Why? For many pupils, not just those who are passionate about languages, learning French opens up new opportunities and gives you perspectives you might never otherwise encounter. You are not merely obtaining a qualification, but rather a valuable skill which will be recognised and valued by higher education institutions and employers alike. What? In Year 12, you continue to broaden your understanding of the language and how to speak and write it. Topics such as the changing nature of family and ‘cyber-society’ help to bridge the gap between GCSE and Year 12. The skills you will learn will be very practical and we hope that you will also develop an interest in the culture and traditions of the country by studying film and contemporary Francophone music. In Year 13, your knowledge of society will be extended to include topics such as immigration, poverty and crime and punishment. The Year 13 course also has a slightly bigger cultural element, where you will study French literature. How? Throughout the course, there will be regular tasks set to assess your ability in listening, reading and writing, as well as your knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. During the Sixth Form, you will be taught by a team of two teachers and we also arrange a weekly conversation class with the French assistante to prepare you for the oral exam and to give you the chance to use the spoken language. Whatever your interests or aspirations, continuing your French into the Sixth Form will, quite literally, open up the world to you.
Before being accepted into the Sixth Form on our standard academic programme, we would normally expect you to have acquired a minimum of five GCSE passes at grade 5 or above on the new 9-1 grading scale (grade C and above for A*-G Welsh and some iGCSE programmes). However, individual circumstances and choice of subjects are taken into account. A prospective student for an individual A-level subject should achieve at least a grade 5 in that subject at GCSE. In some subjects, higher GCSE grades are required. Modern foreign languages require a grade 6 at GCSE and science subjects (biology, chemistry, physics) require a grade 7 (double 7 in combined science), although a grade 6 may be considered in exceptional circumstances. Those wishing to study mathematics will have a minimum of a grade 7 at GCSE, while for further mathematics it is grade 8. For psychology A-level, it is expected that students will have a least grade 5 in GCSE English language, mathematics and at least one science. New students – UK: Every year we welcome new students from both independent and state schools into our Sixth Form. Every applicant is considered individually. If you are available, please come to our Open Evening in October. We also recommend you visit us on a normal school day where you will have the chance to meet the Headmaster, Head of Sixth Form and current students. Offers are made on the basis of an interview and are conditional on your GCSE results. New students – International: International students are expected to have a reasonable competence in spoken and written English on arrival at West Buckland and the ability to progress with the specialist support of the EAL department. Overseas students applying to study at West Buckland should provide the following to start their application: • Copies of their last two school reports. • A piece of their handwriting (one to two sides of A4), written in English, telling us about themselves, their hobbies and interests.
Paper 1: Listening, reading, writing 2 hours 30 minutes (50%) Paper 2: Two x 250-word essays in French (literature and film) 2 hours (20%) Paper 3: Speaking (stimulus card followed by Individual Research Project 16-18 minutes 30%)
About Education Provider
| Region | South West |
| Local Authority | Devon |
| Ofsted Rating | |
| Gender Type | Co-Educational |
| ISI Report | View Report |
| Boarding Fee | Day £9,090 - £20,640; Boarding £27,090 - £40,290 |
| Sixth Form Fee | Unknown |
| Address | West Buckland, Barnstaple, EX32 0SX |
Why? For many pupils, not just those who are passionate about languages, learning French opens up new opportunities and gives you perspectives you might never otherwise encounter. You are not merely obtaining a qualification, but rather a valuable skill which will be recognised and valued by higher education institutions and employers alike. What? In Year 12, you continue to broaden your understanding of the language and how to speak and write it. Topics such as the changing nature of family and ‘cyber-society’ help to bridge the gap between GCSE and Year 12. The skills you will learn will be very practical and we hope that you will also develop an interest in the culture and traditions of the country by studying film and contemporary Francophone music. In Year 13, your knowledge of society will be extended to include topics such as immigration, poverty and crime and punishment. The Year 13 course also has a slightly bigger cultural element, where you will study French literature. How? Throughout the course, there will be regular tasks set to assess your ability in listening, reading and writing, as well as your knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. During the Sixth Form, you will be taught by a team of two teachers and we also arrange a weekly conversation class with the French assistante to prepare you for the oral exam and to give you the chance to use the spoken language. Whatever your interests or aspirations, continuing your French into the Sixth Form will, quite literally, open up the world to you.
Before being accepted into the Sixth Form on our standard academic programme, we would normally expect you to have acquired a minimum of five GCSE passes at grade 5 or above on the new 9-1 grading scale (grade C and above for A*-G Welsh and some iGCSE programmes). However, individual circumstances and choice of subjects are taken into account. A prospective student for an individual A-level subject should achieve at least a grade 5 in that subject at GCSE. In some subjects, higher GCSE grades are required. Modern foreign languages require a grade 6 at GCSE and science subjects (biology, chemistry, physics) require a grade 7 (double 7 in combined science), although a grade 6 may be considered in exceptional circumstances. Those wishing to study mathematics will have a minimum of a grade 7 at GCSE, while for further mathematics it is grade 8. For psychology A-level, it is expected that students will have a least grade 5 in GCSE English language, mathematics and at least one science. New students – UK: Every year we welcome new students from both independent and state schools into our Sixth Form. Every applicant is considered individually. If you are available, please come to our Open Evening in October. We also recommend you visit us on a normal school day where you will have the chance to meet the Headmaster, Head of Sixth Form and current students. Offers are made on the basis of an interview and are conditional on your GCSE results. New students – International: International students are expected to have a reasonable competence in spoken and written English on arrival at West Buckland and the ability to progress with the specialist support of the EAL department. Overseas students applying to study at West Buckland should provide the following to start their application: • Copies of their last two school reports. • A piece of their handwriting (one to two sides of A4), written in English, telling us about themselves, their hobbies and interests.
Paper 1: Listening, reading, writing 2 hours 30 minutes (50%) Paper 2: Two x 250-word essays in French (literature and film) 2 hours (20%) Paper 3: Speaking (stimulus card followed by Individual Research Project 16-18 minutes 30%)