Most pupils are advised to study three A Level subjects and an additional fourth option of one of our Lower Sixth-only courses:
An exciting opportunity for pupils to extend their abilities beyond the A Level syllabus and prepare for university-level study. It is worth more university entrance points than an AS qualification, with the top grade of an A* valued at 28 points compared to 20 points for the top grade of an A at AS level.
There is no restriction on the topic chosen or the mode of final exposition: it can be a dissertation, investigation/field study, performance or artefact.
There is huge emphasis on the whole EPQ research ‘journey’, rather than just the final outcome. Pupils will write a 5000-word dissertation or present an artefact accompanied by a 1000-word report. Everyone will give a 10-minute presentation on their work.
An EPQ should enhance a UCAS application: universities are looking for evidence which demonstrates a facility for independent and innovative work and an increasing number of universities are including the EPQ in their offers to pupils.
Designed to give students the Maths skills that are necessary to access the Sciences at A Level. It is intended to allow pupils a greater flexibility of subject choice by removing the need for them to take Maths to support a Physics A Level. It should be noted that the course content will still be demanding and not designed for pupils who struggle with Maths. This is a one-year course that will be taught for one double lesson a week throughout the Lower Sixth. It does not lead to a formal qualification, but should help pupils with their Sciences.
Please be aware that ‘Maths for Science’ would not be a suitable substitute for university courses that require a full Maths A Level. For instance, studying Physics and Maths together remains the preferred model for courses such as Engineering.
We also offer our very own LSA course for pupils interested in a more vocational option.
The LSA course is comprised of two existing qualifications, which together make up a combined offering that is exclusive to Dauntsey’s. This combination will be taught as a one-year course for a total of four periods a week over the course of the Lower Sixth.
ILM Level 2 Extended Award for Young Leaders (Within LSA)
This Award is designed to help young learners develop a range of essential skills and behaviours. They will learn about, and gain experience in, areas such as leadership, mentoring and volunteering. This will be done through a combination of classroom instruction and practical sessions outside of the classroom, which will be designed to give pupils real leadership opportunities.
The Award is assessed by pupils collecting evidence in a portfolio and this can be achieved in a number of ways. They always have to show evidence of their planning, practical experience and self-reflection, but within this there is considerable scope for their own initiative.
The Award is a nationally recognised qualification and may enhance a university application and future employability, though will not provide any UCAS points.
This part of the course is run by our Head of Adventure Education, Sam Moore
Youth Sports Award (YSA) – (Within LSA)
This Award is not about pupils’ sporting skills, but instead states its aims as helping pupils to ‘grow their leadership, enhance their wellbeing and to achieve in life’. For pupils who already do lots of sport, it will enable them to evidence what they have achieved. For pupils who are less active, it will challenge them to do more but will also provide other opportunities. These might involve helping with the organisation of a sporting event, or picking up qualifications in other areas like coaching, officiating or first aid.
The YSA is assessed by pupils collecting evidence that demonstrates their skills and experiences in areas like leadership, volunteering and teamwork. As part of this, it is anticipated that pupils will gain recognised qualifications in areas such as coaching and officiating.
As with the ILM Award, the YSA is designed to develop skills that may help with university applications and future employability, though will not provide any UCAS points.
This part of the course is run by our Director of Sport, Marcus Olsen.
The International English Language Testing System (ISLTS)
International pupils are advised to take the essential IELTS qualification for non-native English speakers as one of their timetabled options, although it can also be taken outside of the normal timetable if preferred.
These options are timetabled for either two or four periods each week rather than the usual eight periods for an A Level subject. They are usually completed at the end of Year 12. We recommend that most pupils follow this course of study.
