Sixth Form Curriculum
The curriculum at HSAEL is distinctive. We offer the best of A Level, combined with the breadth of the International Baccalaureate and the range of enrichment opportunities this programme offers. We call this the HSAEL Baccalaureate. The Sixth Form curriculum is divided into four parts:
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Academic Specialisms |
Independent Study |
Breadth Studies |
Leadership |
New subjects for 2025: Geography, Latin, Politics. |
Pre-reading Academic enrichment Exam questions Extended Project Qualification for some students |
Coding and computer appreciations. Applied mathematics for all. Global perspectives Liberal arts: history of art, theatre studies, history, philosophy |
Sports leadership Club leadership. Classroom support. Student mentoring Volunteering in the community. |
In addition to the above, all Year 12 students take part in one week of work experience to apply their leadership skills in a professional environment.
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Learning Hours Allocation |
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|
Qualification hours |
Non qualification hours |
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|
A Level 1 |
180 |
Leadership Development |
40 |
|
A Level 2 |
180 |
Enrichment |
40 |
|
A Level 3 |
180 |
Lecture Series |
40 |
|
|
|
Breadth studies |
40 |
|
|
|
Work experience |
40 |
|
Total: 540 |
Total: 160 |
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This approach to the curriculum offer students a rounded education that will provide them with the knowledge, skills and character to be a leader in their chosen field.
To find out more about each subject and the sixth form curriculum, please visit our subject pages here.
Year 11 Reading List
To help prepare yourself for A Level study, our subject specialists recommend the below books and online tools to explore.
|
Subject |
Places to Learn Online |
Books to Read |
|
Economics |
1. Econplus Dal Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EconplusDal |
1. Freakonomics by Stephen J. Dubner and Steven Levitt |
|
English |
Seneca Learning Revision podcast - English Literature. Oxford University 'Approaching Shakespeare' podcast. In Our Time: Culture podcast episode on Frankenstein |
Prophet Song – Paul Lynch Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier Small Island – Andrea Levy |
|
Chemistry
|
-Khan Academy Chemistry -ChemGuide -Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) |
“Chemistry: A Very Short Introduction” by Peter Atkins “The Disappearing Spoon” by Sam Kean “Organic Chemistry” by Jonathan Clayden, Nick Greeves, and Stuart Warren |
|
Biology |
Seneca Science Daily- Great for above spec reading worded at a readable level. Miss Estruch's channel-YouTube |
Sapiens- Yuval Noah Harari Human Universe- Brian Cox The Blind Watchmaker- Richard Dawkins |
|
Physics
|
Uplearn, Physics and Maths Tutor, Issac Physics |
Head Start to A-level Physics – CGP, A Brief History of Time – Stephen Hawking, The Elegant Universe – Brian Greene |
|
Computer Science |
YouTube – Craig and Dave OCR A- Level- Covers Entire Curriculum Link Isaac computing - OCR A- Level- Covers Entire Curriculum Link W3 Schools – Programming Link |
The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies |
|
History
|
1.. BBC Radio 4 – In our time – History https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01dh5yg 2.. The Century: America’s Time (1999) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvGgZ5v2o_N8dDogxreL2-NbnfKHgHxqY 3. Podcast: Empire by William Dalrymple and Anita Anand – Series 1 |
Hugh Brogan, The Penguin History of the United States of America (Penguin, 2001) Eric Foner, Give me Liberty! An American History (W.W. Norton & Company, 2006) Yasmin Khan, The Raj at War (Penguin, 2016) |
|
Philosophy
|
Philosophy Bites: Podcast of top philosophers on bite-sized topics The Royal Institute of Philosophy: lectures on various topics BBC Radio 4 – In Our Time – Philosophy: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01f0vzr |
Philosophy Now Journal: https://philosophynow.org/ The Problems of Philosophy - Bertrand Russell Dialogue Journal - https://www.dialogue.org.uk/ |
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Maths
|
1. The GCSE Maths Tutor on YouTube 2. Khan Academy 3. Physics and Maths Tutor: Past papers, video tutorials, and detailed notes |
1. The Number Devil: A Mathematical Adventure by Hans Magnus Enzensberger 2. Alex's Adventures in Numberland by Alex Bellos 3. Math Girls by Hiroshi Yuki: |
|
French
|
Listen to French radio stations such as NRJ, FranceInter.fr, Radiofrance.fr Listen to French music Spotify lists : Grand Hit, Songs for French Learners!, Manie Musicale Listen to podcasts in French such as Duolingo French podcasts, News in Slow French podcasts, SBS French |
Entre les murs, directed by Laurent Cantet. |
|
Psychology |
Introduction to Psychology - Crash course CGP Complete Revision Guide and Practice https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/psychology-revision/a-level-aqa |
Reaching Down the Rabbit Hole by Dr Allan Ropper The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt The Psychopath test by Jon Ronson |
