A Level Course Preparation

If you are unable to visit an exhibition, the work below can be completed using online resources. However, we encourage you to experience artwork in person, as this will provide a much richer understanding.

Visit Hauser & Wirth Somerset in Bruton to see the Angel Otero exhibition. Admission is free, please check the gallery’s website for current opening times before you travel.

If you are able to visit, complete your observational drawings while in the gallery. Drawing directly from the artworks will help you develop your observational skills and gain a deeper appreciation of the artist’s techniques, scale, and use of materials.

Watch the exhibition film as you watch, make notes on:

Ideas or themes that interest you, Techniques or processes used by the artist, Connections you can make to other artists or your own work, Any questions the film raises or areas you would like to explore further.

Then create:

• 3 quick pencil sketches of Angel Ortero’s work.
• 2 tonal drawings of his work.
• A colour piece responding to his work.
• A set of photographs inspired by his work.
• A piece of sculpture, in any relevant media, that responds to the work of Angel Ortero.

Remember, this preparatory work is designed to help you begin your A Level studies with curiosity, confidence, and an understanding of how artists develop and communicate their ideas.

Look carefully at the work of other artists or photographers and develop your own creative response.

Visit an exhibition or you can complete using online resources, we recommend experiencing artwork in person, as this will give you a much greater understanding of scale, materials, texture, and the impact of the work.

You could choose a local gallery or exhibition instead; Messums West, Hauser & Wirth Somerset, or the Holburne Museum Bath.

We are interested in seeing your curiosity, creativity, and willingness to explore, not just the finished outcome, throughout the task:

Record your observations, ideas, and responses through sketches, photographs (where permitted), annotations, and written reflections.

Visit and Observe
Record the names of photographers whose work interests you. Make notes on what you notice, including the use of lighting, composition, location, framing, mood, and any ideas or questions the work inspires.

Plan and Photograph
Plan a photoshoot inspired by the techniques or ideas you observed. Your response does not need to copy the original work, focus on using similar methods such as lighting, composition, or framing. Experimenting with different angles, lighting, locations, and compositions.

Select and Edit
Create a contact sheet, identify your strongest images, and briefly annotate which photographs you have chosen to edit and why. Edit your selected images using software of your choice.

This course will build on your GCSE knowledge while introducing new concepts in greater depth. You will develop your scientific understanding, practical skills, and ability to analyse and evaluate biological ideas. Completing the activities below will help you make a confident start.

Refresh Your GCSE Knowledge

Revise the following key topics and create a set of concise revision notes or mind maps to summarise each topic.

Cell structure, Biological molecules, DNA and genetics, Exchange and transport, Enzymes, Evolution and biodiversity, Ecology, Respiration and photosynthesis

Complete One Research Task

Your work should explain one A Level Biology topic clearly using diagrams, key terminology and scientific explanations.

Produce an A3 revision poster, create a one-page revision guide, design an infographic, or prepare a short presentation.

Explore Biology Beyond the Classroom

Choose one activity and write a short reflection (200–300 words) explaining what you learned and how it links to Biology.

Read a popular science book, watch a science documentary or TED Talk, or visit a science museum, zoo, botanical garden or nature reserve.

Scientific Vocabulary

Create a glossary of at least 20 key scientific terms that you think will be important at A Level. Include a clear definition for each.

A Level Business will help you understand how businesses operate, make decisions and respond to challenges in a competitive global economy. Throughout the course, you will develop skills in marketing, finance, leadership, communication and business analysis.

Business in the News

Find two recent business news stories and for each story, explain:

• What happened?
• Which business was involved?
• Why is the story important?
• How might it affect the business?

Business Investigation

Choose a business you know well and create a one-page profile that includes:

• What the business sells
• Its target customers
• Its main competitors
• One strength and one challenge the business faces

Entrepreneur Research

Research one successful entrepreneur and include:

How they started their business, The challenges they faced, Three qualities that helped them succeed

Recommended Reading

Visit the BBC Business website over the summer and read at least three business news articles to help build your commercial awareness.

This course will develop your understanding of how businesses operate, make decisions, and respond to changes in the economy. Completing the activities below will help you make a confident start.

Industry Research

Choose four UK industries and create a short case study for each:

Supermarkets, Gas and electricity providers, Mobile phone networks, Confectionery

For each industry, research:

The leading businesses and their market share, How businesses market their products or services, Current issues or challenges affecting the industry.

Watch, Listen and Explore

Choose at least one of the following to broaden your understanding of Business and write a short reflection summarising what you learned about business, entrepreneurship, or marketing.

Podcasts

Business Daily, Good Ship BrewDog (BBC Sounds), Sliced Bread (BBC Sounds)

TV & Films

Dragons’ Den, Air (2023), The Social Network (2010), Jobs (2013)

Young Enterprise Challenge

As part of the course, you will have the opportunity to participate in Young Enterprise, where you will create and run your own business. Begin developing a business idea by considering:

A product or service, A company name and logo, Your target market, Marketing ideas, Potential suppliers

You may wish to explore successful businesses from previous Young Enterprise competitions for inspiration.

A Level Chemistry is a challenging but highly rewarding it develops your understanding of the chemical principles that underpin the world around us. Success at A Level requires strong GCSE knowledge, excellent mathematical skills and a willingness to think critically about scientific ideas. By completing the activities in advance of your course, you will strengthen your understanding of key concepts, develop independent study skills and begin exploring chemistry beyond the GCSE specification.

These books provide an excellent introduction to the fascinating and develop your scientific reading choose one, or more, of the following books to read.

• Periodic Tales: The Curious Lives of the Elements by Hugh Aldersey-Williams
• The Science of Everyday Life by Marty Jopson
• Bad Science by Ben Goldacre
• Calculations in AS/A Level Chemistry by Jim Clark

Chemistry in Action 

Watch at least two of the recommended documentaries or videos, as you watch, make notes on any scientific ideas that interest you or that you would like to learn more about.

Rough Science (Open University), A Thread of Quicksilver, 10 Weird and Wonderful Chemical Reactions, Chemistry in the Movies

Complete a Chemistry Research Task

Choose one of the following topics and produce a one-page summary.

The chemistry of fireworks, Why copper sulfate is blue, The history and manufacture of aspirin, The chemistry of the ozone layer, The future of touchscreen technology and indium tin oxide (ITO)

Include:

• The scientific principles involved.
• Real-world applications.
• Interesting facts you discovered.
• Any sources you used.

Review Essential GCSE Knowledge

All student’s should be confident with key knowledge before beginning A Level. Refresh your insight into the below topics:

• Electronic structure
• Oxidation numbers and redox
• Isotopes and mass spectrometry
• Bonding and molecular shape
• Balancing chemical equations
• The mole and quantitative chemistry
• Solutions and concentrations
• Titrations
• Organic chemistry
• Acids, bases and pH

Explore Chemistry Beyond the Classroom

These experiences will help you appreciate the importance of chemistry in everyday life and industry:

• Visit a science museum.
• Explore the geology or mineral history of your local area.
• Investigate local chemical industries or businesses.
• Look for university chemistry summer schools or outreach events.

Develop your programming skills and prepare for the practical programming work you will undertake during the course.

Programming Project – Greener & Cleaner

Design and program a Carbon Footprint Calculator using the Python programming language.

You have been commissioned by an environmental organisation called Greener & Cleaner to create a program that helps users calculate the carbon dioxide (CO₂) produced by their transport choices and encourages them to make more environmentally friendly decisions.

Your Python program should include as many of the following features as possible:

• Allow a user to enter details about their current transport use.
• Calculate their annual transport carbon footprint.
• Display a clear breakdown of how their total score has been calculated.
• Save users’ results.
• Retrieve previously saved results and allow users to compare how changes to their transport choices affect their carbon footprint.

Expectations

• Complete the project independently using Python.
• Use the example paper-based carbon footprint calculator as the basis for your solution.
• Aim to include as many of the required features as you can.
• Write clear, well-structured and well-commented code.
• Test your program thoroughly and fix any errors you find.
• Challenge yourself by improving the user interface or adding extra features where appropriate.

Studying Core Maths in Year 12, we recommend registering to the student Advanced Mathematics Support Programme in preparation for your A Level course.

What does the course cover?

What Is Crime?

Research the following questions.

• What is meant by the term crime?
• What is the difference between a crime and a deviant behaviour?
• Why do laws change over time?

Choose three crimes that have been widely reported in the news during the last 12 months and write a short paragraph explaining which case you found most interesting and why.

What happened?, Who was affected?, Why did the case receive media attention?, What sentence or outcome was given?

Crime in the UK

Using reliable sources such as the Office for National Statistics (ONS), GOV.UK or the BBC, research crime in England and Wales.

Create a one-page fact sheet and remember to reference the websites you used.

• The five most common types of crime
• Recent crime trends.
• Any surprising statistics you discovered.
• A graph or chart to present one set of statistics.

Why Do People Commit Crime?

Research two different explanations for criminal behaviour. For example, you could investigate:

Biological explanations, Psychological explanations, Social learning, Poverty and inequality, Peer pressure, Family influences

For each explanation:

• Summarise the main ideas.
• Give one real-life example.
• Explain whether you think the explanation is convincing and why.

Crime in the Media

Watch a crime documentary or listen to a true crime podcast. Examples could include:

BBC documentaries, Panorama, Channel 4 documentaries, A reputable true crime podcast

Afterwards, write a 300-word review that considers:

• What crime was investigated?
• What evidence was presented?
• Was the investigation fair and balanced?
• Did the programme change your opinion about the case?

Criminal Justice Research

Research one of the following careers:

• Police Officer
• Criminal Lawyer
• Forensic Scientist
• Probation Officer
• Crime Scene Investigator
• Youth Justice Worker
• Prison Officer

Produce a one-page profile including:

• The role and responsibilities.
• Qualifications required.
• Key skills needed.
• Salary range.
• Why the career interests you.

Recommended Reading and Viewing

Books

• Criminology Book One (WJEC)
• The Science of Crime – DK
• Criminology: A Very Short Introduction – Tim Newburn

Websites

• Office for National Statistics (ONS)
• GOV.UK
• The Crown Prosecution Service
• BBC News

Documentaries

• Panorama
• 24 Hours in Police Custody
• The Detectives
• Forensics: The Real CSI

A Level Fashion & Textiles is a creative and practical course that combines design, innovation and technical skills. You will develop original ideas, explore fashion trends, and learn how products are designed, made and manufactured for commercial markets.

Designer Research

Choose one fashion designer or brand that inspires you and create a one-page profile including:

• Their design style
• Two famous products or collections
• What makes their work unique
• Why you chose them

Fashion Trends

Research one current fashion or textile trend and include:

• Where the trend started
• Who it appeals to
• Images or a mood board
• Your opinion on why it is popular

Sustainable Fashion

Research sustainable fashion and answer the following questions:

• What is sustainable fashion?
• Why is it important?
• Give two examples of brands that are making fashion more sustainable.

A Level Design and Technology is a creative and practical course that develops your ability to solve real-world problems through design. You will learn how to research, design, prototype and evaluate products while developing skills in innovation, manufacturing and engineering.

Product Investigation

Choose a product you use every day and create a one-page analysis that includes:

• What the product is designed to do
• The materials it is made from
• What makes it successful
• One improvement you would make and why

Designer Research

Research a famous product designer, engineer or design company and include:

• Their most well-known products
• Their design style or approach
• Why their work has been influential

Design Challenge

Identify a simple everyday problem and sketch an idea for a product that could solve it include:

• A labelled sketch
• The materials you would use
• Who the product is designed for
• Why your design would be effective

These tasks will introduce you to some of the key concepts you will study and help you begin thinking like an economist.

Create a Country Case Studies by comparing five different countries. Your case studies must include:

The United Kingdom, Either India or China or Three other countries of your choice

For each country, research and present the following information:

• GDP per capita
• Life expectancy
• Education: Average years of schooling and Literacy rate
• Levels of pollution and environmental policies
• Average wage

Once you have gathered the information, compare the countries and consider what the data tells you about their standards of living and economic development.

Keep Up to Date with Economics by developing the habit of following current business and economic events. Useful sources include:

BBC News Business, The Financial Times, The Economist, The Guardian Business, Sky News Business or you may enjoy listening to the BBC Sounds podcast: Understanding the Economy.

As you follow the news, make brief notes on any stories that interest you and consider how they relate to topics such as inflation, unemployment, economic growth, taxation or international trade.

Track the Stock Market 

During the course you will have the opportunity to take part in the Investor Challenge, a national competition based on a fantasy stock market.

To prepare, choose ten companies and track their share prices over a period of time, for each company:

• Record its share price at the beginning of the summer.
• Check the price regularly.
• Record whether the price has increased or decreased.
• Research and explain the reasons behind any significant changes.

Consider questions such as:

• Which companies performed best?
• Which companies lost value?
• What events may have influenced investor confidence?
• Which investment would have given the greatest return?

A Level English Language is very different from GCSE English. Rather than studying literature, you will explore how language is used in everyday life. You will investigate how people communicate, how language changes over time, and how language shapes identity and society.

Language Investigation

Collect five examples of language from everyday life, these could include:

A social media post, An advertisement, A newspaper headline, A text message, A conversation (with permission)

For each example, explain:

Who is communicating?, Who is the intended audience?, What is the purpose of the language?, What features make the language effective?

Language and You

Create a one-page Language Profile about yourself and include:

• The languages or dialects you use.
• Any words or phrases unique to your family or friends.
• How your language changes depending on who you are speaking to.
• Why you think language is an important part of your identity.

Language in the News

Find one recent news story about language, for example:

• New words added to the dictionary.
• Slang and social media language.
• Accents and dialects.
• Artificial Intelligence and language.

Write a short summary explaining why the story interests you.

Throughout the course you will explore novels, poetry and drama from different periods, developing your ability to analyse texts, consider different interpretations, and understand how literature reflects the world around us.

A Level Literature builds on the skills you developed at GCSE but requires you to think more critically about writers’ methods, context, and the ways readers respond to texts.

Reading

Please purchase and read the following novels:

• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley – Penguin Classics ISBN: 9780141439471
• The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood – Vintage ISBN: 9781784873189

Read Frankenstein first. Your first reading should be for enjoyment; your second should include annotations, highlighting key themes, characters, language and contextual ideas.

Extend Your Reading

To broaden your literary knowledge, you may also wish to:

• Read widely for pleasure.
• Listen to literary podcasts, such as BBC Radio 4’s In Our Time.
• Explore literary blogs and reviews.
• Keep a reading journal to record your thoughts and responses.

Optional Challenge

Write a short analytical response to the question:

How does Mary Shelley present the concept of creation in Frankenstein?

If you have already read The Handmaid’s Tale, you may compare how both novels explore the idea of creation.

The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is an independent research project at A-level standard. It gives you the opportunity to investigate a topic that genuinely interests you, develop research and academic writing skills, and prepare for university or future employment.

Explore Your Interests

Create a list of five possible EPQ ideas, choose topics that:

• genuinely interest you
• go beyond your A-level specifications
• could be researched using books, journals and reliable websites
• are focused enough to investigate in depth

For each idea, explain:

Why it interests you (50–100 words), Which subjects it links to, What question you might investigate

Initial Reading

Choose your favourite two ideas and for each topic, find at least:

1 book, 2 reliable websites, 1 academic article or journal, 1 documentary, podcast or lecture

For each source, write:

• the full reference
• a short summary (100 words)
• why it is useful

Develop a Research Question by choosing a topic you are interested in and produce:

One broad topic, three possible research questions and explain which question you think would make the strongest EPQ.

Read Critically

Choose one article and write approximately 300 words answering:

• What is the author’s main argument?
• What evidence is used?
• Is the evidence convincing?
• Are there any weaknesses or bias?

Referencing Practice Create a bibliography using Harvard referencing. You do not need to reference perfectly, but demonstrate that you understand the principles. Include at least:

2 books, 2 websites, 1 journal article

Project Reflection

Write approximately 500 words reflecting on:

• Which topic interests you most?
• What have you learned?
• What challenges did you face finding sources?
• What skills would you like to improve during the EPQ?
• What do you hope to achieve by completing the qualification?

Watch L’Auberge Espagnole, which you will study as part of your A Level French course. As you watch, make a note of the main characters, key events and any themes you notice.

Read the set text 

We will be studying No et moi by Delphine de Vigan. Please purchase and read the English translation, titled No and Me by Delphine de Vigan.

Listen to French news each week

Once a week, listen to the slowly spoken French news on News in Slow French

• Choose topics that interest you, such as world news, politics, science or culture.
• The Beginner level is ideal if you are looking for slower-paced listening and if you would like more of a challenge, try the Intermediate level.
• Keep a record of the key ideas you understand from each news report.

Read a French news article each week on 1jour1actu

• Write down any unfamiliar French vocabulary that you need to look up and at the end of each article, write a short summary in English explaining what it was about.

Practise French grammar each week

Complete one interactive grammar exercise each week using Languages Online

A Level Further Mathematics is studied alongside A Level Mathematics and offers an exciting challenge for students who enjoy solving complex mathematical problems. Extending your mathematical knowledge through topics such as matrices, complex numbers, further calculus and proof, while developing logical thinking, mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills.

Mathematical Problem Solving

Complete five challenging maths problems from sources such as UKMT, NRICH or GCSE Extension papers. For each question:

Show your working clearly, Explain how you reached your answer, Reflect on what made the problem challenging.

Mathematics in the Real World

Research one real-life application of Further Mathematics and write a one-page summary explaining how advanced mathematics is used in your chosen field. Examples can include:

Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Cryptography, Finance, Artificial Intelligence

Mathematical Reading

Read one article or watch one video about a mathematical topic that interests you. Write a short summary explaining:

What you learned, What surprised you, or one question you would like to explore further.

Develop a deeper understanding of the physical and human processes that shape our world, while exploring some of the biggest environmental, social and economic challenges facing society today.

Explore the Wider World

Access the Geography department’s Padlet and engage with at least six different resources, which may include: Videos, Podcasts, Articles, Book extracts

For each resource, record:

• The title and date accessed.
• One or two key ideas or facts you learned.
• Any questions or reflections the resource prompted.

Wider Reading

You may also wish to explore some of the recommended Geography books to broaden your understanding and prepare for the course.

Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall, Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane, The Story of CO2 Is the Story of Everything by Peter Brannen, Factfulness by Hans Rosling, The Future of Geography by Tim Marshall

Course Resources

You will need the Edexcel A Level Geography Complete Revision & Practice guide, which will be used regularly throughout Sixth Form for independent study, homework and exam preparation.

You will develop an understanding of political ideas, institutions and processes in the UK, the USA and the wider world. You will learn to analyse current political events, evaluate different viewpoints and develop your own informed opinions.

Understanding UK Politics

Research the UK General Election and choose one political party’s manifesto.

Answer the following questions:

• Which political party did you choose?
• What are three key manifesto pledges?
• Which pledge do you think would have the biggest impact on society? Explain your answer.
• Do you think political parties always fulfil their manifesto promises? Why or why not?

Politics in the News

Find a recent news article about a political issue in the UK or abroad. Write approximately 150 words explaining:

• What happened?
• Who is involved?
• Why is this issue politically important?

Political Vocabulary

Find definitions for the following terms:

Democracy, Parliament, Government, Manifesto, Constitution

Watch a political programme or podcast and write 100 words summarising one issue discussed and whether you agreed with the arguments presented. These could include:

BBC Question Time, Politics Live, or The Rest Is Politics.

In Year 12 you will study Russia (1894–1941) and Britain (1900–1951). You will build an understanding of the people, events and ideas that shaped these periods.

Russia (1894–1941)

Use BBC Bitesize to explore Russia from the late Tsarist period through to the Second World War. As you work through the topics, create mind maps or flashcards to summarise the key events, individuals and concepts.

For wider reading or viewing, you may wish to explore:

• The Last Czars (Netflix)
• A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (or the television adaptation)

Britain (1900–1951)

Watch Andrew Marr’s The Making of Modern Britain, Episode 1: A New Dawn and create a mind map exploring:

• Why Britain changed so dramatically between 1900 and 1951.
• The class system and political parties.
• The impact of the Boer War.
• Poverty and the findings of Rowntree’s report.
• The changing role of women in society.

Familiarise yourself with key terms such as:

Laissez-faire, Chancellor of the Exchequer, New Liberalism, National Efficiency, Trade Unions, House of Lords

This course will introduce you to the English legal system, criminal law, and the principles of justice. Develop your legal knowledge, critical thinking and analytical skills.

Research and Reflect

Complete two of the following tasks:

• Research how sentencing works in England and Wales and produce a one-page summary.
• Investigate the role of the UK Supreme Court, including one significant case.
• Explore how the law has changed by researching the reform of the Double Jeopardy rule.
• Compare the Civil and Criminal Courts, explaining their purpose, structure and the types of cases they hear.

Watch and Learn

Choose one or more of the following and write a short reflection on what you learned about the legal system, justice, or the role of the courts.

Catching Britain’s Killers: The Crimes That Changed Us (BBC), The Case of Sally Challen (BBC), The Trial: A Murder in the Family (Channel 4), HARDtalk: Lady Hale (YouTube)

Prepare for A Level Mathematics or Further Mathematics, by completing the SPARX Maths Transition Booklet. It is free to use, and contains over 120 questions covering 11 key mathematical topics.

Expectations

• Complete every question in the booklet, do not leave any blank.
• Show your working clearly for every question.
• Mark your work using the accompanying mark scheme in purple pen, making any corrections clearly.

Additional Practice If you have access to SPARX Maths, you are encouraged to complete additional independent work in preparation, please mark this work in purple pen as standard.

Explore how media products are created, how audiences respond to them, and how the media shapes our understanding of the world. Throughout the course, you will analyse a wide range of media, including film, television, newspapers, advertising, social media and online platforms.

Media Diary

Over one week, keep a diary of the media you consume. Including:

Television or streaming, Social media, News, Podcasts or radio, Websites or YouTube

At the end of the week, write a short reflection on the media you consume and which forms you use most.

Analyse a Media Product

Choose one media product, such as a film poster, magazine cover, advert or social media campaign and create a one-page analysis explaining:

• Who the target audience is.
• How the product attracts its audience.
• What messages or values it communicates.
• Whether you think it is effective.

Media in the News

Find one recent news story about the media industry and write a short summary explaining why the story is significant and how it might affect audiences or media organisations, for example:

Social media, Artificial intelligence, Streaming services, Journalism, Film or television.

Get ready for joining the A Level Music course, complete as many of the following activities as you can.

Practise your instrument

• Aim for at least three 30-minute practice sessions each week.
• Focus on improving your technique, accuracy and musical expression.

Develop your composition skills

• Experiment with short composition ideas.
• For example, take a scale during your warm-up and turn it into a four-bar melody.

Record your own music; If you have access to music software, use it to create a short piece or alternatively, record yourself using your phone (e.g. Voice Memos).

Ideas include: Composing music to accompany a film scene, Writing the chorus of a song, or creating a short instrumental piece.

Improve your aural skills by using Teoria to practise melodic and rhythmic dictation exercises.

Learn about Western Classical Music

Read about the Western Classical Tradition (1600–1900) using the BBC Bitesize guide

Experience live music by attending a concert, gig or live performance if you have the opportunity.

Discover new music Explore a streaming platform and listen to a new artist or band you’ve never heard before and try to listen to a variety of genres.

Listen to classical music as this will help prepare you for Component 3 of the A Level course. Tune in to BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3 or Classic FM to discover new composers and styles of music.

• This A Level course is not available for September 2026 entry but may be offered in future years.

This course combines creativity with practical and technical skills, including recording, sequencing, production and critical listening. Preparation work will help you develop the listening skills and musical awareness needed to begin the course confidently.

Critical Listening

Choose one professionally produced song from any genre and listen carefully and answer the following:

• What instruments or sounds can you hear?
• How would you describe the structure of the song? (e.g. intro, verse, chorus, bridge)
• Which production techniques stand out? (e.g. reverb, panning, EQ, compression, delay)
• What do you like about the production?

Explore Music Technology

Research one of the following:

Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs), MIDI, Audio interfaces, Microphones, Synthesisers

Write approximately 150 words explaining:

What it is, How it is used, Why it is important in modern music production.

Watch and Reflect

Watch one video or documentary about music production or recording and write around 100 words describing one thing you learned. Some suggestions include:

• Soundbreaking (BBC/PBS)
• The Art of Mixing (YouTube)
• Produce Like A Pro (YouTube)
• Rick Beato – What Makes This Song Great? (YouTube)
• Point Blank Music School tutorials (YouTube)

Musical Vocabulary

Find definitions for the following terms:

MIDI, Tempo, Equalisation (EQ), Compression, Reverb

Preparation work will introduce you to the first topics you will study. Completing these activities will help develop your understanding of the key concepts and prepare you for the start of the course.

Applied Anatomy and Physiology

Your first area of study focuses on Energy Systems.

• Watch the YouTube video The Role of ATP by Mike Tyler.
• Answer all of the questions on Energy Systems – The Role of ATP.

Complete all four sections:

1. The Role of ATP
2. The ATP-PC System
3. The Anaerobic Glycolytic System
4. The Aerobic System

Sport and Society

Watch the following YouTube video on Commercialisation, Media and Sponsorship by James Morris. After watching, write a short response (approximately 150 words) answering the following questions:

• How has the media changed modern sport?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of commercialisation?
• Give one sporting example that demonstrates the relationship between media, sponsorship and commercialisation.

Refresh your GCSE knowledge and introduce the key skills needed for success.

Physics in the News

Find a recent article about a physics-related discovery or technology and answer:

• What is it about?
• Why is it important?
• What did you find most interesting?

Maths Refresher

Complete the following:

• Write 0.00045 in standard form.
• Convert 3.5 km to metres.
• Convert 8 MJ to joules.
• Rearrange F = ma to make m the subject.
• Rearrange V = IR to make R the subject.

Core Physics

Answer the following:

1. State Newton’s First Law.
2. Explain the difference between mass and weight.
3. State the wave equation.
4. Explain the difference between series and parallel circuits.

Research Task

Choose one topic and write half a page summarising what you learned, including one interesting fact.

Black holes, Nuclear fusion, Quantum computing, The James Webb Space Telescope

Watch and Reflect

Watch one physics video, for example MinutePhysics, Veritasium, or Brian Cox and write 100 words describing something new you learned.

Explore how and why people think, feel and behave. We will introduce you to some of the key psychologists and theories you will study over the next two years.

Research

Research a selection of famous psychologists:

Elizabeth Loftus, Albert Bandura, John Bowlby, Abraham Maslow.

Create a fact sheet, be selective and focus on the most important information. Your fact sheet should include:

• A picture of the psychologist
• The area of psychology they are associated with
• Their most significant theory or study
• Their contribution to psychology and its impact on society.

Sociology is the study of society, people and the way our lives are shaped by social institutions such as families, education, the media and religion.

Sociology in the News

Find a recent news article about a social issue, for example education, crime, inequality, family life, gender, social media or poverty and answer the following questions:

• What is the issue?
• Who is affected?
• Why do you think it is important?
• What questions would a sociologist ask about this issue?

Read, Watch or Listen

Choose one of the recommendations from the reading, viewing or podcast list. Write around 100 words explaining:

What you learned, How it relates to society, One question it made you think about.

Think Like a Sociologist

Write a short response (150–200 words) to one of the following questions and support your ideas with examples where possible.

• Is social media a positive or negative influence on young people?
• Does education provide equal opportunities for everyone?
• What factors influence a person’s identity?

Challenge Choose one of the following terms and write a definition in your own words: Culture, Socialisation, Inequality, Identity, Norms and values

Recommended Reading

• Poverty Safari by Darren McGarvey
• Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez
• Factfulness by Hans Rosling
• Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class by Owen Jones
• The Spirit Level by Richard Wilkinson & Kate Pickett
• Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala

Recommended Podcasts

• Things Fell Apart (BBC) Jon Ronson
• Thinking Allowed (BBC Radio 4)
• Child (BBC Radio 4) India Rakusen
• Radical with Amol Rajan
• The Sociology Show
• More or Less (BBC)

Recommended Viewing

• The State We’re In (BBC) Darren McGarvey
• Louis Theroux documentaries (BBC)
• The School That Tried to End Racism (Channel 4)
• Benefits Street (Channel 4)
• Panorama (BBC)
• The Secret Life of 4, 5 and 6 Year Olds (Channel 4)

Prepare for the A Level Spanish course by:

Watching the set film

Watch Volver, which you will study as part of your A Level Spanish course, as you watch, make notes on the main characters, key events and themes.

Read the set text

Please purchase and read La casa de Bernarda Alba, a bilingual (Spanish and English) edition is available.

Listen to Spanish news once a week on slowly spoken Spanish news

As you listen:

• Make a note of the key ideas you understand.
• Choose topics that interest you, such as current affairs, science, culture or world news.
• Challenge yourself to understand more each week.

Read a Spanish news article each week

• Choose one news article to read.
• Print the article if possible.
• Highlight any unfamiliar vocabulary.
• Use an online dictionary to find the English meanings of new words.
• Write a short summary in English of the main points covered in the article.

Practise Spanish grammar choose a different grammar topic each week to build your confidence and accuracy.

Prepare for BTEC Sport Unit 1: Anatomy and Physiology, by completing the following activities. Tasks will introduce you to the first topic you will study, the Skeletal System.

Watch the introductory videos to develop your understanding of the skeletal system. Major Bones and the Functions of the Skeletal System.

As you watch, make notes on:

• The names and locations of the major bones.
• The five main functions of the skeletal system.
• Any key terminology that is new to you.

Test your knowledge by completing the Major Bones Quiz to check your understanding and help you become familiar with the terminology and anatomical positions that will be used throughout Unit 1.

Repeat until you feel confident identifying each bone.

Prepare for A Level Theatre Studies, by completing the following, these tasks will introduce you to some of the key plays, practitioners and theatre companies that you will study during the course.

Read the following plays:

• The Playmaker by Thomas Keneally
• Our Country’s Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker
• The Servant of Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni

As you read, consider:

• The themes and messages of each play.
• How the characters develop.
• How each play could be staged for a modern audience.

Using Digital Theatre+ watch the following productions:

• Wise Children by Emma Rice
• Othello by Frantic Assembly
• A Doll’s House (National Theatre Live)

While watching, think about:

• The acting style and characterisation.
• Set, lighting, costume and sound design.
• How the director communicates the themes of the play.
• Which production choices you found most effective.

Spend some time researching the following theatre practitioners and companies:

Frantic Assembly, Kneehigh, Konstantin Stanislavski, Bertolt Brecht, Steven Berkoff, Antonin Artaud

For each one, make brief notes on:

• Who they are (or were).
• Their theatrical style and techniques.
• Their influence on modern theatre.
• Examples of productions or companies associated with their work.