ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING MATHS AND SCIENCE
Maths
Due to the demanding nature of A Level Maths and Further Maths, and that AS level builds on GCSE assumed knowledge, we have to ensure that only students who have
retained a good working knowledge of GCSE algebra start the course. Many students score highly at GCSE, but then fail to retain (or refresh) that knowledge. To identify
these students and ensure they are placed on the best courses for them, we set an entrance exam to be taken at the start of the course. Students who fail to achieve the
pass mark (40%) have the opportunity to re-sit a similar assessment. Students who fail this assessment twice are assisted in choosing alternative courses.
The assessment is based only on grade B-A* GCSE algebra content. Questions are straight forward with no 'extra' words. We simply want to check academic ability.
Science
Due to the demanding nature of A Level Biology, Chemistry and Physics and the need to "hit the ground running", we have to ensure that only students who have retained
a good working knowledge of the GCSE materials start the course. Many students score highly at GCSE, but then fail to retain (or refresh) that knowledge. To identify these
students and ensure they are placed on the best courses for them, we set an entrance exam at the beginning of the year. Students who fail this assessment twice are
assisted in choosing alternative courses.
The test is based only on the content from Core Science GCSE and Additional Science GCSE (ie Dual Award) to ensure that all students who have done science GCSEs are
able to access it. It gives no advantage to Separate Science students.
Entrance exams will be carried out in the first week of the new academic year.