A Sixth Form Course in the History and Philosophy of Science

Advanced Level. Part of the General Certificate of Education set by any one of nine examining boards. There are two examinations, the Ordinary and Advanced Level. The Ordinary Level is usually taken about the age of 16 and pupils generally take from four to nine subjects. The Advanced Level is taken at about 18 in two to four closely related subjects. Thus a science specialist at Advanced Level might take physics, chemistry and biology.

Scholarship courses prepare boys and girls for special examinations set by Oxford and Cambridge Colleges and by Universities. The scholarship examinations are attempted a term, two terms, or a year after the Advanced Level examination.

Sixth Form. “The upper part of a grammar or technical school, entered ordinarily at 15 or 16 after taking some subjects at the Ordinary Level of the General Certificate in Education. A full Sixth Form course lasts two or three years” (Crowther Report, H.M. Stationery Office, 1959).

Science specialists. Sixth Form pupils specialising in a group of three or four related science subjects: Physics, chemistry and biology or physics, chemistry and pure and applied mathematics. About two-thirds of a pupil's time is spent on such subjects.

General Studies. “The time available to the Sixth-Former for the study of subjects other than those in which he is specialising” (Crowther Report). Often Arts and Science Sixth Forms share common lessons.

See Note 3. At the end of the second year in the Sixth Form the Advanced Level examinations are taken.

See Note 1.

Three periods out of 32 or 36.

See Note 2.