Our Sixth Form Academic Programme

The Sixth Form curriculum at Dauntsey’s is designed to provide the best possible preparation for life beyond school. Students are therefore offered the opportunity for real breadth of study, with a free choice of subjects rather than fixed option columns, as well as considerable opportunity for academic enrichment.

Our academic programme is flexible, so as to suit each individual student's needs.

We recommend most pupils study three academic subjects and an additional fourth option, either one of our Lower Sixth only courses, or A Level Further Maths.

Lower Sixth only courses (3+1)

EPQ (Extended Project Qualification)

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.

Core Maths

Core Maths is a one-year course designed to build on what students have learnt in Mathematics GCSE/(I)GCSE in a contextual way, such a using percentages to calculate a person’s salary after tax.

The content of this course will complement the study of Economics, Business Studies, Geography or Psychology. This course carries an equivalent number of UCAS points to an AS level course and some universities will offer students lower entrance grades on courses that use skills developed in Core Maths. Core Maths is not the same as AS Mathematics – it is more applied and contextual in nature.

Maths for Science

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.

LSA (Leadership, Sport and Adventure)

We also offer our very own LSA course for pupils interested in a more vocational option.

This course is designed for pupils who would like to study three A Level subjects and a fourth additional subject. While the EPQ is recommended for most pupils doing three subjects, especially due to its recognition by universities both in the form of UCAS points and for the skills that it teaches, the LSA course is a good alternative for those who are not particularly interested in the EPQ or who would be better suited to a more vocational fourth option.

It is jointly run by the Adventure Education and Sports departments. It is timetabled as two double lessons a week and requires students doing some additional work in their own time. In addition, there are a number of events that happen outside the timetable, such as a High Pressure Leadership day

The Award has six modules, the focus of each is developing useful behaviours such as organisation, leadership, communication, problem-solving and teamwork. The six modules are:

Sports Organisation of sports and sporting events

Adventure Experiencing adventure activities and challenging yourself

Leadership Understanding and experiencing leadership

First Aid A recognised first aid qualification

Volunteering Giving time to worthwhile causes

Project Planning, managing and completing a substantial project

Each module has success criteria that students must meet in order to pass the Award.

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

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.

Dauntsey's Philosophy Course

Philosophers who opt for the Dauntsey’s Philosophy Course will immerse themselves in the fascinating world of THE BIG QUESTIONS. We shall immerse - and then emerge – with a clearer sense of our own views, and, importantly, how we can justify them.

This course is designed to provoke. Inescapably it will provoke thought; oh-so-certainly it will provoke debate, and (ever-hopefully) it will provoke action.

THE BIG QUESTIONS will include:

*Are humans naturally selfish or altruistic?

*Is free will an illusion?

*What does it mean to be ‘good’?

*Are there versions of ‘me’ or do I have an ‘essence’ that endures?

*How do you know you’re not sleeping right now?

*(And the biggie) What is the meaning of life?

Academic Courses

We currently offer twenty-nine different subjects at A Level and two different BTEC options.

Find out more about the courses offered

Complementary Curricular Programme

Everybody will also take our popular Complementary Curriculum programme in the Lower Sixth. The aim of the programme is to encourage students to think about matters that are not normally covered by their academic studies.

All pupils will choose two taught modules, in subjects such as Mandarin, Political Theory and International Relations, Film Studies and Current Affairs. Each module lasts for approximately one term.
Pupils also attend a series of talks and lectures given by outside speakers.
Presentations on Study skills.
Some of the Complementary Curriculum sessions are given over to careers advice and University applications.

Use the time you have well. Work as hard in all areas of life as you possibly can. Although being social is important remember that the work you do will benefit you immensely in the long run.

SIXTH FORM PUPIL

Outside the Classroom

Whether a boarder or a day pupil, our Sixth formers enjoy a thriving social life, and there are a large number of events and activities to ensure there is never a dull moment.

Sports and Adventure

Sports and Adventure are a key part of life at Dauntsey’s and as students enter the Sixth Form there are many opportunities to develop themselves in these areas.

Beyond Dauntsey's

When pupils arrive at Dauntsey’s, they begin a planned careers guidance programme reflecting the fact that choosing a career is a process and not an event.

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