Trinity School Guide to A Level Subjects 2024

A Level Choices.

In this guide

Welcome

Your Sixth Form experience should be your most enjoyable time at school: the blend of increased freedom, responsibility and choice is rewarding, whilst studying the subjects which most interest you provides the challenge of greater depth and ambition within a vibrant, purposeful and nurturing environment. You stand at a unique and privileged point: the most senior students in school, able to lead with experience, yet about to take the most exciting of next steps, wherever these may lead you.

It is our confident belief that you will leave Trinity after two enjoyable and challenging years, well prepared for Higher Education and life beyond, having made enduring friendships here. Our Sixth Form is an inspiring and diverse community with many and broad co-curricular options, as well as our enriching Diploma programme, which we believe is central to a rounded and balanced education.

I hope that you will find this guide informative. We strongly encourage you to come to one of our Open Events to have a good look around and to meet our staff and our students. I look forward to meeting you and to answering any questions you might have.

Mr J Pietersen Head of Sixth Form

“Trinity is all parents want from a school and more! The standard of teaching is excellent and the pastoral care is second to none.”

Sixth Form

parent

Sixth Form admissions

There is a lot of information in this guide to help you make your A Level subject choices but, if you have further questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch. You can also register for our A Level Subject Choices Evening in October via the school website.

Our dedicated Admissions Handbook (available on our website) contains further information on our admissions process and scholarship and bursary schemes. This also provides guidance on our application process. Please telephone our Admissions Office on 020 8656 9541 or email sixthformadmissions@trinity.croydon.sch.uk for any other queries

GCSE / IGCSE Requirements

The offer of a Sixth Form place is conditional for all students, both internal and external, on achieving at least six GCSEs at grade 7 or above and meeting the minimum requirements in each A Level subject for further study.

See the individual GCSE grade requirements for each A Level under each subject later in this guide.

Key Dates

Event

Date

Sixth Form Open Evening Wednesday 21 June 2023

Opening date for Sixth Form applications Monday 26 June 2023

Sixth Form Open Evening Wednesday 13 September 2023

Whole School Open Day Saturday 30 September 2023

Sixth Form Subject Course Evening - Prospective parents and students only Monday 9 October 2023

Closing date for external applications Thursday 12 October 2023 5pm

Entrance Examination

Music auditions

Sports Scholarship

Drama & Art Scholarship

Saturday 4 November 2023

Tuesday 14 & Wednesday 15 November 2023

Thursday 16 November 2023

Saturday 18 November 2023

Entrance interviews Saturday 18 November 2023

Offers sent out Thursday 7 December 2023

Sixth Form life

Independent learning with outstanding pastoral care

We know that both curiosity and care are key to nurturing outstanding individuals. In our Sixth Form, there is an exciting and stimulating learning environment which allows for individual choice and expression, built on the foundations of caring and supportive relationships.

We believe in a balanced education: our academic programme will prepare you for top universities and careers, focusing on providing depth as well as breadth. You will take full advantage of the many opportunities here to enhance both your intellectual and social development. We have an impressive range of activities and societies, as well as sport, music and drama, which will enable you to be fully involved in our community, as well as providing the possibility to develop your leadership qualities and initiative.

You will meet daily with your tutor, who will monitor your progress and give advice and guidance, alongside a strong and experienced pastoral support network made up of your Head of Year, the Deputy Head of Sixth Form and the Head of Sixth Form. Further support is provided by nurses with mental health training, the school counsellor, the school’s Mental Health Lead, the academic mentor and our collaboration with a clinical psychologist who regularly visits the school, with oversight provided by our Pastoral Deputy Head.

A culture of kindness and community

We want our students to grow to be the best version of themselves that they can be, and to have fun doing so. We provide a safe and stable community, which values respect, as well as compassion and understanding. Many of our Sixth Formers hold mentoring roles for younger students in the school and take leading roles in our community as School Prefects or members of our Sixth Form Council and Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion Committee

Our facilities enable this: we have a dedicated Sixth Form Centre offering a light and spacious common room area where you can relax and socialise and which benefits from its own café, serving drinks and snacks. This is in addition to our Mitre Café, which serves hot meals to the Sixth Form, making it a friendly, buzzing environment. Our three study suites are filled with natural light and are well-equipped with Wi-Fi access, IT facilities and both quiet and collaborative working areas.

“Trinity was definitely a great choice. I only wish I could have done another year!”

Sixth Form student

A stimulating Sixth Form curriculum

Our students select four A Level subjects to study in the Lower Sixth leading to three or four A Levels in the Upper Sixth. Starting with four A Levels enables you to maintain breadth and ensures that you make the right choices for you. The majority of our Sixth Formers elect to drop one of their A Levels during or by the end of their first year, although some students will continue with four subjects throughout. Students are able to drop down to three A Levels as early as December in the first term but most continue for longer to enable greater enrichment and stretch. There is always plenty of support and guidance available to help you make an informed choice about your future.

Alongside A Levels, you will follow our Trinity Diploma programme, which includes undertaking either an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) or a Sixth Form Project as well as an extensive personal development programme. You can read more about the EPQ in the A Level Subjects section of this guide.

There is a rich culture of extension and enrichment outside of the syllabus, delivered through our departmental societies and clubs, visiting speakers, and through the Diploma electives. Many of our Sixth Form students take a lead in giving talks for societies and for our academic symposia.

We aim to build resilience and alleviate stress, as well as to prepare our young people for life beyond school. Our Diploma includes personal development sessions on sex and relationships, online reputation management, maintaining good mental health as well as on employability and preparing for university, for example.

We recognise the importance of helping you develop your study skills and revision techniques, so we deliver focused sessions to support this and run Sixth Form academic mentoring support.

Choosing your A Level subjects

You are asked to select four subjects that you would like to study for A Level in your application for Sixth Form entry. You will sit three entrance examinations in Numerical Reasoning, Written Communication and Lateral Thinking. Many applicants will be called back for interviews as part of our competitive admissions process.

If you are offered a place at Trinity, you will confirm your A Level choices early in the Spring term before the start of your Lower Sixth year. You are able to change your choices; however, please understand that the school does need to plan ahead and timetable lessons. Therefore, whilst we try very hard to accommodate changes in A Level choices, we are not always able to guarantee late changes.

Consider the following top tips before you decide on your A Level courses:

– Choose subjects that you are genuinely interested in and are motivated to study

– Know where your skills lie and pick subjects in which you will be successful

– If you have a career in mind, then choose your subjects accordingly, but always bear in mind your skills and interests

– Discuss your subject choices with your teachers, your parents, and the Sixth Form staff

– Do plenty of research: read the subject pages of this prospectus; look at relevant university courses and the subjects which support them, and look at our advice on thinking ahead to university and careers.

“The best thing about Trinity is that it is simultaneously challenging and exciting, as well as friendly and supportive.”

Sixth Form student

The Trinity Diploma

Beyond your A Level subjects:

Our students find the Sixth Form at Trinity an exciting place, full of opportunity. Through our Diploma programme, Sixth Formers think beyond the curriculum and engage critically with the world around them. You will be encouraged to be self-motivated and independent in your thinking, taking responsibility for your wider development.

Our Diploma programme is delivered through a timetabled double period each week throughout the Lower and Upper Sixth. This will give you the opportunity to explore a range of areas, highlighted here in this graphic, which will contribute to your intellectual and personal development and open up exciting possibilities for further research and study.

Trinity Diploma

Encouraging independent thinking

Leadership and community

Critical analysis skills

Extended academic project

Personal development Enrichment

Extended project qualification / independent study

All of our students undertake an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) or a Sixth Form Project (SFP), which involves independent academic investigation. The EPQ is the equivalent of an AS Level. All students are allocated a Diploma teacher, and for those on an EPQ, an EPQ supervisor to support them in their academic endeavours. All students receive key sessions on skills such as referencing, research, structuring a report, delivering a presentation and time management. Further details on the EPQ can be read in the subject specific section of this guide.

Critical analysis

Critical thinking and cogent lines of argument are key to A level success and beyond. Our Diploma teaching focuses on source analysis and evaluation as well as writing a thesis and structuring and drafting an essay.

Enrichment

We offer a super-curriculum, which includes enrichment courses and elective options, enabling you to extend your subject interests further. As part of this enrichment programme, you will choose three elective courses (one four-week course in the Lower Sixth, and two six-week courses in the Upper Sixth). There is a great deal of variety, with options including, for example: History of Art, Architecture, Law, Global Politics, Philosophy and Ethics and Physics and Space. At the end of the Lower Sixth Year, you will also have the opportunity to design your own three-week course, following your own interests.

Wellbeing and personal development

Our Personal Development Programme underpins school life. The emotional, mental, spiritual and physical health of our students is of primary importance and we aim to build resilience and offer methods to alleviate stress, as well as to prepare all for the world beyond. Throughout the year, we hold a series of keynote speakers for the students and our wider community.

Leadership and community

We have a long history of developing partnerships with the community. All students volunteer to work with local charities and organisations, thereby learning important life skills and the value of service. We foster confident individuals, prepared for the world, with leadership and teamwork skills as well as a strong sense of citizenship and social enterprise.

Current opportunities include helping in residential and nursing homes, working at ecology centres or charity shops and gardening for older people. You could also plan art, sports, music and IT sessions for primary school children and assist with sports coaching.

Trinity Diploma course overview

Lower Sixth Personal development

Online reputation management

Party culture

Alcohol & drugs awareness

Employability & skills analysis

Mental health awareness

Relationships & sex education

Revision skills

Public speaking workshop

Self-reflection workshop

Global issues

Enrichment & extension electives

Examples:

Climate change

Debating

Gender, Power and Identity across time

Latin palaeography

Leadership is an action not a position

The Art of Criminal Defence

The evolution of buildings and structures

Academic projects

Exploring ideas & critical thinking

Project planning & time management

Evaluating sources & research

Reference & note-taking

Plagiarism & originality

Planning & structuring a draft

Reflection & redrafting a report

Presentation planning & delivery

Playwriting/ Creative Writing

Community

Volunteering

Mentoring & coaching

Leadership workshop

Entrepreneurial skills

Careers & higher education (Lower and Upper Sixth)

Competitive UCAS applications including Oxbridge and MDV preparation

Overseas university guidance & Apprenticeship guidance

One-to-one support for all future pathways

Art colleges & conservatoires (portfolios)

Upper Sixth

Personal development

Stress management

Study skills

Preparing for university

Wellbeing & mental health

University finance

Self-reflection & aspiration

Enrichment & extension electives

Examples:

Anatomy of Motion

Classical Greek

Debating

Critical approaches to film

Gender, power & identity across time

Economic geographies of food & fashion

Introduction to seismology

Mathematical modelling

Philosophy of visual language

Physics plus

Political Theory

Presocratic philosophy

Psychology: mental illness

Smart investing for your future

Ethics

The evolution of buildings & structures

Community

Volunteering & mentoring

School Leadership opportunities

Trinity and beyond

We are very proud of what our students achieve in their summer exams, and their results will give them access to the world’s best universities and colleges, as well as competitive apprenticeships. You will find our most recent exam results on our website.

Most students apply to university or specialist further education courses (such as Music or Art) at the beginning of their Upper Sixth year. We can offer a comprehensive range of advice to help guide you through this process.

Inspection Report 2021

An experienced Sixth Form team will support you with your personal statement and UCAS application.

Students applying to universities such as Oxbridge, which require admissions tests and interviews, receive specialist training and support, both from the Sixth Form team and from our academic departments. Some students select to apply to international universities, for which further guidance and support is also offered.

The Sixth Form team offer information, advice and assistance, not only with the selection of universities and potential courses, but also on apprenticeships and school leaver schemes. Our staff work with students, one-to-one, to identify their skill set, build a robust CV, complete job or internship applications and plan work experience. Sessions are delivered on student finance, scholarships and bursaries, along with information on studying abroad and gap year opportunities. We arrange mock interviews for those facing a selection process, which includes either on line or in person interviews and assessment centres, and provide help with careers profiling. We also work closely with our alumni department to connect current students with alumni across a broad range of careers and industries to provide specific advice and guidance.

“The support for getting students into University makes Trinity stand out.”

“Pupils are highly motivated and well prepared for the next stage of their lives, helped by the exceptionally high standard of pastoral care that they receive.”

Trinity leaver

University course requirements

If you are interested in a particular university course, you should research the university admission pages and their entry requirements for that course. This will vary from university to university and from year to year. If you have any particular questions, do contact us for advice.

The information below gives, in a very condensed form, current guidance for some A Level course requirements and preferences for many of the single subjects commonly studied at university. Do not assume that this will apply in every case.

Accountancy, Finance

Mathematics may be required

Architecture

Most leading schools of Architecture require a strong portfolio of drawings, therefore Art is highly beneficial (DT can be an alternative). Mathematics A Level and/or Physics are sometimes required

Art and Design

Biochemistry, Chemistry

Business Studies, Management

Classics, Oriental Studies

Chemical Engineering

Computer Science

Drama and Theatre

Art, DT or Photography usually required. Often a foundation course also required

Chemistry required. Biology or Mathematics often preferred

Engineering (Aeronautical, Civil, Electrical, Electronic, Marine, Mechanical, Production)

English

Geography

Mathematics sometimes required

Geology / Earth Sciences

A modern foreign language is usually required for Oriental, African and Near Eastern Studies. For language-based Classics courses, Latin or Greek is desirable

History

Chemistry and Mathematics required

Mathematics A Level required for top universities, Further Mathematics is desired. For some courses Physics is required

Human Sciences

Mathematics and Physics are required. Further Mathematics is strongly recommended for the top Engineering courses. Very high grades are needed for top courses

Economics

Drama, Theatre Studies or English sometimes required

Humanities

Top courses are particularly competitive, and require very high grades. Mathematics essential for most courses. Further Mathematics is desirable at the very top courses. A Level Economics is described as ‘desirable’ by some universities (and an essay-based subject)

Law

English Literature usually required

Geography almost always required

One or two subjects required from Sciences, Geography and Mathematics

History usually required

Mathematics and Biology are useful for Human Sciences but not essential. One science subject is usually required but otherwise there is good flexibility of A Level subject

Biology, Economics, Geography and History and Religious Studies are useful for Social and Human Science courses, as well as for Archaeology and Anthropology. English Language proficiency is also important

Generally, no preferred subjects, but students often offer at least one essay-based subject

Mathematics

Mathematics A Level is required and Further Mathematics is essential for highly competitive courses

Physics

Physics and Mathematics are usually required. Further Mathematics useful and desired at top institutions.

Medicine, Dentistry

Requirements vary between medical schools. Either Chemistry or Biology is required together with a second science (which includes Mathematics and, in most cases, Psychology). Some medical schools and all dental schools require both Chemistry and Biology

Modern Languages (French, German, Spanish courses)

Music

The relevant A Level languages are required for all single honours. Other Modern Languages can be taken up but most language courses would expect at least one and preferably two languages

Sports Studies / Science / Physical Education

Theology and Philosophy

Veterinary Science

Music usually required. A portfolio and audition is required

Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)

Most universities suggest that Mathematics is an advantage for PPE. A Levels which reflect analytical and writing ability are desirable for these subjects at university – at least two academic subjects. History is often useful for a Politics degree and Mathematics and Religious Studies for a Philosophy degree

Psychology

At least one Mathematics/Science subject is desirable for Science faculties; no specific requirements by Arts faculties (of which there are fewer)

Applying to American Universities

Biology often required

Religious Studies, History, English are useful

Chemistry and Biology required and often another Science or Mathematics preferred

An increasing number of Trinity students apply to American universities. Many courses do not require specific A Levels (though STEM courses may). Most applicants sit an entrance test (either SAT or ACT). SAT has both basic papers and subject-related papers (a student may have to sit two or three of these) while ACT includes science questions and an essay. We select one that suits the student best. Applicants to US universities need a very strong portfolio of extra and co-curricular activities

Applying to Art and Design Schools and Drama Schools

The Director of Art and Director of Drama will be able to advise

Applying for an Apprenticeship

The range of apprenticeships, both Higher and Degree level, are expanding. They are attractive to Trinity students who know which industry they want to join and are enthusiastic and well prepared to join the working world direct from school. Some apprenticeships require particular subjects at A-level, but others are not prescriptive, looking instead at the ability of candidates to shine at assessment centre and at interview

A Level Subjects

Art and Design 21

Biology 23

Business 25

Chemistry 27

Chinese 29

Classical Civilisation 30

Computer Science 31

Design & Technology 33

Drama and Theatre 35

Economics 37

English 39

Geography 41

Government and Politics 43

History 45

Latin and Greek 47

Mathematics 49

Further Mathematics 51

Modern Languages 53

French, German and Spanish 54

Music 55

Photography 57

Physical Education 59

Physics 61

Psychology 63

Religious Studies 65

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) 67

“Teachers treat you maturely and the introduction of independent learning prepares you for university.”

Sixth Form student

Art and Design

During this course you will develop an understanding of the nature of visual thinking and its appropriate language, a capacity for creative thought and action, as well as cultivating your skills in drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics and other media. We are proud to have outstanding facilities and we enjoy our own professional exhibition spaceThe Shaw Gallery.

See also Photography A Level

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Grade 7 or above in any Art and Design related subject.

Course outline

The course is a continuation and extension of a GCSE in Art and Design, comprising of externally set assignments and coursework.

The core elements allow you to explore drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, mixed and digital media. The first half term is usually spent establishing an essential work ethic and building foundations for the understanding and realisation of a visual language, the subsequent terms are spent on your personal development and the investigation of materials and ideas.

Our Art Department has extensive facilities including a 3D workshop, pottery studio, photographic dark rooms, TV and Photography studio, library, Apple iMac suite, painting studios and a gallery. You will be encouraged to use the facilities on offer, and all A Level work is exhibited in our Shaw Gallery, to which parents, pupils and guests are invited.

‘Outside the Classroom’ activities include visits to exhibitions at the main London galleries, as well as an option to go on study visits abroad to exciting places such as Berlin, Nice and Rome, during which you can relate your work to that of other artists and designers, both from the present and past.

Higher education and career opportunities

Following the completion of this course you can expect to have developed a portfolio that enables you to apply for a degree in a creative subject (including Architecture) or a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design.

Biology

A Level Biology is equally suitable for those who intend to pursue it in some form beyond school, and for those who simply enjoy the subject.

You will develop your knowledge and understanding of human biology, as well as how other organisms function and how they interact with each other and with the environment. Biology is a rapidly developing subject at the forefront of current affairs, in areas such as biotechnology, genetics, medicine, pharmacology and the environment. It is fundamental to understanding the world how it will be in 30 years, or indeed, even further into the future.

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Grade 8 in GCSE Triple Award Biology and Grade 7 in GCSE Mathematics.

Course outline

We follow the OCR-A A Level syllabus. It extends the study of organisms, their structure, physiology and inter-relationships. Practical work is a regular feature of the course – you will work individually and carry out an array of dissections and investigative tasks involving both plants and animals, using the latest sensors and datalogging technology, and even genetically modifying bacteria.

Higher education and career opportunities

Biology as an A Level subject can provide a useful background for many industrial and commercial careers.

It can be used as a qualification for biologically based courses, such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary surgery, agriculture and forestry. There are also many ‘pure’ biology courses including biochemistry, genetics and biological sciences. The rapidly expanding field of biotechnology offers many opportunities in applied biology, including industrial microbiology, bacteriology and genetic engineering.

Business

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Grade 7 in English Language or English Literature.

Course outline

The AQA Business A Level course begins with a look at what a company actually consists of and the roles of those who run it, including their leadership and decision-making skills. Lower Sixth year takes each function of the business in turn, analysing the decisions that managers may make to improve its marketing, financial and operational performance, as well as how best to select, train and manage their staff.

Upper Sixth builds on this material, taking a more strategic approach to running a business. You will first learn how to analyse the current position of a company in terms of its strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats. You will then use this information to choose a strategic direction and plan and execute strategies that lead to the achievement of long-term goals, including technological innovation for the digital age and managing expansion on both a national and an international scale.

Assessment is 100% by examination and takes a variety of forms including multiple choice questions, data analysis and essay writing.

Course delivery

Traditional class teaching is supplemented by problem simulation and case studies using the theories covered in the course to analyse real-world businesses, from local sole traders right up to international conglomerates. We are a technologically progressive department with a set of iPads at our disposal, as well as a rich library of video and interactive materials which can be accessed either in school or from home.

It is very important to us that you get to see the application of the theories you’re learning in action and, to this end, you can expect to go on both international and local trips. In the past we have visited New York, Germany and Belgium and – more locally – breweries, the City Business Library, an Amazon Fulfilment Centre and Chelsea Football Club.

Higher education and career opportunities

There are a large number of Business courses available at universities which stand alone or can be paired with Accountancy, Computing, Product Design, Languages, Mathematics, Sports Facility management, tourism and psychology, to name but a few. A similar range can be found linked to management studies and marketing degrees.

In terms of career options, Business is a multifaceted and flexible course and the applied mathematical, linguistic and analytical skills learnt are true life skills with relevance to anyone participating in the modern marketbased environment. The course has been useful to past students who want to start up their own business, enter private practice in dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary science, engineering and architecture, as well as the more obvious careers in finance, marketing and management.

Chemistry

Chemistry covers the fundamental principles that underpin many other aspects of science. In learning and understanding the chemical content, studying the subject develops many important skills, such as understanding abstract concepts, analysing data, problem solving, manipulating mathematical figures and expressing answers in a logical manner. Chemistry in the Lower Sixth could be taken with any combination of subjects but links particularly well with Mathematics, Physics and Biology.

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Grade 8 in GCSE Triple Award Chemistry and Grade 7 in GCSE Mathematics.

Course outline

We follow the OCR-A syllabus. The course contains a high proportion of exciting practical work and a wide range of calculations. We use a wide variety of teaching methods to help you develop your conceptual understanding of the subject. The subject is taught as four disciplines: physical, organic, inorganic and analytical chemistry. Each provides a conceptual understanding of different aspects of the chemical world around us, and the skills to analyse and explain their behaviour through experiment and the application of theories and models. Practical work forms a fundamental part of the subject with experiments being used in virtually all topics covered during the course.

Higher education and career opportunities

You will need A Level Chemistry for a number of higher education courses. Amongst the most noteworthy are Medicine, Veterinary Science and the Biological Sciences. It is an essential qualification for natural science and for some engineering courses. It is highly desirable for biological courses. There are also many joint degrees that pair with Chemistry.

Graduates with a Chemistry degree are held in very high esteem due to the wide range of skills acquired and many graduates go into areas such as business finance and patent law in addition to the chemical industries and research.

Chinese

Studying Chinese is an excellent option if you have enjoyed your GCSE course and want to go on to work in a global context. Chinese is regarded as a very valuable language skill in many careers, including business, politics, finance, the law and education. Trinity School is one of the few schools to have been awarded Confucius Classroom status for the quality of our teaching and training in Mandarin Chinese.

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Grade 7 in GCSE Chinese.

Course outline

Our Chinese course is very highly regarded with a rigorous pace. It builds on GCSE Chinese to develop your skills in all areas of the language. There is a major emphasis on speaking. You will deepen your grammatical competence and broaden the range of your vocabulary to an advanced level. This will enable you to converse about and debate real-world issues. You will also study modern Chinese literary works and films, analysing them in context and using them as the basis for an essay in the examination.

Higher education and career opportunities

Many of our alumni have gone on to study Chinese at university in recent years, either as a main subject or as a combined course. This course will help you prepare for such courses very effectively.

We have established links with exchange schools in China and Taiwan, and the internship opportunities we offer after your first year of study compliments the development of your use of Chinese in a social environment.

Classical Civilisation

Classical Civilisation helps you develop a knowledge and understanding of the classical world, which is very much at the root of so many areas of Western culture. You will explore history, literature, philosophy and art, all within the manageable context of the Greek and Roman worlds; worlds, though distant to our own, inextricably linked. The course uncovers the origins of our own society, and helps you to develop a better knowledge of it. You will develop skills including: the selection and analysis of source material, presentation of argument, and flexibility in dealing with topics of different disciplines. You will also gain insight into how individuals operate and how a society works and identifies itself.

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Grade 7 in English Language or Literature. Please note you do not need Latin or Greek.

Course outline

The course involves the study of set texts in translation, and other source materials for three modules. For the first module, ‘The World of the Hero’, we read two major cornerstones of Western literature, the epic poems, The Iliad by the Greek poet Homer, and its Roman successor, The Aeneid by Virgil. These dramatic tales of the war at Troy, and subsequent wanderings by its survivors to found a new city, provide an insight into concepts including honour, revenge, family ties and belief in the gods within the two societies.

The second module, ‘The Invention of the Barbarian’, looks to a range of sources, from tragedy to vase paintings, in an attempt to understand Greek ‘ethnocentricism’; the phenomenon whereby the Ancient Greeks developed negative stereotypes of foreigners, especially their arch-enemies the Persians, labelling them ‘barbarians’. Examining such concepts helps us to trace the roots of the xenophobia so widespread in today’s world.

The third module, ‘Love and Relationships’, explores the portrayal in classical poetry of the delights and frustrations of love, as well as the ethical questions raised by the philosophers, Plato and Seneca, about sexuality, the nature of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ ways to love and be loved, and such institutions as marriage.

We have a thriving, student-led Classics Society, with talks on subjects related to the course and also on topics of particular interest to individual speakers. We also go to classical lectures, plays and exhibitions.

Higher education and career opportunities

Students of Classical Civilisation may go to university to study arts, humanities or social sciences courses. Graduates in classical subjects bring a diverse range of skills to most non-subject specific careers. Popular careers for graduates in classical subjects include publishing, accountancy, law, education, marketing, management, media, as well as specialist areas such as research.

Computer

Science

Computer programs have infiltrated every aspect of our lives. Computer scientists theorise, design, develop, and apply the software and hardware for a wide range of applications, from medical research to engineering. Studying Computer Science will teach you the fundamental principles of computer science and how computer programs work in a range of contexts.

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Grade 7 in GCSE Computer Science.

Course outline

Computer Science is the study of the founding principles and practices of computation and computational thinking, and their application in the design and development of computer systems. You will study information representation, internet technologies, Python, object orientated programming, and hardware and software development. As you progress, you will develop your computational thinking, problem-solving to develop computer-based solutions using algorithms and programming languages. Studying A Level Computer Science will help you develop a range of other skills, including thinking creatively, analytically, logically and critically. You will also be able to appreciate the ethical issues that arise with current and emerging computing technologies.

Aims of the course:

– To develop computational thinking

– To develop an understanding of the main principles of solving problems using computers

– To develop an understanding that every computer system is made up of subsystems, which in turn consist of further subsystems

– To develop an understanding of the component parts of computer systems and how they interrelate, including software, data, hardware, communications and people

– To acquire the skills necessary to apply this understanding to develop computer-based solutions to problems

Higher education and career opportunities

Computer scientists are in demand, and their salaries reflect this. Every industry uses computers so naturally computer scientists can work in any. Problems in science, engineering, healthcare, and so many other areas can be aided by computers or a firm grasp of computational thinking. Computer Science graduates stand an excellent chance of being professionally employed or go on to further study.

Universities tend to expect students wishing to read Computer Science to have A Level qualifications in Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics.

Design & Technology

All manufactured objects around you – from furniture to cars, stationery to clothes –have been designed. Good design, allied to successful technology, creates commercially successful products that life in our modern world revolves around.

Drawing on authentic design practice and contemporary technologies, you will explore design possibilities that excite and engage you, providing a strong foundation for further study and developing your thinking and design skills to support you in your future direction.

You will develop your thinking and design skills through iterative design processes. Allowing you to explore, create and evaluate, you will learn from following practices and strategies used by the creative, engineering and manufacturing industries.

This A Level involves coursework assessment, as well as written examinations. The work is practical in nature, although it may be computer or graphically orientated, and gives considerable opportunity for you to use your own creative initiative.

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Grade 7 in Design & Technology.

Course outline

Design & Technology A Level follows the AQA Design and Technology: Product Design course. You will be encouraged to work independently in developing, planning and making products that satisfy real needs. Over the period of the course, you will be expected to complete design and manufacturing tasks and will be provided with the opportunity to develop your knowledge and understanding of materials, processes and product design. An extensive range of resources will be available to you in our Design & Technology Department.

You will be required to apply mathematical and scientific knowledge, understanding and skills. The course content reflects the importance of Design & Technology as a pivotal STEM subject.

Higher education and career opportunities

Design & Technology complements other subjects including Mathematics, Physics, Art & Design, Computer Science. Typical higher education courses for those who have followed a Design & Technology course include Engineering, Product Design, Graphic Design and Architecture. Your portfolio of examined work will also be invaluable for interviews with universities and sponsors.

Drama and Theatre

Studying Drama and Theatre at A Level involves approaching a range of texts from the point of view of an actor, director and designer, building on skills you have already learnt at GCSE. Drama and Theatre will also encourage you to develop leadership and problem-solving skills, as well as communication and empathy; what more could enhance your understanding of another person’s perspective than speaking their words and analysing their thoughts and interactions?

By practically exploring a breadth of plays from different cultures and time periods, from Sophocles’ ‘Antigone’ in 441BC, to the contemporary theatre at the latest Edinburgh Fringe Festival, you will explore humanity at its most depraved, enamoured and exciting and stay up to date with developments in the industry through workshops and lectures from experts in the field and frequent theatre trips.

Trips to the theatre are vital for informing your own practical work at A Level, as well as the live theatre evaluation in the written exam. As well as our workshop programme, we run Sixth Form trips to the theatre every half term.

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Grade 7 in GCSE Drama.

Course outline

This Edexcel course suits students who enjoy active learning and independent research, and who would appreciate the prospect of assessment spread over the two-year course. 40% is assessed in the first year through practical and written coursework, which involves you working as an ensemble to devise your own original piece of theatre. You will create this play in response to an extract from an existing text and by studying the work of an esteemed theatre practitioner. The assessment is based on your individual contribution and final performance, and on the structured record you create documenting your involvement in the process and reflecting on the performance outcomes.

A further 20% of the course is entirely practical; you will be directed by your teacher in a monologue and a group performance of an existing play. During the rehearsal process, you will participate in workshops and seminars that will help you to develop your performance or design skills. The final 40% of the course is assessed in a written exam at the end of the two-year course. For this, you will study live theatre evaluation as well as two full and substantial performance texts in detail, first approaching them practically from the perspective of director and performer, as well as lighting, set and sound designers. You will also have the opportunity to learn about the original performance conditions and to create your own directorial concept for a contemporary audience.

Higher education and career opportunities

Drama and Theatre provides students with a wealth of skills and training appropriate to an extensive range of educational opportunities and careers. Most Drama and Theatre A Level students progress to studying courses at top universities; it is considered a desirable

subject for most Arts, Humanities and Modern languages university courses. Some Trinity Drama students choose to audition for drama schools such as GSA to train to be actors. Drama and Theatre pro-actively develops those transferable skills all employers are looking for: communication skills; teamwork, negotiation and persuasiveness; time management and organisational skills, and analytical, critical and research skills.

Economics

You can’t always get what you want. This is a fact that we have all learned to accept, but the more inquisitive among you may still ask: “Why not?”

Studying Economics will help you to understand, not only the reasons behind our need to give up some opportunities in order to be able to take advantage of others, but also how we make those decisions. You will find out that the same fundamental processes that govern whether you choose to buy an iPad or put the money toward driving lessons also help the government to decide whether to build a new school or a hospital, or to give some money to a foreign country in the form of aid.

Along the way you will learn many transferable skills including advanced analysis and evaluation of current affairs, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit, as well

as the abstract thinking that is required for many degree courses. Economics complements many other subject choices well and will form a strong part of any balanced A Level programme.

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Grade 7 in both Mathematics and English or English Literature.

At A Level, the subject is not particularly mathematical but this does change at university and we strongly recommend that anyone contemplating taking Economics at university should study Mathematics to A Level. It is strongly recommended that those hoping to study pure Economics at Cambridge, LSE or other leading universities also take Further Mathematics.

Course outline

The Edexcel A Level course combines some technical theory with practical application of current issues and case studies. The course is broadly split into two sections: microeconomics and macroeconomics.

Microeconomics in the Lower Sixth year concentrates on resources, markets and market failure, as well as how the Government can correct the problems caused when firms and consumers fail to take into account (or simply don’t know) the full consequences of their actions. In the Upper Sixth, the focus is more on firms and workers with topics studied including costs, revenues, profits, competition and the labour market. Again, this will be completed with a look at how the Government can intervene when large companies abuse their positions of power to the detriment of the rest of society.

Macroeconomics looks at the bigger issues that one is more likely to see in the news. In the Lower Sixth there is a domestic focus, concentrating on the analysis of the UK’s economic performance in terms of growth, unemployment, inflation and balance of payments. The Upper Sixth macroeconomics course takes a more international approach with a look at trade, international competitiveness, developing economies and international financial markets, the poor functioning of which caused the recent global recession.

Assessment is 100% by examination and takes a variety of forms, including multiple choice questions, data analysis and essay writing.

Resources

Besides a large range of reference books in our Library, we are a technologically progressive department with a set of iPads at our disposal, as well as numerous resources on SharePoint, our electronic platform.

Higher education and career opportunities

Economics is a long-established degree subject at all universities. Career opportunities for students with an Economics qualification are many and varied within business, the civil service, journalism, education and other areas. Economists hold high-profile jobs in the City and in major corporations, where their planning and analytical skills are highly regarded. A recent review of graduate salaries indicated very high earnings potential for graduates with an Economics degree.

English

The study of literature is an exploration of the trials and rewards of human experience through text. This can take many diverse forms, a fact reflected in the range of writers studied at A Level: whether experiencing the loves and lusts of The Duchess of Malfi, driving through the wastes of America with Cormac McCarthy, or exploring the horrifying vision of dystopian fiction, we are mining what it is to be human.

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Grade 7 in either English Language or English Literature.

Course outline

As a department we try to make literature exciting and relevant. The course begins with an introduction to poetry and prose, when you will read excerpts from stimulating and challenging texts, before developing the critical skills to dissect them. The Department specialises in contemporary literature and you will study writers such as Chuck Palahniuk, Cormac McCarthy and Margaret Atwood.

You will also study classic writers such as Shakespeare, Webster and Orwell, and complete two coursework essays.

Whilst studying English you will develop both analytical and presentational skills. You will cultivate sensitivity to the subtleties of language and the range of human emotion, and an aptitude for drawing out the multiple meanings in texts. You will grow in your capacity to express coherent arguments. Lessons are in small seminar-style groups and you will learn to articulate and defend your ideas in discussion with fellow students.

Outside the classroom PUES (Pre-University English Seminars) offers the chance to talk about cultural and literary topics over coffee and biscuits, while Book Club offers an early morning opportunity for students to exchange views on current reading. Our weekly Literary Society explores topics as diverse as Tupac or not Tupac - Rap as Literature, King Lear, How 9/11 Changed American Literature, and Can Memes be Literature. You will be invited to broaden your cultural awareness on the frequent theatre trips to London and to extend understanding of the context of American writing on a visit to New York.

Higher education and career opportunities

English Literature is a very popular A Level and degree subject, largely because it is stimulating and widely respected by universities and employers alike.

As a qualification, an English A Level is eminently adaptable, preparing you for courses in the arts, humanities, business and social sciences. It provides an excellent basis for a wide range of professions and careers: apart from the specifically ‘cultural’ or ‘expressive’ ones, law, advertising, and management prove popular. For the committed English specialist interested

in culture and the arts the subject is perhaps best studied with history, modern languages, religious studies, music or art. It also complements work in economics and business studies and students mainly interested in the sciences and mathematics find English of value as a contrasting academic discipline.

Geography

Geography will challenge your perceptions, broaden your mind and sharpen your key skills. It’s a dynamic subject, in tune and in step with what is happening around the world, capable of helping you to ask and answer the difficult questions we face as global citizens. Unsurprisingly it is therefore a subject that attracts some of the most inquisitive minds. In a world of unprecedented rates of change to both society and the environment, Geography is an increasingly relevant subject. Its fluid nature is reflected in the wide variety of topics covered at A Level which allow you to enhance your understanding of the complexities of the surrounding environment and our increasingly delicate place within it. The study of the subject is conducted using a wide variety of skills that will broaden your existing knowledge and enable you to work with a greater degree of independence. All of this will help you to analyse and evaluate ideas and concepts at a level which will prepare you for the challenges of university and beyond.

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Grade 7 in Geography.

Course outline

Our A Level Geography course (Edexcel) takes a contemporary approach looking in detail at areas of current and international interest. There is an even distribution of human and physical geography but with the emphasis being on the relationship between humans and their environment and how this relationship may develop in the future. Key areas of focus include the water and carbon cycles and their role in climate change, hazardous environments and the fragility of the earth, coastal environments and the impact of humans on them, global systems, geopolitics and trade, and finally issues concerning migration, identity and sovereignty.

The work in class is supported by a range of fieldwork skills and students enjoy a minimum of four days undertaking fieldwork at the school’s purpose built lodgings in South Wales. Our Senior Geography Society also organizes a detailed and diverse lecture series enabling you to benefit from the latest geographical research.

Higher education and career opportunities

Geography, as a degree subject, allows you to build on the principles studied at A Level, and provides the opportunity to specialise in areas of interest making it both an exciting and fulfilling subject to study. The skills developed as a geographer also mean that it is a subject that combines well with many others for those interested in a joint honours degree. With such an excellent grounding in investigative and enquiry based skills, and the fact it contains elements of arts, humanities

and sciences, Geography is a highly regarded academic A Level when applying for a wide range of courses and universities. Regardless of whether you take Geography onto university or not, geographers remain some of the most employable students with a wide range of career opportunities to choose from.

Government and Politics

At its heart Politics is the study of power. Throughout history and all across the world people have had lives and livelihoods shaped by politics and its core concepts such as democracy, rights, equality and freedom. Our course engages with two fundamental questions of Western intellectual history and their myriad consequences; first, who should govern, and second, how should they do so?

Recent events, from Coronavirus and the Environmental Crisis through to the Trump Presidency and Brexit, have shown that politics remains ubiquitous in the most important events shaping our lives. The study of Government and Politics enables students to develop their understanding of the post-war world, analyse the present and contemplate the future. Additionally,

it will develop students ‘soft skills’ – like debating, constructing coherent arguments, and drawing parallels between everyday experience and political theory.

The course should appeal to both those interested in the challenges of the twentyfirst century world and those who enjoy philosophy, history, forming their own ideas and, of course, debate and discussion. Our active Politics Society provides students with real leadership opportunities and a genuinely stimulating academic environment.

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Grade 7 in either History or English GCSE.

Course outline

One side of the course develops an understanding of contemporary Government and Politics in the UK. It involves critically examining the ‘mother of parliaments’ and our democratic system. Students will take an institutional approach looking at the legislative, executive and judiciary as well as thinking about how people and politics interact through political parties, elections and pressure groups. Students will be encouraged to keep up to date with developments and the news and the course provides excellent opportunities for students to bring their own interests into the classroom, whether it is austerity, immigration, healthcare or industry!

Meanwhile the other side will look at Political Philosophy, focusing on the ‘core’ Ideologies of Liberalism, Conservatism and Socialism as well as a ‘non-core’ ideology of their choice which in recent years have included Nationalism and Feminism. You will then proceed to study global politics in theory and practice, exploring global governance, Globalisation, the Nation-State, the EU, Human Rights, and environmental issues. This is a fantastic course and students benefit from both breadth and depth. They should leave with a good understanding of the Global Balance of power and its change over time as well as excellent knowledge on a range of regional issues from Latin America and Africa through to South-East Asia.

Higher education and career opportunities

The broad nature of skills developed in studying Government and Politics complements a wide range of career and higher education opportunities. As an essaybased subject, it is an ideal companion for those interested in Arts degrees and, in particular, those with an interest in history, philosophy or politics. Of course, there are also many specific career paths available for those who take Government and Politics: the Civil Service, law and politics are the obvious examples, but many considering careers in journalism, law or commerce would also do well to consider taking the subject.

History

History is an intellectually stimulating subject that will teach you a wide variety of skills. You will be encouraged to explore your own ideas, critique those of others and construct clear and rational arguments on the basis of your findings. History complements other arts subjects, such as English, but also makes an excellent companion to the Sciences and Mathematics. It is an important subject for a wide range of careers, and is a highly regarded discipline by universities.

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Grade 7 in GCSE History.

Course outline

The course benefits from considerable flexibility. We aim to offer students a balance of Medieval, Early Modern and Modern History throughout their Sixth Form experience. This is an important component of the A Level at Trinity, as we believe pupils should leave the School with a firm appreciation for a broad spectrum of history and historical debate. History is one of the subjects at Trinity to adopt a wholly linear approach. This allows us to fully explore the issues at hand, and prepare students in greater depth for their A Level.

In the Lower Sixth students study two units, one from each of the following:

British History

90 minute examination

– Angevin England – The English Civil War

– Britain 1930-1997

European & World History

60 minute examination

– The Cold War in Asia

– Charlemagne – The Crusades

– Charles V and the German Reformation

In the Upper Sixth students complete a free standing essay on a topic of their choice. They also complete a third module based on change within a framework of taught lessons on the following:

2 hours 30 minute examination

– Russia and its Rulers 1855-1964

– Tudor Rebellions

– The Renaissance

– The Vikings

Coursework

This comprises a 3-4,000 word essay which can be on any area or topic of individual interest, subject to approval by the examination board. Recent pieces have included the French Revolution; Violence in the Crusades; the Vietnam War, and the reputation of Richard I.

Outside the classroom

History thrives outside of the classroom. You will attend conferences and lectures at the LSE, UCL and the Royal Historical Society. If you are planning on studying History at degree level, the Black Lamp Society stages evening meetings for you to attend to broaden your horizons and we run a study visit to Oxford or Cambridge. We also run a weekly History Society, which covers the history of the world 476- 1989, and run numerous foreign excursions. In recent times we have travelled to Vietnam, Washington, Russia, Spain, France and Italy.

Latin and Greek Latin

Studying Latin will develop your skills of meticulous and effective analysis. It demands linguistic ability and interpretative sensitivity in the study of both the language and literature. You will develop ideas about human psychology, rhetoric, law, social issues and ethics, along with a powerful linguistic training that encourages a high degree of sophistication in the use of English. It will also give you the opportunity to study cornerstone texts of Western literature in their original language.

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Grade 7 in GCSE Latin.

Course outline

The course tests knowledge of the language through both unseen translations, commentary and essay questions on prose and verse authors.

In the Lower Sixth, two literature modules are studied. For the prose module, we read the Pro Caelio, a speech by famed Roman orator Cicero in defence of Marcus Caelius Rufus, who had been charged with ‘vis’ or political violence, one of the most serious crimes in Rome. For the verse literature, we study the satirical poet Juvenal, whose sixth satire offers us an important window into ideas of gender and sexuality in the ancient Roman world.

In the Upper Sixth, the prose set text is Book XIV of Tacitus’ Annals which contains the historian’s disapproving account of the shenanigans of the scandalous Emperor Nero, one of which includes murdering his own mother. The verse set text is Virgil’s Aeneid Book II, an action-packed account of the fall of Troy told by Trojan survivor and ancestor to the Roman race, Aeneas.

We have a thriving, student-led Classics Society, delivering talks on subjects related to the course, as well as topics of particular interest to individual speakers. We also go to classical lectures, plays and exhibitions.

Higher education and career opportunities

Students of Latin can go on to study Classics at university, as well as other arts, humanities or social science courses. Latin graduates bring a diverse range of skills to most nonsubject specific careers. Popular careers for graduates in Classics include publishing, accountancy, law, education, marketing, management and media, as well as specialist areas, such as research.

A qualification in Latin demonstrates strong communication skills and linguistic understanding, and the ability to analyse closely, be logical and rigorous in your thinking, and the ability to appreciate and effectively evaluate different levels within a literary text.

Greek

The format of the OCR Greek A Level is the same as that of the OCR Latin A Level, with two language papers and two literature papers.

For the Prose Literature paper, the first set text is one of the most important texts in the history of Western philosophy, the Republic, in which Plato sets forth his vision for an ideal state. We also read the very entertaining socalled ‘father of history’, Herodotus’s account of the Athenian law-giver Solon’s visit to King Croesus of Lydia, and their philosophical discussion about who was the happiest person in the world.

For the Verse Literature paper, we study the great tragic playwright Euripides, who retells the story of how Theseus’ wife Phaedra fell in love with her stepson Hippolytus as a result of the cruel scheming of the gods. We also study the famous epic telling the story of the Trojan War, the Iliad by Homer. Achilles mourns the death of his beloved companion Patroclus, and the gods ensure that he stops mistreating the corpse of his arch-rival, the Trojan Hector, and instead returns his dead body to the crestfallen king Priam of Troy.

Although we cannot guarantee to run Greek at A Level every year, we welcome enquiries from students who would like to consider it in the Sixth Form, and if there is sufficient demand from suitable students, then we will try to provide it if possible.

Mathematics

Mathematics is a fascinating subject that will help you unlock the mysteries of science, technology and statistics. Even though studying mathematics offers higher earning potential, exciting career opportunities and a grounding in important life skills, you should choose Mathematics first and foremost because you enjoy it and are good at it. It is well regarded by higher education institutions and is usually a requisite for STEM study at university. The good news is that, even if you do not know what you wish to do at the moment, Mathematics fits well with both arts and science subjects.

You should take account of the fact that A Level Mathematics makes significantly greater demands than GCSE and IGCSE on, for example, algebraic manipulation, logical thinking and presentation. Diligence and good organisation during the entire Sixth Form course is essential. The jump is a significant one and the pace of the course is demanding.

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Grade 8 in GCSE Mathematics (Grade 9 is advised).

Course outline

A Level Mathematics (OCR) emphasises how mathematical ideas are interconnected and how mathematics can be applied to model situations using algebra and other representations, to help make sense of data, to understand the physical world and to solve problems in a variety of contexts, including social sciences and business. It will prepare you for further study and employment in a wide range of disciplines involving the use of mathematics, as well as supporting your mathematical needs across a broad range of other subjects at this level.

The A Level Mathematics course has three major over-arching themes: mathematical argument/language proof; mathematical problem-solving, and mathematical modelling. The course is divided into three branches:

1. Pure Mathematics: Proof, algebra and functions, coordinate geometry, sequences and series, trigonometry, exponentials and logarithms, calculus, numerical methods for solving equations and vectors.

2. Statistics: Statistical sampling, data presentation and interpretation, probability, statistical distributions and statistical hypothesis testing.

3. Mechanics: Quantities and units, kinematics, forces, Newton’s laws and moments.

A Level Mathematics is now a two-year course, with three final examinations in Upper Sixth.

Higher education and career opportunities

A Mathematics or Mathematics-related degree is well regarded by employers who recognise the advantages of this training. Graduates are in demand for a wide range of professions as there is a growing need for high levels of mathematical ability across the whole spectrum of business and management. Many of the most exciting new careers require a foundation in mathematics such as game design and app development.

Further Mathematics

Further Mathematics is a subject for those who enjoy Mathematics and the challenge it provides, and who wish to explore new and more sophisticated mathematical concepts. It is a demanding yet rewarding qualification, which both extends and deepens knowledge and understanding beyond the standard A-level Mathematics. This subject is particularly suitable for those wishing to study a Mathematics or a joint honours with Mathematics degree and would be an advantage for those wanting to study a mathematically rich degree course, such as Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Computing and Economics.

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Grade 9 in GCSE Mathematics. An extra qualification such as the AQA Level 2 Certificate in Further Mathematics or OCR Additional Mathematics is strongly advised.

You should take account of the fact that A Level Further Mathematics makes significantly greater demands than GCSE. It is conceptually more challenging and builds on a comprehensive understanding of the whole GCSE syllabus and requires excellent algebraic skill.

Course outline

A Level Further Mathematics (OCR-MEI) is studied alongside the A Level in Mathematics. This means that students will cover topics in more depth earlier, and will need to master the A Level Mathematics content as they meet it.

Students have the option in Upper Sixth to cover Mechanics or Statistics in more depth, or to study Modelling with Algorithms.

However, all Further Mathematics students will study:

1. Pure Mathematics: Proof by induction; complex numbers; matrices and transformations; vectors and 3D space; roots and coefficients of polynomials; summation of series and power series; further integration; polar coordinates; hyperbolic functions and further differential equations.

2. Statistics: Discrete random variables; bivariate data; c2 tests.

3. Mechanics: Dimensional analysis; further force and vectors; work, energy and power, momentum and impulse and centre of mass.

Those who opt to study Statistics in more detail will study: Bayes’ Theorem; continuous random variables, and inference and simulation.

Those who opt to study Mechanics in more detail will study: Circular motion; Hooke’s Law; centres of mass of more complex bodies, and vectors and variable force.

Some students may wish to study Modelling with Algorithms in the Upper Sixth which covers algorithms, networks and linear programming.

A Level Further Mathematics is a two-year course with three final examinations at the end of the Upper Sixth, alongside the A Level Mathematics exams.

Modern Languages

Languages at A Level are lively and highly rewarding courses that are open to all. At Trinity, there is a tradition of students choosing to combine Languages with Economics, History, Politics, Mathematics or the Sciences, as well as other Arts subjects. The ability to speak and understand a modern language is not only handy for holidays and a pleasurable skill in its own right. Jobs in almost any field now list the ability to use modern languages as highly desirable, if not essential, and studies repeatedly show that competent linguists attract higher salaries and have better promotion prospects than their monoglottal colleagues.

The A Level course builds on and extends the skills and topics covered at GCSE but looks at them from a more adult perspective.

‘Where I live’ becomes a study of social issues such as homelessness, cohabitation or why many twenty-somethings are still living at home with their parents. ‘Jobs’ includes how the workplace has adapted to IT, issues of equal pay for men and women and positive discrimination. ‘My favourite TV programme’ becomes an investigation of the effects of advertising and branding on young people. Many of the topics covered have broad cross-curricular links, e.g. abortion, genetic engineering, nuclear energy, poverty, pacifism or social justice.

In addition to these topics, the course aims to give students knowledge and understanding of the history and contemporary life in French-, German- or Spanish-speaking countries. The syllabus includes in depth study of both a film and a work of literature (currently Breitman’s No et moi and Cantet’s Entre les murs for French, Donnersmarck’s Das Leben der Anderen and Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s Der Besuch der alten Dame for German and Almodóvar’s Volver and Lorca’s La casa de Bernada Alba for Spanish). In addition the A Level includes a number of modules which study prevailing social trends in the target-language country and look at the most interesting historical periods. Grammar remains important throughout the course, as is the ability to listen attentively to an opponent’s argument and to respond concisely and convincingly.

We also offer a programme of preparation and further study for students who wish to read Modern Languages or a joint honours course at Oxford, Cambridge or other top universities.

French, German and Spanish

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Grade 7 GCSE in the chosen language.

Course outline

Students have a weekly lesson, individually or in pairs, with a native speaker assistant, debating issues covered in lessons and reading newspaper and magazine articles.

The department is superbly resourced in terms of books, journals, newspapers and internet links and subscriptions. Our Language Lab and iPads play an important role in language teaching at this level, and allow students to record presentations and videos and progress at their own pace. General independent reading of both twentieth century texts and of newspapers and journals is also encouraged.

Outside of lessons, we organise visits to plays and films in central London, lectures and visiting speakers in school (e.g. Vice Consuls, Harrods Buying Manager, university experts), reading groups and trips abroad to Bordeaux, Dresden and Valencia. We also support students with their own plans to travel abroad, whether for work experience, language courses at European universities or stays with foreign families.

Higher education and career opportunities

Some students go on to study Modern Languages at university, but it is also common to study joint honours (e.g. Engineering with German, Law with French Law) which would include one year spent at a foreign university. Career opportunities are many and varied.

Music

Taking the Music A Level course is good preparation if you are hoping to continue with music into higher education and/ or as a career. It is equally appropriate and fulfilling if you simply enjoy music and have aptitude for it. From composing, performing, musicology and research, to intelligent listening and keen concert-going, the Music A Level course provides the flexibility to suit any kind of music involvement, and serves to broaden musical experience in different directions.

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Grade 7 in GCSE Music. At least Grade 6 on an instrument or voice.

Course outline

The course involves elements of performance and composition, as well as an understanding and appreciation of the progression and development of music and associated processes, listening to and analysing music and making critical and historical judgements.

Higher education and career opportunities

There is an enormous variety of possible careers in the music profession, including: composing and arranging; performing; musicology and research; lecturing and teaching; recording and record production; radio, television and film music, and work in the wider arts industry. These careers can be reached through a variety of different music courses at university and music colleges that cater to a wide spectrum of interests.

Photography

This course offers you a contemporary and broad education in Photography and lensbased media. You will be encouraged to consider yourself as practising artist, who will gain an exciting and transferable skill set. This course will develop you creatively and academically through making challenging and thought provoking conceptual art works, and you can take advantage of our fantastic photographic facilities.

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Grade 7 or above in any Art and Design related subject.

Course outline

The principal requirements for the study of Photography at A Level are self-motivation, creative imagination and technical skill. You will be encouraged to experience and experiment with a broad range of different lens-based techniques and processes, developing independence, flexibility, spontaneity and excitement in your work.

This course is intended for candidates who show considerable enthusiasm in this field. You will be expected to explore, through the medium of photography, the world you’re living in, and will be encourage to develop your higher thinking skills and expand your knowledge and technical skills in both analogue and digital processes.

The core elements of the A Level course will allow you to explore and specialise in the following disciplines: photography, film and video, specialist lighting techniques, digital and darkroom experimentation, installation and projections. There is scope for you to develop and experiment with more traditional disciplines including life drawing, sculpture and printmaking. All A Level work is exhibited in our Shaw Gallery and parents, pupils and guests are invited. Activities outside lessons include visits to London exhibitions, as well as study visits abroad, for example to Venice, Florence, Barcelona, Berlin and Madrid.

Higher education and career opportunities

Following this A Level course you could go on to complete a one-year art foundation course at art college or university. You could then go on to make a successful application to a broad range of degree courses. Several students pursue the UCAS route and then advance to professional careers within the expanding fields of photography, art and design. Careers in architecture, advertising, marketing, theatre and television, film, web design and graphics are to name but a few of the other opportunities also available.

Physical Education

This practical and engaging course covers the elements that contribute to enhanced sports performance – both physical and psychological – and will help you to critically analyse and evaluate your own physical performance, whilst applying your experience of practical activity to the subject. Personal sporting expertise is a desired, but not an essential, requirement. You will explore an activity in detail as a performer or coach, chosen from a wide variety of sporting activities, and will also analyse and evaluate performance in a chosen activity as part of your non-examined assessment.

This course will prepare you for the further study of Physical Education or Sports Science courses, as well as other related subject areas, including psychology, sociology and biology. It can also be just as testing and rewarding for those who have no desire to take it any further. You will develop the transferable skills that are demanded by further education, higher education and employers in all sectors of industry.

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Grade 7 in GCSE Physical Education.

Course outline

This specification creates confident, independent thinkers and effective decision makers who can operate effectively as individuals and as part of a team.

Much of the academic rigour of the course is achieved by the breadth of academic skills required. You will study anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, sociology within sport, the organisation of sport, skill acquisition, theories of learning and sports psychology.

During the course you will complete coursework assessments, where you will demonstrate proficiency in one activity as either performer or coach. At the heart of the course is the application of all academic and theoretical aspects are studied with direct reference to actual sporting situations. You will be expected to spend time analysing and improving your own performance, as well as coaching younger pupils to improve their understanding.

Higher education and career opportunities

University courses in Sports Science, Sports Medicine, Sports Coaching, Sports Studies, Leisure Management, and Physiotherapy provide the most direct link, but there are many other options open to students studying Physical Education at A Level. Possible career pathways can include medicine, therapies, teaching, coaching and the leisure industry.

Physics

The study of Physics encompasses the entire universe – past, present, and future; from subatomic particles of zero volume that make up matter, to the grand structures of the universe itself. The technological advances made by some of the greatest minds of past generations – from Newton, to Einstein to Hawking – have revolutionised the lives of almost every person on the planet. Given such lofty ambitions and great successes it is no surprise that one of its most famous and colourful characters, Ernest Rutherford, said: “There is only Physics; all the rest is stamp collecting”.

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Grade 8 GCSE in Triple Award Physics and Grade 7 in GCSE Mathematics.

Course outline

We follow the OCR-A course which, in the Lower Sixth, includes basic mechanics, materials, electricity, waves and an introduction to quantum physics. The course builds on Physics and Mathematics met at GCSE and, although an A Level standard of Mathematics is not required, competence in it is essential.

In the Upper Sixth, the course involves the study of more demanding and exciting topics, such as circular motion, oscillations, thermal physics and fields, plus exponential decay in the context of capacitor behaviour. Nuclear physics, medical imaging and astrophysics also feature as core content.

Throughout the course, time is also devoted to the development of practical skills, reflecting the experimental nature of the subject. You will need to demonstrate practical competence, plus the ability to analyse and evaluate experimental techniques and the quality of data.

We have a thriving Sixth Form Physics Society at which students, teachers and guests speak on a variety of topics. Students also enjoy a weekly Further Physics Club which prepares them for the challenges of the Physics Olympiad and the Oxbridge Entrance Exams. We also run an annual trip to Geneva, where our Upper Sixth students learn, first-hand, about the research currently being conducted at CERN, the Swiss Plasma Centre and the World Meteorological Organisation

Higher education and career opportunities

Physics is usually studied with Mathematics A Level and both are a requirement for almost all university Physics and Engineering courses. Physics at A Level is also useful for those planning to read Chemistry, Mathematics, Geography or Medicine, as well as certain degrees in Life and Environmental Sciences.

There are a multitude of careers that can be followed based on a background in Physics. These include those in other sciences, engineering, the scientific Civil Service, Geophysics, Medical Physics, Meteorology, Material Science and Environmental Physics, as well as many in communications, computing, and industry.

Physics is not, however, only a vocational subject. Graduates find that subject skills, innate in their mind-set and enhanced through their training, are transferable and highly valued in a range of other careers, including city jobs in the financial sector, such as banking, accountancy and investment.

Psychology

Why do people forget things? Do people become criminals because of their genes or their life experiences? Why do people obey authority figures? Is eyewitness testimony accurate enough to be relied upon in court? Psychology A Level looks for answers to all of these questions, and many more, providing a crossover between humanities and science subjects. It involves essay writing and the discussion of ideas and opinions, as well as the application of scientific principles; it should be noted that the course is largely theoretical rather than experimental. If you are good at expressing your views in writing and have a good understanding of scientific ideas, Psychology may suit you!

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Grade 7 in English Language or English Literature, as well as Grade 7 in Biology or 77 in Double Science.

Course outline

The Lower Sixth course covers the following topics:

– Approaches in Psychology: different theoretical perspectives in explaining human behaviour

– Social Influence: why people conform to group pressure and why they usually do what they are told

– Memory: theories and research studies about how memory works and why we forget things

– Attachment: the importance of close relationships with parents to children’s development

– Psychopathology: explanations, symptoms and treatments for mental disorders

– Biopsychology: the structure and function of the nervous and endocrine systems

– Research Methods: how psychologists gather information about people’s attitudes and behaviour (e.g. experiments, interviews), how this data can be analysed and the ethics associated with studying behaviour. This topic includes some mathematics.

In the Upper Sixth, we look at relationships (why and how people form relationships, and why these sometimes break down), forensic psychology (how psychologists explain and manage criminal behaviour), and schizophrenia (difficulties in psychiatric diagnosis, explanations and treatments for schizophrenia).

We will also take a more in-depth look at all the topics that were introduced in the Lower Sixth year. A major theme throughout the course looks at psychological research and scientific method; you will explore this area partly by designing and carrying out small scale psychological investigations during the course. This topic also involves understanding the use of statistical tests in analysing data, including some calculations. In the Issues and Debates topic, we look at philosophical and ethical controversies and concerns in Psychology, such as gender bias, determinism and the nature-nurture debate.

Higher education and career opportunities

Psychology provides you with transferable skills that are useful for all academic subjects at A Level and beyond, such as the ability to select information to support an argument and techniques for analysing and evaluating evidence. It is useful if you intend to read Psychology at university and is also a good foundation for science, social science, humanities and arts degrees. An understanding of mental health issues is also helpful for prospective medics.

A Psychology degree can lead to careers in a wide variety of professions including advertising, marketing, HR and recruitment, education and health services, as well as specialisations in clinical psychology, educational psychology or neuroscience, amongst many others.

Religious

Studies

If you want to challenge the ideas that are shaping the modern world, then Religious Studies (RS) is the obvious choice.

Studying RS helps develop the core skill of meta-cognitive thinking – the ability to scrutinise the assumptions that lie behind all aspects of intellectual life – and is therefore of particular interest to leading universities and employers for the versatility of mind it encourages.

At the heart of RS is its philosophical method, taking a liberal, academically objective look at all forms of thought and belief in religion, atheism, science, ethics and the arts. If you like thinking, questioning and debate then Religious Studies is the perfect A Level to practise and develop these skills.

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Grade 7 in Religious Studies or Grade 7 in English, if Religious Studies was not studied at GCSE.

Course outline

OCR’s A Level RS course consists of three strands: The Study of Ethics, of Philosophy and of Development of Religious Thought. Since Religious Studies scrutinizes issues which relate to all subjects, it is a useful to link into a multitude of different areas such as medicine, law, politics, psychology or textual studies.

For example, we explore how to criticise:

– Diverse ideologies shape the course of history economic and politics

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Medical ethics – such as genetic engineering, abortion, euthanasia

– Economic theory and business ethics

– Scientific and religious thinking

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Ultimate questions about human nature and destiny that link to the study of Psychology

Candidates are encouraged to explore their own ideas in relation to their studies and the course makes plenty of provision for discussion and debates. Recent visiting speakers include Dr Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury, Prof. Ray Monk on Wittgenstein and Dr Lloyd Pietersen on Liberation Theology. In addition, we offer cocurricular opportunities such as a published magazine edited by Sixth Form students, a thriving Philosophy society and a trip to consider the problem of evil at former Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz in Poland.

Higher education and career opportunities

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The contribution of the arts and the study of key religious texts

In Sixth Form we organise our own bespoke revision day with Dr Greg Barker, a leading philosopher and ethicist. We run an annual trip for Sixth Form RS students, alternating between Krakow in Poland, with a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau included where we consider the problem of evil, and a trip to Vienna to consider key contributions to world philosophy from Wittgenstein and Freud. Other visits to lectures, films and the theatre are organised when appropriate.

RS is recognised as an intellectually dynamic academic discipline by top universities such as Oxford and Cambridge and the Russell Group – not least for the successful application to courses such as PPE, Law, Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies. It enriches a wide range of A Level and degree courses such as Science, English, History, Mathematics and Languages. RS students go on each year to careers in medicine, law, business, finance, media, engineering and psychology.

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

The Extended Project Qualification offers students the chance to turn their passions, interests and curiosities – no matter what they are - into an academically rigorous researchled 5000-word dissertation or ‘artefact’. Students pursuing the qualification in 2021 are engaged in a fascinating range of projects from constructing Bionic Arms and trying to solve the ‘West-Lothian’ question through to exploring exciting contemporary issues such as the treatment of cataracts in India and the impact of structural racism on media reporting of the murder of George Floyd. The AQA EPQ gives students a taste of universitylevel independent academic work, as they plan, research and develop a project whilst evaluating their process in project log.

Students apply to be part of the selective cohort during the Autumn Term in their Lower Sixth Year. In order to be enrolled onto the course, students must submit a detailed project proposal consisting of an abstract detailing what they plan to explore in their project, a literature review and a working bibliography. The EPQ represents a considerable time commitment, and the process is designed to support students and help them carefully consider whether they are able to devote the time required to the project alongside their academic work. Students who do not qualify for the EPQ will still be supported in the development of these skills through the Sixth Form Project.

Course outline

Students attend timetabled sessions as part of the Trinity Diploma in the Lower Sixth. They develop advanced ‘soft skills’ as they investigate project management, research, essay writing and academic presentations. Important skills, often assumed at university, such as referencing and citations are covered together with details of how to plan and carry out an extended academic project. A member of staff will act as a supervisor for each student leading a series of 1:1’s and group supervisions to facilitate the completion of the work.

The majority of the research and information gathering is completed in the Spring Term and Easter holidays of the Lower Sixth when they produce their first drafts. During the Summer Term students refine their EPQ essays and artefacts whilst preparing for the public EPQ presentation evening held in June where a bustling ‘marketplace’ event allows parents, staff and the school community to engage with their exciting original work as part of the Festival of Ideas. The completed project is submitted at the start of Upper Sixth.

Students are rightly proud of their achievements and utilise their new-found skills and research to inform and inspire further contributions to academic school societies or publications throughout the Sixth Form.

Higher education and career opportunities

The Extended Project Qualification gives students an opportunity to learn and start to develop the sort of skills they will need for successful independent study at university. It is therefore not surprising that universities are usually very pleased to see that students are doing an extended project and many Trinity students have found that being able to talk about their project at interview has been very beneficial. In some cases it can lead to a reduced offer, or the EPQ grade might be substituted for one of their other subject grades as part of an offer.

Sixth Form entry requirements September 2024

To enter the Sixth Form, students must complete all their (I)GCSE courses and achieve a Grade 7 or better in at least six subjects. They must also satisfy these minimum grade criteria for each subject

‘7 in English’ means a Grade 7 in either English Language or English Literature. Where students have not studied, or not been able to study the relevant subject at GCSE their case will be discussed individually, and in some cases, alternative criteria may be agreed. For Further Mathematics, this will require a set of additional preparatory assignments.