There is no doubt that education has changed a great deal over the last several years, so much so that parents and carers, as well as students themselves, tell us they can feel overwhelmed by the choices available.

One thing we’ve seen is the option to start specialising at a younger age, with many schools becoming colleges or academies dedicated to certain subject areas. And while we maintain a passion and support for a varied range of subject areas, underpinned by comprehensive student support, the option to narrow your focus is no less available as part of Sixth Form at King Edward’s, where our approach has helped us stay in Northumberland’s top three for five years running, both for achievement and progress. We currently rank number one.

One subject area we champion is STEM, or Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths, and we’re proud of the broad range of courses we offer, supported by a varied range of additional opportunities, such as our Pre-Med Society, for those wishing to pursue a career in medicine, and our Dissection Club. We even have our own Space Agency, KEVISA, with its own observatory.

Even in the Lower School, our STEM provision helped 30 of our students to become STEM champions earlier this year, when they took part in a STEM innovation challenge to build a wind turbine, in which they experienced working with virtual reality technology, electronics, robots and more, ultimately winning the prize for most efficient design on the day. Find out more on our website at kevi.the3rivers.net/kevi-stem-champions/.

Our job in Sixth Form is to support you to reach your goals, whatever they may be, and as part of that you’ll receive guidance from a committed team of Year Leaders, Mentors, and an Office Manager dedicated to Post-16 provision. We also offer additional support programmes for students applying to Oxford or Cambridge, or competitive and specialist courses such as medicine and veterinary medicine. Currently two of our alumni are prominent and active members of the CDI – Cambridge University’s Development institute, a charity where engineering is placed at the heart of improving the quality of life of people in poorer countries and we have supported our former students with their Summer placements.

Our students achieve consistently high exam results that allow them to progress on into their chosen next steps. 83% of our students go on to university, with more than a third of them attending institutions within the prestigious Russell Group, and a further five per cent go on to Higher Apprenticeships and other School Leaver programmes. This number is increasing as the breadth of quality HE alternatives is increasing.

Why not arrange a visit to find out more by contacting Susan Brown, our Post-16 Office Manager, on 01670 501 520

Our full list of STEM A Levels is as follows:

Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science
Core Maths*
Design Technology
Economics
Food Science and Nutrition*
Further Maths
IT*
Maths
Music Technology
PE: Sport & Physical Activity*
Physics
Psychology
Sociology

*Level 3 equivalent courses