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Law

Studying a career pathway in law doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to become a lawyer or legal executive. Yes, it’s one of the specialisms that you can pursue, but there are many other job roles available in both the private and public sector.

Whilst a strong knowledge of the law is the foundation of all of careers in the sector, you may also need to understand how and why people commit crimes depending on the career pathway you follow.

Whether you want to uphold the law, help set new policies to keep our communities safe or challenge evidence in court, one of our career pathways will set you up perfectly.

Choose the career pathway that excites you most and tailor your studies to your interests by selecting your third A Level from the bottom of this page.

Typical entry requirements:

3 A Levels

5 GCSEs at grade 4 or higher, including English Language and Maths

Please note:

  • BTEC or vocational qualifications will not be accepted in place of GCSEs

  • International applicants must also have IELTS 6.0

Choose a career pathway…

Policing

Lawyer

Select from the following A Levels:

Business Studies

Business Studies

About the Course

Throughout the course you will learn about what businesses do and how they do it, what factors are likely to make businesses successful, and practical information about the legal and financial requirements of the business world.

In the first year you will look at how to plan and finance a business and techniques for successful management. In the second year you will study strategies for business success, the environment in which businesses operate and how they manage change.

Guest speakers and visits to businesses will also form part of the course so you can apply your knowledge to real life business settings.

Studying Business A Level can open a number of options for further study in university, from accounting all the way to marketing and finance. It gives you an overview of the business world and aims to put you in a strong position when it comes to choosing your future career or study path.

Key Units

Students following this course will study business in a variety of contexts (e.g. large/small, UK focused/global, service/manufacturing.) When examining these businesses students will focus closely on:

  • the four functional areas of a business; finance, marketing, HR and operations

  • the interrelated nature of business functions and how they affect competitiveness

  • the competitive environment and the markets in which businesses operate

  • the influences on functional decisions and plans (including ethical and environmental issues)

  • the importance of decision-making and the factors that might determine whether a decision is successful e.g. the quality of data and the degree of uncertainty

  • how technology is changing the way decisions are made

  • how businesses operate and compete

  • the impact of stakeholders on functional decisions and their response to such decisions

  • use of non-quantitative and quantitative data in decision making (including the interpretation of index numbers and calculations such as ratios and percentages)</ul>

    Students in the second year focus their knowledge to focus more on wider strategic decision-making. Students will have the opportunity to learn about:

    • the impact of technology on strategic decision-making

    • the influences of Corporate Social Responsibility, ethical and environmental issues on strategic decisions

    • the difficulties in forecasting future trends

    • the importance of assessing feasibility and risk when making strategic decisions

    • the impact of stakeholders on strategic decisions and their response to such decisions</ul>

      Entry Requirements

      To study 3 A Levels

      5+ GCSEs grades 9-4 / A*-C in different subjects, including English Language and Maths at a minimum of grade 4/C.

      Additional Requirements

      You do not need to have studied Business Studies before, however you will need good literacy and numeracy skills to write essays and carry out financial calculations. You should also have an interest in current affairs and their application to the business world.

      The Sheffield Sixth Form welcomes students who have studied vocational qualifications. However, the minimum entry requirements for the A Level programme, as shown above, must be GCSEs.

      Assessment

      Written examinations

      3 x 2 hour exams at the end of two years of study (these exams will encompass content from the 10 units studied during the course).

      Where does this Lead

      Students who successfully complete this course may wish to progress to higher education/university.

      Future Opportunities

      Business Studies is a useful background course for study in a variety of areas and can offer students bright prospects for employment across a breadth of opportunities, including:

      • sales

      • accounting

      • management

      • public relations</ul>

        This would also be a useful subject for those students considering self-employment/business ownership/entrepreneurship.

Typical entry requirements:

To study 3 A Levels

5 GCSEs at grade 4 or higher, including English Language and Maths

Please note:

  • BTEC or vocational qualifications will not be accepted in place of GCSEs

  • International applicants must also have IELTS 6.0

 English Language

English Language

About the Course

You will read and explore the use of language in a variety of texts including advertisements, newspaper articles, short stories, speech transcripts, letters and travel writing.

The course teaches the invaluable skills of analysis. You are also encouraged to write in different styles to meet the needs of a particular audience and then reflect on the techniques used.

The new Language in Action component (coursework) gives students the opportunity to develop their own writing skills. You have the opportunity to explore your own interests for the coursework options in inventive and original ways.

You will also study theories concerning language itself, including language change, gender, accent and dialect, teen sociolect and child language development.

The course content of this A Level includes an exploration of how people, events, places and cultures are represented in the language of newspapers, television, social media and a variety of other platforms. We explore concepts like stereotyping and the process by which a writer influences their reader

There are two examinations (worth 80% of the overall grade) and the original writing and investigation of the coursework folder comprises 20% of the final A Level grade.

The AQA syllabus can be found by visiting the examination board website.

Key Units

Paper 1 – Language, the Individual and Society

Textual analysis and essay on Child Language Development

Paper 2 – Language Diversity and Change

Essay, analysis and opinion article on change and diversity topics

Non Exam Assessment (NEA coursework)

Language Investigation and Original Writing

Entry Requirements

To study 3 A Levels

5+ GCSEs grade 9-4, including a minimum of grade 4 in English Language and Maths.

Additional Requirements

GCSE grade 9-5 in English Language

The Sheffield Sixth Form welcomes students who have studied vocational qualifications. However, the minimum entry requirements for the A Level programme, as shown above, must be GCSEs.

Assessment

The two year A Level consists of two exams and NEA (non-exam assessment).

  • Exam 1: Language and the Individual

  • Exam 2: Language Diversity & Change

  • NEA: A Language Investigation project (2000 words) and Original Writing and Commentary (1500 words)

Where does this Lead

A good command of the English Language is an invaluable tool for any path you choose in life. In academic terms, it gives you an excellent basis for a university degree – a route pursued by many A Level students.

Common degree subjects for students who have taken English Language include:

  • English Language/Literature

  • Linguistics

  • Speech and Language Therapy

  • Journalism/Creative Writing

Future Opportunities

In terms of career, an ability to analyse text and craft your own writing for particular effect will give you the underpinning skills for a diverse range of jobs including teaching, journalism and law.

Tell Me More

Will this subject suit me?

The ideal student would take an interest in developing their reading and writing skills and have a good awareness of culture and issues in the news. You would enjoy the intellectual challenge the subject entails, enjoy creative writing and be prepared to grapple with abstract concepts.

Personal Study Time

A Level students are expected to devote as much time outside the classroom to their studies as in lessons. Homework will be set regularly but students are expected to undertake self-directed research as well. Students will receive effective feedback, guidance and help from their tutors.

Typical entry requirements:

To study 3 A Levels

5 GCSEs at grade 4 or higher, including English Language and Maths

Please note:<\/p>

BTEC or vocational qualifications will not be accepted in place of GCSEs

International applicants must also have IELTS 6.0

Additional Requirements

GCSE grade 9-5 in English Language

 History

History

About the Course

History is a broad subject that covers a variety of skills and knowledge areas. This course will suit you if you:

  • have an interest in the world around you, the society you live in and how it has developed

  • enjoy learning about people in a different time and place, how they interacted and what motivated them

  • enjoy analysing evidence and debating what it shows

Personal Study Time

You will experience a mix of learning activities in class and will be given a variety of tasks and assignments to be completed in your own time. Over the course of an academic year you should reckon on spending about as much time studying history outside the classroom as you do in it. This will mainly be on assignments set by your teachers but you will also be encouraged to take personal responsibility for your learning through self-assigned tasks such as extended research and note making.

Key Units

The History A Level course focuses on British and European history in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Throughout the course we aim to stimulate your interest in the past and your appreciation of the importance of history in the contemporary world. We also aim to develop your understanding of the controversial nature of history and your skills of historical enquiry.

Year 1

You will study the transformation of Europe in the 20th century through the creation of two new states – Italy and Germany.

German history from 1918 to 1989. This includes:

  • The impact of the First World War on German society and politics

  • The Weimar Republic

  • The rise of Hitler and the Nazis

  • The impact of the Second World War, followed by the social and political development of the German Federal Republic between 1945 to 1990

Italian history from 1911 to 1946. This includes:

  • The struggles faced by the liberal state, c1911–18

  • The rise of Mussolini and the creation of a fascist dictatorship, 1919–26

  • The governance of the fascist state, 1925–40

  • The challenges to, and the fall of the fascist state, c1935–46

Year 2

Your second year shall be an in depth study of the British experience of warfare from 1790 to 1918.

In this unit you will study the following:

  • French Wars (1793-1815)

  • Crimean War (1854-56)

  • Second Boer War (1899-1902)

  • First World War (1914-18)

Your second year will also include the undertaking of coursework which focuses on the development of representation and democracy in Britain over the period 1830-1930 with a particular emphasis on the causes of change over the 100-year period.

Entry Requirements

To study 3 A Levels

5+ GCSEs grades 9-4 in different subjects, including English Language and Maths at a minimum of grade 4.

Additional Requirements

GCSE grade 9-4 in History (if taken)

The Sheffield Sixth Form welcomes students who have studied vocational qualifications. However, the minimum entry requirements for the A Level programme, as shown above, must be GCSEs.

Where does this lead

A Level History is a highly regarded qualification. We have close ties with the history departments at both universities in Sheffield but past students have also gone on to study history either as a single subject or in combination with others at a wide range of universities throughout the country.

Future opportunities

The historians skills are also highly valued in a variety of careers including:

  • Law

  • Journalism

  • Theatre production

  • Teaching

  • Business

  • Public service

Typical entry requirements:

To study 3 A Levels

5 GCSEs at grade 4 or higher, including English Language and Maths

Please note:

  • BTEC or vocational qualifications will not be accepted in place of GCSEs

  • International applicants must also have IELTS 6.0

Additional Requirements

GCSE grade 9-4 in History (if taken)

 Sociology

Sociology

About the Course

Sociology particularly concerns the study of social life, offering different explanations and evidence for what affects our social behaviour. In contrast, psychology tends to concentrate on the workings of individuals\’ minds, although there is some overlap. Sociologists are also interested in the historical development of societies.

Whilst psychologists emphasise the experimental method, and historians make great use of secondary sources, sociologists use a wider range of research techniques and sources to find out about social life. You will be expected to become familiar with these methods and answer exam questions about them.

We can all see evidence of social influences and factors, and statistically there are correlations between aspects of social life which sociologists debate. For example, it is widely known that poorer people have worse health and life expectancy than wealthier citizens – but why? It is clear that females commit fewer crimes than males – but why? These would be just two questions you might study, and there will not necessarily be any definitive answers. But there will be a lot of evidence to consider, and a lot of arguments about the topics! Sociology will make you look at everyday life in lots of new ways, so be prepared to be challenged! And be prepared to contribute, too.

Key Units

Year 1

Core Content

  • Education with Theory and Methods

  • Education

  • Methods in Context

  • Theory and Methods

  • Optional Content

  • Culture and Identity

  • Families and Households

  • Health

  • Work, Poverty and Welfare

Year 2

Core Content

  • Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods

  • Crime and Deviance

  • Theory and Methods

  • Optional Content

  • Beliefs in Society

  • Global Development

  • The Media

  • Stratification and Differentiation

The traditional A Level focus on thinking and analysis ensures that you will approach these topics from a number of different angles, or perspectives, with increasing emphasis on the skill of evaluation in year 2.

Units are subject to change - please check the AQA website for further information.

Entry Requirements

To study 3 A Levels

5+ GCSEs grades 9-4 in different subjects, including English Language and Maths at a minimum of grade 4.

The Sheffield Sixth Form welcomes students who have studied vocational qualifications. However, the minimum entry requirements for the A Level programme, as shown above, must be GCSEs.

Assessment

All of the above units are assessed via external examinations at the end of the second year.

Where does this Lead

Many students go on to university, where Sociology is a long-established subject with strong links to the other social sciences.

Future Opportunities

If, for example, you wished to train as one of the following then you would study some sociology as part of your professional training:

  • Lawyer

  • Journalist

  • Doctor

  • Teacher

  • Social worker

  • Police Officer

  • Public Administrator

  • Architect

Most careers which involve working with people have some sociological content within their professional training.

Tell Me More

Will this subject suit me?

The ideal student will be interested in current affairs, social, political and contemporary culture, in short, the world around us. You will enjoy the intellectual challenge of debating ideas, enjoy reading about and researching social issues, and be prepared to construct clear, written arguments. Good numerical skills would be advantageous since there will be statistical evaluation.

Personal Study Time

All students are expected to devote as much time outside the classroom to their studies as in lectures. Homework will regularly be set, but students are expected to routinely manage their self-directed study, consolidating work set or undertaken in class.

Successful students are able to apply their knowledge of theories to the real world, by referencing actual events. So you will need to keep abreast of the news, watch TV documentaries and analyse contemporary developments, both to make your study of social life much more interesting and also to gain extra credit.

Transferable Skills

Students who undertake Sociology A Level will be capable of handling evidence, constructing and presenting quite sophisticated arguments, which are excellent skills for any university and professional career.

Typical entry requirements:

To study 3 A Levels

5 GCSEs at grade 4 or higher, including English Language and Maths

Please note:

  • BTEC or vocational qualifications will not be accepted in place of GCSEs

  • International applicants must also have IELTS 6.0

 Psychology

Psychology

About the Course

Psychology is the study of human behaviour, and aims to explain how we develop and predict patterns of behaviour by using scientific observation and experimentation.

During this A Level course you will learn about how how our behaviour is influenced by other people and external stimuli such as stress, how psychology is employed by the media and psycho pathology. You'll also study and explore different research methods and how to apply these to psychological experiments.

Although Psychology is technically considered a science related subject, is is an excellent accompanying subject to almost any combination of A Levels. Studied in conjunction with other science subjects (Biology or Chemistry) it can lead to careers in Clinical Psychology or research. It can also provide a good balance to other subjects; for example, taken alongside Media Studies or Health & Social Care/Sociology an understanding of psychology will be beneficial for careers in criminal psychology/policing or the health/social care industries.

The skills you will learn in psychology are highly transferable and will likely benefit you in higher education and employment, even if you don't choose to study Psychology as your main subject or work in the industry. For instance, you'll develop critical reasoning skills (essential for any degree course), learn to analyse and interpret data, and how to put across your point of view fluently.

Key Units

The first year offers a broad range of topics including a study of stress, abnormality and how others influence our behaviour. There is also a research component which examines the methods Psychologists use to study human behaviour.

In year two, there are a range of topic based options which bring together explanations from different approaches which engages students with issues and debates within contemporary psychology. The topics include:

  • An examination of relationships

  • Aggression

  • Gender

  • Psychology of the mass media

  • Psycho pathology

  • Eating behaviour/disorders and schizophrenia

Research unit

Entry Requirements

To study 3 A Levels

5+ GCSEs grades 9-4 in different subjects, including English Language and Maths at a minimum of grade 4.

Additional Requirements for Psychology

  • 9-5 in English Language

  • 9-5 in Maths

  • 9-5 in at least one science GCSE

The Sheffield Sixth Form welcomes students who have studied vocational qualifications. However, the minimum entry requirements for the A Level programme, as shown above, must be GCSEs.

Assessment

Examinations at the end of the first year for AS Level and the end of the second year (3 exams) for the full A Level qualification.

Where does this Lead

Most A Level students go on to university, where Psychology has become a very popular subject with strong links to the other social sciences. As it is also considered a science many students opt for Psychology as a third or fourth science in preparation for Medicine, Veterinary Science, Forensic Science and Sport Science.

Some students also progress on to study Law or Criminology.

Future Opportunities

Psychology is beneficial in careers that involve working with people, such as Marketing or Advertising, where an insight into understanding why people behave the way they do is useful. Psychology is also an essential part of some teacher training.

Tell Me More

Will this subject suit me?

This A Level is designed to develop skills of analysis and evaluation through an examination of arguments and evidence put forward by psychologists. You are expected to be interested in human behaviour and the world you live in. The ideal student would enjoy discussion, reading about new ideas and challenging assumptions.

Good numeracy skills are required due to the science/mathematical nature of the subject.

Personal Study Time

A Level students are expected to devote as much time outside the classroom to their studies as in lessons. Homework will be set regularly but students are expected to undertake self-directed research as well.

Typical entry requirements:

To study 3 A Levels

5 GCSEs at grade 4 or higher, including English Language and Maths

Please note:

  • BTEC or vocational qualifications will not be accepted in place of GCSEs

  • International applicants must also have IELTS 6.0

 or BTEC Psychology

BTEC Psychology

About the Course

Psychology is the study of human behaviour, and aims to explain how we develop and predict patterns of behaviour by using scientific observation and experimentation.

During this A Level course you will learn about how how our behaviour is influenced by other people and external stimuli such as stress, how psychology is employed by the media and psycho pathology. You'll also study and explore different research methods and how to apply these to psychological experiments.

Although Psychology is technically considered a science related subject, is is an excellent accompanying subject to almost any combination of A Levels. Studied in conjunction with other science subjects (Biology or Chemistry) it can lead to careers in Clinical Psychology or research. It can also provide a good balance to other subjects; for example, taken alongside Media Studies or Health & Social Care/Sociology an understanding of psychology will be beneficial for careers in criminal psychology/policing or the health/social care industries.

The skills you will learn in psychology are highly transferable and will likely benefit you in higher education and employment, even if you don't choose to study Psychology as your main subject or work in the industry. For instance, you'll develop critical reasoning skills (essential for any degree course), learn to analyse and interpret data, and how to put across your point of view fluently.

Key Units

The first year offers a broad range of topics including a study of stress, abnormality and how others influence our behaviour. There is also a research component which examines the methods Psychologists use to study human behaviour.

In year two, there are a range of topic based options which bring together explanations from different approaches which engages students with issues and debates within contemporary psychology. The topics include:

  • An examination of relationships

  • Aggression

  • Gender

  • Psychology of the mass media

  • Psycho pathology

  • Eating behaviour/disorders and schizophrenia

Research unit

Entry Requirements

To study 3 A Levels

5+ GCSEs grades 9-4 in different subjects, including English Language and Maths at a minimum of grade 4.

Additional Requirements for Psychology

  • 9-5 in English Language

  • 9-5 in Maths

  • 9-5 in at least one science GCSE

The Sheffield Sixth Form welcomes students who have studied vocational qualifications. However, the minimum entry requirements for the A Level programme, as shown above, must be GCSEs.

Assessment

Examinations at the end of the first year for AS Level and the end of the second year (3 exams) for the full A Level qualification.

Where does this Lead

Most A Level students go on to university, where Psychology has become a very popular subject with strong links to the other social sciences. As it is also considered a science many students opt for Psychology as a third or fourth science in preparation for Medicine, Veterinary Science, Forensic Science and Sport Science.

Some students also progress on to study Law or Criminology.

Future Opportunities

Psychology is beneficial in careers that involve working with people, such as Marketing or Advertising, where an insight into understanding why people behave the way they do is useful. Psychology is also an essential part of some teacher training.

Tell Me More

Will this subject suit me?

This A Level is designed to develop skills of analysis and evaluation through an examination of arguments and evidence put forward by psychologists. You are expected to be interested in human behaviour and the world you live in. The ideal student would enjoy discussion, reading about new ideas and challenging assumptions.

Good numeracy skills are required due to the science/mathematical nature of the subject.

Personal Study Time

A Level students are expected to devote as much time outside the classroom to their studies as in lessons. Homework will be set regularly but students are expected to undertake self-directed research as well.

Typical entry requirements:

5 GCSEs at grade 4 or higher, including English Language and Maths

Please note:

  • BTEC or vocational qualifications will not be accepted in place of GCSEs

  • International applicants must also have IELTS 6.0

 Politics

Politics

About the course

As a Politics student you will develop knowledge and an informed understanding of contemporary political structures and issues in their historical context, both within the UK and globally. You will also develop a critical awareness of the changing nature of politics and the relationships between political ideas, institutions and processes, as well as develop knowledge and an informed understanding of the influences and interests which have an impact on decisions in government and politics.

This A Level will help you develop a number of new skills, including how to research, how to write persuasive arguments and convey your point of view effectively, and how to work as part of a team. You'll also have opportunities to develop your debating and presentation abilities. All of these skills will be beneficial in both further study and employment. The course also develops knowledge and an informed understanding of the rights and responsibilities of individuals and groups, the ability to critically analyse, interpret and evaluate political information to form arguments and make judgements and also develop an interest in, and engagement with, contemporary politics.

It will be expected that you will take part in the college\’s clubs and societies and take a role in either representing your local community and/or college to gain experience as a position of responsibility and further develop your political industrial skills.

Course content

You will study 3 different sections within your Politics A Level:

Government and politics of the UK

This section develops awareness of the historical developments of rights in the UK and the nature and sources of the British Constitution. You will examine the structure and role of Parliament, the Prime Minister and cabinet, the judiciary, devolution, democracy, elections and referendums, political parties, pressure groups and the European Union.

Government and politics of the USA and comparative politics

This section particular focus but their interrelationships must be understood to appreciate the complexities of the system. You will examine the constitutional framework of US government, congress, the President, judiciary, the electoral process and direct democracy, political parties, pressure groups, civil rights and comparative politics.

Political ideas

This section students develop core ideologies including liberalism, conservatism, socialism and other ideologies. <\/p>In addition, you will develop a range of skills including:

  • to comprehend and interpret political information

  • to critically analyse and evaluate the areas of politics studied

  • to construct arguments and explanations leading to reasoned conclusions

  • to identify parallels, connections, similarities and differences between aspects of the areas of politics studied

  • to construct and communicate arguments and explanations with relevance, clarity and coherence

  • to use appropriate political vocabulary

  • to make connections between the different areas of politics studied

  • to make comparisons across two political systems

Where does this lead?

The course will prepare you for continued study at university/degree level and various possible career pathways thereafter. The study of Politics is very useful for a number of careers and is a well-established subject at the most prestigious universities in the UK. There are a variety of degrees available including specific politics degrees or politics with another subject auxh as Global Development, International Relations, History, Philosophy, Law, Social Sciences.

The Sheffield College offer a variety of Higher Education courses including degree courses - this A Level can lead onto these higher level programmes.

Students may also choose to pursue a Degree Apprenticeship in areas such as:

  • Financial services professional

  • HR Consultant/Partner

  • Improvement specialist

  • Improvement leader

  • Project manager

  • Senior leader

  • Senior professional economist

Future opportunities

An A Level in Politics can provide a springboard into a variety of career opportunities including:

  • Politician

  • Local government officer

  • Public relations

  • Human resources

  • Finance

  • Civil Service Fast Streamer

  • Government social research officer

  • Policy officer

  • Political risk analyst

  • Politician's assistant

  • Public affairs consultant

  • Public relations account executive

  • Social researcher

Other popular industries include activists, fundraisers and researchers, marketing and PR, management consultancy, youth and community work, the finance industry and academic research. Politics is a very popular postgraduate subject, and so about one in six politics graduates go on to take another course to get a Masters after they finish their degree.

Assessment

There are 3 externally set exams in Year 2:

  • Paper 1: Government and politics of the UK

  • Paper 2: The government and politics of the USA and Comparative politics

  • Paper 3: Political ideas

Each exam is 2 hours. The exams are a mixture of medium length ‘explain’ and essay style questions. You will also need to pass the 4 progression tests and 2 mock exams to move from Year 1 to Year 2.

Tell me more

Trips and visits

Educational trips and visiting speakers will support the teaching of this A Level. It is expected that students will attend any education visits and visiting speakers as due to the nature of establishments and the availability of speakers, these may be at times outside of normal timetabled classes. There may be costs associated with educational visits and students may be asked to contribute towards transport and any entry fees for places of visits.

Personal study time

A Level students are expected to devote as much time outside the classroom to their studies as in lessons. Homework will be set regularly but students are expected to undertake self-directed research as well

Students are also expected to complete work experience alongside their A Levels. This can be done in a variety of different ways including volunteering, youth work, victim support, police special.*

*Please note – some of these opportunities are age-related and may need an enhanced DBS.

Typical entry requirements:

To study 3 A Levels

5 GCSEs at grade 4 or higher, including English Language and Maths

Please note:

  • BTEC or vocational qualifications will not be accepted in place of GCSEs

  • International applicants must also have IELTS 6.0