Case studies index: < previous case | next case >

Case study 18: The Advanced Extension Award in English

This case study shows how a sixth-form college challenges its gifted English students and prepares them for the Advanced Extension Award in English.

sixth-form college with about 3,000 full-time students

running a course to prepare gifted English students for the Advanced Extension Award and to give them an opportunity to share their skills, knowledge and critical approaches

students who achieve the AEA and are well prepared to study English at university

Background

The college has 3,000 or so full-time sixth-form students drawn from a wide range of backgrounds.

The college was keen to run a course that:

• prepared students for the Advanced Extension Award in English;
• prepared students for studying English at university;
• provided a forum for gifted English students to meet and share their skills, knowledge and critical approaches;
• gave gifted students an opportunity to move at a level and pace that is not possible in a normal A level classroom;
• challenged the best students and made them consider the subject afresh.

Top of page

Implementation

The course was originally set up to help students work towards the Advanced Extension Award (AEA) in English, and more students attend sessions when they are specifically linked to AEA. However, the course has also become a more general forum, with teachers offering specialist skills and knowledge.

Teachers work on the course as an extra to their contracted hours, based on their particular skills and interests. The college provides an incentive by giving the English department non-contact hours to manage the course (it gives these hours to every department to encourage them to promote AEAs and challenge the most able). The person responsible for delivering the programme also monitors the course and the AEA results, and evaluates the course based on student opinion. The assistant principal responsible for curriculum development monitors the college's programme as a whole.

Funding comes from the college's general educational budget (generated by units of funding attached to students registered on and completing courses). At the moment, further education and sixth-form colleges cannot draw funding directly for AEAs.

About 30 students have attended the course in all, and each session attracts an average of 15 to 20 students. Any student can attend, but the course tends to attract those who are thinking of taking the AEA. The college suggests that students with an A grade at AS should consider taking the AEA.

James is one student who benefited greatly from the course. He studied both English Literature and English Language to A2 level. This meant that he was able to take an almost expert role in the Advanced English sessions, applying linguistic theory to literature and providing an overview that helped other students. James took every opportunity to further his study through the course.

Top of page

Impact

The course gives students like James the opportunity and inspiration to develop into the most advanced English students. Since finishing the course, James has gone on to study English literature and language with creative writing at university.

Continued good attendance suggests that the course has been very popular. Teachers report that the cross-pollination of ideas which goes on in these sessions has had a positive effect on ordinary A level lessons.

Top of page