Suggested Course Specialisms

Thomas Paine Sixth Form offers students the opportunity to choose their own combination of courses, and to pursue different specialisms. We do not operate a system of pathways - believing that our students should be free to choose courses based on their strengths and the prior performance in individual subjects.

If a student has a specific career or specialism in mind we do support this through different "Professional Specialisms".

Suggested combinations for careers

These are suggested combinations that have been proven to support student progression to university and apprenticeships in those professions.

• Engineering (Aeronautical, Civil, Electrical, General or Mechanical) - Students considering a specialism in Engineering will need to combine A Levels in Maths, Physics with Product Design.
• Health Care and Nursing - Students considering a specialism in social care, health care, midwifery or nursing can combine Health and Social Care with Applied Science, Biology, Psychology, or Sport.
• Software Engineering, Computer Science, or Games Development - Students considering these specialisms can combine BTEC Computing with Applied Business, or A levels in Art, Maths, Physics, or Product Design,

Medicine and Veterinary Medicine

For students who wish to study medicine (to become a doctor or surgeon), or veterinary medicine (to become a vet), they will need to study very specific subjects:

• Medicine - Students considering a specialism in Medicine will need A Levels in Biology and Chemistry. If they are considering Oxford or Cambridge then they must choose one of either Mathematics or Physics. For other universities it may be possible to combine Biology and Chemistry with another A level such as Psychology. Note: Students cannot study for a vocational qualification if they wish to study medicine at university.
• Veterinary Medicine - Students considering a specialism in Medicine will need to combine A Levels in Biology and Chemistry, with another A level. Note: Students cannot study for a vocational qualification if they wish to study veterinary medicine at university.