Sixth Form Electives

One of the distinctive features of our A Level and Applied pathways is the opportunity to add breadth to your programme through a Sixth Form Elective.

Alongside their principal subjects, students will choose from a range of additional courses and qualifications. These are designed to allow students to pursue another academic interest, continue with a subject they might otherwise have had to leave behind, develop new skills or strengthen their preparation for university and future careers.

Our elective programme will include a selection of IB Standard Level subjects, the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and Fundamentals of Financial Services, alongside further courses and opportunities as the programme develops.

Adding breadth through IB Standard Level subjects

As an IB World School, Hockerill is particularly well placed to give students following A Levels access to selected subjects from the IB curriculum.

For many students, languages will provide an attractive opportunity to add breadth to their programme. Depending on their previous experience and the courses available, students may be able to continue studying a language they have studied previously or begin a new language through an Ab Initio course designed for beginners.

Our planned IB language electives include opportunities in French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish, although the level and route available will vary by language. For example, our current curriculum plans include Italian and Japanese as Ab Initio subjects, while French, German and Spanish are available at Standard Level for students with previous experience.

Students may also wish to maintain Mathematics alongside A Levels that do not include A Level Mathematics. IB Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation at Standard Level is expected to provide this opportunity for students who want Mathematics to remain part of their Sixth Form education.

Other IB Standard Level subjects may also be available as electives, depending on students' principal subject choices and the timetable.

An IB Standard Level subject is a substantial additional academic qualification in its own right and attracts UCAS Tariff points according to the grade achieved. This means that an elective can provide genuine academic breadth while also adding a further recognised qualification to a student's overall programme.

How will IB electives work with my A Levels?

The IB Standard Level electives available to an individual student will depend partly upon the A Levels they select.

Our timetable will be designed to enable A Level and IB courses to operate alongside one another and to create as much flexibility as possible. Where similar A Level and IB subjects are offered, they are likely to be timetabled at the same time. This helps create opportunities elsewhere in the timetable for A Level students to access IB Standard Level subjects in different areas.

In practice, students will be able to select an IB Standard Level elective where it is compatible with their principal subject timetable. Not every IB subject will therefore be possible alongside every A Level combination, but the timetable is being designed specifically to create a meaningful range of additional choices.

This creates an exciting balance between specialisation and breadth. A student might, for example, specialise through three A Levels while continuing with French or Spanish, begin Japanese or Italian, or retain Mathematics as an additional area of academic study.

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

The Extended Project Qualification provides a different opportunity to extend your academic programme and will be delivered through dedicated timetabled lessons.

Students undertake an independent project on a topic they choose, developing a question or area for investigation and carrying out substantial independent research. It provides the opportunity to explore something connected with a possible university subject or career, or to investigate an area of personal academic interest that sits beyond their principal A Level subjects.

The EPQ develops skills in research, critical thinking, academic writing, evaluation, organisation and independent study. These provide particularly valuable preparation for the greater independence and extended academic work expected at university.

There are similarities with the independent research experience provided by the IB Extended Essay, although the two form part of different qualifications. Both reflect an important aspect of the Hockerill approach: encouraging students to investigate questions independently, engage critically with evidence and construct well-supported arguments.

The EPQ is a recognised Level 3 qualification, valued by universities and employers, and attracts UCAS Tariff points, with up to 28 points available depending on the grade achieved.

Fundamentals of Financial Services

Students interested in finance, business or simply developing a stronger understanding of the financial world will be able to choose Fundamentals of Financial Services as a Sixth Form Elective.

This qualification from the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) provides a practical introduction to the financial services sector. Students develop their understanding of financial terminology and commonly used financial products, including shares, bonds and insurance, while gaining insight into an important area of modern economic and working life.

The course offers a different style of elective from options such as an additional IB Standard Level subject or the EPQ. It is accessible to students from a wide range of academic backgrounds and provides the opportunity to gain a recognised professional qualification while developing knowledge with clear relevance beyond school.

It may be particularly attractive to students considering future study or careers in finance, economics, business or related fields, but no previous study of these subjects is required.

Fundamentals of Financial Services will be taught through dedicated timetabled lessons and is assessed through a multiple-choice examination leading to an externally recognised CISI qualification.

Further elective choices

We expect the Sixth Form Elective programme to develop further as we prepare for September 2027.

Additional courses and opportunities will be introduced where they provide worthwhile academic or personal development, complement our principal curriculum and can be delivered effectively within the Sixth Form timetable.

Our intention is to provide students with genuine choice. Electives should not simply fill space on a timetable; they should allow students to make their overall programme more individual, purposeful and interesting.

Building your programme

Your elective should be considered as part of your overall Sixth Form programme rather than in isolation.

For one student, the priority might be retaining a language alongside three A Levels. Another may want to continue with Mathematics. Someone else may choose the EPQ because they want to undertake independent research connected with their future university plans, while another student may choose Fundamentals of Financial Services to develop knowledge and understanding in an area not covered by their principal subjects.

This flexibility is an important part of the Hockerill Sixth Form offer. It allows students following A Level and Applied pathways to specialise in their principal subjects without necessarily giving up the academic breadth, languages and international outlook that have long been part of a Hockerill education.

The precise elective choices available to each student will depend on their principal subjects, previous study where relevant, student demand and timetable compatibility. The full range of electives for September 2027 will be confirmed before students make their final programme choices.