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Curriculum Subjects & Assessment
At Bishopshalt Sixth Form, our curriculum is broad, rigorous and inspiring. We believe in giving every student the knowledge, skills and confidence to excel at the highest level. At Bishopshalt, A Levels are the foundation - opportunity, ambition, and excellence make the difference.
Discover the full range of exciting Sixth Form courses at Bishopshalt School by exploring our latest Prospectus below. Inside, you'll find detailed descriptions of our challenging curriculum, plus, get all the essential information on entry requirements for each subject—your pathway to a Bright Future starts here!
[Latest Sixth Form Prospectus]
A Levels at the Core
Our main academic programme is built around a wide range of A Level courses across Mathematics, Sciences, Humanities, Arts, Languages and Social Sciences. This breadth allows students to design a programme that reflects their passions, supports their future ambitions and provides the depth of study required by top universities and employers.
AS Subjects for Breadth
Alongside A Levels, students can also opt for a range of AS subjects. These include the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), French, Spanish, and Classics. This flexibility gives students the opportunity to broaden their studies, showcase intellectual curiosity and strengthen their university or apprenticeship applications.
Expertise and Excellence
Our teachers are subject specialists who bring passion and expertise into every lesson. With small classes, expert guidance and a culture of high expectations, students achieve mastery of their chosen subjects while developing critical thinking, creativity and independence.
Beyond the Classroom
An inspiring curriculum is not confined to timetabled lessons. Scholars and students alike extend their knowledge through academic societies, MOOCs, Future Fridays, enrichment activities and national competitions, ensuring that every learner is challenged, inspired and prepared for life beyond Bishopshalt.
Assessment and Examination Information
For all information on Sixth Form examinations, please click here.
For internal assessments information and timetables, please click here.
Subject Specifications for Revision
To help with your revision, you can find links to exam specification for all of our subjects in the document below:
National Competitions and Academic Challenge
As part of the Sixth Form curriculum at Bishopshalt, students are expected to engage in national academic and enrichment competitions aligned with the subject areas in which they thrive. These competitions form an important element of our commitment to stretch, scholarship, and super-curricular excellence, supporting both university applications and intellectual development beyond specifications.
Sixth Form Participation (Years 12 and 13)
Students in Years 12 and 13 are actively encouraged—and in many cases expected—to enter national competitions and Olympiads within their strongest disciplines. These competitions develop advanced problem-solving, subject mastery, academic resilience, and independent thinking, all of which are essential for competitive university pathways.
Examples of Sixth Form competitions include:
- Senior Mathematical Challenge (Y12–13)
- UK Chemistry Olympiad (Y12–13)
- British Biology Olympiad (BBO) (Y12–13)
- British Physics Olympiad (BPhO) (Y12)
- Economics Olympiad (Y12)
- British Psychology Olympiad (BPO) (Y9–12)
- Bebras Challenge (Y12–13)
- M3 Mathematical Modelling Challenge (Y12–13)
- STEM Racing (Y12–13)
- Young Enterprise (UK) (Y12 only)
- BSA Young Sociologist of the Year (Y12–13)
- ESU MACE Debate Competition (Y13)
- TDI Challenge (Technology, Design & Innovation) (Y12–13)
Participation is supported through subject extension groups, staff mentoring, competition preparation sessions, and, where appropriate, alumni guidance.
Leadership and Mentoring of Lower School Competitions
In addition to their own competitive participation, Sixth Form students play a key leadership role in supporting and mentoring younger pupils entering national competitions. This forms part of their leadership development and contribution to the wider school community.
Sixth Form students help to coach, mentor, and lead preparation sessions for lower school competitions such as:
- Junior and Intermediate Mathematical Challenges
- CREST Awards
- Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Competition
- CyberFirst Challenge
- Cipher Challenge
- Isaac Computer Science
- Biology Challenge
- Historical Association Essay Competitions
- RGS Young Geographer of the Year
- Foyle Young Poets
- Young Musician of the Year / Music for Youth Festivals
- National Art & Design Competition
- Shakespeare Schools Festival
- National Theatre New Views
-
V&A Innovate National Schools Challenge
Through this mentoring, Sixth Form students consolidate their own subject knowledge while developing leadership, communication, and coaching skills, supporting younger students to access high-level academic opportunities early in their school journey.
A Culture of Challenge and Aspiration
This structured approach ensures that academic competition is embedded within the Sixth Form curriculum, not as an add-on but as a core expectation. Students are challenged to aim high in their chosen disciplines, while also giving back through leadership and mentoring.
By the time students leave Bishopshalt, they do so with a strong record of national competition participation, leadership experience, and academic distinction, strengthening applications to highly selective universities and future pathways.