dgsb sixth form prospectus 2014

8/14/2019 DGSB Sixth Form Prospectus 2014

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Do

verGrammar

SchoolforBoys

Sixth Form Prospectus

2014 Entry


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Achievement is good in the sixth form. Since theprevious inspection, students attainment hasimproved steadily, particularly for the proportion ofstudents achieving the higher grades.

Ofsted, October 2013


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Headtea

chersWelcome

Thank you for your interest in the Sixth Form at Dover Grammar School for Boys. As Head-teacher of the School, Im proud to be part of this community in which students and stafflearn together, developing our knowledge and skills for the future. Our aim is to provide theopportunities and environment which will enable every one of the students here to fulfiltheir academic potential and gain the skills and confidence to proceed to Higher Educationor employment, lead rewarding lives and contribute to their society.

If you were to join us, you would certainly be joining a flourishing concern. The AS and A2results of DGSB students have strengthened very pleasingly over the past two or three years,and the student roll has never been healthier over 100 in Year 12 currently. We can alsooffer a wide range of academic options. As of September 2014 the IB will no longer beavailable, for reasons of low demand, but we shall be channeling our resources into enrichingour A-Level offer, and already we have added Classical Civilisation and Drama & TheatreStudies to the courses at your disposal. I might add that your chances of securing your fullfirst-choice programme are very high over 90% every year, and usually over 95%.

But life in the Sixth Form is about much more than academia. As you read this prospectus,I hope you will get the flavour of the many extra-curricular activities which are available to

you, and the responsibilities you can assume within the life of the School. Perhaps you willseek election as an Officer of our Sixth Form Students Association, working to enrich therange and quality of experiences on offer to your peers. You might be attracted to the ideaof becoming a Prefect, helping to organise official School events or working with youngerstudents in their form groups. You could become involved with GCSE mentoring, or work ina primary school and all this to say nothing of opportunities such as drama or debating,music or sport. The possibilities may not quite be endless, but they are very extensive.Joining the Sixth Form at DGSB will certainly offer you a varied, challenging and thoroughlyenjoyable two years.

Dr Richard Moxham, Headteacher


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Whatwehav

etooffer

The Sixth Form is the culmination of a students life in a secondary school and an opportunityto develop the qualities of personal integrity, consideration, awareness of the widercommunity and individual effectiveness. Academically, we seek to foster independentlearning, self-reliance and teamwork. Most of our students will go on to university, and theaim is to prepare them for that next step in their education through encouraging them totake responsibility for their own learning and to build confidence in managing their ownlives.

Here is what you can expect from us:

a wide range of A-Level subjects arranged in combinations to suit the needs ofstudents;

excellent, high-qualified specialist teachers who have helped many previous SixthFormers to obtain good results;

a specially-designed programme HEdSTART dedicated to helping studentsdevelop the necessary skills for Higher Education;

full advice and guidance on Careers and Higher Education in Year 12, followed byexpert assistance in presenting your UCAS application in Year 13;

supervised private study as part of your timetable; three afternoons a week in which to learn the art of managing your own time; enrichment by involvement in the larger life of the school (including music, drama

and sport) or by participation in activities within the local community, such asworking with charities or with Primary Schools;

the right to stand for elected office within the Sixth Form Students Association; leadership challenges such as serving as a School Prefect, mentoring younger

students, or taking part in a Young Enterprise project; above all, intellectual stimulation and personal growth in a challenging and

congenial environment.


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EntrytotheSixt

hForm

ENTRY TO YEAR 12

To gain a place in Year 12, you will need to satisfy all three of the following criteria:

1) From your best six GCSE results, a total of at least 276 points according to thescale A*=58, A=52, B=46, C=40, D=34, E=28.

2) At least GCSE Grade C in both English Language and Maths.3) At least GCSE Grade B in any subject (except Maths) to be studied at A-Level.

For Maths, at least GCSE Grade A; for Further Maths, Grade A*.

NB: in the case of subjects not available at GCSE, entry requirements to benegotiated (e.g. a B in, say, History or Maths might be required for Economics).

You will also be expected to attend the Sixth Form Induction Course that takes place at theend of June or beginning of July.

Applicants from other schools will be invited to visit the School individually for a discussionof their subject preferences.


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H

EdSTART

HEdSTART is an ongoing project, launched here at DGSB in September 2011 from a beliefon our part that students need a much more active and directed preparation for universitystudy than most schools including ourselves have tended to provide in the past.

At the moment, the project has two strands. The first is a timetabled course called CoreSkills which all Year 12 students attend for one period every week. The course is designedto deal with any and every aspect of study which is not subject-specific. Note-taking, time-

management, reasoned argument, presentation technique, higher reading and writing skills these are just a sample of the things we aim to cover, and students themselves are atliberty to suggest topics which they would find helpful.

The second strand, still very much work in progress, is the attempt to develop the ways inwhich we do our Sixth Form teaching so as to recreate as far as possible the sorts ofapproach students must expect to encounter in Higher Education. Obviously, practice willalways vary to some extent from teacher to teacher and from subject to subject, but theoverall aim is that each student should experience, by the end of his or her course, a mixtureof lecture-style and seminar-style teaching, the requirement to produce some sort of longer,annotated dissertation in addition to the standard short essays, the management of a fairlysubstantial reading list, and so on.

Alongside all of the above, we are continuously looking for opportunities to make availableto students direct contact with universities, whether through group visits to campuses,invitations to academics to visit the School, or in any other way. Interesting newopportunities are constantly arising, and we expect the HEdSTART project to keep evolvingfor some time to come.


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StudentsAssociation

The Students Association is the representative organisation within the Sixth Form much

like a Students Union at University. Every student entering the Sixth Form at Dover GrammarSchool for Boys is automatically a member of the Students Association and has a right tostand for election as an Association Officer.

AIMS

The aims of the Students Association are to:

seek the views of Sixth Form students and represent those views to the SchoolsSenior Leadership Group;

support student learning and enrich the student experience in the Sixth Form;

develop the resources and facilities provided for the Sixth Form, including themanagement of the Sixth Form Common Room;

play a leading role in the Schools charitable fundraising; organise Sixth Form activities.

OFFICERS

The following positions are elected in September of each year; President, Vice PresidentYear 12 and Vice President Year 13. In addition a further 6 students are elected as ExecutiveCommittee Officers. All Sixth Form students are eligible to run for a position and vote in theelections.

THE FORUM

The entire Sixth Form Students Association meet fortnightly in the Forum, where key issuesare debated, motions voted upon and students have the opportunity to hold the electedmembers to account. It is through the Forum that all Sixth Form students have anopportunity to voice their opinions about life in the Sixth Form and put forward ideas toimprove the experience.


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LifeandworkintheS

ixthForm If you elect to pursue your education here, in a School Sixth Form, in preference to some

other choice, that decision will be taken to imply acceptance of the academic package weoffer and all that goes with it.

You will have a measure of both freedom and responsibility, on the expectation that youwill have become more mature and more able to function like an adult. Indeed, during thecourse of the Sixth Form, you will become an adult in the eyes of the law. The relationship

between teachers and students may be more relaxed and co-operative, but this alwaysrelies on students conducting themselves sensibly and courteously. Such things should be-come second nature. In the Sixth Form, you will have periods of non-contact time whichyou will be expected to manage responsibly for purposes of self-directed study and research.Some of this time will be supervised by staff in order to help you acquire the right habits.Homework will increasingly involve longer-term projects alongside assignments to be com-pleted within the week. There is no fixed homework timetable, but we look to every studentto be putting in 20 hours work each week outside the classroom, irrespective of how muchis actually set.

Expectations regarding work rate and attendance are high, and are monitored regularly bythe Head and Deputy Head of Sixth Form, by Form Tutors and by subject teachers. Failureto meet these expectations can result in the withdrawal of exit privileges or even of exam-ination entry, but we find that the overwhelming majority of our students see very clearlythe folly of running any such risk and conduct themselves in the self-responsible mannerwhich one looks for in senior students.

In the belief that regulation at this level should exist only in support of crucial academicand personal values, we are currently operating an experimental Sixth Form dress codewhich imposes no requirements at all upon students beyond the obvious criteria of safety,decency, hygiene and cleanliness. The Schools Governing Body will decide early in the New

Year whether this policy merits continuation. So far, however, it is fair to say that the SixthForm have responded to their new sartorial freedom with pleasing maturity.

Students are invited during Years 11 and 12 to apply to become prefects. Those appointedwill receive certain privileges in exchange for the very considerable extra responsibilitiesand workload they take on in assisting the staff during lunch and break times and in repre-senting the School on other occasions. Becoming a prefect provides opportunities for lead-ership and helps students to mature through learning to deal with what can sometimes bechallenging situations.


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A-Level

A-LEVEL

When deciding which A-Levels to take, it is advisable to choose subjects which will workwell together for you, bearing always in mind your future study and career intentions.

In some cases, a particular combination of subjects will be an absolute requirement for auniversity course. Engineering, for instance, will require both Maths and Physics (though

not, as sometimes believed, Design Technology). Some university courses (Maths, English,History etc) cannot usually be accessed without an A-Level in the subject itself; in others(Law, Economics) that will not be a deal-breaker. Sometimes, however, another subject issurprisingly required what most Economics departments will want you to have is Maths.In the classic case of Medicine, Biology (most peoples intuitive idea of the most closely-related subject) will not necessarily be essential; Chemistry, however, will. In addition,definitions of subject groupings will sometimes vary. Medical courses generally stipulate

Chemistry plus another Science (or another two), but they will count Maths as a Science.Sports Science courses will do likewise, but may also count Psychology.

The above are just examples of issues on which university applicants need to make surethey are thoroughly informed. The key message is: research properly, by paying carefulattention to each universitys published admissions criteria, and also by consulting therelevant teaching staff at School, and in particular Mr King.

Whatever subjects you choose, however, you need to remember that a strong performanceat AS-Level is crucial, since those are the only results you will be able to show at the momentwhen you are asking universities to consider you. Be aware also that dropping one of yourfour subjects in Year 13 is unlikely to be a good plan although in principle a universityplace can be gained with three A-Levels, most of your competitors for the same places willhave at least one more.


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ArtandD

esign

ART & DESIGN (FINE ART)

We follow the AQA Specification in Art & Design (Fine Art).

The two-year programme contains four Units. Each year consists of one coursework Unit, andone externally set assignment, leading to a 5 hour examination in Year 12, and a 15 hourexamination in Year 13. The coursework and examination work each count for 50% of the totalmark.

The 'Portfolio' in Year 12 and the 'Personal Investigation' in Year 13 require you to be innovativeand to experiment as you learn from major artists and apply that learning to practical work. Forthe externally set assignments you will write at least 2,000 words analysing, describing andappreciating the work of major artists. You will also make notes about your own work and how

it relates to the work of selected artists.

Themes for the Units could include landscape, portraits, still life, interiors, buildings andstructures, or wildlife. Wide ranges of materials and processes are used throughout the course.

You are given a strategic learning programme that is unique to your artistic direction, interestsand creative development. Group discussions and one to one discussions are held frequentlyand recorded.

Trips to galleries provide opportunities for you to engage with original works of art. We alsoexpect you to learn independently, by undertaking your own trips to galleries, exhibitions andby making contact with local artists.

Your work will be exhibited locally, in London and internationally, in both Brussels and AddisAbaba. Previous students of art at Dover Grammar School for Boys have gone on to study art,art history or architecture at university.

Creativity takes courage

If you could say it in words, there would be no reasonto paint

The freedom in art is just profound. I'm not sure that

any subject lives up to its name as well as this.

- Henri Matisse

- Edward Hopper


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BIOLOGY

We follow the Edexcel (Salters Nuffield Advanced Biology) specification for Biology AS (8BI01) andA2 (9BI01).

This course aims to set biology in a context. So if you want to learn why some people suffer fromcystic fibrosis while others dont, and how you can tell the time of death from examining a dead

body, then come and join us!

In Year 12 you will study the genetic basis of disease as well as how other factors like dietcontribute towards our health. During the first unit you will be invited to see stem cell researchfirst-hand at UCL. In the second unit we visit Port Lymnpe Zoo, as part of our studies intobiodiversity. The coursework offers you the opportunity to write an article which could be publishedin a scientific journal, developing both your research and writing skills.

In Year 13 you will apply your AS knowledge to forensics, which includes learning about the cutting-edge technologies of PCR and DNA profiling. There is also a unit looking at some of the worldscurrent issues, including global warming. A trip to Pegwell Bay to study the salt marsh allows for

student bonding over smelly socks and cups of tea! The final units explore the biology of exerciseand so link extremely well with Sports Studies. The coursework component of the A2 will see youdeveloping your skills as an experimental scientist as you plan, execute and write up your owninvestigation.

After two years studying biology you will have a sound understanding of the different biologicaldisciplines and be confident to carry out your own research in any further education you pursue.

Biology is my favourite school subject. You study a widerange of topics and studying it at A level has made mewant to study it further.

Biology is one of the most popular A level subjects and thisis also true at Dover Grammar School for Boys. The subjectis varied, relevant and is taught by experienced staff. If you

have a passion to explore more about life then we wouldlove you to come and join us.

- Mrs Watson

Biology


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BUSINESS STUDIES

We follow the A-Level specification of AQA Business Studies 2130.

Among the many benefits of studying Business in the Sixth Form are the opportunities it providesto: explore real business situations; be practical in the application of business concepts; understandthe role of the entrepreneur and business in society.

In Year 12 you will study starting a business, which introduces the range of activities involved insetting up a small business. You will be given the opportunity to work with an external businessadvisor to start your own limited company. You will be given practical advice and guidance to steeryou through this life-changing experience. You will have a combination of practical theory lessonsand scheduled business meetings.

The latter part of Year 12 looks at financial planning. This considers the key financial concepts forthe planning of small businesses and the assessment of a business start-up.

In Year 13 you will explore strategic planning of the four main functional areas of a business:financial strategies and accounts; marketing strategies; operational strategies; human resourcestrategies.

You will also be given the opportunity to study a pre-release case that is based on a topical up-to-date issue. The assessment is broken down into two areas: assessing changes in the businessenvironment, and managing change. All questions will be essay-style and synoptic, thereby drawing

upon knowledge from all four units.

The course is applied and creative. It is as much about developing enterprising skills such asinnovation, problem solving, risk taking and teamwork, as it is the theory.

Become a fully qualified and experienced budding entrepreneur!

- Mrs Cradock

An extremely practical and useful subject with insight intothe world around you. A diverse range of topics requiringstudents to be analytical, numerical and creative.

Fun and easy way to give you the knowledge and

experiences to set up your own business, in addition tothe skills of the wider business world.

Business

Studies


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CHEMISTRY

Chemists follow the Salters OCR B course at AS (H035) and A-Level (H435).

Salters Chemistry is a context-led course in which concepts are introduced and developed withina relevant and contemporary context. Each module offers you a different perspective from whichto view chemical concepts and applications. At AS, these modules include Elements of Life,

Developing Fuels, Chemistry of Natural Resources, Elements from the Sea, The Atmosphere, andThe Polymer Revolution.

At A2 these modules are developed further and give you the opportunity to increase yourknowledge in specific fields, culmination in an extended project. There is a great deal of crossovermaterial with both biology and physics, and the modules at A2 give a real vocational slant to theacademic material. Modules include: Whats in a Medicine?, The Materials Revolution, The Threadof Life, The Steel Story, Chemistry by Design, Agriculture and Industry, Colour by Design, TheOceans, and Medicines by Design.

The principle is that you will study in a spiral way so that chemical ideas, introduced in an early

topic, are reinforced later. This approach to teaching and learning chemical principles allows youto revisit a particular topic several times during the course, each time taking your knowledge andunderstanding a step further.

There is opportunity to engage in practical work at every turn, both demonstrating and investigatingthe concepts that are introduced as the course progresses. The aim of the course is not only togive you the opportunity to engage with chemistry, but for chemistry to empower you academically,vocationally and personally.

Chemistry is worth doing just for the great lessons youcan have with the teachers. They are easy to relate to,open minded and make the lessons fun and enjoyable.

Chemistry is the study of materials and their interactions. Far fromsimply being a closer look at 'what things are made of,' studyingChemistry at A-Level provides a challenge to students of all abilities,whether it be the explaining the microscopic intricacies of DNA, or themacroscopic explosions of supernovae. Beyond the academic, the

intellectual skills A-Level Chemistry develops in participants are highlysought after by Universities due to the diversity of subject matter andthinking processes required of candidates.

- Mr Fletcher

Chemistry


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DRAMA & THEATRE STUDIES

Drama and Theatre Studies is a new course. We will be following the AQA specification.

This is a course for anybody seriously interested in theatre and the performing arts. It followscomfortably from the GCSE course, although it is not necessary to have done the GCSE first. Youwould certainly benefit from previous experience in drama, for example through participating ina production, but the skills and understanding you need can be developed from scratch through

your own enthusiasm and energy.

You will have the chance to deepen and develop your experience of acting, tackling demandingwork by both classical and modern playwrights. In your group work you will be creating yourown pieces and developing the confidence to challenge your previous ideas of theatre.

You will learn how theatre has evolved and changed over more than two thousand years, how ithas dealt with the great recurring themes of human life, such as death, sex, love, hope and fear.Part of your work will look at major theatre practitioners such as Stanislavski, who developed thebasis for modern actor training, or Brecht, who made theatre political and took it out of thedrawing room. You will go on theatre visits to sharpen your critical insight as well as studying

plays from a performance perspective.

60% of the assessment is by written exam covering set plays, theatre reviewing andunderstanding of different practitioners, with 40% group practical work. Here you will developthe skills of acting or choose to contribute through technical skills and design. Above all you mustbe prepared to learn and collaborate with others, committing yourself to the group's achievementsand seeking imaginative and creative solutions to theatrical problems.

Drama and Theatre Studies demands practical energy, intellectual breadth and a real love oftheatre as an art form. You should enjoy taking part in productions as well as going to the theatreto see both new and classical work. During your A level course you will perform or produce to a

high standard and you will learn to write well, with sharp critical judgements and precision inyour use of technical vocabulary. The course sits well with English Literature, Classics (especiallyGreek), Art and Design, Modern Languages and History.

Drama is a real challenge both intellectually and creatively.If you can think deeply and work practically at the sametime, this is the course for you!

- Mr Thomas

Drama

&TheatreSt

udies


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ECONOMICS

We follow the AQA specification for Economics AS (1141) and A2 (2141). A minimum B grade inmathematics is required to study this subject.

In Year 12 you will learn about the basic economic problem, the forces of demand and supply andhow prices are determined. We will also explore together why the market system doesnt alwayswork well, by examining problems such as pollution. Later in Year 12 you will study the nationalUK economy and examine issues such as economic growth, inflation, unemployment and thebalance of payments. You will evaluate the role of the government and what they can do to

manipulate the economy.

In Year 13 you will continue your transformation into an economist by studying the globaleconomy, examining patterns of international trade, the credit crunch and looking at the UKsplace in the world in economic terms. Later in Year 13 you will look in detail at how firms operate,exploring various different market structures from brewing to supermarkets to pig farming. Youwill discover just how much this matters to the supposedly all-powerful consumer.In each section of the course, real-world examples from your own personal experience will beused to help you to understand and progress in your learning. Economics can be linked toeverything about your life in some way. If you choose this subject, it will reshape your view of theworld and enable you to understand all sorts of things the majority of people do not.

Stay ahead of the curve and choose economics.

- Mr Ralph

Once you study Economics you never look at life in quite the sameway again. Never easy to study, the learning will present a fresh andnew challenge to the way you think and, with success, it will providea great foundation to a multitude of career paths. True power lies in

the ability to make choices. Choosing Economics will empower you.

I am curious about why the world is the way it is. StudyingEconomics satisfies that curiosity in terms of the things that

underpin our lives: products, services, prices, jobs etc... it isdynamic, current and always interesting.

Economi

cs


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ENGLISH LITERATURE

English Literature with OCR is a fine blend of coursework and examination work, which covers anextensive range of texts, genres and periods. We start with the more modern texts at AS-Levelvia our units F661 (exam) and F662 (coursework). Lessons involve relaxed yet challengingseminar-style teaching based around the close study of texts. Our groups are mixed, lively and,

above all, friendly. Our teachers work in teams and teach to their strengths and interests.

At AS-Level we tend to let you choose your own post-1900 coursework texts. You produce acomparative essay plus either a close reading of a text or a recreative piece. For the examinationwe give you choices where practicable. Each group studies fifteen poems from one poet in greatdetail. In the exam just one of these is given to you, and you will analyse it closely while alludingto other pertinent poems. In addition to the poetry you will read a novel closely and write aboutit for one hour, choosing from one of two questions. We teach you how to improve your writingstyle, which is key to achieving the top grades.

In Year 13 you produce a three-thousand-word coursework essay which must include a poetry

text, a prose text and one more text from any genre. All three texts have no time era restriction the choice is yours! For the examination you study a Shakespearean play in great depth alongwith some inspiring poetry from a pre-20th century poet and a play from the likes of Webster orJonson. We hope you will enjoy this we certainly do, and we hope you will continue your studiesat university.

English at DGSB will open your eyes and mind to some of the best words ever written. Try it!

English at DGSB opens you up to new ideas. I have startedto see texts from fresh angles. I enjoy the lively yet studiousapproach in our mixed gender classes.

English at DGSB is an intense experience. We work hard butsupportively, we test, we tease, we experiment, we hypothe-size. Wherever you come from, wherever you are going,well help you with humour, professionalism and a sharedlove of the written and spoken word.

- Dr Spurgeon

English

Literature


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FILM STUDIES

We follow the WJEC Film Studies specification.

Lights, Camera, Learning!

This course is essentially about you, the individual. The course explores how films create meaningsand provoke both intellectual and emotional responses from spectators. The aesthetic qualitiesof film are essential to this relationship with the spectator, and the course allows you to appreciatethis art form in a variety of new ways.

In Year 12 you will be introduced to a context of modern cinema by understanding its historicalcontext. Additionally you will compare and contrast British and American cinema throughcontemporary case studies. You will also complete a creative piece of film making as part of yourcoursework.

In Year 13 the study of cinema widens to include alternative forms of film making, cinema from

different countries and the critical study of one film text. The independent research unit allowsyou to apply your knowledge to a particular area of personal interest. A practical project will arisefrom this piece of academic work.

- Mr Wisdom-Quieros

Both Film and Media Studies allow you to engage with arange of interesting concepts and critical debates by

looking at familiar cultural forms in an interesting way.They also allow you to express yourself creatively even ifyou feel you arent the least bit artistic.

I enjoy Film Studies because it has a different atmosphereto other subjects. It is more creative and is about theways film comes across to you rather than trying to find adefinitive answer

FilmStudies


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GEOGRAPHY

We follow the AQA - A specification.

As a Sixth Form Geographer, you will get an insight into places that you have never studied before,such as Northern Siberia where you will find out why, to this day, Sakha herders resort to travellingin former soviet army tanks. You will also discover why buying out of season food in your localsupermarket, like new potatoes in winter, is bad for Egypt.

As an integral part of Year 12, you will develop applied geographical skills on rivers, floods andtheir management as well as population change for both the main paper and the Geographicalskills module. Right from the start of the course, you will put your fieldwork skills to the test bytaking part in a drainage basin investigation. Later in the year, we will focus on two new topics:cold environments and food supply issues. Finally, as the school year draws to an end you willspend two days in Northern France completing more fieldwork for your personal enquiry on eithera physical or a human topic of your choice.

In Year 13, you will study three topics and spend more time investigating current issues, key

concepts and in-depth case studies on plate tectonics with associated hazards, world cities andecosystems. Your personal fieldwork enquiry, which is a significant component of the finalqualification, will see you become an expert in your chosen study area and theme.

I chose Geography because it is fun and links in withmany other subjects. It also appealed to me as it has goodtrips and great teachers. I got a good grade in it at GCSEso I believe it is a good subject to continue at higher level.

A-level Geography will give you an insight into issues andplaces that really matter in the world today. Also, if you likethe idea of doing your fieldwork in France and even in

Iceland, come to DGSB for Geography!

- Mr Torres

Geogra

phy


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HISTORY

We follow the AQA History specification, specifically covering (HIS1L) Britain 1906-51 and(HIS2Q) Vietnam and America in Year 12. In Year 13 you will study (HIS4X) Development ofCivil Rights in the USA, 1880-1980 and (HIS3N) International Relations.

Welcome to our award-winning History Department, which has been recognised Nationally by

the Good School Awards on multiple occasions.

History allows you to open a window on the past, where you can eavesdrop on politicalconversations in times of crisis. You can join a GI in the jungles of Vietnam and look on whileKennedy contemplates the crisis at Check Point Charlie. You can use your knowledge of thedevelopment of Civil Rights to explain the significance of William Du Bois and Martin LutherKing. You also discover the vital role history plays in understanding the present. Where havewe come from? Why do we live the way we do?

In Year 12 you will study the development of modern Britain and see how political decisionsshaped a nation. How close did we come to fascist rule in the 1930s? Why did Britain reject

Churchill in 1945? And who was the goat? The Vietnam module allows you to discover thereasons behind Americas involvement in the war. Was it really Johnsons war? What did whiteworms and igloos have to do with it? You will study the progress of the war and the reaction ofthe American people.

Year 13 develops your research skills. The coursework teaches you how to effectively use manyresources including archives. The focus is the development of Civil Rights for Black Americansbetween 1880 and 1980. The study of international relations during the Cold War from theconstruction of the Berlin Wall to the brinkmanship of the Cuban Missile crisis, to the fall of theSoviet Union. You will also consider the impact of post-Cold War international relations includingthe early stages of the War on Terror. You will discover the reactions and diplomatic wranglingof the super powers. How close did we come to mutually assured destruction?

Health Warning: the study of A-Level History may lead to a life time addiction, which can becostly in terms of books and travel.

- Mr Ewen

US President John F. Kennedy once said that history is arelentless master. It has no present, only the past rushing

into the future. To try to hold fast is to be swept aside.

Study history, learn what you can about the past and usethis to improve our present and future. In other words,study history and become a winner!

To study the past that shaped the future, DGSB has exactlythat to offer.

History


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ICT

We teach the BTEC National Level 3 in ICT at either single or double award, with an option fortriple award for the most talented students.

BTECs are stronger and more relevant than ever before. The following facts tell their own story.UCAS awards equal tariff points to Level 3 BTECs and A-Levels in all sectors; a Level 3 BTEC canboost your lifetime earnings by up to 92,000; 62% of large companies have recruited employeeswith BTEC qualifications; 20% of Level 3 BTEC holders go on to undergraduate degree courses;BTEC Nationals increase the likelihood of getting a job, by 8% for women and 5% for men.(London Economics, 2010)

We feel that learning should be fun, not daunting. Since this course started students have enjoyedBTEC programmes, because they can specialise in areas of learning linked with work that theyare interested in, like web design, digital imagery and computer object programming. This coursetaps into what you enjoy, feel good at and find familiar, as well as developing you as a learner.

We want to help you build your confidence because you are developing skills that will help yousecure a job or a place in Higher Education in the future. Assignments may be in written form,but its just as likely that they will be in other formats, e.g. film clips, project proposals, businessplans and structured databases. You will always be given clear guidelines so that you know whatyou have to achieve and how to do this.

BTEC Level 3 Nationals are designed as specialist, vocationally-related qualifications for those whohave a clear view of their future career or who want to progress to higher education. They are analternative to A Levels and accepted as an entry requirement for universities and further educationcolleges, and highly valued by employers.

I have really enjoyed the IT course this year as it hasenhanced my knowledge of the subject and it is veryenjoyable

My time studying ICT at the school has developed my academicstudy and the way I interact with technology. Directing my workand fuelling my progress, by giving me skills that I have appliedthroughout these last years. Acting as a cornerstone of my

education, I have been able to transfer the knowledge I havegained while relying on the subject to support my development.Overall it has always played a major part of my time at DGSB;and the experiences gained will support me in later life.

ICT


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LATIN

We follow the OCR Classics specification for Latin AS (H039) and A2 (H439).

This course is linguistic, and equally literary. So if you want to learn how to translate the

predicative dative and explain gerundive attraction at the same time as reading the works ofRomes greatest law-court orator, imperial historian, epic poet and love elegist, then this is thecourse for you.

In Year 12 you will enjoy reading widely from the works of the greatest Roman authors,completing your education in Latin grammar and syntax and beginning to read unseen Latinverse. As the year progresses, there will be a growing focus on the forensic oratory of Cicero,the set prose unseen author. You will study in detail a section of Ciceros speech against Verres,the profligate governor of Sicily, alongside four of Ovids provocative Amores.

In Year 13 you will learn to tackle almost any kind of Latin writing, developing a broad and

flexible Latin vocabulary, no longer limited by a defined vocabulary list but aiming for masteryof Livys style in his history of Rome from its foundation and Ovids in his hexameter epic,

Metamorphoses. You will study two authors in greater depth: the historian Tacitus and the poetVirgil. At A2 the modules are divided by medium (prose and verse), so that prepared andunprepared material sit side by side on each paper.

CLASSICAL CIVILISATION

Subject to interest we are also intending to offer an A-Level in Classical Civilisation. Details ofthis course will be published later in the year. If you would like any further information, speak

to Dr Moxham.

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MATHEMATICS & FURTHER MATHEMATICS

A-Level aims to develop your understanding of the subject in a way which promotes confidenceand provides enjoyment. It will enable you to build bridges between different areas ofMathematics, thus facilitating it as an effective tool for communication.

You will be encouraged to develop an awareness of the relevance of Mathematics to other fields

of study, to the society around you, and the world of business, enterprise and work. You willlearn to take a significant measure of responsibility towards your own Mathematicaldevelopment.

Pure Mathematics topics you will study include algebra, trigonometry and co-ordinate geometry,with a further choice from Mechanics, Statistics and Decision Mathematics.

By opting for Mathematics and Further Mathematics you will extend your knowledge of puremaths and will do additional optional modules. This is ideal for anyone who wishes to studyMathematics, Physics or any other subject with a heavy mathematical content at university.

Dover Grammar teaches you how to teach yourself,letting you work at your own pace while providingencouragement and support when needed.

The A-Level results for Mathematics are the best in theschool and above the national average for selectiveschools. The teachers are highly supportive. DGSB is anexcellent place to study Maths and Further Maths in thesixth form.

- Mr Reilly

Maths

andFurtherM

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MEDIA STUDIES

We follow the OCR Media Studies specification AS (H150) and A2 (H540).

Dont waste your time in front of the screen. Study it!

It has been said that media literacy is as important to living in the 21st century as regular literacywas to the 20th century.

In Year 12 you will be introduced to a framework of textual analysis through the study of TVDrama. For your exam you will consider how society is reflected in, and shaped through, a rangeof constructed representations. Your coursework will consist of researching, planning andconstructing an original sequence of a film.

In Year 13 increasing your analytical ability will be coupled with a thorough understanding ofcensorship and regulation in preparation for your exam. You will complete another practicalproject, undertaking your own music video production.

- Mr Wisdom-Quieros

Both Film and Media Studies allow you to engage with arange of interesting concepts and critical debates by

looking at familiar cultural forms in an interesting way.They also allow you to express yourself creatively even ifyou feel you arent the least bit artistic.

Having enjoyed media at GCSE I then chose it for A-level.It has been very interesting so far and is clearly a step up

from last year. It seems in every bit of the course there isdepth of analysis. We have been studying stereotypes inTV Drama and different film genres, its been fun

MediaSt

udies


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ModernLanguages

MODERN LANGUAGES

French, German and Spanish are offered at AS-Level and A-Level. We follow the Edexcelspecifications.

In Year 12 we build on the basic skills acquired at GCSE, extending their application into morerealistic situations using authentic, up-to-date materials (e.g. newspaper/magazine articles,radio/TV extracts, literary extracts, internet material, film). You will cover topics including socialaffairs (e.g. the world of work, education, violence, transport) and leisure issues (e.g. sport,entertainment, lifestyle): typically, the range of subjects dealt with in the media of the countryconcerned.

We place particular stress on oral fluency. You will research and prepare a topic of your ownchoice for presentation and discussion in the oral exam. We continually reinforce reading andlistening skills, and your accurate written use of the language is also tested. Lessons are variedin content and presentation.

In Year 13 we develop these skills further, with emphasis on extended writing in the languageand a more detailed knowledge of the civilisation and culture of the country concerned. Youmay study two literary texts (mainly 20th-century) or two cultural topics (e.g. from cinema,history or fine arts), or one of each.

You will find that a modern language at AS-Level or A-Level will prove a valuable complementto both science and humanities combinations. Proficiency in one or preferably more modernlanguages is increasingly seen as an essential skill in most areas of higher education and willimpress future employers.

A Level Spanish requires a massive step up in knowledge fromGCSE but it's also so much more enjoyable. It explores a lot ofthe culture of Spanish-speaking countries which makes for funand interactive lessons and if you have even the slightest passion

for the subject, it is definitely worth considering.

Know languages, know countries, know people

Languages are not just a means to an end. They are central toour human nature, as well as being fundamental to our societyand culture. The skills and knowledge you will acquire by studying

Languages in the 6th form at DGSB will be a lifelong benefit inmany different ways.

- Mr Chee-A-Tow


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MUSIC

We follow the Edexcel specification for Music AS (8MU01) and A2 (9MU01).

This course explores music from the point of view of listener, performer and composer. It maybe that you are an aspiring performer in any genre, or you may be more interested in theappreciation of music from an academic perspective; perhaps you are more focused on thecreative aspects and aspire to compose for media or the stage. If you have committed to musicalstudy and are involved in music of any sort in school and out then Music is a great choice ofcourse for you.

The course follows a similar pattern in both Year 12 and 13 with three modules based on listeningand appreciation, composition and harmony and performance. You will prepare a short recitalon your instruments of choice in each year and will fulfil a composition brief which could beanything from a set of Variations for Orchestra to a Guitar-led rock song. The study of a rangeof music from the past 500 years is central to the whole course and you will become very familiarwith a number of instrumental and vocal pieces ranging from Bach to Van Morrison and beyond.

By the end of the A2 you will be able to evaluate, analyse and perform Music confidently andwill have the tools to enable you to interact more fully with music on any level as a lifelonginterest and as a basis for further study if you wish.

- Mrs Cameron

Music

A level Music on your CV? It will make you stand out fromthe crowd and shows that you have the personal qualities

of commitment, creativity and dedication qualitiesemployers are looking for. Plus it's the most fun subject inthe school. Officially.

Hard work but definitely worth it you can't blag your waythrough. It opens your ears to a range of music you wouldn'tcome into contact with on your own. Contextually fascinating

because it parallels developments in other fields literature,history, philosophy - so it works as an excellent companionsubject as well as being a worthwhile pursuit in its own right.


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Philoso

phyandReligiousEducation

PHILOSOPHY

Philosophy is an enquiry into the most fundamental questions that human beings face.Throughout the centuries philosophers have tackled questions like: "How does my perceptionof the world compare to the way the world really is in itself?", "Can it be right to kill an innocentperson to save the lives of three other people?", "Can we know for sure whether God exists ornot?", "Is the mind just part of the body or is it somehow separate from it?", "What is the best

and fairest way to organise a society?", "What is the point of art and what role should it play inour lives?". Philosophy is for you if you are the kind of person who is intrigued by these kindsof question and you want to develop your own opinion on them further.

An A-Level in Philosophy requires you to think through questions like these and develop acoherent and detailed explanation of what philosophers have said about these things throughouthistory.

In Year 12, you will study the philosophy of religion, exploring questions like: Why do peoplebelieve in God? and Can we prove God exists? You will also study epistemology asking, 'Doesmy culture and language shape how I see the world? Do other people see it differently to me?

How sure can I be of the knowledge I think I have about the world around me?

In A2 you will look at the topics of Political Philosophy and Moral Philosophy and study onemajor text from the history of philosophy. Previous students have studied Nietzsche's 'BeyondGood and Evil'.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Subject to interest we are also considering offering an A-Level in Religious Education. Details ofthis course will be published later in the year. If you would like any further information, speakto Mr Rosier, Subject Leader for Religious Education.

Philosophy is one of the most interesting and challengingsubjects I've taken, allowing you to practice criticalthinking, as well as providing context for other subjects.

If you have ever wondered about whether we can know for sure ifthere is a God, whether human beings can have certainknowledge about morality, about why we value art, what the bestpossible political system is, whether your perceptions of the worldmatch up to the way the world really is in itself then you are

already a student of philosophy - think about taking it as part ofyour sixth form programme!

- Mr Hopkinson


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PHYSICAL EDUCATION

We follow the AQA specification for Physical Education AS (1581) and A2 (2581)

How can an American Football quarterback memorise over 500 individual plays?

How does Tom Daley complete a front 4 somersault in under three seconds?

Why do women reduce the performance gap with their male counterparts when competing inrunning distances over 26 miles?

How can Lewis Hamilton react to a stimulus within a 1/10th of a second whilst travelling at speedsin excess of 220mph?

How can an elite sportsperson cope with the pressure of performing in front of a worldwideaudience?

Why has there not been a white male 100m Olympic finalist for 32 years?

How can an Olympic weightlifter lift over three times their own body weight?

Why were the British Public Schools of the 19th Century credited with the formation of the worldsleading sports?

How can an elite high jumper clear over 8ft which is the height of a family living room ceiling?

All of these questions and more can be answered if you opt for A-Level Physical Education.

Study is focused heavily upon anatomy and physiology, skill acquisition and the historical and

cultural impact of sport. The practical module provides you with the opportunity to undertake anumber of roles beyond that of performer. It is essential that you have a genuine passion forparticipating in sport and a desire to understand the theory that underpins elite performance.

- Mr White

The world of sport is brought alive in A-level PE. If youplay, watch, listen to and have a love of sport this

challenging course will provide you with the basis youneed to study this subject at a higher level. Goodpractical ability is required.

Studying PE at DGSB in the relaxed yet productiveatmosphere has taught me about the physiological and

psychological needs of a professional sportsman, which Ihave integrated into my own sporting performance.

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PHYSICS

We follow the AQA - A Physics specification.

The course has been written to develop your understanding of nature from the smallest possiblescale, deep inside the atom, to the largest conceivable distance, stretching across the entireUniverse.

In Year 12 you will have opportunity to study particle physics, quantum physics and electricity. Bystudying these contrasting topics, you will gain awareness of the on-going development of newideas in physics. You will study the principles and applications of mechanics, materials and wavesincluding optics in detail. During your course, you will carry out practical experiments andinvestigations to develop your skills and understanding of important concepts.

In Year 13 you will learn more about force and energy in the contexts of collisions and explosions,circular motion and oscillations, electric, gravitational and magnetic fields, thermal physics andnuclear physics. You will study important applications and devices including capacitors, electric

generators and transformers, and nuclear reactors. In studying an optional topic, from a choiceof: Astrophysics, Medical Physics, Applied Physics or Turning points in Physics, you will build onrelevant topics in the compulsory section of the A2 specification to gain a deeper insight. You willgain further practical skills and greater expertise in analysing measurements and evaluatingresults.

Physics can be linked to other subjects such as Mathematics, Economics, Chemistry, Biology, and

If you have a strong desire to discover how the Universeworks, then Physics is the subject for you. It teaches youthe fundamental concepts, whilst giving you the formulaethat underpin them.

Physics is widely believed to be one of the most difficultsubjects in school; so it is a highly respected subject, whichrequires you to be committed and motivated. Thereforestudying Physics can make you stand out when applying foruniversity or a job.

- Mr Oniye

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Geography.

PRODUCT DESIGN

We follow the OCR Product Design specification AS (HO53) and A2 (H453).

In Year 12 you will examine an existing product of your choice, analyse its strengths andweaknesses and then redesign an improved product based on your initial investigations.

The second unit is a very exciting practical exam called the Innovation Challenge. You will be seta Design Problem, in which you will have to be as creative and experimental as possible in comingup with a working prototype of an innovative solution over the six hours allowed. You will spendtime developing your modelling skills and learning strategies that will allow you to think andproblem solve creatively.

In Year 13 the sky, or more accurately your imagination, is the limit, as you will have the freedomto develop your own Design Brief and then create a high quality, commercially viable product.

You will also formulate an innovative marketing strategy for your product. As you go through theyear you will be further developing your design skills, as well as your knowledge andunderstanding of design issues and materials and processes, in order to prepare for the final

written exam, which is a combination of designing and theory.

This is an exciting course which will give you a whole range of creative, analytical and practicalskills that are much sought after by employers and universities in all fields, whether or not youpursue this rewarding career path.

- Mr Feldman

Product Design will give you with a wealth of transferableskills, which are key in all subjects and sought after inemployment and higher education, including problemsolving, critical thinking, teamwork, presentation, ICT andspatial awareness.

I chose to do A Level Product design because at DGSB you are given alarge amount of freedom to design and develop your own ideas for yourcoursework. The major benefit is that the more enthusiastic you areabout your project and the more time you put in to making yourcoursework the best it can possibly be, the greater the rewards you

decide your own grade. This course also equips me with the skillsneeded to correctly use a large amount of equipment and resourceswhich I know will benefit me in the future.

ProductDesign


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PSYCHOLOGY

We follow the OCR Psychology specification for AS (H168) and A2 (H568).

Psychology is the study of our behaviours, the science of the mind and the way to answerquestions such as Why dont chimpanzees talk? If you have ever wondered what it would taketo make you electrocute someone, what difficulties it would present if you were to have yourbrain cut in half, or whether TV really is to blame for your attitude, then Psychology has the

answers.

In Year 12 you will study the five main approaches to psychological research, as well as exploringthe different methodologies used. You will explore the issues of objectivity and subjectivity anddevelop the ability to evaluate (and justify) research that is unethical, reductionist, deterministand nothing like real life. The end-of-year exams consist of a one-hour paper on PsychologicalInvestigations and a two-hour paper on the core studies.

Year 13 explores Applied Psychology who uses the results of psychological research and how?To do this we focus on two main topics: Forensic Psychology and the Psychology of Sport andExercise. Areas covered include what makes people turn to crime, the psychology of the

courtroom, the effects of motivation and aggression in sport performance and the influence anaudience can have on our abilities. A two-hour Options paper assesses understanding of theresearch, and there is a Research Methods exam in which you have to design and evaluate yourown piece of research.

Psychology is most closely linked to the sciences in terms of procedures and methods but exploresa rather more human topic your own behaviour.

It is interesting and fun, opening your eyes to everydayactions and behaviour. It's amazing how many of thestudies link to our own behaviours and it gives a newoutlook on life.

Psychology offers a fascinating insight into human behaviour.It is not just the study of mental disorders, but commoneveryday actions and the ways to encourage the positiveand stop the negative. It is exciting, challenging and useful

and can lead to a variety of career options.

- Mr Wade

Psycho

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SOCIOLOGY

Sociology is an exploration of our understanding of the social reality we live in. It forces us toquestion the assumptions we hold about the roles we adopt in society, the patterns for our ownbehaviour in everyday life as well as in the major life decisions we take. It examines the reasonswhy our society is organised the way it is, asking 'Is our society basically just or basicallyunjust?', 'Why is power distributed in the way that it is?', 'What kinds of effects does the massmedia have on us as individuals and as a society?', 'What shapes people's choices about theirfamily lives, religion, educational and professional choices?'. In essence, it is an exploration ofthe most intriguing and important aspects of how we choose to shape our lives as individualsand as a society.

In asking these questions in sociology A-Level, you will look at the major theoretical perspectivesthat have shaped our thinking about the social world around us from those that defend andvalidate the social world we live in, such as functionalism, to those that offer a radical challengeto the world we live and its claim to be a just society such as Marxism and feminism.

For those that take the subject seriously, your view of the world around and your place withinwill be permanently changed by having studied the subject.

In Year 12 you will examine the questions of education and families in particular. In Year 13you will study the themes of 'Crime and Deviance' and 'Power and Politics'. In both cases, all

assessment is by two exams at the end of each year of the A-Level.

- Mr Hopkinson

Sociology takes all your preconceptions, opinions,prejudices and beliefs about the world around you and

your place in it and forces you to re-think them, questionthem and consider them many different perspectives - itcan totally change your view of the education system,the political system, the way the media works, whatfamily structures mean, in a word - your life as a whole!

Sociology opens your eyes to society and makes you moreaware of situations in your life and your surroundings -very enjoyable!

Sociology


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2010

Winner of two Good Schools Guide Awards, in Film Studies and Psychology

2011

Winner of three Good Schools Guide Awards, in Fine Art and History (A-level

and IB)

2012

Winner of four Good Schools Guide Awards, in History (A-Level and IB), ICT

and Sports Studies


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Dover Grammar School for BoysAstor Avenue, Dover

Kent CT17 0DQ

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dgsb sixth form prospectus 2014

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