Why A Levels?

At Canford, we have taught A levels for many years.  For us, the excitement of A level teaching remains undimmed and we believe that there are huge challenges in mastering the content of any of the A levels we offer.  The A* grade, introduced in 2010, provides a real and demanding target for the most able.

It would not help many of our pupils, we feel, to study the six subjects (including English, Maths and a foreign language) required by the International Baccalaureate.   We believe that there is ample scope at GCSE level for pupils to test their ability in a wide range of subjects.  The Sixth Form becomes a time to begin the process of specialisation for a University degree.  For more information about Sixth Form academic study, please click here.

There are elements of the IB programme which we like, however, and have adapted these into our Sixth Form curriculum.   The IB's extended essay has led to the introduction of Extended Project Qualifications (EPQs) for interested Lower Sixth.  The Theory of Knowledge component has been threaded throughout Canford's unique General Studies programme, called Connections, giving pupils in every year group the chance to place into a wider context the knowledge they gain through subject lessons.  For further information about our Academic Enrichment programmes, please click on the link on the right.

By using the Cambridge Pre-U where appropriate (currently in Art and Modern languages) alongside A levels we believe we have a modern Sixth Form curriculum that offers the most flexible combination for today’s sixth-former.

Stephen Wilkinson - Director of Studies