We are convinced that the A level model offers flexibility and depth to students who relish the chance, at last, to study what they want and to do so at in great depth.

Key benefits of A levels include the following:

• The girls have a completely free choice of AS and A levels. This allows specialisation for those girls who do not wish to go through yet another year of a language when they are not linguistic, through maths or English when they have been looking forward to giving one of these up, or requiring a science from someone who is really planning to study arts or humanities subjects.
• Equally, if she wants to keep her choices more widely spread, a student can do so. It is entirely possible to do 5 AS subjects and then 3 or 4 A2s , giving a real opportunity to widen out the subject choices.
• We remain convinced that well taught A levels provide a much deeper and more thorough introduction to the type of subjects your daughter may choose at university. The vast majority of students go to university with A levels and all universities enthusiastically make offers to students with A levels.
• Timetabling of AS and A levels allows for study time throughout the two 6th form years. The time available increases gradually from September of Year 12 to September of Year 13, so that the students become accustomed to using it productively. This is a far better preparation for university life demanding, as it does, more independent learning on the girls’ part.

We want the girls to enjoy their studies at this level. We want them to get more out of life in school, to widen their horizons and their intellectual depth, to participate and help lead and run extra-curricular clubs as well as to enjoy something completely different in their Enrichment Afternoon. This requires space, time in the school day: time to reflect, to relax and to re-energise ready for the next intellectual challenge. We all know how tense girls can become at times, and this space in the school day allows them time to wind-down and get that very important sense of balance.

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