Delivery options Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Option 4 Only AS level is offered. Only A level is offered. Both AS and A level are offered. Both AS and A level are offered. Enrolment Students enrol and must Students enrol and must Students enrol on either an AS course Students enrol on either an AS course do the full course. do the full course. or an A level course, but can transfer or an A level course, with no option to later on. transfer later on. All students are taught AS All students are taught A AS and A level student co-taught in AS and A level students taught in Teaching level. level. the same class. separate classes. Formal examination Formal examination All students sit AS exam. Teaching AS students sit AS exam. End of finishes in time for revision for AS year 1 A level students sit internal exam on exams. Students decide whether they year 1 content. continue to A level once they have their AS results. Pros Greater flexibility in Greater flexibility in No need to run two separate AS and A Greater flexibility in ordering of A ordering of AS level ordering of A level topics. level courses may be easier for level topics. topics. timetabling. Teaching can focus on A Teaching can focus on AS demands Teaching can focus on AS level demands only. Know from start which students will only or on A level demands only. demands only. do A level. More flexible for students can – confirm or change their decisions anytime through the course. Less flexible for students Need to prepare students in one class May need greater timetabling, staffing Cons cannot change their for different assessments. flexibility and resource to run two – minds and transfer at a separate courses. later date. Less flexible for students cannot – change their minds and transfer at a later date.
Delivery options Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Option 4 Enrolment Only AS level is offered. Students enrol and must do the full course. Only A level is offered. Students enrol and must do the full course. Both AS and A level are offered. Students enrol on either an AS course or an A level course, but can transfer later on. Both AS and A level are offered. Students enrol on either an AS course or an A level course, with no option to transfer later on. Teaching All students are taught AS level. All students are taught A level. AS and A level student co-taught in the same class. AS and A level students taught in separate classes. End of year 1 Formal examination Formal examination All students sit AS exam. Teaching finishes in time for revision for AS exams. Students decide whether they continue to A level once they have their AS results. AS students sit AS exam. A level students sit internal exam on year 1 content. Pros Greater flexibility in ordering of AS level topics. Teaching can focus on AS demands only. Greater flexibility in ordering of A level topics. Teaching can focus on A level demands only. No need to run two separate AS and A level courses may be easier for timetabling. Know from start which students will do A level. More flexible for students – can confirm or change their decisions anytime through the course. Greater flexibility in ordering of A level topics. Teaching can focus on AS demands only or on A level demands only. Cons Less flexible for students – cannot change their minds and transfer at a later date. Need to prepare students in one class for different assessments. May need greater timetabling, staffing flexibility and resource to run two separate courses. Less flexible for students – cannot change their minds and transfer at a later date.