Sixth Form Subjects - The JCB Academy

Download our Pathways chart

Pathways

Engineering

Our engineering diploma courses, complemented by A-levels, are the most demanding and rewarding of our pathways. Learners work with industry professionals, both our own and those of our partner companies, to develop engineering knowledge and skills and to apply these to solve genuine engineering challenges.

The problem-solving skills and technical mastery that learners develop on this course are sought after by universities, industry and business with many of these actively recruiting from our roll. Learners are encouraged to push themselves to establish their professional skills as a complement to their academic achievements giving them a huge head start in securing the next step in their career.

Please don’t forget that you can mix and match your courses, you can choose a diploma and also add up to two A-levels alongside. See our Pathways chart for further information.

Engineering - BTEC National Level 3 Diploma

Engineering - BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma

Business

Our business diploma courses are quite different to the conventional way in which these courses are delivered, offering significant enrichment to the learners who follow this vocational pathway. The opportunity to work with a variety of our partner companies; Trentham Gardens, PWC and JCB to name but a few, provides our learners with authentic organisational issues to examine. Learners are encouraged and guided to become more effective independent learners, whereby they recognize how to approach and tackle problems, whilst never losing sight that there is an effective support network as they require it.

The combination of the knowledge and skills developed following the completion of this course are equally transferable to university or industry, giving learners the ability to choose the most effective next step for them.

Please don’t forget that you can mix and match your courses, you can choose a diploma and also add up to two A-levels alongside.

Business Studies - BTEC National Level 3 Diploma

Business Studies - BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma

We also offer Business Studies as an A-level, please click the A-level tab above.

A-levels (subject to availability)

Business Studies - A-level

Have you ever wondered why Ryan Air can sell flights for a penny? What is an ethical business? Why is Amazon still not making a profit? What prompts businesses to take over another? A-level Business considers real-life businesses and the way in which they operate.

The Edexcel business course will provide learners with the opportunity to explore the theory to how businesses work. Learners will apply their knowledge and understanding to real-life business contexts and be encouraged to reflect the issues impacting on modern businesses. The course is enriched by a range of trips, guest speakers and our many business challenge partners who work closely with learners to enliven concepts.

Learners will develop transferable skills that support higher education study and the transition to employment, including numeracy, communication and teamwork skills. As part of the course, we encourage learners to take part in Young Enterprise or the IFS investor challenge.

For further information please download the Business Studies course sheet overview.

Chemistry - A-level

Chemistry at A-level is one of the most prestigious and exciting courses available here at The JCB Academy. Chemistry not only improves some lifelong skills such as logical thinking and intuitiveness, but it can also assist with skills in other areas of learning such as mathematics & engineering. A key aspect of this course is keeping the practical element new and exhilarating to ensure learners are engaged and challenged. More importantly, encouragement of practical participation aids the development of independent learning which is essential for any university enrolment.

Chemistry opens up many career opportunities for our learners; such careers are within Medicine & Healthcare, Chemical Engineering and Forensic Science.

For further information please download the Chemistry course sheet overview.

English Literature - A-level

Our AQA A-level in English Literature is a challenging but highly rewarding and enjoyable subject at KS5. Learners work towards units entitled ‘Love through the Ages’ and ‘Modern Times’ along with an extended essay on a choice of two literary texts. Literature is a popular choice for Sixth Form learners across the country owing to the subject’s depth and wide-ranging appeal. Pupils are taught poetry, plays and novels from the Shakespearean period through to the present day and a range of teaching strategies are implemented in lessons. English Literature is welcomed by all universities as a ‘facilitating’ subject and learners learn to analyse in detail while also learning about contextual, political, social and economic influences that shape texts and interpretations.

For further information please download the English Literature course sheet overview.

Extended Project Qualification - BTEC

The level 3 Extended Project Qualification enables learners to develop skills which are highly rated by prospective employers and higher education establishments. The project is the first opportunity that learners have to work completely independently on a project of their choice supported by a project supervisor. During the course, learners will learn key skills in project management, planning, research, presentations, communication and review and evaluation. Furthermore, learners will be able to demonstrate what they can achieve on their own initiative, that they are self-motivated and explore in more detail and depth a subject that interests them personally.

Information Technology - BTEC National Level 3 Diploma

AS course
There are two mandatory units and one optional unit in the AS course. The mandatory units are called “Communications and Employability Skills for IT” and “Information Systems”. The optional unit that completes the AS award will be chosen by JCB Academy staff.

Unit one will prepare learners to effectively use various communication channels, within a working environment and to understand what an employer expects of an individual and how to communicate effectively, whilst developing their own personal development needs.

Unit two will provide the learner with a greater understanding of how organisations such as Fujitsu use information internally and externally and the types of information they will encounter. The skills gained by completing this unit will give the learner knowledge of the functionality of information and enable them to produce management information systems.

A-level
To achieve the full A2 course learners must complete three additional units. These additional units are selected from an optional list. JCB Academy staff will consult with the learners progressing on to the A2 course as to which units will be delivered. The following is a list of some of the units that can be studied; Understanding Social Media, Website Production, Computer Animation and Digital Graphics.

Assessment at A-level
This qualification is internally assessed by JCB Academy staff and externally moderated by OCR Visiting Moderators. Learners can achieve a Pass, Merit, Distinction or Distinction*.

Career and higher education
Learners who study IT at A-level can use the course to progress on to higher education courses or careers in Computing, Accounting, Law, Business, Management or Teaching. Learners will also develop their skills in time management, team working and project management.

For further information please download the Information Technology course sheet overview.

Mathematics - A-level

Learners on our A-level Mathematics course will study a range of varied and exciting modules during their two years of study. These modules range from Decision Mathematics, covering abstract reasoning topics such as critical path analysis, to a suit of Mechanics and Statistics modules which cover how mathematics is applied to real-life problems. Alongside these elements of the course, learners will gain the opportunity to further their understanding of more traditional topics such as complex algebra, trigonometry and calculus. As a result of studying this course, learners will improve their understanding of mathematical processes, develop the ability to reason logically and construct mathematical proofs, and many other skills which are highly regarded by both industry and universities.

For further information please download the Mathematics course sheet overview.

Further Mathematics - A-level

For further information please download the Further Mathematics course sheet overview.

Physics - A-level

Look at the world around you; Physics is the only course which explains the universe from small to large, from beginning to the end. If you wish to be able to explain where you came from and where you are going to then this is the course for you. In an ever-changing world studying Physics is the unyielding constant which is the basis for all our lives. To provide a stimulating and rewarding educational experience allowing learners to study a variety of topics in A-level Physics. The topics give learners the opportunity to pursue their own interests in the subject through extended practical projects and information research. This course is suitable for any motivated learner who is good at logical reasoning and maths skills and who is willing to reason out problems and really push themselves to find the answers to the world around them. Topics covered include:

Physics and Sport
Physics and Food
Medical Physics
Physics and Transport
Physics and Communications
Physics and Music
Technology in Space
Physics and Archaeology
Particle Physics
Physics and Earthquakes
Astrophysics and Cosmology

For further information please download the Physics course sheet overview.

Product Design - A-level

Product Design is all about how people interact with everything they touch in their lives. All man-made objects have been designed and they are used to show things like success, power, status and even emotions. The world revolves around well-designed products and this is your chance to make a difference, to change the world and to send out a clear signal that you can thing about the very big things in life as well as the very small.

For further information please download the Product Design course sheet overview.

Quantitative Reasoning (L3 Core Mathematics) - AS Level 3

Learners on our one year Level 3 ‘Quantitative Reasoning’ course will study two modules. The modules are ‘Introduction to Quantitative Reasoning’ and ‘Critical Maths’. Some of the topics covered within the modules include statistics, finance, risk, together with problem-solving and the use of technology. I addition they will also have a greater competency in interpreting and explaining solutions in context that can be applied to problems which they may encounter in further study, life and employment.

For further information please download the Quantitative Reasoning course sheet overview.