--- title: "Subjects Offered" url: "https://st-bedes.org/sixth-form/subjects-offered" school: "St. Bede’s Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form" --- # Subjects Offered We intend: • To provide a broad and balanced education which will help young people grow to their full human potential, and pay regard to the formation of the whole person, so that all may attain their eternal destiny and at the same time promote the common good of society All students following enrolment, will embark on a two year full time programme of study consisting of their main qualifications and other non qualification programmes. The main qualifications will consist of A Levels and BTEC qualifications which can be studied as a single qualification programme or mixed qualification, for example 3 A Level subjects or BTEC Diploma and 1 A Level. If students do not hold at least a grade 4 GCSE in maths and English, they will continue to study towards the qualifications. In some instances functional skills level 2 will be offered alongside the taught GCSE lessons. Some A level maths students may also decide (grade 8 GCSE required) to study for A level Further Maths in conjunction with Newcastle University as a part of their outreach programme. This will not be a part of the student’s main programme of study but will be an extra qualification. Qualification Programme of Study A Level Qualifications - Art - Biology - Chemistry - Computer Science - English Literature - Geography - History - Maths - Physics - Product Design - Psychology - Further Maths (Delivered by Newcastle University outside of the normal teaching day) BTEC Qualifications - BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate in Business - BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Business - BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate in Engineering - BTEC Level 3 BTEC Health and Social Care - BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate in Sport GCSE Resit Qualifications - English - Maths Non-Qualification Programme of Study Contemporary Studies **We intend :** - To ensure every young person’s journey into adulthood is a journey of faith: one that recognises that true justice, peace and human freedom require, first and foremost, respect for the dignity of human life. - To ensure metacognition, debate and critical thinking are planned for and taught across the curriculum. **Time allocation: 1 hr per week** Contemporary studies is designed to develop students skills whilst examining the world from divergent perspectives. Students will develop critical thinking skills; debating skills; learn to form an opinion and have the confidence to change their opinion; listening skills, tolerance an acceptance; equipping them with the necessary skills to become active members of a global community where their voice can be heard. | **Cycle** | **Year 12** | **Year 13** | |---|---|---| | **Cycle 1** | Ethics | Response to conflict | | **Cycle 2** | Environmental Ethics | Human Rights | | **Cycle 3** | Social Action | Social Action | PSHE **We intend*:*** - To ensure all learners are cared for in such a way that their physical, moral and intellectual talents may develop in a harmonious manner, so that they may attain a greater sense of responsibility and a right use of freedom, and be formed to take an active part in social life. - To promote fundamental British Values and Citizenship: including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. **Time allocation: 1 hr per week** By the end of key stage 5, many young people will leave home for the first time and live independently, possibly in distant locations. There is a balance throughout this PSHE Programme of Study between preparing students to manage their current lives and laying the foundations for managing future experiences. As students progress through the key stages, this balance shifts towards teaching related to young people’s current experiences. It is essential to provide a comprehensive PSHE education programme in key stage 5; this ensures students continue to learn about issues with real-life relevance to them, at a crucial transition point in their lives. This key stage represents the last opportunity to ensure that students have the knowledge and understanding, skills, strategies and attributes they need for independent living and the next stage in their education or career. The Year 12 PSHE Programme of Study focuses on the student’s needs moving into young adulthood and equipping them to deal confidently with situations that they may experience throughout their time in sixth form. The Year 13 PSHE Programme of Study focuses on equipping the students for life after sixth form. The majority of our sixth form students continue their education onto university, with a significant number moving away from the family and living an independent life, the programme of study is designed to equip them with knowledge on how to look after themselves and also the confidence and knowledge to seek new information when required throughout their lives. The main themes of Health and Wellbeing, Relationships and Living in the Wider World have been sourced from PHSE Association and developed within the school by the sixth form team to suit our individual student’s needs. The programme for the two years is below, further details can be found in the PSHE overview on the website. | **Cycle** | Year 12 | Year 13 | |---|---|---| | **Cycle 1** | ealth and Well-being Living in the Wider World | Health and Well-being Living in the Wider World | | **Cycle 2** | RelationshipsHealth Living in the Wider World WE | Relationships Health | | **Cycle 3** | RelationshipsHealth Living in the Wider World UCAS | Health | Reading **We intend:** - To expose all learners to the richness of English language so that pupils can access the pleasure of reading, the excitement of writing and to explore new subjects and concepts, unlocking the potential to learn and grow as individuals. **Time allocation: 25 mins per day** Following tutorial every morning students will partake in reading as a group. Research and common sense tells us that literacy, vocabulary in particular, is one of the most influential factors in student success. Developing a habit of reading for pleasure is crucial to this. It is also a way of providing ‘an escape from the everyday’, an important strategy for promoting positive mental wellbeing. | **Cycle** | **Year 12** | **Year 13** | |---|---|---| | **Cycle 1** | The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared Novel by Jonas Jonasson | Where the Crawdads Sing Novel by Delia Owens | | **Cycle 2** | A Short History of Nearly Everything Bill Bryson | The Midnight Library Novel by Matt Haig | | **Cycle 3** | I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Autobiography by Maya Angelou | And Then There Were None Novel by Agatha Christie | ### Sixth Form - [Apply Now](https://st-bedes.org/sixth-form/apply-now) - [Byron Sixth Form](https://st-bedes.org/sixth-form/byron-sixth-form) - [Careers](https://st-bedes.org/sixth-form/careers-1) - [Extra Curricular Offer](https://st-bedes.org/sixth-form/extra-curricular-offer) - [General Information](https://st-bedes.org/sixth-form/general-information) - [Prospectus](https://st-bedes.org/sixth-form/prospectus) - [Student Finance](https://st-bedes.org/sixth-form/student-finance) - [Student Leadership](https://st-bedes.org/sixth-form/student-leadership) - [Subjects Offered](https://st-bedes.org/sixth-form/subjects-offered) - [Supra Curricular](https://st-bedes.org/sixth-form/supra-curricular) ![St. Bede’s Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form](https://files.schudio.com/st-bede-s-catholic-school-and-byron-sixth-form/images/logo/logo-footer-with-diocese-02(2).png) ### St. Bede’s Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form Westway Peterlee SR8 1DE 0191 587 6220 ### Trust Information - [Website Terms](https://bccet.org.uk/website-terms/) - [Accessibility Statement](https://bccet.org.uk/accessibility-statement/) - [Privacy Notice](https://bccet.org.uk/privacy-policy/) ### Social Media - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/StBedesandByron/#) © Copyright 2025–2026 St. Bede’s Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://st-bedes.org/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)