SUMMER WORK FOR SIXTH FORM STARTERS
Students in certain courses will really benefit from completing a bit of work over the summer. Please see below a list of courses and the relevant work. Not all subjects are shown so don’t worry if you don’t see your course, it just means your tutor has chosen not to ask for any work to be prepared in advance.
Please read and complete the OCR A-Level Biology transition test and the OCR A-Level Biology (Maths element) transition test
Visit at least one exhibition/ museum (Design Museum, V&A, British Museum – Ideally that has a Product Design / Technology / Architecture / Jewellery focus, but if you can’t find anything as relevant visit an Art or Photography exhibition.
Complete an account of the experience, both visually (drawings, sketches, photographs) and some written thoughts on the work seen (try to talk about what particularly draws you to specific pieces and talk about the design choices that have been made to make it aesthetically pleasing).
Start a Pinterest board or scrap book to collect images of products and buildings that interest and inspire you - Focus on Architecture, Furniture, Lighting, Jewellery.
Business students need to complete the Business A Level Year 11 to 12 Bridging Resources which they can find here . You can find the mentioned numeracy assessment here.
You are going to be introduced to Java Programming as part of your A Level. You may already be familiar with Java, or it might be your first time using it. Your first job is to download the necessary Java files and an IDE so you can run programs in Java.
Go to the Oracle website and download and install the Java Development Kit on your machine Java Downloads | Oracle It doesn’t really matter what version you choose.
Decide which IDE you would like to use. Download and install the software from their websites. You may need to get some help from YouTube to do this but that is all part of A Level thinking and getting yourself to independently learn. Java works well in the following IDEs:
IntelliJ IntelliJ IDEA – the Leading Java and Kotlin IDE (jetbrains.com)
Eclipse Eclipse IDE | The Eclipse Foundation
Visual Studio (only use if you are a very confident programmer already)
Learn the basic Java syntax to:
Produce an output to console
Take an input from the keyboard
Declare variables
Assign inputs to variables
Concatenate outputs to console
Use W3 Schools to help you complete this task Java Tutorial (w3schools.com)
Please use the information in the PowerPoint to help you complete the questions in the OCR transition from GCSE to A-level maths skills document.
During your course you will explore a wide variety of live theatrical performances, play texts, practitioners and theatrical genres.
Over the summer, before you begin the course, we would recommend that you see at least one live production and begin to consider how directors, performers and designers work together to produce a show that makes an impact on a live audience.
Your set texts for the course will be MACHINAL by Sophie Treadwell and WOYZECK by Georg Buchner, and we would suggest you familiarise yourself with these either by reading them or watching a film/live theatre version.
You will explore a variety of practitioners and other play texts, none of which will be decided until the course is underway and we have had the opportunity to work together. We do not require any specific advance learning but would encourage you to use the reading list below over the summer to begin preparing for your course.
SUGGESTED READING LIST
As A level students you are expected to conduct independent study, including research and reading around your subject. Outside your lesson times you are expected to conduct an equal amount of study (so for 5 lessons a week this would be just over 4 ½ hours). There will be plenty of time beyond your set prep for you to access the list below. All of these will give you a greater understanding of the world of theatre and those who work in it. Most of these are available through the Drama department or the Library, and if you would like to borrow a copy you are most welcome. Anything we do not currently have can be ordered for you.
Please note – this is just a selection of the texts we recommend and you may also wish to read others. We would be happy to recommend a further selection once you have exhausted these! It is also not essential that you read the Practitioner texts in their entirety but select chapters to gain a flavour of the methodology.
Practitioners/genres:
An Actor Prepares – Stanislavski Brecht on Theatre – Brecht The Frantic Assembly Book of Devising Theatre– Scott Graham Games for Actors and Non‐Actors – Augusto Boal The Empty Space – Peter Brook Shakespeare on Stage– Julian Curry The Theatre and its Double– Antonin Artaud Immersive Theatre– Josh Machamer
Play Texts:
A Doll’s House – Ibsen Eight – Ella Hickson Look Back in Anger– John Osborne 4.48 Psychosis– Sarah Kane (WARNING – contains strong language/imagery) A Midsummer Night’s Dream– Shakespeare
Dance students will be understanding the history and work of Rambert. Take a look at their website https://rambert.org.uk. Make notes on key parts of their history and where they are as a company now. We will be studying practitioners such as Matthew Bourne, Yasmin Vardimon and Christopher Bruce. Watch some of their works to see the style of dance and choreography they use. Alongside this make sure your staying physical. Work on your strength, flexibility and stamina. Keep yourself healthy and strong ready for September.
We are thrilled that you have chosen to study the English literature A level course with us here at Frensham in September. A level style allows for freedom of thought and interpretation and with this in mind, you need to read the two texts detailed below over the summer so you can bring your fresh ideas to the lessons in September.
Atonement by Ian McEwan: ISBN:978-0-099-42979-1 Vintage (£9.99)
The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald: ISBN: 978-0-141-18263-6 Penguin Classics (£6.99)
Both texts are readily available on Amazon. It might be useful, but not mandatory, to consider purchasing alongside these core texts, the accompanying York notes for A Level study which are priced £7.99 and are available for both texts (visit www.yorknotes.com for details.) The above two texts will form the basis of your coursework, which is worth 20% of your final A Level grade.
The emphasis of the coursework is designed to promote love of literature, critical, independent and thought-provoking responses which are not necessarily designed to be prescriptively taught; so, wider interpretations are of the essence. So having an understanding and familiarity of the coursework texts before you start the course will be invaluable. If you have any questions before September, please feel free to contact us on the emails below.
We do of course hope that the prospect of reading these two outstanding novels over the summer is a welcomed one; we think you are in for a real treat!
Happy reading!
Samantha Stuart (Head of English)
Teachers of A Level: Alison Bundy and Zoë Richardson
You can contact us via email by using the format firstnamelastname@frensham.org
Visit at least one art exhibition or museum in person . If you are unable to visit any galleries in person, use online museums or galleries web sites to explore their collections.
Complete an account of the experience, both visually (drawings, sketches, photographs, postcards…) and some written thoughts on the work seen (try to talk about specific pieces).
Complete at least 4 drawings or paintings made from direct observation (not from photographs) A3 or A4 scale, possible larger if you have the opportunity. Your own choice of subject matter, but getting outside for fresh air would be a nice option!
We would like students to watch the films during the holidays that are being studied next term. (film list for Autumn term)
1. Watch the Hitchcock film Vertigo and any other Hitchcock from the list
2. Watch any of the complimentary films from the long list. (film list for the summer)
Please read and complete Bridging the GCSE to A Level Geography Gap and Keep Learning Geography and The Definitive Guide to ALevel Geography
Visit at least one exhibition/ museum (V&A, British Museum or Design Museum – Ideally that has a Graphic Design focus, but if you can’t find anything relevant visit an Art or Photography exhibition.
Complete an account of the experience, both visually (drawings, sketches, photographs, postcards…) and some written thoughts on the work seen (try to talk about specific pieces).
Start a scrap book or collection of pieces of graphic design that interest and inspire you – pages from magazines, packaging, flyers – photograph posters you like.
Please click below for a suggested reading list
Plus this podcast:
Revise tenses with Languages Online
Read online newspapers in the chosen language (French – TV5 Monde, Courrier International; Spanish – BBC Mundo, El País, ABC)
Watch films on Netflix or Prime (30 mins with audio and subtitles in your chosen language, 30 mins with audio in French or Spanish and English subtitles)
Listen to French or Spanish music, finding the lyrics online
Students will be emailed directly with summer preparation work during the first week of the holiday. If they do not receive anything by the second week, please contact Paul Hughes
During the summer, please download the AQA full specification and familiarise yourself with the units that we will cover over the next two years. Make a list of any topics that are completely new and take the opportunity to read the key points on these from within the specification. AQA A-Level PE
In Addition, for your practical sport you need to continue to take part in this. Stay fit, stay active and ensure you playing your sport on a regular basis. To link with your coursework, make a list of your strengths and weaknesses in your sport and we can look to address these in September.
•Visit at least one photography exhibition. • Complete an account of the experience, both visually (thumbnail photographs) and some written thoughts on the work seen (try to talk about specific pieces) so you can include them in your coursework at a later date. • Be prepared to present your visit to the group in September • Below are suggestions but you can also find your own:
We would suggest that all psychology students subscribe to the ‘Crash Course Psychology’ Youtube channel and watch a few clips introducing key areas, such as ‘Intro to Psychology’, ‘Remembering and Forgetting’ and ‘Social Influence’.
We also recommend signing up to the British Psychological Society Digest so you can get a feel for current psychological research. You can sign up here.
Finally, we would highly recommend reading The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson and anything by Malcolm Gladwell, in particular, Blink.
We recommend that you put the BBC News and The Guardian apps on your phone, so you can keep up to date on current affairs and social/educational issues.
On BBC Radio 4 there is a brilliant show called Thinking Allowed which you can listen to here.
You could also read The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell.
Please see a list of recommended podcasts, websites, TV and Radio
plus these three podcasts: