Art is essential if you wish to undertake further studies in Art at University (Art College) or for those of you who are looking to take up a career for which an Art and Design background is relevant. Career choices range from Fine Artist, Architect, Antique Dealer, Architectural Technician or Technologist, Interior Design, Product Design, Set Design, Interior Architecture, Conservation, Illustration, Arts Administrator, Art Therapist, Designer, and creative self-employment careers.

The two-year course represents a gradual progression of activity leading from a highly taught centre of activity in the first year to individual and student centred activity in the later part of the course. The department runs two residential study trips for Sixth Form students. In previous years, students have enjoyed international residential study trips in cities such as Florence, Venice and Paris.

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Studying biology gives you the opportunity to understand the living world. It lets you understand the processes that control living organisms and gives you insights into the nature of life on earth. In addition, biology is a rigorous scientific discipline and it will give you a real understanding of the nature of science; how we use the scientific method to begin to understand the world around us. Lessons in biology will also give you an opportunity to discuss real-world issues with ethical, moral and social dimensions based on a solid understanding of the science that underpins these topics. Studying biology will give you the information that you need whether you choose to follow a career in science or not. It will help you to develop an independent approach to your studies and will help to develop communication, practical and presentation skills. 

As well as providing an understanding of living systems biology opens doors to an exceptionally wide range of career options: Medicine, Veterinary Sciences, Dentistry, Nursing, Physiotherapy and Pharmacy. Students often go into other fields such as Ecology, Biotechnology, Genetics, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Radiography, Food Sciences, Physiotherapy, Plant Studies and Marine Biology; the list is long and highlights how useful a qualification in biology can be. 

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A-Level Business Studies is a popular and dynamic course for the modern world, aimed at students who want to learn something new and diverse. You will develop an understanding of the wider external contexts in which businesses operate and of the internal business functions.

The department consistently gains excellent grades with many students choosing to continue the subject at university. A significantly high percentage of business students go on to study degrees in Business and Management related areas every year. In Business Studies you will develop an understanding of the ways in which a business operates in its external environment, and how the environment provides opportunities and imposes constraints on the business.

You will develop knowledge of the inter-relationships between the functional areas of a business namely Marketing, Finance, Operations and Human Resources and acquire the key skills of how to structure analytical and evaluative comments to reach a reasoned conclusion. These higher-order skills of analysis and evaluation are transferable to other subject areas in humanities and the social sciences.  

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Business provides pupils with the opportunity to develop an understanding of the business environment and to focus on a specific aspect of business through applied learning. Pupils will develop an understanding of the wider external contexts in which businesses operate and of the internal business functions. The course allows pupils to appreciate how legal, financial, ethical and resource constraints can affect business behaviour and influence stakeholders.

The vocational aspect of the course allows pupils to learn how to use a variety of business documents and the different organisational protocols that most businesses would expect employees to follow. Through studying customers and communication it will allow students to appreciate how vital customers are to the success of a business.

The course also allows pupils to develop transferable skills that are valued by higher educational institutes and employers such as communication, planning, teamwork, research and analysis. Pupils who have previously studied Business at Lincoln Minster School have gone on to study a variety of courses at university including International Business Management, Economics, Accountancy and Marketing. Pupils have also gained school leaver places at John Lewis, Grant Thornton and Mazaars. 

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Chemistry is as up to date as the clothes you wear, the food you eat, the air you breathe and the car you ride in. Almost every aspect of your daily life is affected or controlled by Chemistry. Chemists create new materials and test existing ones. They are involved in engineering, fuel technology, electronics, space travel and every other form of modern science. A world without chemists and chemistry would be a very difficult place in which to live.

An A-Level in Chemistry allows you to develop a range of generic skills requested by both employers and universities. For instance, a successful A-Level chemist will be an effective problem-solver and be able to communicate efficiently both orally and with the written word. You will be competent at using data and applying Mathematical skills to often abstract concepts. It is little wonder then, that some of the major employers of graduate Chemists are the banking and financial industries.

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Computer Science is an excellent choice if you wish to gain a deeper understanding of computing and programming. Programming is very much the focus of the course with an emphasis on the importance of computational thinking, helping learners to develop the skills to solve problems, design systems and understand the power and limits of human and machine intelligence.

Computer Science is a creative subject where you can use your problem-solving skills to apply the academic principles learned in the classroom to real-world systems. The project approach is a vital component of “post-school” life and is of particular relevance to Further Education, Higher Education and the workplace. Students who study A-Level Computer Science may go on to study at a degree level, or any related science or engineering discipline. The course also opens up many career possibilities. In the United Kingdom alone, the application of technology helps drive our entire economy. 

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Criminology is the study of law and crime, a discipline that combines elements of Psychology, Law and Sociology. Our aim is to enable students to acquire skills to clearly describe and assess theoretical explanations for the causes of criminal behaviour and review how the British justice system deals with offenders.

We aim to help students to consider the social implications of crime and criminality, including government policies and police initiatives, using empathy and informed judgement. Students will acquire academic skills such as independent research, report writing, analytical and evaluative skills as they will be required to review the validity of theories and research evidence.

We aim to help students develop an objective and comprehensive vocabulary in order to discuss sensitive issues concisely and precisely in written reports and spoken debates. Practical skills include creativity, planning and organisation.

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This course offers a wide variety of opportunities for you to play to your individual strengths, whether as a performer, designer, critic or all three. A-Level Drama will challenge and stretch you, both physically and intellectually, but it will also be hugely fulfilling and rewarding. The course we follow is the Edexcel Specification.

You will develop skills in collaboration, writing concisely and in detail, communication, analysis and research, in addition to experiencing the roles of actor, designer, director and theatre critic. You will become more confident and secure in the creative process and will be able to explore your own particular areas of interest. Past Drama students have gone onto a huge variety of degree courses and careers; many find they excel due to the skills they have honed which give them confidence, and a breadth of experience.

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Economics explores issues about how people, industries, and countries try to maximise their productivity and create wealth to maintain financial stability. Economics is concerned about choices and decision-making, in many ways it has become a way of explaining ‘everything’ in society.

You will study different theories and models put forward by economists to explain why and how people and governments should behave within markets. The concepts can be applied to all human actions and so the subject itself can complement any field of study. As economics students, you will learn to use a variety of numerical, graphical and investigative methods to understand the individual, national and global situations facing us today. 

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A study of English Literature in the Sixth Form can be a valuable foundation for degree courses in almost any other discipline or career path which may be why it is such a popular choice of subject at A-Level and beyond. Studying English will give you the opportunity to engage with seminal works of literature that have had a profound impact on readers through generations.

Through engagement with a wide range of poetry, prose and drama you will think analytically, evaluatively and critically; learn to develop an argument and to express yourself fluently and eloquently, and work both independently and collaboratively.

The obvious career paths that lead from a study of English at a high level are teaching, journalism, publishing, advertising and law. Moreover, all jobs requiring analytical or communication skills – which is most jobs in the twenty-first century – benefit from an understanding of language and competence in expression. Finally, an engagement with literature is life-affirming and life-enhancing in itself. The person with an A-Level in English Literature knows how to read, write, discuss, support opinions, keep an open mind, analyse, evaluate, understand the effect of context, make comparisons, structure, edit, develop an argument, focus, plan, identify, select, summarise, use language precisely and concisely, conceptualise, describe and persuade.

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French combines well with any group of subjects at AS and A-Levels. It enjoys considerable prestige in university applications for the communication and analytical skills the subject demands. By the end of the course, you will be able to discuss a range of topics such as immigration, homelessness and crime as well as fashion, art and cinema. 

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This is probably the most challenging qualification, which both extends and deepens your knowledge and understanding beyond the standard A-Level Mathematics. Students who do it often say it is their favourite subject but you do have to dedicate a lot of extra time to your studies.

Further Mathematics qualifications are highly regarded and are warmly welcomed by universities. Pupils who take Further Mathematics are really demonstrating a strong commitment to their studies, as well as learning mathematics that is very useful for any mathematically rich degree. 

If you are planning to take a degree such as Engineering, Sciences, Computing, Finance/ Economics, etc., or perhaps Mathematics itself, you may benefit enormously from taking Further Mathematics, at least to AS-Level.

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There has never been a better or more important time to study Geography. Geography is a wide-ranging subject, which brings together the study of people and their environment. It relates to the many social, economic and environmental problems of the contemporary world and allows consideration of different perspectives. New insights are afforded by topics as varied as the carbon cycle, postmodern-western cities and the ever-changing topic of global governance and climate change. Geographers are both literate and numerate, having the ability to analyse concepts from a scientific, human, physical or environmental viewpoint

Geography is a multi-disciplinary subject and is a highly regarded A-Level by universities. Physical Geography tends to be a concrete factual subject whereas Human Geography gives scope for discussion, argument and even disagreement. The study of both human and physical geography as part of the new A-Level produces rounded, analytical and sought-after pupils. 

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Graphics is a digital media Art & Design course with a practical focus on digital illustration, moving image, animation and traditional graphic design skills. The course builds on different practical creative units underpinned with independent research and analysis to develop your design practice and creative critical awareness; this will allow you to embark upon the personal investigation exploring an area of personal interest. You will respond practically to a variety of design briefs using both traditional media and industry-standard software package Adobe Creative Suite; mainly Photoshop for text and image manipulation, Illustrator for vector graphics and After Effects for moving image.

The course covers different set modules carefully structured around brand design, advertising and visual storytelling, to build an awareness of how graphic design and illustration are used to convey and sell a message, theme or idea, with a purpose. For the critically minded there is a Graphic Conscience module that encourages a more active engagement in different socio-politico-economic topics of your own choice. 

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History is a very popular A-Level and is a highly respected qualification for Higher Education courses and employment. The units we study will give you an insight into politics, societies, religion and economics through studying exciting, revolutionary and influential events across contrasting periods and locations. The course requires you to investigate and make comparisons which, in turn, will help you understand, engage with and respond to events in the world around us today.

In addition, history will help you develop many important skills such as using evidence, analysing the strengths and weaknesses of arguments and making supported judgements. These skills are important in law, accounting, business and management generally where decisions have to be investigated, weighed up and justified.

History is a great A-Level for progression into humanities and social science courses at university (for example History, English, Law and Economics) but is by no means restricted to these courses. Indeed, universities and employers greatly respect students taking History as its analytical and writing skills are invaluable in any field. 

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Students choose to study Mathematics in the Sixth Form for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, it is a rich and intellectually demanding subject that calls for mental discipline and clear, logical thinking. As such, it is very highly regarded by universities and employers alike, irrespective of your chosen career direction.

Secondly, Mathematics forms the basis of many fields of study in Engineering and the Physical Sciences and is, therefore, a prerequisite for further development in these areas. Moreover, recent trends have seen the applicability of Mathematics expand way beyond these traditional fields.

The subject is increasingly used to solve complex problems of Management and Finance, particularly in industry, and also for research in Economics, Geography and the Biological Sciences. 

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In an increasingly competitive higher education market and workplace, universities and employers are not only looking for impressive grades but also subjects that demonstrate a student's versatility and a greater breadth of skill and interest.

As a very varied discipline, Music A-Level is therefore recognised both as a rigorous academic subject and as excellent preparation for many courses in Higher Education and is highly regarded in Russell Group Universities.

Music A-Level fits well with all other Arts and Science subjects and it teaches many transferable skills: confidence in performance and at interview, self-discipline in individual practice, teamwork in ensemble-playing, music technology, essay writing, analysis and many more.

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The A-Level Photography course explores creating visual meaning through photography by an expressive or interpretive response to still and moving imagery through lens based media, experimental photography and digital editing.

Photography will enhance students who are creative in mind, providing an opportunity to explore the communication of ideas responding at all levels. Students need to have a genuine interest in the subject and be very self-motivated, working upon the initiative and completing work outside the timetable structure in order to reach their full potential in response to the work of others.

Career paths include Photo Journalism, Wildlife Photographic, Photographic stylist, Animator, Press Photographer, Fashion Photographer and Photographic Assistant.

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In many ways, Physics is the fundamental science subject. It deals with the obscure; matters from the smallest scale of sub-atomic particles to the largest scale with thought-provoking questions about the Universe. It also deals with the every day; Physics certainly is one of the most relevant subjects in the running of our daily lives

If you are the sort of person who has always asked “How?”, “Why?”, and always want to know how and why things work, then Physics may just be the subject for you.

It is highly thought of by employers in a huge range of careers as a result of the problem-solving skills that become highly developed during the course. It is also important to many that Physicists are statistically the highest-paid Scientists.

Pupils studying A-Level Physics can go onto a huge variety of degrees and careers including Physics, Scientific Research, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electronic/Electronic Engineering, Medicine, Aeronautical Engineering, Architecture, Computing. 

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Psychology is the scientific study of people, the mind and human behaviour. The mind is something intangible that exists within our brains – an unseen process of enzymes, chemicals and electric current moving within the structure of our neural networks that dictates why we feel, think and behave in the way we do. This is what psychologists strive to understand.

How does memory work? Is eye-witness testimony reliable? How important are the first attachments a baby forms? What causes stress and how does it actually affect a person physiologically? Is it ‘evil’ people who carry out evil acts, or can there be something about a particular situation that could lead even ‘normal’ people to become perpetrators of evil? How can minority groups bring about change in society?

These are some of the questions posed during the A-Level course, but as a Science, Psychology is not particularly interested in the individual students’ personal opinions or anecdotal evidence. Students who take Psychology need a combination of curiosity and scepticism, and an interest in human nature.

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Sociology is a popular academic A-Level here at Lincoln Minster School and is a highly respected qualification for Higher Education courses and employment.

Sociology is the study of the way people are affected by society, and how society is affected by people. As individuals, we spend almost all our time in groups, and in order to understand our behaviour, we have to examine and assess the impact of those groups and institutions on us. By taking this subject, you become a much more informed, questioning and critical citizen.

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Almost 400 million people speak Spanish as their first language. Spanish is the official language in over 20 countries. You will develop your ability to communicate in one of the world’s most widely spoken languages.

Spanish is increasingly a language of global business as well as one of leisure and tourism. You will extend your appreciation of the Spanish language and culture as well as have the opportunity to study a literary text. 

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A-Level Physical Education builds on students’ experience from Key Stage 4 and GCSE to enhance their knowledge and increase their understanding of the factors that affect performance and participation in Physical Education.

The Physical Education course aims to encourage you to: Develop your understanding of the factors influencing performance and to apply these to a range of physical activities, develop knowledge and skills of selected physical activities, develop the skills necessary to analyse, evaluate and improve performance, develop your appreciation of the social and cultural issues which affect participation and performance in physical activity. 

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