KS5 Offer

Harris Academy Ockendon Sixth Form offers a range of academic and vocational qualifications.

We designed the post 16 curriculum with the overall intent of providing the right qualifications for students to access the most competitive universities and apprenticeships. Thus, the curriculum offer has a variety of level three qualifications at A-level and vocational level that meet the needs of students and enable them to achieve successfully. 

Our curriculum includes only the vocational qualifications which we believe offer students the right knowledge and skills to access further education or the labour market. 

Our intention is that all students reach their further education aspirations and career goals. Therefore, when choosing which subjects to study in KS4, students are offered a range of grouped and personalised pathway events from subject open evenings and information and guidance assemblies, to KS5 taster lessons and one-to-one interviews. External applicants receive a personalised interview to discuss future aspirations and the link to their qualification choices.

Details of the curriculum for each subject can be viewed on our Subjects page, but a summary of the subjects available to KS5 students is outlined below.

A level subjects	Minimum grade in Eng Lang/Lit	Minimum grade in Maths	Other criteria
Art and Design	5		Art 6 if previously studied or 6/Merit in creative subject
Biology		6	Biology 6 Combined science, 6,6
Business	5	5
Chemistry		6	Chemistry 6 Combined science 6,6
Computer Science		6	Computer science 6 if previously studied
Design and Technology: Product Design		5	Design and Technology GCSE 5 if previously studied
Drama	5		Drama 5 if previously studied; active participation outside the academy if GCSE not taken
Economics	5	5
English Literature	6		English Language and Literature 6
French	5		French 6
Further Maths		8
Geography	5		Geography 6
History	6		History 6
Law	5		Humanities subjects 5
Maths		7
Media Studies	5
Physics		6	Physics 6, Combined science 6,6
Politics	5
Psychology	5	5	Science 5,5
Religious Studies	5		RE 5 if taken; Humanities subject 5
Sociology	5		Sociology 5 if taken

Vocational subject	Minimum grade in Eng Lang/Lit	Minimum grade in Maths	Other criteria
BTEC Level 3 Sport	5		4, 4 in Science; actively involved in sport outside the academy

In addition to a variety of information, guidance and self-development opportunities, all students in Years 12 and 13 follow a two-year programme of extra-curricular and enrichment education, which includes:

• Citizenship and Religious Education (CRE)
• Careers education (Career Ready Programme, Oxbridge access programmes, Medicine and Veterinary Science access programmes, Work experience)
• Relationships, Health and Sex Education (RHSE)