PETER SYMONDS COLLEGE | CHOOSING YOUR COURSE
CHOOSING YOUR COURSE
There are two different levels of courses:
Your study programme will be designed to suit your individual needs. Please come to our open evenings and your careers advisers at school to gather as much information as you can about the different types of courses and the different subjects available to you.
ADVANCED COURSES - LEVEL 3
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A Levels (AS/A2)
An A Level is made up of an AS (taken in the first year) and an A2 (taken in the second year). The AS makes up 50% of the final A Level grade. An AS is, however, a qualification in its own right. Once at college progression from an AS to an A2 course is normal, although it is not automatic.
Some subjects are offered as an Applied A Level. These courses are in vocational areas, are more coursework-based and are suitable for students who want to combine a vocational subject with conventional A Levels.
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A Levels (AS/A2) Double
Health and Social Care is offered as Double AS/A2s. This course, equivalent to 2 AS/A2s, is often taken by students who have a related career in mind and want to focus their studies in this area. You can combine this course with two additional AS courses.
List of A Level courses -
Advanced National Certificates and Diplomas
These courses are vocational qualifications which are assessed entirely through assignments and may include work experience placements. You can progress from these courses either to Higher Education to study a degree or directly to employment. Students who chose these courses tend to be those who are interested in working in these fields later in life.
National Certificate: generally considered to be the equivalent to 2 AS/A2 courses.
National Diploma: generally considered to be the equivalent to 3 AS/A2 courses.
Grades awarded are Pass, Merit or Distinction. Courses are offered in Sport and IT Practitioners.
Entry Requirements
At least 5 A* - C grade GCSEs, including Maths and English.
Additional entry requirements
For some subjects there are additional entry requirements. Please refer to individual subject leaflets for entry requiremnt details.
ONE YEAR NATIONAL CERTIFICATE - LEVEL 2
OCR National Awards
You will be expected to study two or three National Awards. Each of these one-year vocational courses is equivalent to 2 GCSEs Grades A* to C. This will give you a range of subjects and experiences, and aid your progression to Advanced Level courses (either A Levels or Level 3 vocational courses) in the following year.
We offer three OCR National Awards in the following subjects:
Trips and speakers are arranged to enhance your learning and to help you gather vocationally related material. All the courses will develop your presentation and IT skills. A course in Citizenship may also be available.
GCSEs
You will also resit GCSEs in English and/or Maths and/or Science (as appropriate) alongside two or three OCR National Awards.
Preparation for Level 3 courses
If you are intending to continue to Level 3 courses at Peter Symonds, you will also attend a course preparing you for Advanced Level study.
NVQ Beauty Therapy & Hairdressing
These full-time NVQ courses may be available through our Adult Education Centre to students aged between 16-19. Please contact ACE on 01962 886166 or ace@psc.ac.uk for details.