Frequently asked questions

our approach, where we combine a well-defined “Leeds curriculum” (curriculum.leeds.ac.uk/) with a “Leeds for Life” strand (leedsforlife.leeds.ac.uk/) aimed at capturing the wider experience in a reflective and developmental way. Viewed as a whole your approach seems to capture some of the best elements of the IB within the constraints of the A Level world, which isn’t easy.

University of Bristol The curriculum appears rich and varied and will provide excellent preparation for higher education.

University of Birmingham I shared what you are putting in place for Latymer Upper School with some colleagues in the admissions community across the University, and the response (from those who have responded thus far) has been overwhelming endorsement. The general feeling is that if all schools could offer the same then the world would be a better place, or failing that we would at least get some excellent students, who would not only do well in their studies but would also make a very positive contribution to the life of the University. I wish you and your students every success.

University of Manchester I am confident that the developments you outline will strengthen further the applications we receive from Latymer students. Whilst our entry requirements will continue to be expressed in terms of academic performance in level three qualifications, we continue to place significant emphasis on the interpersonal and soft skills which are so critical to a successful transition to higher level study. As such, we very much welcome your continued commitment to the EPQ and to the development of the Latymer Diploma. Such programmes are excellent vehicles through which students can develop the experiences and personal qualities we expect our applicants to evidence during the selection process.

Should I do a fourth A Level? A fourth A Level remains an Elective option, but apart from those who are wanting to do Maths and Further Maths, this is an option that requires very careful thought partly because of the nature of A Levels, partly because of university expectations and partly because of considerations of workload and balance.

Anyone who is considering undertaking four A Levels should consult with their tutor, Miss Snooks, (Head of Year 11), Mrs Adams (Head of Sixth Form), Mr BenNathan (Director of Studies) or Mr Emerson (Deputy Head Academic). Clearly it is not an option that is out of the question, but we will need to be reassured that the choice is being made with eyes wide open and for the right reasons.

We have found that students find it difficult to cope with the workload of four A Levels. What is more, they find that universities are not concerned about the fourth subject (so many taking four drop to three during the course of Lower Sixth or early in Upper Sixth).

The demands of a fourth A Level also restrict the time available for students to extend their reading and interest in the other three (a fourth A Level is not just another 13 periods, but also the extra 10 hours of private study/ homework per cycle).

Anyone doing four A Levels will have little real scope for taking advantage of the breadth offered through other elective options.

Anyone doing four A Levels may feel less able to take advantage of the co-curricular opportunities in the Sixth Form (societies, clubs, Service, Round Square, sport, music, drama etc.)

What is the maximum number of elective courses I can do? There is not a straightforward answer to this question. If we ignore the publicly examined options (Further Maths/Two Year AS, EPQ, 4th A Level) and look at the other electives – Latymer-designed courses, Latymer Research Report, then the answer is this:

1 If you choose not to do the EPQ, then you can do a maximum of three Latymer-designed elective courses, plus the Latymer Research Report;

2 If you choose to do the EPQ, then you could do a maximum of four Latymer-designed elective courses. You would not do the Latymer

Research Report;

3 If you are doing three A Levels plus an AS level or four A Levels, theoretically, the maximum you could add to that would be as in number 1 above

If I do Maths, Further Maths, and two other A Levels, do I need to do any other elective courses? Yes. This is because we want you to achieve breadth and balance beyond your A Level commitments. We would expect you to take either two of the Latymerdesigned elective courses, or a Latymer-designed elective option plus a Latymer Research Report. Bear in mind, a Latymer- designed elective option is just a commitment to a single 10 week period totalling just 30 teaching periods, with limited homework and assessment. The Latymer Research Report will allow you to explore a complementary or contrasting area to your A Levels that you are passionate about. Both these elements will enrich any university application and your personal statement.

What exactly is the commitment if I take three Latymer-designed electives – does that mean 18 periods a cycle? No. You will do one elective course per term plus one term for the Knowledge and Research Skills course (i.e. the four terms up until the December of the Upper Sixth). The elective courses each last 10 weeks (30 periods) with a total of about 5 hours homework across the 10 weeks.

If I do four A Levels, do I need to take any elective courses? In general, we advise against taking four A Levels. If we agree to four A Levels we would expect you to add either two of the Latymer-designed courses or one Latymer-designed course plus a Latymer Research Report. This is so you can demonstrate breadth and balance in your academic programme.

Could I do three A Levels and just two Latymerdesigned elective courses? Unless there were exceptional circumstances, the answer is no. Our minimum (and perfectly acceptable) programme requires three A Levels plus three elective courses. These could be three Latymerdesigned courses or two Latymer-designed courses plus the Latymer Research Report.

Could I do just three A Levels plus the EPQ (or three plus a two year AS)? Unless there were exceptional circumstances, the answer is no. We would normally want you to add at least two other elective courses – either two of the Latymer-designed courses or one Latymer-designed course plus a Latymer Research Report.

Can I do three A Levels plus both the EPQ and an AS, or two AS courses? No, mainly because this is a demanding programme that would in some ways be more than four A Levels, but also because we will not be able to timetable it.