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A Levels (by Matt Williams)

Date Posted: Friday 21 August 2020

A LEVELS: POST-16 EDUCATION THAT OPENS DOORS

For the start of the new school year (fortunately with pupils in classrooms rather than learning at home) Geneva English School (GES) has extended its modern premises to cope with the increased demand for places across its secondary school.

I feel privileged and excited to lead this innovative school as its new Head. GES has a wonderful reputation as a warm, welcoming and caring school and has a highly qualified and driven teaching team.

WHAT IS A SUCCESSFUL EDUCATION?

I believe a strong and successful education is based on a range of different factors that ensure students have the demonstrable skills needed to get into top universities and on to fulfilling careers and exciting places of work that align with their passions. A great teaching team and a well designed curriculum are extremely important, but so is a strong pastoral care system, access to great clubs and outdoor activity, plenty of horizon-expanding trips and visits, and the opportunity to take leadership roles in the school and the community.

When all of this is combined under the British curriculum and its A-Level programme you get a post-16 education that opens doors; the qualifications equip students with the confidence and skills they need to succeed in a rapidly changing workplace and interconnected global environment.

UNIVERSALLY RECOGNISED QUALIFICATION

A universally recognised qualification, exactly like the IB diploma, A Levels do not limit students to studying at only UK universities. All universities understand and value A Levels because of their rigour and focus, typically requiring students to pass three subjects at A Level, published as letter grades (eg. two As and one B).

Short for ‘Advanced Level Qualifications’, A Levels are subject-based qualifications that lead to university study, further training or employment. The two-year programme is taken by students usually aged 16 – 19 and offered by schools and colleges both in the UK and internationally. While the programme mostly follows the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) qualification, it is not compulsory to have studied GCSE/IGCSE to enter the A Level programme. Indeed, at GES we are happy to welcome students with no experience of the British system or GCSEs as long as they score well in our entrance exam.

AT GES, THE A-LEVEL PROGRAMME IS MADE UP OF THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS:

A LEVEL SUBJECTS

THE EPQ (EXTENDED PROJECT QUALIFICATION)

LANGUAGE QUALIFICATION

DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S INTERNATIONAL AWARD

ADDITIONAL STUDIES, ACTIVITIES, CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

WHY CHOOSE THE A LEVEL PROGRAMME AT GES

At GES, we know A Levels are a great programme to prepare students for university and the world of work. The academic rigour of each course is globally recognised and combined with a choice of subjects and the other components of our A level pathway, students are sure to excel in their chosen areas and lay the groundwork for promising academic and professional careers.

For more information and expression of interests for a Sept 2021 start: GES A LEVELS