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The level 3 EPQ is a valuable qualification, highly rated by the best universities in the country. It puts the student in charge and allows them to explore an area of interest to them; this usually overlaps with one or more of their courses. It is worth up to 28 UCAS points, depending upon grade achieved. Students can choose to write a dissertation, produce an artefact or perform. Students go on to complete their projects during Year 13 with teacher.

Sixth Form > Curriculum > EPQ curriculum information

At St Johns we understand the importance of regular physical activity and the benefits is provides for students physical and mental well-being. Throughout year 12 students benefit from the Year 12 Games enrichment lessons. These take place once a fortnight and are taught by members of the PE department.

We recognise that at this age students can take greater responsibility for their own learning; within Games lessons we allow them to choose the sports or activities that they enjoy the most and would like to continue developing their skills in. Just some of the sports that are on offer here at St Johns are: basketball, football, netball, rock climbing, fitness, gymnastics, yoga, tchoukball, table tennis and many more! The focus of these lessons is on fun and enjoyment, as well as improvement in the skills and tactics of the sport.

Students at St Johns benefit from the excellent facilities on offer, including a fitness suite, state of the art rock climbing wall, dance studio and two large sports halls. Students are able to use the fitness suite in their own time once an induction has been completed. Extra-curricular opportunities are on offer to the sixth formers throughout their time at the school, just some of the training sessions available includes: Netball, Football, Hockey, Rock Climbing and Volleyball. Many sixth formers also develop leadership skills in sports by volunteering to help with clubs and fixtures for younger students.

In the Sixth form at St John’s, we offer a wide range of opportunities for year 12 students to get involved in volunteering activities in and around school.

The volunteering opportunities are quite diverse. They range from working for the award-winning school publication ‘The Granham Gazette’ as a photographer, to helping the Drama department with school productions, or becoming a drama club leader. There are also opportunities to mentor younger students with their reading and writing in further mentoring positions in English and Maths and Languages. Details of the volunteering positions can be found on the Volunteering Board which is located in the sixth form common room. Adverts for the various positions appear on the board with the name of a contact for you to register interest.

So, why get involved? Voluntary work allows you to ‘give something back’ by dedicating your time to a good cause around school, but there are plenty of other reasons to volunteer. Did you know that voluntary work can also improve your university or apprenticeship application? Just like other forms of work experience, volunteering gives you skills and experiences that can be included on any future applications you make for jobs, apprenticeships or university, and can also be an excellent way to build confidence in a familiar environment.

Voluntary work doesn’t have to be relevant to your career ambitions; whatever you do will increase your confidence and develop skills that you’ll be able to use in any career. However, it is especially useful if you have a particular University course or career path in mind.

If there is a volunteering opportunity that you would like to be involved which we aren’t currently offering, then we are happy to listen to your ideas and make them happen if it is possible!

What is private study? 

Private study is allocated on a sixth form students’ timetable to encourage independent study and completion of work within school. Students who study three A Level subjects are timetabled for 4 hours per fortnight. Students who study four A Level subjects are not given a private study allocation.

Students use private study to complete a variety of tasks such as completing homework, planning coursework, practising past exam questions, making revision materials, revising for class assessments, reading around their subject etc.

Private study is a registered, timetabled lesson and counts towards a students’ overall attendance.

Where does private study take place? 

Year 12 private study takes place in G182 and Year 13 in S302, where there is suitable access to study space and computers.

It’s never been a better time to study languages. The rapidly changing global job market means language-related jobs are booming.  In addition to A Level languages, here at St John’s we also offer the opportunity to study French, German or Spanish at AS level for those students who are already studying three subjects and who wish to develop their language skills further, validate their skills or simply keep a language alive.

Continuing language studies in the Sixth Form gives students the edge when it comes to university or job applications.  As well as the obvious advantage of improving communication skills, language study boosts a student’s confidence and analytical abilities, all of which are sought after by employers and universities. The AS is worth up to 20 UCAS points, depending upon the grade achieved.  We have an excellent record of students gaining the very highest grades at AS level.