CURRICULUM CHOICES
Full details of the curriculum are available in the Sixth Form Prospectus. This section contains basic information about the courses offered in St. Genevieve’s. Though you may already have very clear ideas about what you want to study at Sixth Form level, the subject detail here may confirm your plans or perhaps make you question them. It is important to be as well informed as possible, to consider which subjects best support each other and any career implications your choices at this stage may have. This is particularly important for any subjects you have not studied at GCSE level.
All courses run subject to demand. Students may be well advised to consider an additional subject in case lack of numbers or a timetable clash makes their first choice impossible.
AS LEVEL
You will be enrolled on Advanced level courses initially as an AS level student. All AS / A2 courses are now modular and examinations are also modular and examinations may be sat at various times during the course. Students, with an appropriate GCSE profile may choose up to 4 subjects at AS level. Technically, all courses at KS5 are one year courses. To be certain of continuing into the second year of study of A level or other Level 3 courses, students must succeed in the first year of their studies. For the maximum flexibility you will need to ensure you do well at AS level across all subjects. Each AS level is made up of 2 units and so the full 'A' level equates to 4 units (Applied AS / A2 levels – 3 units each: 1 full A Level equates to 6 units).
APPLIED GCE
If you decide to take an Applied course in Business, Information Technology, Leisure & Recreation or Travel & Tourism you will have an opportunity to apply learning in a practical and realistic way. This is an active and enjoyable way of learning and you will gain confidence through developing independent learning skills. Up to two thirds of the course will be internally assessed through a programme of assignments set and marked by your teachers. At least one third of the course will be externally assessed through tests, set assignments, projects or a case study.
All Advanced level courses carry equal weighting.
One AS level of 2 modules = 2 units
One entire 'A' level made up of 4 modules = 4 units
One Applied (Vocational) ‘A’ level (single award) = 3 units
One entire Applied ‘A’ Level made up of 6 modules = 6 units
ONE YEAR LEVEL 2 COURSES
Students following Level 2 courses are working at this level to enhance their GCSE profile. They are advised to build their GCSE profile through choosing subjects in which they are interested and at which they will succeed. Students without a grade C in English Language or Mathematics are encouraged to follow these subjects, either in a GCSE class or equivalent such as Essential Skills qualification. Students should be both realistic and ambitious and should consider where their skills and talents lie: success best comes from a suitable match between course and the student at whatever level.
The board of Governors will only consider students for enrolment:
who have a satisfactory Key Stage 4 Report in relation to the following areas:
Behaviour/attitude
Attendance/punctuality
Attendance at all public examinations for which they are entered in Year 12.
Students from other schools will be considered following the enrolment of St Genevieve’s / students from De La Salle College, provided they meet the above criteria.
In the event of the number of applications exceeding the school’s admissions number, the following criteria will be applied in the order stated below:
1 Girls currently enrolled in St Genevieve’s who have a satisfactory school report with respect to suitability for courses and who will be under 18 years of age on the 2nd July in the year of completion of the course.
2 Where places are available in specific courses, after the above students have been admitted, girls enrolled in St Genevieve’s who will be over 19 years on 2nd July in the year of completion of their course will be admitted according to the specific course criteria, enhanced if necessary.
3 Girls from any parish with sister(s) or half-sister(s) either currently attending or past pupils of St Genevieve’s.
4 Other students seeking admission must be under 19 years of age on 2nd July in the year of completion of the course and will be admitted in the order of the parishes listed: - St Agnes’, St Michael’s, St Oliver Plunkett, St Teresa’s, Hannahstown, St Anne’s, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Nativity, Christ the Redeemer, St. Colman’s, Derriaghy, St Luke’s and St Brigid’s. Students must also have a satisfactory school report with respect to suitability for courses.
5 Girls who have a parent currently a permanent member of staff of St Genevieve’s.
6 Girls from any parish whose mothers are past pupils of St Genevieve’s.
7 Girls who have a brother currently attending De La Salle College.
In the event of over-subscription at any stage i.e. within applicants from any Parish or within any other criterion listed, priority will be given on the basis of date of application to the school, i.e. Earlier applications in the Application Year defined below. If two or more candidates register on the same date and thereby qualify for the last place(s), the award of the place(s) shall be granted in alphabetical order of surname followed by forename from A to Z using the ‘letter by letter’ system.
NB: APPLICANTS NOT CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOL MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION (IF APPLICABLE) ON THEIR APPLICATION FOR A KS5 PLACE.
(a) Name of Course
(b) Name of school at which currently enrolled
(c) Name and year of attendance of sister
(d) Name of parent employee in St Genevieve’s
(e) Name and year of attendance of mother
(f) Name and year of brother currently attending De La Salle College
The criteria for admission to Year 13 will be applied in June of the previous academic year. Please note that being accepted into Year 13 does not mean that a student’s preferred course is available. The criteria for course entrance can only be applied after GCSE results are confirmed.
Where courses are heavily oversubscribed, those students with higher grades, as prescribed in the subject criteria, will be admitted before those with lower grades |
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Criteria are applied at two levels
a) Entry to Year 13
b) Entry to specific courses - applied late August/September |
Agenda to Entry Criteria
Criteria for any extra places available by the Department of Education for admission into Year 13 (Sixth Form)
The Department of Education may, on request, increase the number of pupils that the school can admit to its Year 13. Places that become available in this way shall be allocated only to pupils who meet the eligibility criteria for sixth form study (as above) and shall be allocated in the order determined by the criteria to be applied in the order set down.
- Pupils who have most recently completed Year 12 in St. Genevieve’s High School
- Pupils from other schools where admission to an extra place at St. Genevieve’s High School has been agreed by the Department of Education*.
*Parents should note how the Department of Education will, in response to a school’s request, increase the school’s enrolment number in order to allow an extra post-16 pupil to enrol. DE will first check whether there is another school or schools of a type suitable for that pupil within an hour’s journey of where the pupil lives. If there is, DE will then check whether this other school or schools with places available may provide all of the post-16 courses that the pupils wishes to pursue. If these checks find that no other suitable school may provide all of the post-16 courses that the pupil wishes to pursue – then DE will agree a school’s request for an extra place.
What is a school that is of a type that is suitable for a pupil? To determine this, DE first considers all schools to be one of 4 types: (i) denominational (ii) non-denominational (iii) integrated and (iv) Irish-Medium. A school requesting an extra place for a post-16 pupil will belong to one of these 4 types and DE will consider any other school or school from this same type as suitable for the pupil. DE will also consider as suitable for the pupil any school from the same type as the type of school that the child attended in Year 12.
CRITERIA FOR ENTRY TO SIXTH FORM COURSES
The Sixth Form is organised as a consortium with De La Salle College and the West Belfast Area Learning Community (WBALC). Most of the classes are co-educational.
All students wishing to enter Year 13 will be interviewed and a recommendation made as to the course of study to be followed.
1A LEVEL 2 COURSES - BTEC CERTIFICATE COURSES and
BTEC / OCR DIPLOMA COURSES
(One Year Course)
| Year12/13 |
| At least 4 GCSEs C-G |
In the event of over-subscription, the following criteria will be applied:-
a) Preference will be given to students who are Year 12.
b) Preference will be given to students with the highest grades in English.
c) Preference will be given to students with the highest grades in Maths.
In addition, every student must follow at least one Level 3 course eg Certificate of Personal Effectiveness or ICT Key Skills
1B 2 ADVANCED LEVELS
| Year 12 |
TWO ADVANCED LEVEL SUBJECTS
(2 Year Course)
This course of study involves initial entry into an AS course of study. Progression to A2 is dependent upon AS results*.
A Year 12 Student returning must have at least 5 GCSEs in different subjects (grades A*-C, 2 of which must be grade B) and preferably a Grade A/B in subjects being studied. |
In the event of over-subscription, the following criteria will be applied:-
a) Preference will be given to students who have acquired the required grades at the end of Year 12 and Year 13 students who have satisfied the reconsideration criteria set for entry to Year 14.
b) Preference will be given to students with the highest grade in the relevant subject(s).
c) A points system, with points for GCSE grades will be used to allocate places.
Each student will be awarded:
1 point for each grade C
2 points for each grade B
3 points for each grade A
4 points for each grade A*
An extra point will be awarded for a grade C or above in GCSE English and GCSE Mathematics.
1C 3 ADVANCED LEVELS
| Year 12 |
THREE ADVANCED LEVEL SUBJECTS
(2 Year Course)
This course of study involves initial entry into an AS course of study. Progression to A2 is dependent upon AS results*.
A Year 12 Student returning must have at least 5 GCSEs in different subjects (grades A*-C, 3 of which must be grade B) and preferably a Grade A/B in subjects being studied. |
In the event of over-subscription, the following criteria will be applied:-
a) Preference will be given to students who have acquired the required grades by the end of Year 12.
b) Preference will be given to students with the highest grade in relevant subject(s).
a) A points system, with points for GCSE grades will be used to allocate places (see above).
It is expected that all applicants for the above Advanced Level courses have shown reasonable competency in both English and Maths. Students wishing to progress to A Level in subjects not offered at GCSE and which do not specify entry criteria, will be required to have a minimum of a C grade in a similar type subject.
In exceptional circumstances, students with a specific talent in a subject may be permitted to pursue AS Level.
* Year 13 students who have received a grade U in two or more AS Courses will have to change their course of study.
REPEAT GCSE SUBJECTS
There will be an opportunity to repeat GCSE English and Maths.
Teacher recommendations may be considered for students if there are extenuating circumstances.
Please note that each student will be expected to follow a full timetable commensurate with their level of study.
RECONSIDERATION CRITERIA FOR YEAR 13 FOR ENTRY TO SIXTH FORM COURSES IN YEAR 14
The Sixth Form is organised as a consortium with De La Salle College and the WBALC and most of the classes are co-educational.
All students wishing to enter Year 14 will be interviewed and a recommendation made as to the course of study to be followed. In addition to examination results, attendance, punctuality, attitude and work-rate in Year 13 will be taken into account.
1A BTEC DIPLOMA
| Year 13 INTO Year 14 |
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BTEC DIPLOMA AND C.O.P.E.
(1 Year Course)
A Year 13 Student returning must have at least 4 GCSEs or the equivalent of these grades in a BTEC Certificate course followed in Year 13. |
1B 2 ADVANCED LEVELS
| Year 13 into Year 14 |
TWO ADVANCED SUBSIDIARY (AS) SUBJECTS + C.O.P.E.
(1 Year Course)
With possible progression to A2, dependent on success at this level*.
A Year 13 Student returning must have at least 6 different GCSEs, grades A*-C, 1 of which must be GCSE English and 2 of which must be grade B (or the equivalent of these grades in a BTEC course followed, i.e. a Merit / Distinction in subjects being studied). |
1C 3 ADVANCED LEVELS
| Year 13 into Year 14 |
In certain cases, following teacher recommendations and a detailed interview, a student may be permitted to study 3 Advanced levels.
With possible progression to A2, dependent on success at this level*.
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In the event of over-subscription, the following criteria will be applied:-
· Preference will be given to students who have acquired the required grades by the end of Year 12.
· Preference will be given to students with the highest grade in relevant subject(s).
· A points system, with points for GCSE grades will be used to allocate places.
Each student will be awarded:
1 point for each grade C
2 points for each grade B
3 points for each grade A
4 points for each grade A*
An extra point will be awarded for a grade C or above in GCSE English and GCSE Mathematics.
* Year 13 students who have received a grade U in two or more AS Courses will have to change their course of study.