The Marriotts School
Sixth Form
Subject Guide
September 2016 – 2018
Applied Science BTEC
What are the subject requirements?
You will need to have a Merit in a Science Level 2 BTEC or a C in at least one Science GCSE and a C in either Maths or English.
What are the necessary skills to do well in this course?
- Enjoy Science including both practical and written work
- An interest in a possible career in a Science related area
- Punctuality and regular attendance
- An ability to work independently
- Good organisational skills
- An ability to persevere with new and harder skills.
What are career opportunities in the future?
This course can enable you to progress to further study of Applied Science. It will also lead towards employment in fields such as a hospital laboratory technician, a materials testing lab or a school science technician.
What will I study?
Extended Certificate = 360 GLH
3 Mandatory units:
- Principles and Applications of Science I (90 GLH)
- Practical Scientific Procedures and Techniques (90 GLH)
- Science Investigation Skills (120 GLH).
In addition there will be an optional unit (60GLH), this unit will be selected by the teachers to allow it to be tailored for the strengths and interests of the class.
How will I be assessed?
Units will be taught separately with a set deadline for each unit. Certain units will be set and marked internally, one unit will be set and marked externally and one unit will be examined by a written exam.
What are the expectations of me in terms of coursework, homework?
Students must keep to deadlines. The BTEC Level 3 qualification is coursework based and homework is an essential part of the course. Students should do roughly 8 hours of homework per fortnight to complement their coursework.
What other expectations does Science Department have of me?
- Work to the best of your ability to achieve your Target grade
- Attend lessons regularly as the course is attendance based
- Complete all assignments on time
- Catch up on missed work as homework or attend on other days.
Examination Board: Edexcel
Course Title: BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate in Applied Science (NQF)
Contact: Mrs McDermott Head of Science or Mr George – 2nd in Science
Art and Design BTEC
What are the subject requirements?
- Students with C or above at GCSE Art and Design
- Students who can work independently
- Students who are willing to do homework.
What are the necessary skills to do well in this course?
- Good drawing skills
- Imagination & stamina
- Creative problem solving skills.
What are career opportunities in the future?
Architect, furniture designer, photographer, film set designer, book designer, fashion designer, graphic designer, game designer, art teacher, toy designer, tattoo artist, cartoonist, make-up artist, industrial designer, art critic, flower arranger, portrait artist, web designer, animator, set designer, marketing director, sculptor, sign writer, costume designer, stonemason, illustrator, interior designer, hair stylist, cake decorator, scenic painter.
What will I study?
BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate in Art and Design = Equivalent to one A level
- Unit 1 – Visual Recording and Communication
- Unit 2 – Critical and Contextual Studies in Art and Design
- Unit 3 – The Creative Process
- Unit 12 – Fine Art Materials, Techniques and Processes.
How will I be assessed?
Units will be taught separately with a set deadline for each unit; students will be given a unit timeline if they choose to take up the course. The marks will be totalled at the end to create a final grade.
What are the expectations of me in terms of coursework, homework, out of school attendance in educational art visits?
Students must keep to deadlines. The BTEC Level 3 qualification in Art and Design composes of 2 internally set coursework assignments and 2 externally set exam units. Homework is an essential part of the course. Students should do roughly 8 hours of homework per fortnight to complement their coursework. Attending educational art visits would be beneficial to students.
What other expectations does the Art Department have of me?
- Work to the best of your ability to achieve your Target grade
- Attend lessons regularly as the course is attendance based
- Complete all assignments on time
- Catch up on missed work as homework or attend on other days.
Examination Board: Edexcel
Course Title: BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate in Art and Design (NQF)
Contact: Miss Baldock - Head of Art or Miss Hoepelman - Teacher of Art
Biology A Level
What are the subject requirements?
You are expected to have at least two B grades in Science GCSEs including a B in Biology if you took triple Science. You will also need at least C grades in both Maths and English.
What are the necessary skills to do well in this course?
This course will appeal to students who:
- Enjoy scientific disciplines, practical and field work
- Would like to know more about recent developments in genetics, health and the environment
- Are studying related courses, such as Chemistry, Physics and Sports studies
- Would like to take a science subject to balance humanities or arts disciplines
- Are interested in Biology.
What are career opportunities in the future?
You will find this course useful if you wish to follow a career in the following areas: Biological sciences, pharmacy, medicine, veterinary medicine, health care professions, environmental sciences, professions requiring a logical/analytical approach to subject matter, e.g. Law.
Course and Assessment Outline
Content is split into six teaching modules:
- Development of practical skill in Biology
- Foundations in Biology
- Exchange and transport
- Biodiversity, evolution and disease
- Communication, homeostasis and energy
- Genetics, evolution and ecosystems.
Assessments are made of three components:
- Biological processes 37%2 hours 15 minutes written paper
- Biological diversity 37% 2 hours 15 minutes written paper
- UnifiedBiology 26%1 hour 30 minutes written paper
- Practical endorsement in Biologynon exam assessment reported separately through Lab book.
What will I learn on this course? The course will enable you to:
- Use and analyse data
- Understand how human/animal/plant systems work
- Learn about factors in human health
- Gain valuable practical skills (especially analytical techniques)
- Understand important environmental issues
- Discuss current biological issues such as genetic engineering in an authoritative way.
Examination Board: OCR (
Course Title: A level Biology
Contact: Mr Ringshaw – Lead practitioner in Science
Business Studies BTEC
What are the subject requirements?
Students are expected to have a Merit or above at Level 2 in Business Studies BTEC or a C or above in GCSE Business Studies. It is strongly advised that students should have a C in English Language, as a minimum. The coursework element requires students to be able to write in a style appropriate for A level/Level 3 BTEC.
What are the necessary skills to do well in this course?
This course will suit students with an innate curiosity about the business world, in all its forms. This might be an interest in Marketing, Finance, Start-ups or simply a student with an entrepreneurial flair. As a BTEC course attendance and punctuality is important, as is the ability to efficiently use private study time.
What are career opportunities in the future?
The qualification carries UCAS points and is recognised by higher education providers as contributing to meeting admission requirements for many courses if taken alongside other qualifications as part of a two year programme of learning. It will support entry to many higher education courses, depending on the other qualifications learners have taken. Learners should always check the entry requirements for degree programmes at specific higher education providers. The qualification can also support progression to employment directly, or via an Apprenticeship.
What will I study?
National Extended Certificate in Business
- Unit 1 – Exploring Business
- Unit 2 – Developing a marketing campaign
- Unit 3 – Personal and business finance
- Unit 8 – Recruitment and selection.
How will I be assessed?
- Unit 1 – Internally assessed and subject to external standards verification
- Unit 2 – This unit is assessed under supervised conditions. Learners will be provided with a case study two weeks prior to a supervised assessment period in order to carry out research.
- Unit 3 – 2 hours External written examination
- Unit 8 – Internally assessed and subject to external standards verification.
Aims of the course
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Business is an Applied General qualification. It is for post-16 learners who want to continue their education through applied learning and who aim to progress to higher education and ultimately to employment in the business sector. The qualification is equivalent in size to one A Level and aims to provide a coherent introduction to study of the business sector.
The learning programme covers the following content areas:
- Business environments
- Finance
- Marketing
- Human resources.
Examination Board: Edexcel
Course Title:BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Business (NQF)
Contact: Mr Clarke - Head of Business Studies and ICT
Chemistry A Level
What are the subject requirements?
You need at least two B grades in GCSE Sciences (including Chemistry if you took triple Science.) You will also need a B in Maths and at least a C in English.
Who would be a successful student of Chemistry? This course will appeal to students who:
- Have an interest in and enjoy Chemistry
- Want to find out more about things in the real world
- Enjoy solving problems
- Are looking for a subject that goes well with another Science or Maths.
What are career opportunities in the future?
Chemistry is essential if you wish to apply to medical school. Other courses, such as Biology, Biochemistry, Chemical engineering, dentistry and environmental science also find Chemistry essential or desirable.
You can find employment as an industrial or research chemist. Or, as you will develop so many other skills whilst studying the subject, many Chemistry students go on to the financial sector and other unrelated fields.
Why study Chemistry?
This course will try to give you the skills and understanding to make decisions about the way chemistry affects your everyday life by applying concepts into contemporary areas of Chemistry. You will become an effective problem solver and be able to communicate efficiently both orally and in writing. Handling data will be a key part of your work, allowing you to demonstrate information retrieval skills as well as use of numeracy and ICT. You will build up a range of practical skills that require creativity and accuracy as well as developing a firm understanding of health and safety issues.
Which course will I study?
We follow the OCR B (Salters) Chemistry course.
What will I study and how is the course assessed?
- Fundamentals of Chemistry 41% 2 hours 15 minutes written exam
- Scientific Literacy in Chemistry 37% 2 hours 15 minutes written exam
- Practical Skills in Chemistry22%1 hour 30 minutes written exam
- Practical Endorsement in ChemistryReported SeparatelyTeacher assessed.
How much work is involved?
You will be expected to attend all lessons and complete all practical work, usually working on your own. You will have to keep an up to date lab book in which you record and analyse your practical work. Your homework will involve text book or worksheet questions practising work from the lesson, group research projects, experiment write ups, essays, presentations and exam questions. You will be expected to complete about 6 hours of private study each week and meet teachers in your own time to go over concepts if you are struggling.
How can Chemistry help me get into university?
Chemistry is a facilitating subject. It is highly regarded by universities and is considered by many a “hard” A level. It is essential for applying to medical school and can show your diversity if you are looking to take an unrelated subject.
Examination Board: OCR
Course Title: A level Chemistry
Contact: Mrs McDermott – Head of Science
Children’s Play, Learning and Development BTEC
What are the subject requirements?
To be considered for entry onto this course, the entry requirements of a grade C or above from English Language GCSE would be needed. It would be beneficial for students to have studied Health and Social care at Level 2 BTEC or GCSE.
What are the necessary skills to do well in this course?
This course will suit people who are keen to develop their knowledge of how children learn and play. It will allow learners to develop the core specialist knowledge, understanding and skills required by the sector, including child development, play and learning, health and safety, safeguarding, observation, assessment and planning. The course will suit people who are able to work independently on their own projects and research with the guidance of an assignment brief.
What are career opportunities in the future?
People who have studied Children’s Play, Learning and Development have gone on to careers in the following areas: nanny, early years teacher, social work, youth work, paediatric nurse, guidance counsellor.
What will I study?
The Edexcel BTEC Level 3 National Award in Children’s Play, Learning and Development consists of five core units, and a choice from four optional specialist units that provide for a combined total of 360 guided learning hours (GLH) for the complete qualification.
How will I be assessed?
There will be a range of tasks that will be assessed throughout the course from group presentations to independent essays. You will be given assignment briefs to complete in a set period of time; however, these will only be given out when you are ready for the assignment. These assignments are marked formatively at the end of the assignment period, meaning that drafts will not be accepted or marked. Out of the five core units there is one externally assessed task which will be a written response or outcome.
How much work is involved?
As with any BTEC qualification you will be required to do on average six hours of private study each week. This will include completing tasks such as undertaking research and preparation for lesson tasks and assignment work.
How can Children’s Play, Learning and Development help me to get to University?
The subject can be seen as a cross-curricular subject, as it ‘dips’ into many areas such as Sociology, Communication Studies and even Psychology.
Examination Board:Edexcel
Course Title:BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Children’s Play, Learning and Development (NQF)
Contact: Mrs Crook
English Literature A Level
What are the subject requirements?
You will need B grades in both English Language and English Literature.
What are the necessary skills to do well in this course?
This course will suit people who are keen to develop their knowledge of English Literature. It will also suit people who wish to develop their reading, writing, analytical skills, creativity and knowledge of literature. People who enjoy discussion activities and working in groups and independently will do well. Finally, it goes without saying that this course is suited to people who enjoy reading.
What are career opportunities?
People who have studied English Literature have gone on to careers in the following areas: journalism, publishing, media and television, education, advertising and the legal profession.
Why study English Literature?
The main reasons for studying English Literature are as follows:
- Develops reading and analytical skills
- Develops creativity and thinking skills
- English Literature as a subject is respected by employers and universities
- It is interesting and engaging
- It is challenging.
What will I study?
Your course will be divided into three distinct units:
- Paper 1: Love through the ages
Study of three texts: a selection of pre1900 poetry and one prose text (The Great Gatsby) and one Shakespeare play (The Taming of the Shrew). The exam will include two unseen poems.
- Paper 2: Texts in shared contexts
Study of three texts based around the theme of WWI and its aftermath: one prose, one poetry, and one drama, of which one must be written post-2000. The exam will include an unseen extract.
- Non-exam assessment: Independent critical study: texts across time
One extended essay (2,500 words) that is a comparative critical study of two texts, at least one of which must have been written pre-1900.
How will I be assessed?
Paper 1 and Paper 2 are both assessed by external examination. Each unit is worth 40% of the final A level. The non-exam assessment is assessed as a piece of coursework and is worth 20% of the final A level.
How much work is involved?
As with any A level qualification you will be required to do on average of six hours of private study each week. This will include completing tasks such as reading the set texts and undertaking research.
How can English Literature help me to get to University?
English Literature is well respected by universities and is part of the ‘facilitating subjects’ suggested by the Russell group universities.
Examination Board: To be confirmed
Course Title:A level English Literature
Contact: Miss Rees – Head of English