Key Stage 5 Curriculum
All students aged 16 and over choose a “study route” to suit their abilities and ambitions; Academic or Technical. The route that you take will depend on a variety of things such as GCSE grades, preferred style of learning and aspirations for the future.
Challenge projects, working on specialist topics with employers form a part of both study routes and account for approximately 40% of the timetable each week. These underpin the study and learning that takes place in more traditional lessons, seminars and practical's as well as leading to professional qualifications such as The Extended Project Qualification, which carries UCAS points and is highly regarded by many universities.
Both routes provide students with opportunities to gain important traditional qualifications and additional qualifications such as the Duke of York Award for Technical Education, an Industrial Cadets Award and Microsoft Certifications.
The Applied Technical Study Route
At UTCC you can opt to study the BTEC Extended Diploma. All BTEC students follow core mandatory science units in their first year of study and then in Year 13, students follow a specialist study path selecting from the following; Applied Science, Biomedical Sciences, Analytical and Forensic Sciences, Physical Sciences, Environment and Sustainability or Core Maths.
You will take part in a number of Challenge projects and can work towards additional qualifications such as the Duke of York Award for Technical Education, an Industrial Cadets Award and Microsoft Certifications.
In addition, some students choose to study one A level* of their choice over the two years, alongside their BTEC study programme. Current A level options: Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Computer Science, English, Economics, Geography, Business Studies and Psychology.
You will need to have a minimum of five GCSE’s at grades A* to C to follow this study route, with an average GCSE score of 42 (C range 40-45) including Double Science (BB) or Triple Science (CCC) and Maths (C).
The Academic Study Route
Students will have the opportunity to study three or four A levels over two years – two of which must be from the core list of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Computer Science. The third/fourth subjects can be chosen from the following: English, Geography, Business Studies, Further Maths, Economics, and Psychology.
Students who wish to take the academic route will need to have seven GCSE’s at grades A* to C with an average GCSE score of 48 (B range 46-49) including Triple Science (BBB) and Maths (A or B, course dependent).
If you are not sure about which of these routes would suit you best, please get in touch with us at UTC. We will be happy to explore options with you and make sure that you select a course which you will enjoy and succeed in.
Key Stage 5 is also an important opportunity for developing life skills
Students have the opportunity to take part in a variety of physical education including hockey and football. We also encourage students to take part in Big Question Days, where a specific social, moral, or spiritual topic is covered.
Enrichment options take place every day, which give our students a well-deserved break from their studies as they take on creative, sporting and social challenges of their choice. We believe that this helps students to build strong practical and social socials, skills critical as they move on to higher education or employment.
