilitating, rigorously academic, creative and very practical, covering a wide range of valuable skills that include independent learning, teamwork, presentation skills, active and critical listening, essay writing, confidence and creativity.

Universities and employers alike recognise the vast range of transferrable skills that musicians develop, such as working as an individual and contributing as part of a team; working to meet deadlines and planning for long-term goals, to name just a few.

Exam board: AQA

Course name: A Level Music

Beyond the curriculum

The music department has an outstanding reputation for the range and diversity of music available to pupils at the school. There is a rich annual programme of contemporary and classical concerts, at school and throughout the region, enabling pupils of all ages to experience the magic of live performance of both established works and their own compositions.
The academic staff and instrumental teachers coach and rehearse five orchestras, seven chamber ensembles, eight choirs, two brass ensembles, five jazz bands, and a samba drum troupe.

Junior school and senior school ensembles perform together or separately on key school occasions, producing 25 major events over the year, including a range of festivals, the junior school carol concert, the senior school Christmas concert, a series of informal twilight concerts, a summer jazz concert, two major performances in Exeter Cathedral, a choral society concert, and charity concerts and workshops in schools.

Members of the department have organised highly successful tours to Budapest, Slovenia, Salzburg, New York and Liguria. Staff and pupils most recently travelled to Barcelona on their music tour.

Physics is the study of the natural world all around us, from the fundamental building blocks of matter to the large-scale structure of the universe and all the multitude of scales in between. It allows us to gain a better understanding of how things work and attempts to answer some of the most fundamental questions about the world we live in. The study of physics develops problem solving and mathematical skills, as well as other transferable skills such as logical, analytical and creative thinking. Importantly, physics also helps to solve real world problems for both people and the planet.

The department is well resourced for practical work, with the very latest tools for data capture and analysis, including data harvest data logging equipment. IT resources such as slow-motion video and simulations are used whenever they enhance the study of a topic.

The sixth form study room is available to A Level physics pupils as an additional place to work and contains a selection of physics books and magazines.

Exam board: AQA

Course name: A Level Physics

Beyond the curriculum

The department regularly collaborates with other local schools as the founding hub school of the Exeter and East Devon Ogden Physics Partnership and serves as a link school for the Institute of Physics’ Stimulating Physics Network. Pupils participate in Ogden Trust events such as the #lovephysics photography competition, Key Stage 5 Physics Challenges and the Diamond Light Source trip.

Other highlights on the physics calendar include the British Physics Olympiad and the AS Physics Challenge.
Trips include the Culham Centre for Fusion, The IOP South West Festival of Physics, and Exeter University’s Christmas Lectures.

Identity politics, populism, tribalism, Remainers and Brexiters… At a time when politics around the world appears so polarised, the close and reasoned study of how governments operate has never been more relevant or more necessary.

The subject offers an excellent way to hone one’s communication and debating skills, whilst studying how the world works. Pupils go on to study a broad range of complementary subjects, as well as PPE, HSPS, and history and politics.

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Have you ever wondered what it is that makes some people behave the way they do? For example, what turns someone into a psychopath or makes someone afraid of spiders? How can different things affect your mood and even your confidence? Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and human behaviour. Not only will pupils gain insights into the human mind, but they will also participate in practical experiments that will enable them to understand the causes of human behaviour and how to change it.

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This course has a multi-disciplinary nature, involving analysis and reasoning, close textual study, philosophical and political thinking, social understanding, ethics, and the core skills of literacy. It is a rigorous and demanding academic discipline, and also allows pupils to explore themselves in a coherent context.  

Furthermore, Religion, Philosophy & Ethics makes a crucial and unique contribution to understanding British heritage, plurality, values, and futures. Young people are typically keen to engage with contentious contemporary issues, and this course provides plenty of additional knowledge and skills to do so in a brave and forthright manner. 

At a time when communities are becoming more diverse – and in some cases more divided – Religion, Philosophy & Ethics plays a key role in creating social cohesion and generating genuine understanding between communities, thus reducing friction, intolerance, and social unrest. 

This course incorporates a range of academic disciplines and is available to all. It offers variety and rigour and requires you to play an active role through discussion and enquiry. It is challenging and will make you question long-held ideas and look at how we make moral decisions in life. 

Whilst not an A Level purely in philosophy, two thirds of the course is philosophically based and so it will provide a good introduction to philosophy for those interested in that subject. 

Pupils follow the Eduqas Religious Studies specification, which focuses on three areas of interest: Christianity, the philosophy of religion, and religion and ethics. Pupils are challenged with a range of topics such as the nature of God, feminist theology, attitudes to wealth, free will, the problem of suffering and evil, emotivism, and the nature of religious experience. 

Exam board: Edeuqas

Course name: A Level Religious Studies

Beyond the curriculum

Alongside the Holocaust Education Trust programme, the department runs trips to Auschwitz. Nearer to home, pupils visit places of worship and religious interest, such as Exeter’s churches, synagogue, mosque, and Buddhist cultural centres.
Speakers regularly visit covering topics including the Palestine/Israel conflict, Buddhism, pro-life/pro-choice, and the Holocaust as experienced by a Holocaust survivor.

A BTEC provides a unique combination of technical skills that help prepare you for higher education together with a breadth of knowledge about the sector that empowers you to succeed in the real world. This course is designed for individuals with a genuine interest in sport and good sporting general knowledge, as much of the course will involve linking theory that is learned through sporting examples.

Successful pupils will be highly motivated and able to consistently meet coursework deadlines. You will not be directly assessed on your sporting ability. However, there are practical elements of the course that require you to be motivated, enthusiastic, and able to regularly participate in practical lessons. You should be willing to take part in practical activities and be able to work with others.

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