Which Maths course is for me?

Do you want to study Mathematics at Solihull Sixth Form College? Lots of our students do, but with the choice of different Maths courses available they don’t always know which course is the right course for them. This blog aims to help!

Let’s start by listing all the A level Maths courses we offer. They are:

A-level Mathematics

A-level Statistics
A-level Use of Maths
A-level Further Maths

It’s worth read up on what is taught in each of these subjects – if you click the subject above, it will take you to our course information on the College website.

A level Mathematics

Let us start with A level  Mathematics. This is our most popular Maths course and includes advanced mathematical topics in algebra, trigonometry and graphs. Typically, students who do this course enjoy manipulating and solving equations and like the challenge of abstract Maths. Students need at least a B grade at GCSE Mathematics to do this course although in practice most students have achieved an A grade at GCSE Maths.  Students with B grades at GCSE Maths are advised to choose A-level Statistics or Use of Maths, which are slightly less advanced and often more suitable for their university and career ambitions.

Those  mathematicians who do study A level Mathematics have a choice to make. While all students study two Core Maths options in Year 12, there are then two pathways to choose from after that; Statistics or Mechanics. For those students who are also studying A level Physics, AS Mathematics of one sort or another is a compulsory addition. Consideration should be given to what you enjoy most, what you are better at and what you want to do after College. Maths staff can advise you to help you make the right choice for you.

A level Statistics

A level Statistics, as the name suggests, deals with the statistical side of mathematics including looking at how to handle data and calculate probabilities. It’s a very worthwhile subject to pursue, not least because there is a countrywide shortage of people with strong statistical skills (for example Medical Statisticians), so your career prospects are enhanced by taking this course. There are also lots of other subjects that include statistical elements such as Psychology, Business Studies, Geography, IT, Politics and others, so this can be a good support subject for other A levels too.

A level Use of Maths

A level Use of Maths is the College’s most recently added Maths course and the way this course differs from the others we offer is that it focuses more on Mathematics in practical, real-life contexts. This course deals with how Maths applies to everyday life. It also involves a coursework element that A-level Mathematics does not and is useful to those students who need a Maths qualification to support their university application, but who do not require all of the advanced topics that the A level Mathematics course teaches. For most university courses, Use of Mathematics is as valuable a support as A level Mathematics itself and, in many ways it can be more valuable as it focuses on the application of Mathematics in context. It would support Business and Finance, Chemistry, Computing, Biology, Geography, Psychology, Management Science, Computing and most Economics courses.

A level Further Maths

Now, let’s consider A level  Further Maths. As the title suggests, this includes further more advanced mathematics and is an additional A-level in Maths. Students studying Further Maths must also study A level Maths alongside it so will be studying for two A levels in Maths. You need to be a very gifted Mathematician to do this course, achieving a grade A or A* in GSCE Mathematics. If you want to take Further Maths, you will do so as part of a 5 AS package, so only students who pick 5 subjects rather than the standard 4 subjects at AS can study this subject.

Indeed, if you think that Maths is a course you want to study at A level, there will always be an opportunity at interview to talk over the different options, so you can be confident that whichever Maths course you pick, it is the right one for you and for your future ambitions.

Hopefully this blog has helped you to decide which course to apply for, but if you make an application and then change your mind, don’t worry, because nothing is set in stone and changes can be requested. While we can’t always guarantee changes (particularly if they are made very late), changing from one Maths course to another is easier to accommodate than two unrelated subjects.

Please read up on the courses on our website at www.solihullsfc.ac.uk and if you want to make an application, you can do so online at http://apply.solihullsfc.ac.uk/. There will also be an opportunity to visit the College and talk to staff at our Information Evening on Thursday 7 February 2013. We are open from 5.00pm – 8.00pm, with a last entry time of 7.30pm and we ask that all prospective students come accompanied by a parent or other adult please.

It’s A Capital Experience

The Sixth Form College, Solihull now has three Career Academies and our latest cohort of students kicked off their involvement in this exciting programme with a trip to London recently to take advantage of the day-long ‘A Capital Experience’ event

Organised by national business-education charity Career Academies UK, the day involved around 1,300 students from across the UK, as well as over 75 leading London-based employers such as AstraZeneca, AXA, Barclays, Clifford Chance LLP, Lloyds Banking Group, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Fujitsu, RSA, Royal Mail and Santander.

Our Career Academy students come from our BTEC Business, BTEC IT and BTEC Applied Sciences courses and the students all travelled down together. Although they joined up for the same activity in the afternoon, they started off with morning events at appropriate businesses for their courses, for a ‘behind the scenes’ look at how the organisation works, including a workplace tour.

The Business Career Academy students visited BDO Stoy Hayward, a leading firm of Chartered Accountants. They were given a detailed introduction to the firm's recruitment and selection procedure for both graduates and school leavers. Hints and tips were given on completing application forms, how to act in interviews and attending assessment centres. A question and answer session gave students the opportunity to find out more about careers in accountancy and the starting pay they can expect.

For the Science Career Academy students a visit to the Institution of Engineering and Technology was their morning activity. While there, they were given advice about applying for jobs in the engineering sector. A firm called F1 in Schools gave a presentation, providing the students with all kinds of advice, from applying for the different type of engineering degrees, the different type of entry routes and the bursaries and funding they offer. They also talked about the various competitions they hold, such building a formula one car using one of their kits provided and the students got a chance to compete with other schools to race the car on a special track. The schools with the fastest cars are going to be entered in to a draw, the winner of which could go to an exhibition in Abu Dhabi!

Meanwhile, the IT students got a taste of life at e-skills UK, one of Britain’s most influential organisations. They took part in workshops that helped develop employability skills for the IT sector, and also enjoyed virtual campus demonstrations and feedback sessions, as well as Cyber security training.

 

 

After the morning visits, all the groups joined up again and made their way to the Royal Festival Hall, where they got the chance to network with other young people from across the UK, taking part in the programme and participated in business-related activities to boost their employability skills.

During the afternoon, they received valuable advice from motivational speaker Action Jackson; adventurer Tori James, who was in the first ever all-female team to complete the Polar Challenge, a gruelling 360 mile race to the magnetic North Pole; and Career Academies UK Chair, Heather McGregor. The afternoon was led by Master of Ceremonies Lee Jackson, the UK’s most experienced school and college motivational speaker and author of ‘How to be Sick [great] at School’.

‘A Capital Experience’ is the biggest national one-day event in the Career Academy calendar and kicks off the two-year programme for young people taking part. We have been running the programme for 3 years, but only in Business; the IT and Science Career Academies are brand new and those students have got off to a great start by attending ‘A Capital Experience’. They can now look forward to a structured programme of internships, mentoring, motivational lectures and visits.

A levels or BTECs – What’s right for you?

Students who apply to The Sixth Form College, Solihull have so many choices, 42 subjects at A level and 6 at BTEC, but before you get to that stage you've got to decide which type of course is right for you.

A levels or BTEC; that is the question!

First of all, let's dispel one myth; that BTECs are easier than A levels! Not true! BTEC Extended Diplomas offer advanced level study just like A levels. They lead to progression to university and employment just like A levels and are highly regarded qualifications. They just have different demands. So what is the difference?

One of the main distinctions is the way you learn and how you are assessed. A levels involve examinations, while BTECs do not. While some A level subjects include an element of coursework (e.g. Art, Biology, Chemistry, Dance, Drama and English) others (like Business Studies, Modern Foreign Languages and Mathematics) have no coursework at all. Our BTEC Extended Diplomas are 100% coursework, so if you are someone who struggles in exams why not consider a BTEC instead.

Because of the coursework element to BTEC courses, students need to be able to manage their time to meet their coursework deadlines and will often be working in groups, so good team-work is a necessary skill.

Another difference is the breakdown of what you study. BTEC Extended Diplomas are two-year courses equivalent to studying three A levels, so if you choose a BTEC you are picking just one subject. At The Sixth Form College, Solihull that means picking either Applied Sciences, Art & Design, Business, Health & Social Care, IT Practitioners or Sport. Clearly this narrows your learning somewhat, but depending upon your Higher Education or career ambitions, this might be perfectly appropriate for you.

If, instead, you choose A levels, you will be asked to pick four subjects to study and almost any combination of subjects can be studied together. Students will study these four subjects in Year 12 and at the end of that year will get their AS grades, which are qualifications in their own right. Students will normally drop one of their four subjects in Year 13 to concentrate on the three remaining subjects to get the full A level (or A2 as it's known). Students should not feel that they have wasted their time in the fourth subject they dropped, as the AS grade they get still counts towards applications for university.

We are frequently asked if students can take more than 4 AS subjects or if they can continue with 4 subjects into a second year. In answer to that, a few very able students (mostly with A and A* grades at GCSE) sometimes take 5 AS subjects, but only if they are looking to study Mathematics and Further Maths, as well as 3 other subjects. In addition, students are normally only allowed to stick with 4 subjects in Year 13 if they achieve very highly (i.e. B grades or above as AS level) and can demonstrate that they will cope with what is a heavy workload. We would rather you focussed on 3 subjects and did those well than struggled with four. Three A levels is enough to get into university after all.

If you choose A levels, then your next choice is which four subjects you should select. For some careers, your choice of subjects is critical - for example, those wanting to study Medicine must choose A level Biology and Chemistry. For other careers, it is not as important what you study as the fact that you achieve good grades. That's why we tell students who have not yet decided on a career path to pick those subjects they enjoy and are good at; you're more likely to do well at A level if you're interested in the subject. If you do have a career in mind, it might be worth doing some research into what subjects (if any) universities want you to take to progress onto their courses.

In summary, you need to ask yourself the following questions:

·         what do I want to do as a career?
·         does my chosen career or university course require me to study certain subjects?
·         do I do better in exams or coursework?

If you can honestly answer those questions and do your homework on what our courses involve, we're sure you will be able to choose the right options for you.

And if you are still not sure, why not ask us for advice? Message us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sfcsadmissions or contact us on Twitter (@sfcsapply). You can also come along to our Information Evening on Thursday 7 February 2013 from 5.00pm - 8.00pm (last entry at 7.30pm, all students must come accompanied by a parent/guardian).

Sport's Report - 07/11/12

Ladies Football

The Ladies Football team played their first game of the season away against Sandwell Academy on Wednesday and won 6-3. It was a great performance from the girls, with 2 goals from Faye Richards, 1 goal from Hannah Wardell and 3 goals from Siann Wedderburn. The hatrick hero was also given the Man of the Match award.

2nd Team Men’s Football

The 2nd Team played Stratford College at home on Wednesday. Stratford were unbeaten for the season so far and they went in at half time 1-0 up. However, SFCS scored twice in the 2nd half, with goals coming from Josh Champaneri and Keelan Reilly. The final 2-1 scoreline was a great result, which puts the College second in the league.

Rugby

The Rugby boys played Shrewsbury College at home on Wednesday and unfortunately lost 12-0.

CAREER ACADEMY EXPANDING

The Sixth Form College, Solihull has been running a Career Academy for the last two years, but it's about to get bigger! After piloting the programme in Business, the initiative is being expanded to include IT and Science as well.

The initiative raises the aspirations and develops the employability skills of young people. Career Academies UK is working with the College to secure workplace networks and experiences for students, linking up with both local and national employers. The  programme is open to students on the BTEC Business, Applied Science and IT Practitioners courses and students benefit from visits to local businesses, guru lectures from business representatives, business mentoring and a 6-week summer internship.

This has been very successful in Business, with firms like Aston University, BDO Accountants, British Telecom, Chiltern Railways, Coventry Building Society, Grant Thornton, Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs, Jaguar Land Rover, Johnsons Coaches, npower, Solihull Primary Care Trust, Solihull Chamber, Solihull Community Housing, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Village Hotel and West Midlands Police all supporting the programme.

25 new students - across all three BTEC courses - have just been accepted onto the Career Academy programme for the next two years and their involvement will start in earnest this evening when they meet their Business mentors. These individuals will be business men and women from local firms, who will be there to guide and advise the students. They will meet regularly and discuss what they are doing and what they could do more of to improve their employability prospects.

This first meeting will take place at an Ice Breaker event at the College, which will involve a fun activity, forcing students and mentors alike to work together and get to know each other.

The students will also be heading down to London soon for the Capital Experience event that Career Academies UK puts on every year for Career Academy students across the country.

Keep your eye on the blog and on the College website (www.solihullsfc.ac.uk) for more news from the College's Career Academy is the coming weeks and months.

SPORT'S REPORT – 31 October 2012

Posting by Jez Ingram, Sports Activities Co-ordinator

This edition of Sport's Report brings you news from before and after half-term.

Football
Before half-term, the men’s 2nd team travelled to Warwick College and won 9-0! There were four goals from Ben Stuart, who was understandably given the Man of the Match award.

It was a first win of the season for the football teams and well worth the wait! Well done lads!

Basketball
Since half-term, the basketball team have been in action this week against Dudley College. They secured a very good 80-37 victory - a very convincing performance.

More sports news coming soon.

SPORT'S REPORT – 3 October 2012

Posting by Courtney Ingram, BTEC Sport and A2 English Language student.

Hockey
No fixture this week for Hockey, due to the Birmingham Colleges ’ County trials. Let’s hope the lads were successful.

Netball
SSFC’s 1st team travelled to Solihull School. SSFC played extremely well; they came out the stronger team when defending and attacking. They were able to make space for their team mates to make successful passes without Solihull School being able to intercept. SSFC were playing both as a team and individually, and they were all showing determination to win. The final score was 22–16 to SSFC.

SSFC 2nd team travelled to Solihull School too and also played extremely well. When Solihull School attacked and scored, SSFC always got back into the game very quickly, with Faye Richards placing every shot and rebound into the net. It was such a close game, with SSFC down by 4 points early on. However, the sixth form college got back into the game particularly well and ended up losing by just one point. The final score was 13–12 to Solihull School.

Rugby
SSFC were at home to King Edwards Five Ways. Unfortunately SSFC lost 46–0.

Football
SSFC 2nd team travelled away to play Birmingham Metropolitan College. SSFC were leading at half time from an early goal scored by Scott Price. Numerous good saves made from Jake Sayer kept SSFC at ease. A chaotic start to the second half of the game saw SSFC concede two early goals, giving Birmingham Metropolitan the advantage. Scott Price then equalised showing a lot of courage and determination to get to all loose balls in the 6 yard box. SSFC started to perform very sloppy, not playing as team and gave away a penalty. SSFC then scored an own goal, giving Birmingham Metropolitan a 4-2 victory.

Rest of the 2nd team squad played a friendly fixture against Alcester, which was a very competitive game. Phillip Adebiyi scored twice to make it 2-2, but SSFC couldn’t hold for the whole game. They battled for all the loose balls, but all it took was SSFC switching off for the slightest second and Alcester was able to take that advantage and score within the last few minutes, making the final score 3-2 to Alcester.