The Engineering Department delivers DT in year 7 and 8, and in year 9 students do a bridging year giving them an opportunity to transfer skills from the DT National Curriculum to V-Cert Engineering.

The philosophy of the Engineering department is that students learn by doing and conceptualising their thoughts and ideas, as well as developing their knowledge and understanding of industry and the workplace. The Engineering department is particularly well equipped with a comprehensive range of tools equipment and resources including lathes, milling machines, planer, computer controlled laser cutter and 3D printers. A particular strength is the range of equipment and staff expertise in Engineering and Computer Aided Design. The ready access to a dedicated computer suite allows students to use the very latest CAD and simulation software in the development of their products. These resources allow the students to acquire traditional craft skills as well as enabling them to design and make products using high tech manufacturing and production methods.

With practical work and projects at all levels to challenge our students and high academic results, we are very successful at recruiting students at V-Cert Tech Award 1/2 and BTEC Level 3 who later go on to some of the most prestigious universities in the UK.

Key Stage 3

All students study Design and Technology in both year 7 and 8 in 6 half term modules. DT projects are used to introduce and develop practical skills in working with resistant materials (wood, metal, plastics, etc.). Projects include a wooden pencil box, wind chime, night light and clock. Design skills, based on the design process, include sketching, annotating and developing ideas, computer aided design (CAD) and computer aided manufacture (CAM) using a laser cutter, making and testing/evaluation. In this way students learn traditional woodworking and engineering skills as well as modern CAD/CAM technologies.

Key Stage 4

Year 9: Students are introduced to Engineering within this transition year. They are given an opportunity to develop their research skills, and working to a client brief. They are introduces to developing their hand drawn preliminary and development drawings, plan drawings using 2D Designer, 3D modelling using Sketchup and progress to Solidworks. They have an opportunity to develop modelling skills and learn how to produce and evaluate a final product. There is also an opportunity to develop their subject knowledge of processes and materials in manufacturing.

Year 10 and 11: Students undertake the NCFE V-Cert Technical Award. The NCFE Tech Award suite has been designed to meet the Department for Education (DfE) requirements for qualifications to be offered as technical awards for 14–16-year-olds. The DfE has set out characteristics for technical awards through which vocational qualifications can be recognised as part of performance measures in the open category of Progress 8. The total qualification time (TQT) is 157 and Guided learning hours (GL) 120 plus 1 hour 30 minutes for the external assessment

V Cert Technical Awards are a suite of high quality technical qualifications which are appropriate for Key Stage 4 learners. They are a technical alternative to GCSEs with equivalent levels of rigour and challenge. The Level 1/2 Technical Award in Engineering is designed to provide learners with the skills, knowledge and understanding of the applied study of good engineering practices and an understanding of working in the sector.

The course covers:

• engineering disciplines
• the science and mathematics that is applied in engineering
• how to read engineering drawings
• properties and characteristics of engineering materials and know why specific materials are selected for engineering applications
• engineering tools, equipment and machines
• production planning techniques
• processing skills and techniques applied to materials for a manufacturing task equipment

To be awarded Level 1/2 Technical Award in Engineering, learners are required to successfully complete two mandatory units. Learners must also achieve a minimum of a Level 1 pass in the internal and external assessments.

Mandatory units include:

Unit 01 Understanding the Engineering World (H/616/8968) external assessment – practical test

Unit 02 Skills and Techniques in Engineering (K/616/8969) internally assessed synoptic project that is externally quality assured by NCFE

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Sixth Form prospectus

What is Psychology?

Psychology is the study of the brain and behaviour. It seeks to understand why people act the way they do, researching the reasons behind a range of behaviours, including aggression, criminal behaviour, phobias, addiction, schizophrenia, OCD, prejudice, obedience and memory. We also then look at how this research can have positive impacts on society, including reducing prejudice and discrimination, improving diagnosis of mental health disorders, reducing recidivism in offenders and supporting people with dementia. 

What will students learn in the Psychology A Level?

Students follow the Edexcel specification at A Level, which is divided into the following areas:

• Social Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology
• Biological Psychology
• Learning Theories
• Clinical Psychology
• Criminal Psychology
• Psychological Skills including issues and debates

Students will develop a range of skills during this course including:

• Understanding academic texts
• Learning how to build an effective argument
• Essay writing skills
• Data analysis and conducting statistical tests
• Knowing how to conduct Psychological research
• Critical thinking skills e.g. evaluating research
• Revision skills
• Organisation
• Communication skills

During the course, students will conduct 6 practicals, where they will design and run their own research studies. 

What are the entry requirements for A Level Psychology?

Grade 6 or above in Mathematics or Psychology

You do not need to have studied GCSE Psychology to study it at A Level 

 Where can Psychology lead?

Psychology is now one of the most popular degree courses in the UK, and a range of related careers are available to students who wish to study further, including Educational Psychology, Sports Psychology, Criminal and Forensic Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Research. However, the knowledge and skills developed through the A Level course will help to prepare students for a range of wider career paths, including Medicine, Business, Marketing and Management, Law, Education…in fact, there are not many careers that do not contain some element of Psychology! 

Post-16 Psychology

Please see the sixth form handbook for more information. 

AS and A Level
EDEXCEL
What do I need to know or be able to do before taking this course?

You do not need to have studied Economics at GCSE in order to take the course. It is important that you have an interest in Economic affairs and a desire to explore why and how the study of Economics contributes to an understanding of the modern world.

What will I learn on this course?

How to develop an understanding of economic concepts and theories through critical consideration of current economic issues, problems and institutions that affect everyday life.

How to apply economic concepts and theories in a range of contexts and to appreciate their value and limitations in explaining real world phenomena.

How to analyse, explain and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the market economy and the role of the government within it.

How to participate effectively in society as a citizen, producer and consumer.

What kind of student is this course suitable for,

Students must have a grade 6 in Maths at GCSE.

This course will appeal to students who:

Wish to pursue a career in an Economics related profession;

Enjoy studying a subject that affects their own everyday lives;

Want to keep their options open- Economics can be combined with a wide range of social sciences and humanities subjects.

What do I get at the end of my course?

Students with AS or A level Economics have access to a wide range of possible career and university opportunities. You learn and use a variety of transferable skills throughout the course, such as:

·                                Collecting and analysing economic information from different sources;

·                                Development of written communication skills

·                                Development of problem solving and evaluation skills.

The skills and knowledge gained on the course are recognised by employers, universities and colleges as being of great value. Economics can lead to university courses in such areas as Law, Business, Accounting, Politics and, of course Economics.

AS and A- Level Economics (Themes 1 and 2 only for AS)

Theme 1: Introduction to markets and market failure

This theme given an introduction into the nature of economics and examines how the price mechanism allocates resources. It analyses the nature of market failure, its causes and possible policy remedies. In this theme the nature of human behaviour is also introduced.

Theme 2: The UK economy- performance and policies

Students will learn the measures of economic performance and the main objectives and instruments of economic policy. Students apply the theory to the current Economic climate, learn Economic theory and consider relevant Economic history.

Theme 3: Business behaviour and the labour market

This theme examines how the pricing and nature of competition between firms is affected by the number and size of market participants. It also considers the labour market and students learn how wages determined in a variety of different industries

Theme 4: A global perspective

This final theme builds on the first three and applies Economic theory to the global Economy. Topics studies include globalisation, international trade and the role of the financial sector. Students will consider the factors that influence the growth and development of emerging and developing countries.

For a detailed look at the subject content go to www.edexcel.org.uk or contact

Mr Hallett (Head of Economics). Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Please click here for the Sixth Form prospectus

Subject specific entry requirements: Grade 6/B in GCSE English.

How the course is assessed: 100% examination.

Exam board: AQA.

Where does it lead?

Politics fits very well with subjects like PPE, Economics, History, Law, Psychology and Sociology.  Many students go on to read Politics at university and it is excellent preparation for a multitude of careers, including in the civil service and public sector, business and management, the media, and the voluntary and community sector.

Course overview

The two-year A level course consists of three units:

Government and Politics of the UK: our different elections and electoral systems; referendums; political parties and pressure groups; our constitution and judiciary ; the role of parliament ; how our prime ministerial and cabinet system operate ; and finally, local and devolved government and the main institutions of the European Union.

Government and Politics of the US and comparative politics: in which students cover US presidential and congressional elections, the US Constitution and role of the Supreme Court; Congress; and the Presidency. We then compare and contrast the main features of British and American government and politics.

Political Ideas: in which students look at the main ideas of socialism, conservatism, liberalism and one other from a list that includes feminism and anarchism.

You can expect to:

Be aware of the main political stories on a daily and weekly basis.

Participate in a lot of debate and discussion.

Develop a good understanding of British and American politics and political ideologies.

Other useful information

Each year we organise a trip to a student conference in Westminster for Year 12s and this year we also visited Parliament and met with the MP for Rugby.

A student view from our current cohort:

“I began studying politics with little prior interest and experience but the study of the subject will change your perspective forever. You will always balance two sides to an argument and consider the basis for how society is interwoven with what you study. It is truly incredible how overlooked something so important and fundamental is to every single one of us and I cannot recommend this subject enough as it is so applicable to everything we do.”

Please click here for the Sixth Form Prospectus

Citizenship

Citizenship strands are implemented across all curriculum areas at Key Stage 3, 4 and 5. Students will also undertake the Higher Extended Project qualification which encompasses various strands of Citizenship. In Years 9, 10 and 11 Citizenship is also delivered within the RE GCSE and the Careers carousel rotation as dedicated timetabled lessons.  For Years 12 and 13, students have a dedicated timetabled lesson. Students may also undertake the Extended Project qualification. Strands of Citizenship are also identified across all subject areas for all year groups. The school runs an extensive programme of enrichment which all students partake in.

Citizenship is an all-encompassing subject and is considered equally important in terms of subject lessons, cross-curricular and extra-curricular activities.  Lawrence Sheriff School celebrates the integration and achievements of its pupil’s both inside and outside of the classroom and considers Citizenship to be a core factor in these achievements as students are encouraged to take part in their communities. There is an annual teaching Citizenship audit undertaken by Subject Leaders – to ensure parity and the occurrence of key themes across the curriculum.  Citizenship themes are used as a basis for assemblies as well as part of the tutor programme. 

Personal Development

Personal Development will incorporate strands of PSHE and citizenship into a new scheme of work for Years 7 and 8. This will allow cross over between the strands of both subjects to enhance what pupils are learning, and highlight wider contexts. It will also create capacity to support students with other areas of their school life and personal wellbeing. For example through discussions with the Pastoral team, Heads of House and Heads of year a number of areas to proactively support students when settling into the school will be built in. These will cover things such as the use of school ICT systems, managing friendships and effective management of their time at home.

Alongside this the school is also looking to further develop students literacy skills and their oracy. This will be put into the curriculum early to allow students to utilise and develop these skills along their school journey.

 Such topics include:

• Their transition to secondary school and their new community
• The rights of a UK Citizen
• Using their rights & responsibilities
• The role of the media – press freedom & spinning the news
• Positive images – challenging stereotypes
• Refugees & Asylum seekers
• Using student voice
• The Emergency Health Services of the NHS

For Year 9 Personal Development will be taught on a carousel and be used to further develop students' understanding of strands from both the PSHE and Citizenship requirements.  This will continue to allow the school to incorporate additional elements to support key aspects of student learning, such as science of learning, Sheriff Learner and Poise and Presentation.

Students are generally taught all three sciences by one teacher. Biology, Chemistry and Physics topics are taught in rotation. Students have 6 periods a fortnight of science lessons.

Year 7 Biology topics
Cells and organisation, Photosynthesis and Ecosystems, Reproduction.

Year 8 Biology topics
Genetics and Evolution, Gas Exchange and Respiration, Organ Systems.

From Year 9 students have 2 periods a week of Biology and should spend a similar amount of time at home on homework and reviewing their class work and this should build up to approximately 3 hours of work a week in year 11.

Year 9 Biology topics
Key concepts in Biology, Cells and Control, Genetics  

Year 10 Biology topics
Natural Selection and Genetic Modification, Health and Disease, Plant Structures and functions

Year 11 Biology topics
Animal Coordination, Exchange and Transport, Ecosystems
Students in Year 11 are following the Edexcel GCSE Biology specification 2BIO1. Further details of both specifications can be found at http://www.Edexcel.org.uk  

Assessment
Students will take two exams at the end of Year 11. Each paper is 1 hour and 45 minutes long and worth 50% of their GCSE. Each exam consists of multiple choice, short answer, calculations and extended questions. Students are also required to complete 8 core practicals during the GCSE Biology course.  

Post 16
Sixth Form Prospectus - Please click here