A-level Courses

Explore the ancient world and understand how its legacy affects society today. We embark on a voyage of discovery that takes you first through the incredible stories of the clash between Greece and Persia, analysis of the war between Sparta and Athens and more in depth study of the Spartan politics and society. We cover the Roman Emperors from the first, Augustus to Nero, whose reputations will be a focus of discussion, through to the invasion and Romanisation of Britain. Where better to study this fantastic period than Cirencester? An exciting and engaging A-level with straightforward assessment.

Do you want to make a difference in the world? The study of biology will prepare you for a variety of careers, from conservation to medicine, where you can do just that. The course is delivered by a team of enthusiastic, knowledgeable and approachable lecturers who will introduce you to the wonderful diversity of the biological sciences. Have you ever wondered how your heart is able to beat on its own? How exactly does your immune system protect you from constant attack? Could GM crops reduce world hunger? These are just some of the areas we will explore. Throughout the course you will also carry out a range of investigations to improve your practical skills, problem solving ability and confidence, applying your knowledge to new and different contexts. We think Biology is an awe-inspiring subject and we hope you will too.

Business is a fascinating subject and looks at real world problems such as: How can businesses maximise profits? How do you grow a business? How do businesses create products which customers want? How do businesses motivate their staff? The course provides an engaging curriculum whether you are thinking of a future as an entrepreneur, senior manager or even specialising in a business field such as marketing or finance! The course provides an excellent academic grounding as well as the added value of developing knowledge and skills which will be useful throughout your career such as budgeting, leadership and problem solving.

Chemistry is everywhere, from the reactions happening in your body keeping you alive, to the shampoo you use to wash your hair, or even the fuel needed to heat your home or run your car! Studying Chemistry involves an exploration of matter at a molecular level, it is often seen as the ‘central’ science providing insights into a variety of interlinking physical and biological phenomena. Have you ever wondered: What makes perfume smell? How fireworks have so many different colours? How new drugs are discovered? These are just some of the questions you will be able to answer by studying Chemistry.

Classical Civilisation (often just called ‘Classics’) is the original humanities subject; it will immerse you into an exciting cultural study that focuses on the ancient civilisations of Greece, Rome and Persia. This fascinating subject is multi-disciplinary and very highly-regarded by universities. The overarching cultural focus that Classics provides lends itself to important debates about identity and our place in the world which are of vital importance to us today.

Computer Scientists are changing the world all of the time. They dream up creative, practical solutions and work with other smart, inspiring people to invent, design, and create things that matter.

Through theoretical analysis and hands-on practical work, you will learn the core principles of computing and programming and how to apply them.

3D design provides a gateway to a range of exciting and challenging careers such as architecture, product/industrial design, transport design and a range of creative crafts such as ceramics, jewellery and furniture making. 3D design will help you develop your visual awareness, presentation and communication skills which are valuable in many careers. 3D design allows you to develop problem solving skills and to work creatively - producing functional and elegant solutions either as models or full size pieces. Through a better understanding of design and materials you will have an increased awareness of environmental issues and the importance of design in shaping our world for the better.

Drama and Theatre Studies is an exciting, practical and innovative course for anyone with a real interest in theatre who wants to know more. You will explore plays both practically and theoretically, gaining an understanding of a range of styles and genres of theatre. The great thing about this course is the focus on practical work and the development of skills in a range of theatre roles, including performer, designer and director. This course is an excellent base of learning for students wanting to study drama in higher education and just a fantastic opportunity to study a subject that you love and find fascinating.

Our A-level in Economics equips students with the skills and confidence to explore more on how resources are allocated in the world around them. It leads on from GCSE and provides an excellent basis for further study at university or the apprenticeship route. By learning how to explain and evaluate economic problems and possible solutions, students will acquire a way of thinking as economists and develop a logical approach to thinking and reasoning.

Are you interested in how modern gadgets work? A-level Electronics gives you the knowledge of components and circuits used in modern technology. The aim of this course is to develop the skills needed to design and build your own circuits.

Join us at Cirencester College and study A-level English Language and Literature, a course designed to inspire a love of reading, analysing and writing the written and spoken word. In the classroom and beyond, we are interested in ‘how texts work’; an approach that will support you not just in your study of this course but across all programmes. We believe that all language is valuable to us as literary critics and linguists; the text from an online Blog is just as valuable to us as a published novel or play. Not only does this course cover reading skills but creative writing and original writing too. We teach and inspire our students to become authors and journalists. We promote reading for pleasure every day and when possible, visit the theatre to see the latest productions. Language and Literature A-level is ideally suited to students who enjoyed both elements of the English curriculum at GCSE; the dual study approach fosters a rich appreciation of how texts are crafted and work to suit their audiences, purposes and contexts. This course has obvious benefits for students intending to enter Higher Education, as close analysis of texts and excellent reading and writing skills are key success criteria for a host of degree-level subjects. Beyond education, students employed in all industries will benefit from the ability to understand the language we speak (and read and write) in precise detail, making them perceptive communicators who are enabled to interact with those around them.

Do you want to learn how to effectively write stories, articles and reviews? Do you want to learn how the English Language developed, and is developing over time? Do you want to become a more effective speaker and listener? Then English Language A-level is the course for you.
On this course, you will be equipped with the linguistic skills and terminology to be able to become a more effective speaker and writer. You will learn how to write creatively, how the English language has changed over time and how to understand and analyse the rules and codes which operate whenever we speak. You will also learn about how children, men and women use language as well as accents and dialects.
This course fits well with any other subject where you have to communicate, as it gives you the skills to improve the clarity, fluency and variety of your communication, both spoken and written.

The A-level English Literature course will provide you with the opportunity to read, discuss and analyse a diverse range of classic English and American texts, which explore themes such as love and death, truth and deception, gender and relationships, disillusionment and despair. The course will involve you in an in-depth study of Renaissance and modern tragic drama, enable you to explore the work of major nineteenth and twentieth century poets and immerse you in the comparative analysis of two critically acclaimed modern novels. You will gain clear, critical insights into these works, polish your analytical and essay-writing skills and develop your grasp of literary techniques and terminology, enhancing your ability to evaluate both set texts and ‘unseen’ prose and poetry. If you really enjoy reading literature and then exploring the moral, philosophical and emotional issues which arise, this is the course for you.

To express and convey your passion for the environment and conservation by backing up your beliefs and ideologies through sound scientific understanding of the bigger planetary processes. If you want to save the world, you need to know how it works.

Excellent opportunity to study a wide range of topics including the living and physical environment, energy resources, pollution, biological resources and sustainability.

Film is a powerful medium. If you love to explore the deeper meanings of films and consider the ways they can captivate us, then this is the subject for you. Studying Film at A-level will offer you the opportunity to engage with a wide variety of inspiring and challenging films. You will also explore the creative process of film-making and will apply this understanding to the production of your own short film or screenplay. In short, studying Film offers both an academic and creative challenge and is designed for anyone with a passion for film.

Being a Fine Art student provides you with a unique and exciting opportunity to explore, discover and develop highly personal and creative ideas in response to the world around you. This course will introduce you to a broad variety of materials, techniques and processes. You will engage with extensive research, experimentation and development work to enable you to make final outcomes that successfully combine skill, aesthetics and concept.

“The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.”
In an increasingly globalised world, learning a second language will open many doors. Not only will you become a confident speaker of French, but you will also develop an understanding of a different culture and understand the importance of challenging stereotypes and prejudices. The breadth and depth of the A-Level, which includes literature, film, politics and culture, will also equip you with communication and critical thinking skills which are in demand by employers.

The study of geography is about more than memorising places on a map. It’s about understanding the complexity of our world, appreciating the diversity of cultures that exist across continents. And in the end, it’s about using all that knowledge to help bridge divides and bring people together.
Our mission is to cultivate a passion amongst our students towards having a critical understanding of the world in the 21st century. As a team, we want to take students on a journey of discovery and intrigue, immersing them in a range of different real-life examples from their local neighbourhoods up to and including global problems such as climate change. Geography is a wide-ranging A-level that brings together the importance of human societies and their culture, economy and politics at a global, national and a local scale.

Geology is the study of the planet at a scale that you will have never worked before. Years are insignificant, a thousand years is the blink of an eye, we must look at millions and billions of years to understand the Earth. With this frame of mind in place we look to how geology will help us develop as a society as we collect resources, manage natural disasters and look to the future of human kind.

“The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.”
In an increasingly globalised world, learning a second language will open many doors. Not only will you become a confident speaker of German, but you will also develop an understanding of a different culture and understand the importance of challenging stereotypes and prejudices. The breadth and depth of the A-level, which includes literature, film, politics and culture, will also equip you with communication and critical thinking skills which are in demand by employers.

We are creative, we are visual and we are everywhere. Graphic Communication is vast in its scope, from books and movies to fashion and video games, we offer opportunities to explore it all. We are a course that straddles the line between academic and professional development. On this course, you’ll be free, to expand your knowledge, learn from the specialists and embrace your curiosity. We’re looking beyond the structure of education into the vast realms of possibility found in the real world. Imagination is our fuel and you will need it from the very beginning. It is common that this is the place, the course, the time, to find yourself.

Bob Marley once said that you needed to know your history to know where you are coming from. The study of past societies, ideas and events can help us understand the modern world. At Cirencester College we think history is so important that we offer the widest choice of A-level anywhere in the region. Whatever history you have studied at school or have a personal interest in, there is something for you here. There are four pathways to choose from.
We believe that all serious students of history should have the opportunity to study some medieval history. Beginning with the end of Anglo Saxon England with the Norman Conquest, the first part of this pathway investigates aspects of life in England and Europe in the 11th and 12th centuries. In contrast, the second unit explores the tumultuous Tudor period and allows you to develop your understanding of monarchy and the impact of particular kings and queens.

Bob Marley once said that you needed to know your history to know where you are coming from. The study of past societies, ideas and events can help us understand the modern world. At Cirencester College we think history is so important that we offer the widest choice of A-level anywhere in the region. Whatever history you have studied at school or have a personal interest in, there is something for you here. There are four pathways to choose from.
In many parts of the world, democracy is under threat. This course focuses upon how two of the leading democratic countries developed during the 20th century. The first explores the huge range of political, social, economic and cultural changes in Britain that took place as a result of major events such as the two World Wars. The second unit explores popular protests in the USA from black civil rights to the anti-Vietnam war movement.

Bob Marley once said that you needed to know your history to know where you are coming from. The study of past societies, ideas and events can help us understand the modern world. At Cirencester College we think history is so important that we offer the widest choice of A-level anywhere in the region. Whatever history you have studied at school or have a personal interest in, there is something for you here. There are four pathways to choose from.
If you enjoy modern history but want to look at some different topics from your GCSE then this could be the course for you. It focuses on struggles that led eventually to greater democracy in two European nations. The first unit looks at the turbulent years in Italy that saw the collapse of the liberal state, the creation of Mussolini’s fascist dictatorship and a return to democracy in the aftermath of the Second World War. The second explores the struggles of ordinary people in 19th and early 20th century Britain for the right to vote, decent wages and greater freedom.