Programmes of Study

 

Study Options

As a student in LZ6 you can study for A Level qualifications, a BTEC vocational qualification, or a combination of both of these. You can also study for the new Diploma at LZ6. The table below shows the subjects and qualifications that you can choose from.

A Level Qualifications
Block A	Block B	Block C	Block D	Block E	Block X
History	English Language	English Literature	Sociology	Physics	Music
Art & Design (Fine Art)	Mathematics	Biology	Mathematics	Geography	Further Maths
Psychology	Chemistry	Business	Drama	Psychology	Photography
Spanish	Sport & PE	Product Design/Fashion Textiles	French	Information Technology	Travel & Tourism (BTEC Subsidiary)
Film Studies	Media Studies		Law

Please note that not all subjects listed here will necessarily run, it depends on take up.

 

A Level Qualifications

If you want to study for A Level qualifications you can choose one subject from each block above - this will usually be a maximum of four AS subjects and three A2 subjects. A Level qualifications are all Level 3 qualifications.

Vocational Qualifications

BTEC National qualifications are vocational qualifications which are also Level 3 qualifications (i.e. equivalent to A Levels).

A National Award (6 units) is the equivalent of one A Level, a National Certificate (12 units) is equivalent to two A Levels and a National Diploma (18 units) is equivalent to three A Levels.

If you decide to study for a vocational qualification at Level 3 you would usually study for the National Diploma (18 units) which is equivalent to three A Levels. You can choose from the areas shown in the table above under Level 3 Vocational Qualifications.

BTEC Qualification	Units	Equivalent to	Max. UCAS points
Introductory Diploma	8	4 GCSEs D-G	-
First Diploma	6	4 GCSEs A*-C	-
National Award	6	1 Advanced GCE	120
National Certificate	12	2 Advanced GCEs	240
National Diploma	18	3 Advanced GCEs	360

 

New Combinations - Combining AS/A2 Level and Vocational Qualifications

Instead of studying for either A Levels or a BTEC National qualification you can, if you wish, study a combination of both of these.

If you study for a National Award (6 units), you can also study two A Level subjects (any subject from different blocks A, B, C or X in the table above).

If you study for a National Certificate (12 units) you can also study one A Level subject (any subject from blocks A, B, C or X in the table above).

Additional AS Levels can be taken from Blocks A, B, C or X dependent upon your entry qualifications.

These combinations provide a chance for you to combine qualifications that will help maximise your choice of career. So, for example, if you want a career in the Travel & Tourism Industry you could choose to study for a BTEC National Certificate and also an AS/A2 qualification in French or Spanish.

 

Entry requirements for different routes

As a general rule you will need the following:

• AS/A2 - 5 GCSEs at A*-C
• BTEC National Diploma - 4 GCSEs at A*-C
• BTEC First Diploma - 4 GCSEs at grade D or above or a level 1 qualification such as a BTEC Introductory Diploma, GNVQ Foundation or a NVQ Level 1
• BTEC Introductory Diploma - 4 GCSEs at grade F or above

Please see individual courses for any additional entry requirements.

 

Academy of Finance

For those students undertaking Business courses and interested in Finance, LZ6 runs an ‘Academy of Finance’ in partnership with other local sixth forms. The Academy gives students the opportunity to study for a Level 3 BTEC National Award in Personal Business Finance, which is otherwise not available as a module choice.

As part of the Academy of Finance, students will also benefit from:

• Business mentors providing 1:1 support and advice on coursework through regular meetings
• Visits to businesses and seminars as well as a compulsory six weeks paid summer work placement which allows students to gain a range of industry specific business competencies
• Small self-contained study groups

In order to enjoy the benefits of the Academy and take the BTEC National Award in Personal and Business Finance and you must firstly choose to study:

• BTEC National Certificate/Diploma in Business
  or
• two business related A Level subjects e.g. Business Studies, Mathematics, ICT (Applied), Business Studies Double Award (Applied)

You must also have achieved five GCSE passes at grade C or above, to include English and Maths.  If you took Business Studies at GCSE, one of your five A*-C GCSE passes must be in this subject.

On completion, Academy students will have the equivalent of 3 A Levels, and will be well placed to progress to both Higher Education and employment within business, making it ideal for those eventually looking to build a career in Business.

Level 3 course

• Academy of Finance – BTEC National Award in Personal and Business Finance

The BTEC National Award in Personal and Business Finance aims to allow students to:

• Gain a broad understanding of business and finance
• Develop skills, knowledge and understanding in business and finance
• Have an opportunity to apply learning in a practical and realistic way

The course utilises a variety of learning styles including project work, case studies, presentations, role-plays, lecturers and industrial visits.
100% of the final grade will be derived from coursework assignments, five of which are set and assessed internally with external verification and one which is set and assessed externally.

Units of study

Year 1

1. Financial Services for Individuals
2. Business Financial Performance
3. Preparing for Employment

Year 2

4. Financial Services to Support Business
5. Finance in the National Economy
6. Financial Services Regulation, Ethics and Trends

The qualification is graded ‘pass’, ‘merit’ or ‘distinction’ unlike the A-E grades of A Levels.