AS/A2 Science Transition Course

AS/A2 Science Transition Course

What is the Science Transition Course?

The Science Transition Course will allow you to achieve your AS results over two years, followed by a further year of A2 study. We are offering this option as a new route of study for some science students at Long Road in 2009.

The transition course is suitable for students who wish to specialise in science subjects at the College. This route of study will give you the opportunity to broaden and strengthen your knowledge of key scientific principles and offers a good basis for the challenging ideas and concepts covered at A Level. There is also an opportunity to become familiar with the essentials you will need to be successful as an A Level science student: research and independent study, mathematical knowledge, practical techniques and other underpinning skills.

We know that universities and employers value these skills highly. Very often, our experience suggests that students who take AS levels in science after a year of further study post-GCSE achieve their goals and progress successfully. Students who complete the transition course and progress to A2 Level will be able either to access a range of pure or applied science courses at degree level or to progress directly into employment in a scientific or technical setting.

What will I study?

The transition course will give you a number of opportunities to develop academic, practical and learning skills. You will gain competence and confidence in practical working, a knowledge of mathematics at an appropriate level together with skills in IT, literacy and work experience.

The aim of the first year is to

· Prepare you for success in AS and A level sciences
· Give you a taste of how science functions in a working environment
· Develop your maths, literacy and IT skills
· Develop your ability to complete independent study and research.

The transition course is different from other AS levels. Instead of choosing and combining subjects, you will study a single programme where the different subjects and topics are planned to work together and complement each other. During the first year, you will choose to study either Physics and Chemistry or Biology and Chemistry or Physics and Electronics. You will prepare for A level study, cover a number of areas of the AS syllabus and take one module from each science subject. Students will also follow a programme of work experience and take a specially designed course in Maths. Finally, you will take the new Extended Project qualification, equivalent to an additional AS level, giving you access to advanced literacy and IT skills together with the opportunity to follow your own interests.

In your second year you will complete two AS levels in Physics and Chemistry or Biology and Chemistry or Physics and Electronics. You will also take a third, and possibly a fourth, AS subject, before completing a final year of A2 study in three subjects.

How will the transition course be taught?

While studying on the transition year you will strengthen the knowledge of material learnt at GCSE so that you can use it to predict outcomes in unfamiliar situations. We will work with you to develop your skills as an independent learner and show you how exciting and rewarding it is to discover things for yourself. We will also develop your practical skills so that you become familiar with new scientific techniques and methods. As part of the work experience programme, you will investigate science at work by visiting places like wind farms, hospitals and micro-breweries before completing a full work placement.

What are the entry qualifications?

5 Grade Cs at GCSE including Maths. Double Science must be at least CC at higher tier, and if you have studied the sciences separately, you will need a Grade C in at least two. Only science GCSE courses which have a high proportion of external assessment will normally be considered.