A guide to shared specialist A Level subjects in Croydon. A number of schools and colleges in Croydon have come together to offer the following A level subjects as part of a shared provision across the borough. If a subject is offered in your own school it is anticipated that you will study there rather than at another provider. This shared provision is to ensure that subjects that may attract smaller numbers of students are maintained to give all students access to their preferred choice of post-16 courses or to provide access to subjects your own school cannot offer. Range of courses in the Consortium Offer Subject *Host School/College Contact Accounting Virgo Fidelis School Computing* Coulsdon College If you are Archbishop Tennison School interested in Dance Shirley High School accessing the Food Technology St Joseph s College shared provision Law please speak to your SLT Music Technology interviewer in the St Joseph s College first instance who Spanish will make a note of Coulsdon Sixth Form College your interest in Textiles Norbury Manor Business & the first instance. Enterprise College (*) Both being offered at Norbury Manor These lessons will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. Your main Sixth Form Centre will be known as your Home Centre. Your subsidiary Sixth Form Centre will be known as your Host Centre. 1
This leaflet aims to describe how the arrangements work and what support you can expect from your main provider and the host sixth form you will be attending. Your chosen sixth form is likely to be where you spend the vast majority of your time and it will also be the centre at which you take all of your examinations. You will still apply to your chosen sixth form as you would normally but you will be asked to indicate if there is a subject you wish to study which is not offered directly by your school/college but as part of the collaborative provision. Your main choice centre (Home Centre) will tell you which subject(s) it is offering as part of this arrangement. Each centre offering a shared A Level subject will provide prospective applicants with a taster session which will include a tour of the facilities and an opportunity to ask questions so that you ascertain if this is the right course and decision for you. A timeline of events is included on the back page of this leaflet. If accepted into the collaborative provision, you will be responsible for undertaking the travel to the Host Centre from your main place of study and home afterwards. Lessons which are part of the collaborative provision on both Tuesdays and Wednesdays will start at 2pm although the end of the afternoon session is likely to vary to comply with the timetable of the Host Centre. The teachers at the Host Centre will register your attendance, set assignments and assess your work as they do for their own students. The Host Centre will inform your home centre about your attendance and your assessments over the period of the course. 2
Below is the list of subjects NMBEC is offering for the period 2017-19. Norbury Manor Subject Offer 2017-19 A2 subjects BTEC Single BTEC Awards L3 Double Awards 3d Design Health & Social Care Art Diploma Biology Sports Studies* Business Studies Chemistry Computer Science Drama Economics English Literature Fine Art Geography AS Only Subjects Graphic Communication Chemistry History Extended Project Maths History Media Studies Islamic Studies Media Studies Philosophy & Ethics Spanish Psychology Sociology Physics Textiles Psychology (*) Music and Sports Studies may be offered as either a BTEC or A level programme depending on the cohort of students wishing to take these subjects. 3
FAQs Q. How will I know which subjects are part of this collaborative (shared) provision? A. Your main school or college (Home Centre) will inform you about which subjects are on offer (see Table of Offer on page 1) for September 2017. Any offer will be subject to you achieving the entrance requirements of the Host Centre for the particular course; sufficient numbers applying and the final decision on the offer will be made by the Host Centre. Q. How do I apply? A. You need to apply to your main school/college sixth form (home centre) by January 31 st, 2017 indicating which subject you wish to take as part of the shared provision. Q. Will I get a chance to visit the Host Centre before I make my final decision? A. Yes, you will be offered a Taster Session, tour of the facilities and an opportunity to speak the specialist teacher(s) before the start of the autumn term in 2017 (see Timeline of Events overleaf) Q. Am I a member of both sixth forms? A. No, you remain a member of your Home Centre but you will be able to use the facilities of the Host Centre on the days in which the teaching takes place there including the student common room areas, learning resource centre and the canteen. While at the Host Centre you are subject to its rules and timetable. Q. Who do I contact if I m late or absent? A. You would contact the Host Centre who will liaise with your home centre to ensure they are aware of the situation. Q. How will I know if the quality is equal to that of my home school/college? A. Every centre offering shared provision will be subject to an independent quality assurance visit to ensure consistency of standards. Q. How will my progress be monitored and will my form tutor know how well I am doing? A. The Host Centre will monitor your progress just as your Home Centre does and will liaise regularly with your school and tutor about your progress and attendance. Your Home Centre will then report to your parents about both you home and Host Centre s course. Q. Will I sit my examinations in the same place? A. Yes, you will be registered to take all of your examinations in your Home Centre, even the subject you have studying at the host centre. 4
Timeline of activity Apply to your chosen sixth form centre (indicating which shared subject you wish to take) by January 31st March/April Interviews for sixth form places take place at your main choice of centre (this will include the shared A Level course) April/May Taster session/tour of facilities and Q & A session at Host Centre (dates to be notified in advance) May Home Centre will confirm final choices and conditional offer (including the shared A Level, if applicable) May/June GCSE examinations Thursday, August 17 th 2017 A Level/L3 results day September 2017 Shared A Level courses begin 5