The Sixth Form curriculum encompasses breadth, diversity and challenge, and you are encouraged to study subjects that you enjoy, as well as those at which you naturally excel.
The tailored programme of personal development in the Sixth Form begins on the very first day of term and focuses on your physical and mental wellbeing throughout the Sixth Form and beyond. The programme supports effective learning, community involvement and the development of your personal interests in and outside of school.
Springboard to the Future is a unique programme of opportunities at Channing. From our excellent careers service to Channing Lectures, the highly valued EPQ (Extended Project Qualification), UCAS support to the Oxbridge programme and opportunities for work experience, we are experts in helping you realise your university, career and future aspirations.
Teaching & Learning in Channing Sixth Form
At Channing every teacher has their own style and plans lessons that focus on learning. We know that great A Level Teaching & Learning cannot be achieved by following a recipe, but there are some clear pointers in the research to approaches in the classroom that are most likely to be effective. Channing teachers use research-based methods and their wealth of experience to deliver high-quality teaching and learning. As well as research for teachers there is also a wealth of research aimed at students and how they learn best.
We ensure that our Sixth Form students understand this research behind the science of learning. We share with them what we know about the habits of the most successful learners at A Level, so that they can fulfil their potential using the most effective learning strategies.
Throughout Year 12 and 13 we speak to our Sixth Formers about the importance of retrieval practice, spaced learning and interleaving. We look at the research behind stress mindsets and resilience, offering practical advice at key points during the year. We want our Sixth Formers to be fearless in their learning. Being a Fearless Learner is about embracing challenges, developing effective learning skills, attitudes, aptitudes and independence ready for the world beyond Channing
Advice on choosing your A Levels
Making decisions about academic options can be an exciting, but often also a daunting, process. Before settling on your choice of subjects it is important to consider several key elements.
Firstly, it is essential to be informed as to whether the requirements of a specific course, career path, or profession need to be taken account of in the decision-making process. Some university courses insist on certain A Level subjects: for example, a degree in Economics usually requires A Level Mathematics, whereas applications for Medicine will normally be expected to include Chemistry and another Science as A Levels. The UCAS website and university prospectuses will provide more detailed information on individual course requirements.
Secondly, it is important to consider academic strengths. Some students gravitate towards essay-based subjects, while others feel more comfortable working in a laboratory or with numbers. Given the academic demands of A Levels, it is highly advisable to factor in any particular areas of strength to the decision-making process.
And thirdly, interest in and enjoyment of the subjects is an element that should not be discounted. Motivation will potentially come from a variety of different factors, such as long-term career goals, but being able to study something that genuinely excites and inspires you every day is invaluable.
Regardless of the weight of each of the factors that ultimately contribute to your individual decision, studying A Levels will be a very different experience to that of GCSEs. Smaller class sizes, stimulating teaching, and effective learning strategies will ensure that even though the Sixth Form curriculum will be challenging, it will also be fulfilling and exhilarating.
Students normally choose three subjects, and in some exceptional cases, four.