Curriculum
Key Stage 5 Curriculum
At Sixth Form students can expect a curriculum offer which links to the eight pillars of the whole school totality of experience. We offer the following provision at KS5:
Broad and Balanced Taught Curriculum
A wide range of Level 3 subjects including A Level, BTEC and T Level’s from 2022.
Level 2 Transitional Year in Hospitality.
Resit English and Maths
Optional AS French and Spanish
Option to study up to four A Levels
Further Maths
Academic Additional Learning
Extended Project Qualification
Maths in Context (Current Year 13)
Sports Leaders Award
Weekly Core RE lessons
Extended Co-Curricular, St Phils + and Trips
A weekly Student Bulletin
Gold Duke of Edinburgh
iWonder Podcasts
A plethora of Student Leadership opportunities
Termly Sixth Form Socials
Subject Based Trips and Enrichment
Avila Conference
Sixth Form Leadership Conference
Wide range of lunchtime after school clubs, activities and societies
External Speaker Programme with visitors presenting on a variety of topics and areas
Cultural Capital
Weekly Current Affairs Quiz
Monthly Cultural Celebrations
Black History Month
Strong Academic Outcomes
High expectations of behaviour and dress
Equal and Inclusive Values
A rich and diverse music and art offer
A wide variety of extra-curricular opportunities
Sixth Form Bursary and FSM support
Careers, Progression and Destinations
Regular Future Pathways Newsletters
Two Work Experience Opportunities
Speed Careers
Bespoke UCAS support from beginning to end.
Student and Parental Engagements Events.
Apprenticeship, UCAS and Employer Events
Unifrog Subscription
Careers Guidance and Advice and Online Careers Portal
Career Ambassadors
Alumni Network
Widening Participation Schemes eg K+ and Target Oxbridge.
Half Termly Transition Assemblies
Reading, Vocabulary and Oracy
A well resourced library with books to loan
Subject reading lists
Debating Society
Model United Nations
Daily Tutor Time
Class discussion and debate
Student Assemblies and Student Leadership
Digital Learning
A well resourced LRC and ChromeBook library in MCSH.
ChromeBook scheme.
Google Suite including Google Classroom and Google Docs.
PSHEC/ RSHE and Mental Health
A weekly PSHEC lesson, covering Life After St Philomena’s, Mental Wellbeing, Financial Wellbeing, Future Pathways etc
Regular topical subjects at DTT - Eg Body Positivity Project, Drug and Alcohol Awareness.
Solidarity/celebration days days (Hello Yellow)
Sixth Form students study a personalised programme of courses, which has been determined after interviews with senior leaders and subject to meeting entry criteria. Usually this programme consists of three Level 3 subjects of study (either A Levels, BTEC Diplomas or a combination of the two). Students may also undertake enrichment courses (see below).
‘A’ Level and BTEC National Diploma, Certificate and Extended Certificate courses are taught for nine periods per 2-week cycle. BTEC National Diploma courses have eighteen periods per 2-week cycle.
We also offer Level 2, First Extended Certificate in Hospitality.
In line with national requirements, if a student has not achieved a grade 4 in GCSE maths or English at KS4, they will continue to study these subjects, until they have achieved a grade 4.
Note: BTEC Diploma and Extended Certificate courses are two years in duration. BTEC Health & Social Care, BTEC Sport and Leisure and BTEC Business Studies are the equivalent of 1- 2 A levels.
As a Roman Catholic Sixth Form, the spiritual development and engagement of our students is a priority. Students receive a weekly Core RE lesson for both Year 12 and 13 in which we continue to study, discuss and explore areas of Theology, Philosophy, Ethics and Spirituality within modern Britain. Topics include core values, world religions, faith and reasons to believe, discernment and decision making and love and relationships. Attendance on these lessons is a requirement of each student but there is no set homework, coursework or formal examination.
Students are encouraged to take an appropriate Enrichment Course in addition to their core options. The certificated enrichment courses currently available include: Extended Project Qualification (Level 3; equivalent to half an A Level); Sports Leadership Award, Art Life Drawing classes or and Student Leadership Positions.
All Sixth Form students participate in our “Future Pathways Programme” which runs over the two years of study in order to ensure that students transition smoothly through their Sixth Form experience and then onto age appropriate age and stages after Sixth Form.
To see our curriculum offer in more detail please click the Curriculum Information Booklet below
