Our flexible Sixth Form curriculum allows every student to design a pathway that reflects their goals — whether aiming for top universities in Spain or abroad.
Holy Mary Sixth Form primarily provides two curriculum routes for students beginning Year 12. Both routes consist of a selection of A Level subjects, detailed below. In addition, we offer Spanish university preparation classes for those students who wish to take the UNED PCE examinations in the summer of Year 13. These examinations allow direct entry to public universities in Spain (further details below).
The route each student takes depends on their intention to apply to public institutions in Spain.
- Students who wish to keep all options open select four A Level subjects (6–7 lessons per subject per week) and two or three Spanish subjects (2 lessons per subject per week).
- Students who know with certainty that they will not apply to public institutions in Spain may choose not to study Spanish preparation classes. In the majority of cases, Year 12 students will study two Spanish preparation classes.
In Year 13, students are likely to have a clearer idea of their preferred academic pathway after completing their Year 12 studies. Therefore, the curriculum route may be slightly restructured at this stage. In most cases, this means continuing studies in three A Level subjects and reviewing the need for Spanish preparation classes. These decisions are made through counselling and discussion with individual students and their families.
In addition to their selected classes, all students take A Level Spanish in Year 12, which is examined in its entirety at the end of that year. As most students are native Spanish speakers, this requires only some preparation, and results are generally high.
Other compulsory classes include:
- a weekly Religion class, focused on preparation for Confirmación throughout Year 12;
- a weekly Physical Education class;
- and a weekly Life Skills class, focused on career options and university application preparation.
