Hartismere School

Most students at Hartismere take four subjects at the start of year 12 and sit exams in those subjects after one year. In year 13, they continue with three subjects to A level. There are several benefits to this: students avoid narrowing their choices too early and they can make more informed choices about their degree subjects and future plans.

Our curriculum is designed to offer choice and breadth of opportunities: as well as traditional subjects, students can choose subjects new to them such as photography, economics and psychology. We also offer the level 3 Certificate in mathematics, GCSE Spanish and the EPQ as additional qualifications.

Students are supported by specialist teachers, personal tutors and through a thorough system of assessment and monitoring so that they achieve the best possible outcomes.

Our reading room, with its suite of iMacs and wide range of books and literature, is for exclusive use by sixth form students for private study, prep, wider reading and university research.

Cultural Enrichment

Our students take part in a programme of cultural enrichment activities, designed to broaden and deepen their understanding of our society (and their role in it), its culture, politics and diversity. Students attend a programme of lectures which are given by staff and visiting speakers on topics as diverse as film and media censorship, the UK economy and the importance of sleep. It gives students a taste of university life and university teaching methods as well as an opportunity to consider and engage with challenging ideas and issues. We want to challenge their thinking and to encourage them to ask questions.

The Extended Project Qualification

The Extended Project is a level 3 qualification that involves an exploration of an area of personal interest to the student. Students begin their project towards the end of year 12 and complete it in year 13. Candidates:

• choose an area of interest 
• draft a project title, aims and objectives 
• plan, research and carry out the project 
• provide evidence of all stages of project production 
• deliver a presentation to a specified audience 
• reflect on the process.

The project could either be an extension of a student’s academic studies or an exploration of a topic that interests them and which is outside their A level studies. Many students choose to present their research in the form of an extended essay, but other examples of past projects include producing a play, composing and recording music, writing a computer program and designing furnishings.

Students sometimes take an EPQ in a subject which they may not have chosen to continue to A level, but which they enjoy, such as art. The EPQ is excellent evidence to universities and employers of an ability to study independently and of a self-motivated student.