What can I study ?

The Year 12 curriculum is broad and balanced and is made up of 4 ‘ingredients’ which all students follow :

The ‘main courses’ available at Gunnersbury are :

AS and A2 Levels  

At the end of Year 12 students take the AS examinations. These count for 50% of the final A2 level grade. Students must pass the AS examinations in order to carry on to the full A2 Level.  Most students are expected to study 4 subjects at AS.  This will normally lead to three A2s in Year 13.

Grades are awarded : A, B, C, D, E, U

From September 2008, major changes to post GCSE study are being implemented by the government. 

• Most ‘A’ Levels subjects will consist of 4 units, 2 to be studied and examined at AS Level (Year 12) and a further 2 at A2 Level (Year 13). 

• The following subjects will continue to have 6 units (3 in Year 12 and 3 in Year 13) :

      Chemistry

      Biology

      Physics

      Music

      Maths

• Coursework option will be removed from many subjects.

• A new A* grade will be introduced for final ‘A’ level in year 13 from 2010.

BTEC National Diploma

We currently offer this qualification in the following disciplines :

• Business
• Sport and Exercise Sciences

A BTEC National Diploma is equivalent to 3 full A2 subjects and takes 2 years to complete.  It is assessed through 18 units of coursework.  Students will have completed 10 units to a satisfactory standard by the end of Year 12 to be able to continue onto Year 13.  There is no final exam.

Grades are awarded : Distinction, Merit, Pass.

Both A2 Level and BTEC National Diploma lead onto University level study.