Sixth Form Choices

Welcome to the Ellesmere College Sixth Form Choices page, and we are delighted that you are considering Ellesmere to continue your academic journey into Sixth Form and beyond.

The Sixth Form at Ellesmere is a vibrant and successful community, offering a broad range of full-time courses for over 200 students who are mix of UK and international students, and enjoy day, weekly or full boarding options. With an even broader range of exciting and challenging co-curricular opportunities that develop leadership, confidence and resilience, the College ensures it delivers students that are indeed 'Life:Ready' – and leaving us as ambassadors, role models and leaders.

For more information or to enquire about our Sixth Form please visit: Contact Us

The College provides teaching and learning of the highest quality.

We are proud of the high performance of successive generations of students who have ensured that the College is noted both nationally and internationally for its achievements. The preparation of students for Oxbridge entrance is taken very seriously and university entrance is hugely successful with over 85% of students gaining their first choice place in a wide spectrum of courses and Universities including Oxford, Cambridge and Russell Group Institutions.

We are sure you have many questions about which courses we have to offer and what is involved in each course, be it A Level, International Baccalaureate (IB) or BTEC, so listed below are short ‘taster’ videos from each of our Heads of Department giving their views on each course along with the perspective of a current Sixth Form student.

There is also a handy download section on the left where you can access the current Sixth Form Prospectus and other useful documents. While we aim to offer a broad range of subjects, final course availability at A Level and IB depends on student uptake each year.

We hope you feel that Ellesmere is a welcoming and purposeful environment and one well placed to support your child’s aims and ambitions and to give them the perfect platform for academic and personal success.

If you have any questions or would like any further information, please Contact Us

International Baccalaureate

The Ellesmere IB provides both a demanding two-year and three-year programme (for Elite Athletes) of advanced academic study, but offers a much broader curriculum than A-Levels, enabling students to acquire a more balanced subject profile.

Learn about IB at Ellesmere College

A-LevelsA range of subjects are available at A Level or students may choose to pursue their advanced studies through the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma (available as both a 2 year and 3 year course under the AFEC WAoS programme) or the BTEC National Diploma in Sport (also available as the Extended Diploma).

Students wishing to follow a programme of A Levels must achieve a minimum of five grade 4/5 passes at GCSE. A higher standard is required for entry to the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma course, typically 6 grade 6 passes.

Art & Design - A-Level

Students will be introduced to a variety of experiences that explore a range of fine art media, processes, and techniques in both traditional and new media.

They will work in one or more areas of fine art such as: drawing & painting, mixed media, installation, print making, moving image.

Biology - A-Level / IB

Business Studies - A-Level

Students will develop critical understanding of organisations, the context in which they operate, markets they serve, and the process of adding value.

They will examine business behaviour, economic, environmental, ethical and global issues, and cover marketing, finance, production, HR, external influences and business strategy.

Chemistry - A-Level / IB

The Chemistry courses offered cover many aspects of research, analytical and practical elements including: Physical Chemistry & Transition Elements, Organic Chemistry & Analysis, Kinetics, Acids & Bases, Atomic Structure, Medicines & Drugs, and Environmental Chemistry.

Computer Science - A-Level / IB

Covering both Theoretical and Programming aspects in depth, students will develop both critical understanding techniques and explore practical applications and solving of coding, cryptography, web design and computational problems.

Design & Technology (DT) - A-Level

The course aims to give students the broadest experience of working with different tools and equipment, develop existing skill sets in design and communication, complete practical investigations, work with a variety of materials, and develop your theoretical knowledge of the subject.

Drama and Theatre Studies A Level

Drama & Theatre Studies - A-Level

From studying and researching set texts to devising a group piece and performing it, from monologues to reviewing a professional theatre production, this course covers all aspects of the drama experience including back stage, technical, directing and sound.

Learn more about the arts

Economics - A-Level / IB

These courses focus on four key areas that cover all aspects of Markets and Market Failure, micro- and macroeconomics, UK and Global economies, business behaviour and development economics. Students will analyse these areas in depth as well as current affairs and the impact of socio/political economics.

English Language & Literature - IB

The IB course is designed to encourage and enable students who are native or near-native speakers to get a broader understanding and application of the language through the study of texts, research, discussions and practicals, and to be able to use the language for a variety of purposes and cultural awareness.

English Literature - A-Level

Geography - A-Level

The course covers two distinct areas of Human and Physical Geography with environmental concerns linking them together. Topics such as hydrology & fluvial geomorphology, migration & settlement dynamics, hazardous environments and economic transition are covered along with field trips and guest speakers.

Geography - IB

History - A-Level / IB

The courses cover a broad range of political, social and economic history and the modules are based on both British and European history with links to each throughout the modules. Sharing ideas, discussions and debates are encouraged through the course delivery as well as field trips and invited speakers.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a comprehensive and challenging Gold standard course that demands the best from students and is accepted at universities around the world for it's rigorous teaching and breadth of subjects. Students will study 6 subjects and three core modules over two years.

Languages B & Ab Initio - IB

In the Language Ab Initio course, the main focus is on language acquisition and development in the four primary language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing through the study and use of a range of written and spoken material in different genres. Language B builds on learners’ intermediate language skills and can be studied with a literature option at higher level.

Languages / MFL - A-Level

The main focus of the Modern & Foreign Language (MFL) courses - French, German and Spanish - are to acquire and develop the four skills of a language: listening, speaking, reading and writing.

The course is complimented by independent research into two cultural themes of a students choice.

Latin & Classics - A-Level / IB

Maths / Further Maths - A-Level / IB

Using the language of algebra, Pure Maths covers topics such as trigonometry, calculus, logarithms, and vectors, while Mechanics includes studies of forces and motion. Statistics covers probability theory, permutations and combinations, correlation and regression. Further Maths pursues these topics and others to a more complex level.

Media Studies - A-Level

Students develop an understanding and appreciation of the place of media in everyday life, learn theory and analyse texts as well as taking a very hands on approach to studying film, television, advertising, magazines, radio and other media platforms. Coursework and blogs are key to the final examination.

Music - A-Level / IB

Students engage critically and creatively with a wide range of music and musical contexts, developing an understanding of the place of music in different cultures and contexts. Critical elements of the assessment include performing, composing and appraising pieces of music, performances or other set works.

PE - A-Level

Students develop their understanding and skills in a range of physical activities, understand factors that impinge on their performance and participation, and observe, analyse and evaluate performance and develop critical appreciation of historical, social, cultural, and moral contexts to sport and how it's influenced society.

Physics - A-Level / IB

Politics - A-Level

Psychology - A-Level

Religious Studies - A-Level

Sociology - A-Level

Support for Learning (SfL)

Support for Learning is available to all students on a permanent or temporary basis and students do not need to have an identified learning barrier to benefit from support lessons. We are Category DU registered school with CReSTeD and support students with many types of learning barriers.

PE - BTEC Sports Coaching & Development

BTEC

We now offer an alternate to A Level P.E. in the BTEC National Diploma in Sports Coaching and Development.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Sports Coaching and Development

This is an applied general qualification which is equivalent in size to two A levels. It has been designed as part of a two year programme and ideal for the student who wishes to pursue a course that specialises in sport, coaching, health and fitness and is able to be combined with one other A Level.

PE - BTEC Sports Coaching & Development

Why Study BTEC Sport?

Why study BTEC Sport?

If you are a student who has a keen interest in sport and has career aspirations in sport (coaching, teaching, conditioning etc.) and the health and leisure industry. This course not only serves as a route into full time employment within sports related fields, it also a proven progression route to Higher Education with 95% of universities and colleges in the UK accepting BTEC's.

What does the Course involve?

What does the course involve?

The course involves a mixture of theory and practical and is has been developed to provide you with the opportunity to gain detailed academic knowledge and understanding of Sport and the related areas of exercise, science and performance. Students will develop their understanding of all areas of Sport, including investigating how the body responds to exercise, exploring the techniques used to analyse sports performers and examining the importance of a healthy balanced lifestyle and diet, developing coaching techniques.