Film Studies, at A Level, is a well-established academic subject allowing you to explore the exciting relationship between moving image theory and practical film making. This student centred course enables you to view, discuss and analyse a diverse range of film texts. You will be introduced to frameworks surrounding macro features of film notably narrative construction and structure, representation and genre. You will also study film’s micro features including cinematography, mise en scene, editing and sound. The film industry will be explored within a historical and topical context.
Practically you will have scope to produce a short film or a screenplay which will be accompanied by a digitally photographed storyboard.
Students are expected to undertake 3-4 hours of independent work each week for this subject.
Topics you will cover
You will follow the Eduqas specification, which is part of the WJEC examination board.
Assessment will comprise both coursework constituting 30% and two written exams accounting for 70% of the qualification.
You will view discuss and analyse a diverse range of film texts, providing you with a wider critical awareness. This course also explores critical debates about film, referencing issues concerning representation, star theories, spectatorship, critical ideological perspectives and the significance of national cinemas.
Practically, you will have scope to produce a short film or a screenplay, which will be accompanied by a digitally photographed storyboard. You will also have an opportunity to apply for a British Film Institute 16-19 regional (Leeds and Bradford, currently City of Culture 2025)-and if successful national academy. These national academies are based in London, Manchester or Scotland. Annually, we have had students access mentoring from the National Film and Television School, including BAFTA and Oscar nominated/winning productions. These opportunities provide you with access to real life industry professionals and an industry real world skills set including tutelage in screenwriting, production design, cinematography, editing and direction.
You will be introduced to frameworks and critical debates, which you will explore in relation to the feature films studied across the two year course.
You will also study practically and theoretically the key elements of film form. These include cinematography, editing, sound design, performance and mise en scene.
The film industry will be explored within a range of institutional contexts; notably Classical Hollywood, New Hollywood, French New Wave, British Cinema, Documentary, Silent Cinema, Independent Cinema, Korean Cinema, Argentinian Cinema, the work of Riz Ahmed, Emerald Fennell and Feminist Film, Experimental Film with Christopher Nolan Celluloid Case Studies and Oscar winning filmmaker Asif Kapadia alongside Bassam Tariq.
You will also study an eclectic collection of short films to inspire your own filmmaking.
You’ll already know, from your GCSE studies, some of the appeal of literature.
You’ll know that it can move you and make you more aware of your own and others’ experience, and that it leads you to face some of the big moral and philosophical issues. Studying literature at A Level will take you further into the exploration of some of the most interesting fiction, poetry and drama of modern times as wellas that of the past. You will explore the ideas expressed in literature but also study the craft of writing and how writers use literary techniques to create meaning.
Perhaps most importantly of all, you’ll become aware that the way you react to a text may not be same as the way others do, and you’ll be expected to consider why that is. That’s why class discussions and disagreements are an important part of your learning. As well as seeing plays on video and on stage, you will also be given a general reading list from which we hope you will read widely. You will always be encouraged to think and work independently.
We are proud of the success of our students, on all three of our courses, both in terms of their examination results and the personal satisfaction they derive from their studies. A Level results in English Literature have remained well above national averages, year on year. Our students go on to sought after places at the most competitive universities every year.
Students are expected to undertake 3-4 hours of independent work each week for this subject.
Topics you will cover
The specification is linear and entails a two year programme of study. The assessment consists of two examined units accounting for 80% of the marks for the qualification; coursework accounts for the remaining 20%.
You will study a range of literary texts including poetry, prose and drama from different historical periods complemented by works of literary criticism. You will study a Shakespeare play such as Twelfth Night or The Tempest and a selection of pre-1900 poetry by the poet Rossetti. You will also study two novels reflecting either the Gothic genre or the theme of dystopia. The coursework concentrates on contemporary literature: a drama text such as Alan Bennett’s History Boys or Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, alongside a collection of contemporary poetry and a modern novel.
Entry Guidelines
Grade 5 in GCSE English Language
It is important that you are interested, motivated and not afraid to work hard. We will do the rest.
If you are intrigued about the ways in which we use language to communicate, this is the subject for you. You will learn about the ways in which journalists craft language to represent topical issues, study how we cement human relationships through spoken discourse and consider the extent to which language reflects its spoken, electronic or formal written context.
Choose to study English Language at A Level if you are fascinated by language and people. We explore the extent to which speech styles are shaped by gender. Do men interrupt more than women? Are men more competitive in their use of language? Are women more cooperative in spoken interactions? We also consider the extent to which other factors shape how we speak. How is spoken language affected by group dynamics, social status, ethnicity, occupation, geographical location …?
In the second year we explore how and why language has changed since 1600. We also discuss attitudes to language change. How do you feel about the addition of slang words ‘tiz’, ‘twerking’ and ‘shizzle’ to Collins Official Scrabble Words? To what extent are accents and dialects levelling? And how might we account for the different attitudes to Scouse, Yorkshire and R. P. accents?
Children’s acquisition of language is also explored in the second year. You will investigate why children under the age of five use logical constructions such as ‘wented’, ‘mices’ and ‘bestest’ and discuss the extent to which language acquisition is innate or a result of imitation and social interaction.
The second year also offers you an opportunity to produce an independent investigation and a piece of creative writing for coursework, a component that will equip you with the research skills needed for higher education and beyond.
Students are expected to undertake 3-4 hours of independent work each week for this subject.
Topics you will cover
This year sees exciting changes to the AQA English Language specification, which means you will:
Analyse and compare texts from different communicative contexts
Write essays in which you debate issues relating to language variation and change
Produce your own articles on a topical linguistic issue
Conduct an investigation into a language topic of your choice
The combined course allows you to pursue your interest in literature through exploration of prose, poetry and drama from different historical periods. You will develop your ability to closely analyse how the language of literary texts conveys precise meanings and creates stylistic effects. The combined course also gives you the opportunity to pursue an interest in creative writing, in both the first and second year of the course.
You will learn how to write in a range of non-fictional and fictional forms such as newspaper and magazine articles, radio scripts, TV scripts and short story writing. If you enjoy reading widely, discussing and analysing fiction and non-fiction, and would enjoy the challenge of writing for a range of different audiences and purposes, then this course will appeal to you. We provide a highly supportive environment to help you achieve your potential.
We are proud of the success of our students on all three of our courses, both in terms of their examination results and the personal satisfaction they derive from their studies. The A Level pass rate in English Language and Literature (Combined) has remained well above the national average, year on year. Our Language and Literature students go on to sought after places at the most competitive universities each year.
Students are expected to undertake 3-4 hours of independent work each week for this subject.
Topics you will cover
We will follow the OCR specification. 80% of your A Level will be examined and there is a 20% coursework component. You will study an exciting and wide range of literary and non-fiction texts, as well as develop your creative writing skills.
Comparative analysis of a range of spoken, written and electronic texts
Non-fictional creative writing
The study of two literary texts: a novel and a collection of poems
The study of a Shakespeare play
Fictional creative writing
Comparative analysis of two texts (fictional or non-fictional). This analysis forms part of the coursework component
A piece of non-fictional creative writing. This piece of writing forms part of the coursework component
Economics is everywhere, yet most students are initially unsure what it involves. Economics involves looking at resources which are scarce, and deciding how to best use them. You will be making decisions like these everyday, when you decide how to spend your money and time.
In Economics we look at consumer, business and particularly government decisions. These may relate to what policies to have in a certain sector or country. Often opinions differ as to the best policy to use or how to best spend the government budget.
Key economic issues include:
Why are some countries richer than others? Why does having natural resources not necessarily help economic development?
Is it good for a country to specialise in tourism?
What will the UK general election mean for economic policy?
Why might countries such as Argentina experience very high rates of inflation?
Why are more people in the UK not working?
Why has funding for childcare been increased?
What policies can be used to encourage use of electric cars? Is this desirable?
Economics equips you with:
An understanding of how the economy works, applied to modern day problems and current affairs
Skills to construct a logical and analytical argument
The ability to interpret and manipulate data. This includes reading graphs, using formulae and calculating percentages and percentage changes.
During the course, you will calculate: unemployment rates, inflation rates, income per head for a country’s population, a firm’s profit and revenue etc. The maths involved is no harder than GCSE and we teach you everything you will need to know.
Students are expected to undertake 3-4 hours of independent work each week for this subject.
About the department
As one of the largest departments in the country, with five dedicated Economics teachers, we offer all students an incredible experience, involving:
Economics A Level Results in the top 25% of the country
Last year, nearly a third of our students went on to study at a Russell Group university
A well-resourced Economics Help Room, so you can drop in and ask for help.
Visiting speakers from various institutions such as the Bank of England, the Treasury and various universities.
Enrichment opportunities including: personal finance, Student Investor Challenge, essay competitions and Oxbridge support.
Topics you will cover
We cover the Edexcel A Economics specification.
Theme One
Microeconomics – Year One
What can be done to reduce our consumption of ultra-processed food? Why do consumers sometimes behave irrationally? Why are property prices in London so much higher than elsewhere? Should there be a minimum pricing policy for alcohol? What can be done to reduce our use of non-renewable energy? Should plastic straws and bags be banned?
Theme Two
Macroeconomics – Year One
Why has inflation been high in the last few years? Is high national debt a cause for concern? Why do we spend more on buying foreign products than we raise from exporting British goods? Why might a 6.5% pay rise for NHS workers not be as high as it sounds? What causes unemployment and what can be done about it?
Theme Three
Microeconomics – Year Two
Why were Sainsbury’s and Asda not allowed to merge? How does supermarket power affect farmers? Why can Amazon sell products more cheaply than other firms? Why do some occupations earn more than others? Should the minimum wage be increased further? Should the railways be owned and run by the government? What will AI mean for our labour markets?
Theme Four
Macroeconomics – Year Two
Why are some countries rich and others poor? Was the UK leaving the EU be a good or bad thing? Why did the Financial Crisis of 2008 occur and could it have been prevented? Why is there income inequality within the UK and is this a good or bad thing? What policies can be used to encourage economic development? What is globalization and who wins and loses out from it?
Please note, the vast majority of our students have never studied Economics before so don’t feel you need to come with any prior knowledge of the subject.
What our students say
From our end-of-course questionnaire:
99% of students agree the quality of teaching is high
99% of students felt they had the opportunity to get help and advice
98% found the topics interesting and relevant
98% of students would recommend the course to others
Quotes from our students:
From our end-of-course questionnaire
97% of students agree the quality of teaching is high
99% of students felt they had the opportunity to get help and advice
99% of students felt the course helped with their skill development
95% of students would recommend the course to others
Quotes from our students:
The one major thing I would say about Economics is that when I started I was slightly nervous because I thought it was going to be very maths based (not my strongest point), but now I realise that in fact maths is just a small part of the subject and that is one of the reasons it fast became my favourite subject.
Economics is an interesting subject that I think links well with my other subjects (Business and Geography). My teacher is really helpful and goes through the work at a good speed. I enjoy lessons and would definitely recommend to anyone that has an interest in economics or business. My teacher has also supported me with answering questions by going through some of the work in smaller groups.
I thoroughly enjoyed learning about application skills and how we use different countries in essays to refer back to. Thoroughly enjoyed the developmental topic of economics because it relates to the whole global economy and learning about causes of poverty and development.
I found the course fascinating in its application to the real world, having an interest in current affairs it was especially useful. Also my understanding of my other subjects like history was furthered by economics.
Economics is a subject that opens your eyes and allows you to see the reality in the business and economic world. If you have ever been ninterested in government’s decisions and what are the impacts on individuals in the society or certain industries or markets? then economics might be the subject for you.
I have found economics to be an enthralling subject – some of my favourite teachers and best friends I met in economics classes. It is a brilliant subject for those wishing to learn more about the way the world around them works, and I have found it goes hand in glove with Government and Politics. I urge any student considering it to give it a go.
Entry Requirements
Grade 5s in both GCSE English Language and GCSE Mathematics.
Theatre Studies will develop your talents in performance and/or design and technical skills. The course develops excellent communication skills, creativity and invention, the ability to think independently, analytic skills, team building and people skills; all qualities valued highly by employers and Higher Education providers. Past students have gone on to a range of courses at degree level, not just Theatre Studies and Acting courses, but Arts Administration and Management, Teaching, Hospitality Management, Film and Television Production, Broadcast Journalism, Events Management, Costume and Set Design, Fashion, Law, Marketing Management and Public Relations.
Students are expected to undertake 3-4 hours of independent work each week for this subject.
Topics you will cover
Two plays are studied from a performance perspective. These set texts (one classical, one contemporary) are explored in terms of their directing, performance and design possibilities. This will be assessed in a written examination.
You will see and analyse a diverse range of live productions, focusing on specific production elements such as lighting design, performances, costume or set design to understand the semiotics of performance. A written examination will assess these skills.
The practical components consist of a group performance of a self-devised production using the techniques of a theatre practitioner. Assessment also includes preparatory and development work in the ‘Working Notebook’.
You are also assessed through three group performances of extracts from published plays, using the rehearsal techniques and performance methods of a key theatre practitioner. Students can offer acting, lighting design, sound design or costume design / making as their specialist skill. Assessment also includes a reflective report analysing and evaluating your theatrical interpretation of all three extracts.
Entry Guidelines
Other than the College’s general entry requirements there are no additional qualifications needed to study Drama and Theatre Studies.
You do need a proven interest and some experience in drama and theatre. This A Level will occasionally involve you rehearsing after College and seeing live productions in the evening.
Are you looking for a challenge? We aim to stretch you and challenge your intellect through real-world problem solving, looking at complex situations and working out how to make computer programs simulate or solve the problems using computational methods. All we ask is that you have some programming experience, are willing to work hard, practice and persevere so that you can enjoy what you do.
You will learn advanced employability skills. The majority of our Computer Science students go on to University after A Levels, and follow computer-related courses, such as computer science, artificial intelligence, software engineering, systems analysis, informatics, web development, networking engineers, games design, games programming etc, or joint courses such as business management with computing or IT. Increasingly this is being seen as a valued A level for STEM based degrees in engineering, aeronautics, astrophysics to name but a few.
Students are expected to undertake 3-4 hours of independent work each week for this subject.
Topics you will cover
The A Level Computer Science has topics which are fundamental to Computer Science. The main focus for the A Level specification is the teaching of the constructs of programming languages: procedural, object orientated programming, SQL, HTML, CSS and JavaScript. You will study the underlying data structures and algorithms that support computer programming and the systems architecture and components that provide the computational methods to run. You will learn conceptual and abstract thinking alongside visualisation techniques. We won’t be taking machines apart but we will be looking at how the computer components function – think of it as the ‘biology’ of the computer.
The A Level course is split into three units that are designed to enable you to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation. You will also complete a programming project, which will help you to apply knowledge and understanding of the principles and concepts of computer science, including how to analyse problems in computational terms and give you the opportunity to analyse, design, program and evaluate computer systems that solve problems, making reasoned judgements about these and presenting conclusions.
Get a Taste For it!
At GCSE you will have probably used PYTHON for procedural programming. At A Level we will use PYTHON for procedural language learning and Java for learning object orientated language learning and a combination of HTML5, CSS, Javascript, PHP and MySQL for web applications. Your project will be developed in a language of your choice or a combination of languages allowing you to develop and program to your strengths.
If you want to learn something BEFORE you start at Greenhead, the best thing to learn is some Python, Java, SQL, HTML5, CSS3 and Javascript. We suggest that you use the W3Schools website for this since it has a lot of great examples (http://www.w3schools.com).
If you want to learn programming in PYTHON then there are plenty of tutorials on the web but we would recommend tutorials through CodeAcademy (https://www.codecademy.com/learn/python)
Entry Guidelines
The admissions criteria for Computer Science A Level is a Grade 4 in English Language, a Grade 6 in GCSE Maths (Level 5 is accepted dependent on programming experience), with some experience of programming being essential.
We also request that students should have attained a Level 6 in Computer Science GCSE and be already programming (if you have not sat GCSE Computer Science or have not attained a Level 6 in GCSE Computer Science, but are already programming – please note this on your application and apply).
This course is about programming and the fundamentals of how a computer system works. It is a science based course with practical and technical aspects, and demands a good level of problem solving skills, mathematical and logical reasoning, and a substantial amount of examined theory.
The Ofqual requirements state that at least 10% of the exam-based assessment must test your ability to use elements of mathematics. Therefore, your mathematics skills should be good. We would recommend that you study A Level Mathematics alongside this subject and A level Physics is also a complementary subject.
If you want to develop your skills of critical analysis and debate, whilst also looking at the fascinating worlds of Ancient Greece and Rome, then Classical Civilisation is the course for you. A multi-disciplinary subject, Classics allows for the development of a range of study skills and academic techniques. We will consider history, literature, philosophy, politics and archaeology in our investigations into the Classical World. We will be looking at written texts (in translation), material artefacts and world-famous archaeological sites, all of which will help to enhance your interest and understanding. Classicists excel in a wide range of university courses and future careers, including law, publishing, journalism, accountancy, PR, medicine, drama, the civil service, construction, archaeology and education. The reason for this is that, through studying Classics, you will develop a wide range of transferable skills. This is also why Classics complements so many other A Level courses.
In our lessons discussions of the materials we have read and evaluated will be integral. Your opinions and ideas are something that we are very interested in and we will help you to refine your ability to think critically and argue persuasively, with confidence. Our teaching of the subject will involve a good mix of group work, personal study, role plays, quizzes, timed essays, videos, source analysis, podcasts, presentations and an opportunity to attend conferences, productions and visits to significant sites.
Students are expected to undertake 3-4 hours of independent work each week for this subject.
Topics you will cover
The Classical Civilisation A Level focuses on three different, but interlinked, areas.
Unit one considers the ‘World of the Hero’. Here we will look at the epic poetry of Homer (The Iliad) and Virgil (The Aeneid), in translation. Their tales of the Trojan War and its aftermath are captivating accounts which raise many debates about what it means to be a hero, what the purpose of war is and allows us to reflect upon the social and cultural context of the worlds in which these tales were created. From the anger of Achilles, the intervention of the Olympian Gods and a consideration of the futility of war, there are many exciting angles to explore. English Literature students will find this unit especially engaging.
Unit two is a more visual and tangible consideration of ‘Culture and the Arts’. We will be studying the reign of the first Roman Emperor, Augustus. Through a historical study of his long reign, we will consider how he cleverly used political ‘spin’ to create an ‘Imperial Image’. This unit allows us to combine the disciplines of history, poetry, art and sculpture in forming our ideas and opinions. There are clearly many modern parallels to be drawn which might interest students of Politics and History.
Unit three is an exploration into ‘Beliefs and Ideas’ in the Classical World. Specifically, we will be studying the Politics of the Late Roman Republic. This was an era of great upheaval where one system of government deteriorated so badly that a monarchy was eventually established. In this period violence and corruption in politics became endemic and Civil Wars erupted, forcing citizens to choose sides. We will look at the actions and beliefs of prominent individuals such as Julius Caesar, Cicero and Cato in an attempt to understand why the existing political and social system became unfit for purpose. We will also consider the role of the ordinary people via topics such as the rise of Populism. Students of Politics and Philosophy will find this unit especially interesting.
Throughout your A Level, you will be fully supported by an enthusiastic department and a wide range of resources. If you want to be academically challenged and enthused by the study of the ancient world, join us. Classical Civilisation can be studied alongside one of our History A Level options.
Entry Requirements
Grade 5 in GCSE English Language. We do not expect you to have studied any areas of Classics before and all materials will be studied in English translation.
Business is one of the most interesting, relevant and varied subjects available. Newspaper and television headlines offer continual reminders of how important the business world is to us all. In recent years much attention has been directed to issues such as fair trade, business ethics, globalisation and e-commerce.
The Cambridge Technical course covers all the key areas of business – marketing, human resources, production, finance, the external environment and communication. In addition there is the opportunity to focus on specific areas of business in more depth through the optional units. The course is ideally suited to those students who would prefer to be assessed through a mixture of examination and coursework projects. Unlike the A level Business course, 50% of the assessment is through coursework, with the remaining 50% assessed through examinations. This is a more practical course than the A level and students will need to research and visit local businesses in order to complete their coursework projects.
Enrichment Opportunities & Trips
The Business department offers an extensive range of subject-specific enrichment activities. In the ICAEW National Schools Business Competition our teams have won the regional finals four times and were runners up nationally. Students have won three awards during the world finals of the Global Student Challenge in Hong Kong on two occasions. Their business plan came third in the world and won the best environmental business award out of 191 teams. In addition we run a wide range of activities within college: Young Enterprise, Stock Market Challenge, The Apprentice, World of Business.
The department gives every student the opportunity to visit famous businesses and speak first hand with entrepreneurs. First year students have been visited by local entrepreneurs including Nicola Mellor of Pepamint Marketing and the designer Stefanie Smith. Second year students have visited entrepreneurs Kirsty Henshaw, Dean Hoyle and Theo Paphitis at local events. Recent trips have included Jaguar Land Rover, Coca Cola, Manchester United, Nissan, IKEA and JCB. Further afield we have been to Shepherd Neame brewery in Kent and the Crystal D’Arc glass factory in France. Second year students have the opportunity to visit New York with visits to the Federal Reserve Bank and Macys department store.
Should I study Business A level or the Cambridge Technical course?
Both subjects are similar in that they allow you to earn UCAS points, to enable you to access university courses. The content of the 2 courses does have similarities, but do check the content of the different specifications. There are also differences in terms of assessment and the grades awarded.
Can I progress to university after completing the course?
The course is well regarded by universities. It is similar to university courses in terms of how it is assessed; through a combination of assignments and examinations. This gives students the ideal preparation for studying at university.
University Points
Cambridge Technical
Business A level
56
Distinction *
A*
48
Distinction
A
32
Merit
C
16
Pass
E
Topics you will cover
The course covers 5 units of assessment, with 50% of assessment through coursework.
Unit
Title
Outline of content
Assessment
1
The Business Environment (worth 2 units)
How businesses operate, including: types of businesses and objectives, functional areas, organisational structures, use of financial information
Exam
2
Working in Business
How to work effectively within a business environment, including arranging meetings, working with business documents, making payments, prioritising business activities and communicating with stakeholders
Exam
4
Customers and Communications
Methods and importance of communication in business and the appropriateness of different forms of communication for different situations. Students will take part in a role play, which involves dealing with a customer, and will perform an oral presentation.
Coursework
Plus
Option 1
Focussing on one particular aspect of Business Management
Coursework
Plus
Option 2
Focussing on another particular aspect of Business Management
Coursework
Entry Guidelines
Other than the College’s general entry requirements there are no additional qualifications needed to study the Business Cambridge Technical Level 3 course.
Ideally students should have sound basic numeracy and literacy skills and a genuine interest in the business world.
