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5-term A-level

Occasionally, a student needs to start the A-level programme in January, rather than the previous September.

This may be because:

The academic year in their home country differs from the UK
They have decided that the course they started in September is not the correct choice for them

Therefore, Earlscliffe offers students a 5-term A-level option.

Thanks to our small class sizes and personalised teaching approach, students are able to manage the A-level workload in a shorter space of time. However, admissions are subject to an academic and pastoral review, as this is an especially challenging academic programme.

During the first two terms, students benefit from an intensive teaching approach designed to guide them through the condensed curriculum. In September of the following academic year, they integrate into the main Year 12 A-level cohort and continue their studies at the standard pace.

Available subject combinations for the 5-term A-level are as follows:

Combination 1	Mathematics	Economics	Business
Combination 2	Politics	Economics	Business
Combination 3	Biology	Chemistry	Mathematics
Combination 4	Mathematics	Physics	Chemistry

Most international students will also study English for Academic Purposes.

Students with lower level English proficiency are recommended to first join the Pre A-level classes for one or two terms, before starting A-levels at the natural entry point of September.

If a student is considering GCSE or A-level studies at Earlscliffe but would like to experience our environment first, we offer flexible short-term Study Abroad programmes. These courses provide an excellent introduction to life at Earlscliffe, with the option to progress seamlessly into full GCSE or A-level studies upon completion.

Small class sizes and intensive teaching

Even in the most popular subjects we maintain small classes. The reason for having small classes is very simple. The greater the amount of individual attention that the student receives, the greater the chances are that the student will achieve better grades.

In a small class, teachers are able to get to know the students, and everybody has to contribute. In addition, small classes create safe environments in which students are more willing to participate and ask questions.

Class sizes average at around 7 students. This means some subject choices have classes which only have 3 students and others are above average due to their popularity. When a class reaches a maximum of 12-13 students we will look to open a new class for that subject.

English language support

EAP (English for Academic Purposes) is a fundamental part of every lesson. The individual English language needs of each student are taken into account by their teacher and lessons are planned accordingly.

Our teachers are very experienced with EAP and they employ a wide range of methods to help support the development of the students’ English language skills. The specifics of the support will depend very much on each students’ needs and the course they are doing. For example, ITY students may have to read works of fiction and produce book reports, whereas A-level students will have to learn subject-specific terminology, in context, and take part in frequent vocabulary tests.

We also empower the students to be independent learners, and to continually improve their English language skills. Students are trained to use dictionaries and resources effectively and efficiently in order to support their own learning.

To find out more about teaching English at Earlscliffe please click here

Homework

Homework is completed in the evenings and at weekends. Students are allocated at least two hours each evening as quiet study time in their rooms, which is supervised by their House Managers. While many students do less homework on Saturdays, almost all students use Sundays to do some serious, extended study in their own time.

Each A-level subject has an extended reading section, with books, articles and texts recommended as additional reference material. This information will be given to the students by the subject teachers and is also available on the school’s Independent Study website. Students have access to daily newspapers and weekly journals like ‘The Economist’, ‘The New Scientist’ and ‘The Spectator’ – titles they should be reading in their free time to improve their understanding of the wider issues relating to their academic subjects.