What is Core Maths?

• A qualification equivalent to an AS Level
• It focusses on applying maths to real life situations
• It is designed to support the maths in other A Levels (see list of recommended subjects below).

Why study this subject?

• Core Maths results at Greenhead have always been outstanding. In 2024, 48.5% of students achieved a grade A (the highest grade) and 79.4% achieved at least a grade B.
• Many A Level subjects require a high level of proficiency in maths, Core Maths keeps your maths skills topped up.
  
• Many Universities give favourable alternative offers if you have a Core Maths qualification. E.g. Medicine at Keele University goes from A*AA to AAA with an A in Core Maths* and many other subjects have a 2 grade reduction BBB to BCC with a B in Core Maths. 
  All courses at the University of Bath (which do not require A Level Maths) are reduced by one grade if you have a B in Core Maths*.
  
• Some university courses that need a GCSE Maths grade of 6+ will accept Core Maths instead. 
  
• Even without an alternative offer, having an extra maths qualification helps you to stand out. E.g. A Chemistry paper has around 20% mathematical content, we found that students who studied some form of maths after GCSE performed better in Chemistry A Level than those that didn’t. 
  
• The chance to learn about some aspects of personal finance: tax, mortgages etc.
  
• Another opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. 

*Information correct as of June 2024

Students are expected to undertake 3-4 hours of independent work each week for this subject.

Skills you will develop

A Level Further Mathematics provides a great opportunity for enthusiastic and capable mathematicians to broaden and deepen their subject knowledge. It is taken in addition to A Level Mathematics (the combined course of Mathematics and Further Mathematics is sometimes referred to as “Double Maths” and consists of two course choices, having twice as much teaching as a single A Level course).

Students are expected to undertake 3-4 hours of independent work each week for this subject.

Skills you will develop

About this subject

A sports drink says on the label “This makes you run faster”.

In A Level statistics you would look for evidence to see whether this statement is true or not. You would collect data: athletes timed before and after the sports drink and then do a Hypothesis test to see whether this claim is true.

Using and understanding data is becoming increasingly important in many areas of study and employment. Understanding of statistics is a crucial skill, and this course aims to give students the tools needed to help them prepare for higher education and the workplace. It involves the collection, analysis, interpretation or explanation and presentation of data. It is the branch of Mathematics which is used in situations involving variability or uncertainty, such as weather forecasting, finance or assessing the effects of medicine.

A Level Statistics might appeal to a student seeking to pursue the study of a numerate post-16 subject but not wishing to study pure mathematics. It sits well with subjects such as A level Biology, Psychology, Geography, Geology, Sociology, Business Studies and Economics. The emphasis is on using and applying statistics; appropriate interpretation of contexts and the outcomes of statistical procedures will be required.

Our expectation is that many of the calculations will be performed using a calculator. There will be an emphasis on interpretation of the results, i. e. using the results you have found to find trends, make predictions and draw conclusions.

Students with an A Level in Statistics will find their skills to be valuable when taking degrees in Anthropology, Biology, Business Studies, Geography, Geology, Psychology, Sociology and other subjects. You may be surprised at just how many interesting jobs there are for statisticians, such as an Actuary, Accountant, Environmental Statistician, Government Statistician, Sports Statistician, Pharmaceutical Statistician, Biometrician, Forensic Statistician, Health Service Statistician, Medical Statistician, School Teacher and University Lecturer. Statistics is now used so widely that many employers would see a qualification in Statistics as a distinct advantage.

Students are expected to undertake 3-4 hours of independent work each week for this subject.

Skills you will develop

What is Mathematics?

• Is it seeking out patterns, and using them to formulate and prove new conjectures?
• Is it finding connections between related concepts, such as algebra and graphs?
• Is it about providing useful models of real world phenomena, which can then be used to provide insight or make predictions about nature?
• Is it a human activity which is part of everyone’s life?

Mathematics is all these things and more, which is why it is such a valuable course at A Level. Applicants interested in Maths may also be interested in Further Maths, Statistics or Core Maths.

Why Study This Subject?

Mathematics is a fascinating subject which is of great importance in its own right. It also has wide-ranging applications in industry, business, finance, science, technology and many other subjects. Maths qualifications can help you towards a future career in all of these areas. It is also vital for many university courses particularly those in science, computing and economics.

Studying Mathematics will help you to develop crucial skills which are highly valued by universities and employers, such as the ability to think logically, solve problems and communicate complex ideas effectively.

Students are expected to undertake 3-4 hours of independent work each week for this subject.

What is A Level Mathematics?

You will have taken Mathematics at GCSE level, studying number, algebra, geometry, statistics and probability.

At A Level, we will take all of these topics to the next stage, and introduce many interesting and important new concepts.

We use the AQA syllabus for A Level Mathematics (although the content of all A Level Mathematics syllabuses are essentially the same).

Skills you will develop

Why Study This Subject?

If you are enthusiastic about studying the past, reflecting upon key historical issues and controversies, then choose History at Greenhead College. We are a vibrant department, willing to engage you in our studies of Medieval, Early Modern and Modern History. If you too are fascinated about the world around us, and wish to gain a deeper understanding of social, political and economic change across these periods, then choose this subject as one of your A Levels. History provides you with the contextual knowledge to make sense of today’s world.

History is a challenging and rigorous A Level that is respected by employers and universities alike and complements most other A Level subjects. Our students do well in the subject with many deciding to study it further at degree level (including Oxbridge). Former students have gone on to pursue careers in law, publishing, journalism, accountancy, the navy, medicine, drama, the civil service, construction, archaeology and education including history teaching.

History is a broad subject that allows you to develop your analysis of historical sources and essay writing skills with greater depth and precision. You will read more widely, enlarging your vocabulary to help form coherent and well-reasoned arguments. Class discussions and debates are integral to our lessons as we are interested in your thoughts and ideas about historical controversies. Our teaching of the subject will involve group work, personal study, role play, quizzes, timed essays, videos, source analysis, podcasts, presentations and an opportunity to attend conferences and visits to historical sights. We currently run trips for our medievalists to either the Loire Valley or Normandy; and for modern students we visit Russia, exploring the key cities of St. Petersburg and Moscow.

The department also offers enrichment opportunities to study topics as diverse as Ancient Greece and Rome, the Vikings, Archaeology, the Tudors, the English Civil War, as well as visiting Auschwitz as part of the Holocaust Trust programme. We are keen to broaden your historical horizons to make the subject interesting and relevant to your lives.

Students are expected to undertake 3-4 hours of independent work each week for this subject.

Skills you will develop

Why Study This Subject?

The OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate in Health & Social Care is different from A Level courses because the emphasis is just as much about developing your skills as it is about gaining knowledge.

Equivalent to a full A Level, and consisting of six units over a two year period, the course is graded Distinction, Merit or Pass. This qualification will provide students with a broad overview of the Health & Social Care sector as they develop a deeper insight into the factors that affect individuals throughout their life, the roles and responsibilities of those working in this field, and the ways in which high quality care is provided.

Students are expected to undertake 3-4 hours of independent work each week for this subject.

Skills you will develop

Why Study This Subject?

Politics is a subject that tries to explain the society in which we live. It is not an abstract academic discipline, remote from everyday life. It is relevant to almost every aspect of the world around us. Politicians are responsible for the public services we use and how they are organized and funded. The decisions that affect our schools and colleges, our health service, transport network and armed forces are all political decisions. Our rights and responsibilities as citizens – the power of the state over us and our ability to choose and influence those in authority – also form part of politics.

• How fair and representative is our voting system?
• How do people organize themselves to put pressure on the government?
• How powerful is Parliament?
• What are the main differences between the political parties and where do their ideas come from?
• How successful has international cooperation been in tackling issues like climate change, human rights and global poverty?

If you are interested in these and similar questions, then this is the subject for you. There will be a chance for you to express and argue your own political views, but you should also be aware that these views will be challenged and you will have to learn about, and sometimes argue for, views with which you may disagree.

Politics is a rigorous and long-established A Level, which is accepted by both universities and employers. Past students have gone on to study at Oxford and Cambridge, as well as a wide range of other universities. Many choose to continue studying Politics or related courses such as International Relations or Global Politics, or combine it with subjects like History, English, Philosophy, Sociology or Economics. Politics fits in well with many other A Level subjects and is used for entry to a wide range of degree courses. Former students have gone on to work for MPs and members of the House of Lords, the civil service, ‘think-tanks’ and research groups, in teaching, business and banking.

Students are expected to undertake 3-4 hours of independent work each week for this subject.

Skills you will develop

Why Study This Subject?

Geology is not just about rocks. It is a multidisciplinary science that investigates the processes that happen on the earth’s surface and within it, and considers how the earth has evolved through time and potentially how it will into the future.

Geologists use this science to explore and exploit our water, mineral and energy resources; to predict volcanic and earthquake hazards; to try to prevent landslides and to protect our natural environment. Geology is also used during the construction of civil engineering projects such as buildings, tunnels and roads.

Students are expected to undertake 3-4 hours of independent work each week for this subject.

Skills you will develop

Why Study This Subject?

Geography is the bridge between the natural and social sciences. Its combination of physical and social sciences makes A Level Geography a highly relevant subject to study and the perfect companion to any other humanities, arts or science subjects. Geography is at the forefront of solving many of the challenges facing society, both at local and global scales. 

Geographers acquire a wide range of transferable skills, such report writing, decision making, qualitative and quantitative research methods, data presentation and analysis techniques.  

Coursework allows students to choose an area of interest to investigate and submit as a 4,000 word report. It is compulsory to undertake four days of fieldwork throughout the course.   

Students are expected to undertake 3-4 hours of independent work each week for this subject.

Skills you will develop