Post-16 (16-18 Years Old)
After successful completion of Key Stage 4, students commence Year 12 in Key Stage 5, also known as Post-16 (or “Sixth Form” in the British context).
The Key Stage 5 Curriculum focuses on developing the key skills of communication, cognition, independence, physical development and self-care in an engaging and stimulating environment. Our aim is to prepare students for life beyond school, to become more robust and ambitious individuals who live happy and healthy lifestyles.
The KS5 curriculum is modelled on the KS3 and KS4 curriculum that allows progression and development of prior learning, as well as catering to needs, choices and talents.
The Curriculum has been developed to be:
- Pupil-centred: the curriculum is developed with the learners at its centre, each class’s curriculum, planning and delivery will be bespoke to the strengths, interests, needs and barriers to maximise meaningful progress.
- Support generalisation: subjects are not delivered discretely, but are combined through high order thinking teaching and learning to encourage application and combining skills.
- Develop independence: Learners’ are progressively encouraged in their independence as young adults, both in terms of curriculum content and in assessment for learning.
- Focus on real world application: with experiences like community visits, vocational skills, use of money and safe travel to maximise on their time in specialist education and shape their aspirations for adulthood.
ASCS offer three academic pathways for our students with a wide range of options:
- IAS & IAL – International AS and A Levels: Upon entering Year 12 you will choose 4 AS Level subjects and will undertake all the units listed within them, you will take the exam for these 4 subjects in either January or June. Upon entering Year 13 you will choose 3 of these subjects to continue studying, these will be three subjects of your choice.
- BTEC – Level 3 Qualifications: Students can study four BTEC Courses in Year 12 and three in Year 13. The BTEC programme is a vocational work related study programme which gives students skills which they apply to real life scenarios. The courses offer a wide range of engaging and practical assessment methods and teaches students lifelong skills which are closely linked to the world of work. Due to the assessment methods of these subjects there are no exams. We offer a wide variety of BTEC subjects such as Sport, Travel & Tourism and Engineering.
- Blended Curriculum of A Level & BTEC: We have tailored our option blocks so that students can study a combination of AS/A Level Subjects alongside BTEC courses.
Students are required to choose 4 subjects in order of preference. Places on each course are dependent on students meeting the entry requirements for each subject. In addition, students will be asked to take part in community service schemes and sign up to online courses that are designed to enhance essential life skills. They will have the opportunity to tailor-fit work experience and online learning that suits them best.
Curriculum Enrichment
These activities help out students work towards the prestigious ‘Duke of Edinburgh’ (International) Award scheme, which every Sixth Form student has the opportunity to gain during their time at ASCS Sixth Form. Students will also have the opportunity to undertake termly careers mentoring sessions with our careers councilor, as well as 1-1 half-termly coaching sessions with a member of the Sixth Form team to help them make as much progress as possible.
For entry into Year 12, all students must:
- Take a minimum of FOUR subjects at AS/BTEC Level in Year 12.
- Achieve a minimum of 5 A* to C grades ( 9 – 5) at IGCSE and a minimum of a ‘B’ in the FOUR subjects selected to study for AS Level in Year 12.
- Achieve a minimum of a ‘B’ (7) grade in Maths AND English (1 st Language) at IGCSE.
Students who do not meet the minimum requirement of ‘B’ for Maths and English (but have the minimum of ‘B’ grades in their FOUR chosen subjects) will be accepted only on the condition that they enrol on a Maths and English IGCSE re-sit option. These two re-sit options will run alongside the FOUR choices at AS level. - Have a proven and acceptable track record of behaviour, conduct and attendance in previous school years. 5. Accept that it is an expectation that any subject undertaken at AS level/BTEC will require you to complete the course to the end.