LOWER SIXTH TRANSITION BOOKLET - (2017-18) - The ...

LOWER SIXTH
 TRANSITION
 BOOKLET
 (2017-18)

GCSE Results and Induction Day

 2

Sixth Form Dress Code 2017-18
Sixth Form pupils are role models for younger pupils - as such the school expects high standards
of dress. The Sixth Form should be smartly dressed in a manner that would result in them being
taken seriously within a professional working environment. Pupils’ appearance should reflect a
sense of pride in themselves and of the school. Pupils may choose to wear either the trouser suit
or skirt suit option.

Trouser suit option:
 Conventional business suit (matching jacket and full-length trousers)
 Smart collared shirt of conventional design – long enough to be tucked in and large enough
 for the top button to be done up
 Smart tie; either school or alternative discreet design
 Smart conventional shoes/ankle boots – black or brown, polishable or smart clean suede. No
 high heels
 V-necked jumper or cardigan of any plain colour with no large logo (any tie must be visible)
 Modest jewellery

Skirt suit option:
 Conventional business suit (matching jacket and skirt) - skirt should touch calf at the back
 with leg bent at 90 degree angle
 Smart collared shirt of conventional design – long enough to be tucked in
 Plain tights if worn
 Smart conventional shoes/ankle boots – black or brown, polishable or smart clean suede. No
 high heels
 V-necked jumper or cardigan of any plain colour with no large logo
 Modest jewellery

Travel to and from School
 Any sensible coat or jacket may be worn over the suit for warmth and to keep dry on the
 way to School
 Pupils cycling to school must wear a protective helmet and high visibility clothing

The dress code excludes:
 ‘Doc Marten’ style boots; sandals; stiletto or platform shoes; trainers; “Ugg” boots
 Leather or denim clothing (obviously excepting leather shoes) of all sorts
 Hoodies or fleeces
 Coats being used as a replacement for suit jackets
 Facial piercings (although a discreet nose stud is acceptable)
 Hair of an extreme style or appearance

 3

Contents

Sixth Form Dress Code 2017-18 ............................................................................................... 3
THE ROUSE RESEARCH PROGRAMME ............................................................................................... 5
ANCIENT HISTORY .............................................................................................................................. 6
ART & DESIGN .................................................................................................................................... 7
BIOLOGY ............................................................................................................................................. 8
CHEMISTRY A LEVEL ......................................................................................................................... 10
CHEMISTRY PRE-U ........................................................................................................................... 11
CLASSICAL GREEK ............................................................................................................................. 12
DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY: SYSTEMS AND CONTROL TECHNOLOGY ................................................. 13
ECONOMICS ..................................................................................................................................... 14
ENGLISH LITERATURE....................................................................................................................... 15
FRENCH ............................................................................................................................................ 16
GEOGRAPHY..................................................................................................................................... 17
GERMAN .......................................................................................................................................... 18
HISTORY RRR (Reform, Rights and Revolution) ............................................................................... 19
HISTORY SSS (Sovereignty, Superstition and Schism) ..................................................................... 20
LATIN ................................................................................................................................................ 21
MATHEMATICS/FURTHER MATHEMATICS ...................................................................................... 22
MUSIC PRE-U ................................................................................................................................... 23
PHILOSOPHY PRE-U ......................................................................................................................... 24
PHYSICS PRE-U ................................................................................................................................. 25
POLITICS ........................................................................................................................................... 26
PSYCHOLOGY PRE-U ........................................................................................................................ 28
RELIGIOUS STUDIES ......................................................................................................................... 30
SPANISH ........................................................................................................................................... 31
Appendix .......................................................................................................................................... 32

THE ROUSE RESEARCH PROGRAMME

All Sixth Form students at the Perse undertake an independent research
project in the Lower Sixth. This provides an opportunity to learn research
skills, extend learning beyond A Levels and equip for a strong UCAS
application.
The first term will be a series of research skills seminars, towards the end of
which students will decide on their research route and topic. They can choose from:
A) Extended Project Qualification (AQA http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/subjects/AQA-W-7993-SP-
 15.PDF)
The EPQ is equivalent to an AS Level and involves 4 periods per cycle being timetabled with a
non-specialist supervisor and will take a minimum of 100 hours of research. The EPQ is marked
on the research ‘journey’ as well as a presentation and the end product of a 5000 word essay.
This option suits students who would like to focus on the process of research.
B) Rouse Award (Internal)
Students have one lesson per cycle with a supervisor with a broad subject-based specialism from
January. The Rouse Award is marked only on the finished product and students can enter into
the following categories:

 The Rouse Research Award: independent research culminating in an essay of 2-4,000
 words;

 The Rouse Award for the Creative Arts: a research-informed creative process culminates in
 the submission of an ‘artefact’ plus a short report of 500-1500 words outlining the research
 and how it informed the outcome.

 The Rouse Award for Mathematics: research into an area of mathematics, culminating in a
 presentation to the Maclaurin Society

 The Rouse Award for Engineering, Technology and Computing (as above for creative arts)
Upon completion all students will receive a Rouse Award Certificate (with commended and
highly commended categories) that will be included on University Transcripts and discussed in
the UCAS Reference. The best entries will be considered for prizes by a panel of University
academics and Governors. This option suits students who are independent, self-starters and
would like to really focus on the content of their research.
C) Alternative Accreditation
Some students opt to do another qualification, such as ABRSM Grade 8 Theory, British Science
Association CREST Awards and a number of others if it is deemed more appropriate to suit their
future ambitions.

 5

ANCIENT HISTORY
The A level course requires you to do a Roman History Period Study (The Julio-Claudian Emperors
31BC- AD 68) and a Depth Study (The Breakdown of the Late Republic 88-31 BC) together with a
Greek History Period Study (Relations between Greek states and between Greek and non-Greek
states 492-404 BC) and a Depth Study (The Politics and Society of Sparta 478-404 BC). In the
Lower Sixth, you will complete both of the depth studies and move on to the start of the period
study. You will use ancient sources as the start-point for your analysis of the historical context,
analysing the literary value of written sources and cultural significance of archaeological remains.

Type of Course: 2 year Linear A Level (public exams at the end of Upper Sixth)

Specification: OCR H407 Ancient History A Level GCE
http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/313570-specification-accredited-a-level-ancient-history-h407.pdf

Things you can do before the course:

If you want to broaden your horizons on the ancient world, look in the Ancient History sections in
Heffers, Waterstones or the Library and read anything that appeals to you; Tom Holland’s books
Persian Fire, Rubicon, Dynasty and the novels Imperium, Lustrum, Dictator (all by Robert Harris)
and Gates of Fire (by Steven Pressfield) will provide excellent background reading.

If you get the opportunity, visit Roman/Greek sites and museums. You could also watch some
relevant films or TV programmes (good examples include Ultimate Rome: Empire without Limit
presented by Mary Beard and The Spartans presented by Bettany Hughes).

 6

ART & DESIGN
In the Lower Sixth, you will be investigating the theme of ‘BODY’ within your Lower Sixth year.

Type of Course: 2 year linear A Level (public exams at the end of Upper Sixth)

Specification: OCR H601 Fine Art A Level GCE
http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/170210-specification-accredited-a-level-gce-art-and-design-
h600-h606.pdf

Things you can do before the course:

If you want to broaden your knowledge and understanding of Art, try reading any of these books,
watching any of these films or programmes or visiting any of these galleries:

Art History:
  Ways of Seeing John Berger
  The 20th Century Art Book Phaidon
  The Art of the Maker Peter Dormer
  The Story of Art E.H. Gombrich
  Great Modern Artists Andy Tuohy with Christopher Masters
  A World History of Art Hugh Honour & John Fleming
  Dictionary of Subjects and Symbols in Art J. Hall, John Murray

Films/DVD to watch:
 • All Man - Grayson Perry
 • In the Best Possible Taste - Grayson Perry
 • Simon Schama’s Power of Art
 • Woman in Gold
 • Girl with the Pearl Earring
 • Metropolis
 • Frida

Exhibitions:
Visit galleries, exhibitions, artists’ studios over the summer. They could be local, national or
international. Look for artwork that relates to the idea of ‘BODY’ in some way.
  http://www.newexhibitions.com/exhibitions/
  http://www.visitlondon.com/events/arts/top-10-exhibitions
  http://www.timeout.com/london/art/

Practical work:
Collect postcards, take at least 12 photographs, make 2 or 3 sketches and write reflective notes
on the work that interests you to document your visits.

 7

BIOLOGY
This course builds on the work of the CIE IGCSE (0610) and provides an excellent preparation for
university.

Type of Course: 2 year linear A Level

Specification: CIE International A Level course (9700).
http://www.cie.org.uk/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-international-as-and-a-level-
biology-9700/

Things you can do before the course:

The following topics have been studied by students taking the CIE IGCSE course (0610) at the
Perse school. If there are any topics you have not covered, you must complete some reading
over the summer.

 1. Characteristics and classification of living organisms
 Characteristics of living organisms, concept and use of a classification system, features of
 organisms, Dichotomous keys
 2. Organisation of the organism
 Cell structure and organisation, levels of organisation, size of specimens
 3. Movement in and out of cells
 Diffusion, osmosis, active transport
 4. Biological molecules
 5. Enzymes
 6. Plant nutrition
 Photosynthesis, leaf structure, mineral requirements
 7. Human nutrition
 Diet, Alimentary canal, mechanical digestion, chemical digestion, Absorption
 8. Transport in Plants
 Transport in plants, water uptake, transpiration, translocation
 9. Transport in Animals
 Heart, Blood and lymphatic vessels, blood
 10. Diseases and Immunity
 11. Gas exchange in humans
 12. Respiration
 Aerobic respiration, Anaerobic respiration
 13. Excretion in humans
 14. Coordination and response
 Nervous control in humans, sense organs, hormones in humans, homeostasis, tropic
 responses
 15. Drugs
 Medicinal drugs, Misused drugs
 16. Reproduction
 Asexual reproduction, Sexual reproduction, Sexual reproduction in plants, Sexual
 reproduction in humans, Sex hormones in humans, Methods of birth control in humans,
 Sexually transmitted infections
 8

17. Inheritance
 Chromosomes, genes and proteins, Mitosis, Meiosis, Monohybrid Inheritance
 18. Variation and selection
 Variation, Adaptive features, Selection
 19. Organisms and their environment
 Energy flow, food chains and food webs, nutrient cycles
 20. Biotechnology and genetic engineering
 Biotechnology, Genetic engineering
 21. Human influences on ecosystems
 Food supply, habitat destruction, pollution, conservation

Text books:
Cambridge International AS and A Level Biology Coursebook (Fourth edition) - Jones, Fosbery,
Gregory and Taylor, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-1-107-63682-8

Cambridge IGCSE Biology 3rd Edition - MacKean and Hayward, Hodder Education, ISBN 978-
1444176469

Other reading:
Biological Sciences Review, a quarterly magazine with articles related to the specification,
examiner’s advice and for your wider reading. On the Biology Sharepoint area there are also a
number of Biofactsheets which you will be expected to read throughout the course. You should
also be reading widely around the subject material and you might like to join the Sixth form
Biology reading group

 9

CHEMISTRY A LEVEL
Chemistry is a fascinating and challenging subject with a demanding syllabus. In the Lower Sixth,
we will focus on the following topics, most of which should be familiar to you from (I)GCSE, but
which we will be studying in greater depth. Lessons will focus on development of both the
theoretical understanding of the key concepts and principles and more advanced practical skills.

 Teacher A Teacher B
 * Formulae, Equations and Amounts * Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table
 of Substance * Bonding and Structure
 * Organic Chemistry I * Redox I
 * Modern Analytical Techniques I * Inorganic Chemistry and the Periodic Table
 * Kinetics I * Energetics I
 * Equilibrium I

Type of Course: 2 year linear A Level (public exams at the end of Upper Sixth)

Specification: Pearson Edexcel A Level GCE in Chemistry (9CH0)
https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/chemistry-2015.html

Things you can do before the course:

Good understanding of the topics listed below would be most beneficial.

  Atomic Structure
  Bonding (Ionic and Covalent) and Structure
  Formulae and Equations
  Reaction types
  Mole calculations

If these seem unfamiliar or you found them tricky at (I)GCSE, you may wish to revisit them before
the start of the course. A CGP guide ‘New Head Start to AS Chemistry’ can be used to help you
with this. These are available to borrow from Chemistry department or the newer edition can be
purchased directly from CGP books (cgpbooks.co.uk) or Amazon.

 10

CHEMISTRY PRE-U
Chemistry is a fascinating and challenging subject with a demanding syllabus. In the Lower Sixth,
we will focus on the following topics, most of which should be familiar to you from (I)GCSE, but
which we will be studying in greater depth. Lessons will focus on development of both the
theoretical understanding of the key concepts and principles and more advanced practical skills.

 Teacher A Teacher B
 Quantitative analysis (A) Atomic structure (A)
 Organic Preliminaries (A) Electronic spectroscopy (A)
 Functional Group Level (A) Mass-spec intro (A)
 Mass spectrometry (A) Chemical forces (A)
 Infra-red (A) Chemical models and evidence (B)
 Alcohol level (A) The Periodic Table (periodicity) (A)
 Carbonyl level (A) Main group chemistry (A) and Group 14 (B)
 Addition and elimination (A) Energy Changes (A)
 Mechanisms (B) Gases and Kinetics (B)
 Green Chemistry (A) Equilibrium (B)

Type of Course: 2 year linear course (public exams at the end of Upper Sixth)

Specification: Cambridge Pre-U Chemistry (9791)
http://www.cie.org.uk/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-pre-u-chemistry-9791/

Things you can do before the course:

Good understanding of the topics listed below would be most beneficial.

  Atomic Structure
  Bonding (Ionic and Covalent) and Structure
  Formulae and Equations
  Reaction types
  Mole calculations

If these seem unfamiliar or you found them tricky at (I)GCSE, you may wish to revisit them before
the start of the course. A CGP guide ‘New Head Start to AS Chemistry’ can be used to help you
with this. These are available to borrow from Chemistry department or the newer edition can be
purchased directly from CGP books (cgpbooks.co.uk) or Amazon.

 11

CLASSICAL GREEK
In the Lower Sixth, you will read a selection of prose and verse authors that will help you bridge
the gap between GCSE and A Level. You will also have lessons that focus on the language itself,
introducing you to new grammatical features and how these were used.

Type of Course: 2 year Linear A Level (public exams at the end of Upper Sixth)

Specification: OCR H444 Classical Greek A Level GCE
http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/220734-specification-accredited-a-level-gce-latin-h443.pdf

Things you can do before the course:

If you want to broaden your horizons on the ancient world, try reading any of these books,
watching any of these films or programmes or visiting any of these museums or sites:

Historical Context:
  Persian Fire Tom Holland
  Introducing the Ancient Greeks Edith Hall
  Ancient Greece: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford Very Short Introductions)
  The Greeks: A Portrait of Self and Others Paul Cartledge

Ancient Texts in Translation:
  The Bacchae Euripides
  Histories Herodotus
  Oedipus Tyrannos Sophocles
  The Iliad Homer

Films/TV programmes to watch:
  Who were the Greeks (BBC 2015)
  The Greeks – Crucible of Civilisation (2000 TV miniseries)
  Ancient Greece: The Greatest Show on Earth (BBC 2016)
  Treasures of Ancient Greece (BBC 2016)
  Genius of the Ancient World – Socrates (BBC 2017)

Museums to visit:
  Museum of Classical Archaeology, Cambridge University Sidgwick Site
  British Museum

 12

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY: SYSTEMS AND CONTROL TECHNOLOGY
In the Lower Sixth, you will study a variety of electro-mechanical topics and manufacturing
processes. The coursework element, of which accounts for 50% of the AS, will start at the end of
the year 12 and will run for the duration of year-13. As a highly practical course where students
are engaged in practical assignments and theory, independence and focus is key.

Type of Course: 2 year AS Level (coursework submission and public exam at the end of Upper
Sixth)

Specification: OCR H004 Design Engineering
http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/304562-specification-accredited-as-level-gce-design- and-
technology-h004-h006.pdf

All students will start without the new reformed GCSE which would naturally help feed into the
new reformed AS Level, therefore we will work through all topics like new. We are hoping to get
the course textbook as soon as it is available (November 2017). Topics notes and resources will
be available at the start of all new topics.

Things you can do before the course:

Read through the syllabus, specifically pages 12-22 to gain insight into the topics and modules.

Things you might want to read before the course:
  TEP Technology in Practice
  Collins GCSE D&T Technology
  Dyson History of Great Inventions
  Dyson Against the Odds

 13

ECONOMICS
What is economics all about? That’s for you to find out, rather than for us to tell you. But one of the
features of economics that distinguishes it from most other A Levels, and all the subjects you have
studied to date, is that it is very, very current. Every day, (quality) newspapers publish dozens of news
stories relating to economics and business. The most important thing over the summer is to pay
attention to what is happening in the world. What is the fallout from the EU referendum? Why is the
Cambridge economy doing so well? Is the Chinese economy about to collapse? These are just some of
the questions that economists enjoy.

Type of Course: 2 year linear A Level (public exams at the end of Upper Sixth)

Specification: AQA 7136 Economics http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/economics/as-and-a-
level/economics-7135-7136

Things you can do before the course:

1. Watch a feature film
  The Big Short (2015) Four denizens in the world of high-finance predict the credit and housing
 bubble collapse of the mid-2000s, and decide to take on the big banks for their greed and lack
 of foresight. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1596363/
  Margin Call (2011) Follows the key people at an investment bank, over a 24-hour period, during
 the early stages of the financial crisis. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1615147/
  It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) Black and white movie which shows how banking used to be, back
 when everybody loved bankers! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038650/
  A Beautiful Mind (2001) Biopic of John Nash, the influential mathematician who lent his name
 to one of the most important terms in Economics, the Nash Equilibrium.
 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0268978/?ref_=kw_li_tt

2. Follow a blog
 Blogger Credentials Website
 Project Syndicate Global collection of v http://www.project-syndicate.org/economics
 influential writers
 VoxEU Brilliant EU analysis http://www.voxeu.org/
 Farnam Street “Get other people to do the http://www.farnamstreetblog.com/
 thinking for you”
 Simon Wren- Oxford Econ Prof http://mainlymacro.blogspot.co.uk/
 Lewis
 Kamal Ahmed BBC Business Editor http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/correspondents/ka
 malahmed
 Nouriel Roubini Econ Prof at NYU http://roubinieconomics.blogspot.co.uk/
 Martin Wolf FT Economist http://www.ft.com/comment/columnists/marti
 n-wolf
 Paul Krugman Princeton Econ Prof http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/

3. Regularly read a quality newspaper (The FT/ The Economist/ The Week/ The Times/ The
 Guardian/ The Telegraph)

4. Read a book (here is a good list of ideas related to Economics
 http://www.bloomberg.com/features/2015-bloomberg-book-list/ )
 14

ENGLISH LITERATURE
Please see Appendix

Type of course: 2 year linear A Level (public exams at the end of Upper Sixth)

Specification: OCR H472 English Literature A Level GCE
http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/171200-specification-accredited-a-level-gce-english-literature-
h472.pdf

Things you can do before the course:

There is a reading list in the Appendix, but please contact the English Department to ask about
specific recommendations.

You can contact Mr Simon Dickens, Head of English by email at SJDickens@Perse.co.uk or speak
to a member of the English Department.

 15

FRENCH
Type of Course: 2 year linear A Level (public exams at the end of Upper Sixth, with an internal AS style
exam at the end of Lower Sixth)

Specification: AQA 7652 French A Level GCE
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/as-and-a-level/french-7652

In the Lower Sixth, you will study aspects of current affairs as well as the culture, history and politics of
France and the wider Francophone world. In the Upper Sixth you will also study a film and a literary text.
Lower Sixth topics for 2017-18 will include:

 Current Issues and Trends in Political and Artistic Culture in
 French-speaking Society the French-speaking World

 La famille en voie de changement Une culture fière de son patrimoine
 La « cyber-société » La musique francophone contemporaine
 Le rôle du bénévolat Cinéma – le septième art
 Les aspects positifs d’une société diverse Les ados et l’engagement politique

Things you can do before the course:

There will be a gap of almost four months between your last French lessons this year and the start of your
Sixth Form career. It is therefore important that you continue to read and listen to French over the
summer. Here are some suggestions:

 Each week try to read a French newspaper article or watch or listen to a news broadcast.
 To read the news, try 20minutes.fr, France24.fr, BBC Afrique, or LeMonde.fr (harder)
 To watch the news, France2 offers the opportunity to watch its 3 daily news programmes (8h, 13h
 and 20h) shortly after they are broadcast. 1jour1actu is a news website for children than produces
 videos and articles in an easy to understand format.
 To listen to the news try RFI; you can also subscribe to the Journal en français facile podcast.
 Listen to some Francophone music. Stromae is a popular Belgian artist and a good place to start. The
 top 50 chart can be found here (but beware of the many English-language songs!)
 Watch a French film. Try Les intouchables, Entre les murs, Amélie, La vie en rose, Deux jours une nuit,
 Les 400 coups, Un long dimanche de fiançailles or Ne le dit à personne. Our current A Level film is La
 haine. There are also regular foreign language screenings at the Arts Picturehouse in Cambridge and
 at the Ciné Lumière at the Institut Français in London.
 Read a French book or short story. Good books to start with include No et moi , Un sac de billes, or Un
 secret. Our current A Level text is L’Étranger by Albert Camus, which you can read in translation or in
 French. Grant and Cutler at Foyles Bookshop in London and Heffers in Cambridge both have good
 selections of books in French.
 Research an aspect of French culture that interests you. For example, you could visit a gallery to look
 at the work of a particular artist. Keep an eye out for events, exhibitions and courses organised by the
 Institut Français (London) or Alliance Française (Cambridge)
 Go over key grammar topics. You can try some of the exercises on Tex’s French grammar.
If you have any further questions, please contact Mr Shaw, the Head of French, (aeshaw@perse.co.uk)

 16

GEOGRAPHY
Please see Appendix

In the Lower Sixth, you will study glaciation, migration, geopolitics, earth’s life support systems,
place and space. In Upper Sixth you will study hazardous earth and climate change. There will
also be a fieldwork element, but no controlled assessment.

Type of Course: 2 year linear A Level (public exams at the end of Upper Sixth)

Specification: OCR H481 Geography A Level GCE
http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/223012-specification-accredited-a-level-gce-geograhy-h481.pdf

Things you can do before the course:

There is no compulsory work but if you want to broaden your geographical horizons before the
course or start preparing for a potential university application then below are a series of things
you could do over the summer.

Museums/Activities
  Visit the Polar Scott Museum (links with glaciation)
  Go travelling (develop your sense of place)
  Read a decent newspaper (keep abreast of current affairs)
  Watch “The Impossible” (links to hazardous earth)
  Enter the RGS Young Geographer of the Year competition (speak to staff for details)
  Talk to your Grandparents about their childhood and how the place they grew up in has
 changed. Jot details down.
  Join Twitter. Follow geography feeds.
  Go out walking (practice your map reading skills)
  Unpick the inaccuracies of “The Day After Tomorrow” (links to climate change)
  Research the UAE (It’s our fieldtrip location)
  Watch some TED talks (search for the A-level topics above)

Reading
  ‘Six Degrees’ by Mark Lynas
  “An Introduction to Physical Geography and the Environment” by Joseph Holden
  “Environmental Hazards - Assessing Risk & Reducing - Keith Smith
  A Quick Introduction to Glaciers & Glacial Landscapes - Peter Knight
  Geographical Magazine
  A Very Short Introduction to Geopolitics - Klaus Dodds
  Brick Lane - Monica Ali

 17

GERMAN
Type of Course: 2 year linear A Level (public exams at the end of Upper Sixth)

Specification: AQA specification number 7662:
http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/german/specifications/AQA-7662-SP-2016-V1-0.PDF

In the Lower Sixth you will cover the following topic areas:

1. Aspects of German-speaking society
  The changing state of the family
  The digital world
  Youth culture: fashion and trends, music, television

2. 2 – Artistic culture in the German-speaking world
  Festivals and traditions
  Art and architecture
  Cultural life in Berlin, past and present

There will also be an introduction to literature and film. The main Lower Sixth focus will be on
the film Das Leben der Anderen, which will be assessed in the Lower Sixth summer examination
and the A Level examination at the end of the Upper Sixth.

Things you can do before the course:

Try some of the following literature (some English versions are also available):
  Wladimir Kaminer – Russendisko
  Jana Hensel – Zonenkinder
  Karin König – Ich fühl mich so fifty-fifty
  Bernhard Schlink – Der Vorleser

Non–fiction in English:
  Anna Funder – Stasiland
  Neil MacGregor – Germany: Memories of a Nation

German film & TV drama:
  Lola rennt
  Good Bye, Lenin!
  Almanya: Willkommen in Deutschland
  Die Welle
  Deutschland 83
  Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter

Follow Deutsche Welle (dw.com) for the latest news updates in German for learners of German
(search: langsam gesprochene Nachrichten)

 18

HISTORY RRR (Reform, Rights and Revolution)
History A Level will involve a greater degree of independent learning, developed analysis and evaluation
than you have been used to at GCSE. In the Lower Sixth you will be looking at time periods much earlier to
the modern history that many of you are used to. You will be writing essays that are far more analytical
and evaluative in nature and asked to deal with more historical source material and spend more time
considering the provenance of sources compared to GCSE. A Level also requires you to spend more time
thinking about how history has been written and how and why historians have different points of view
about the past.

Type of Course: Two year linear A Level made of three examined topics and one coursework topic. All
exams will be taken at the end of the Upper Sixth.

Specification: OCR H505 History A Level GCE

http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/170128-specification-accredited-a-level-gce-history-a-h505.pdf

Things you can do before the course:

The topics you will cover in the Lower Sixth are: Civil Rights 1865-1992 and Philip II of Spain 1556-1598.
The best thing you can do to prepare yourself for these courses is to give yourself some contextual
background of the topics and an overview of the courses by accessing one or two of the suggested items
below. This will help build your confidence and develop your level of interest.

 Civil Rights in the USA 1865-1992 Philip II of Spain 1556-1598

 Historical
 context and
 chronological David Reynolds, Empire of Liberty Parker, Imprudent King: A new life of Philip
 overview II

 Historical
 Fiction Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, 1960 O’Brien, That Lady, 1946

 Things to
 watch The film Selma (2014) – available on Blood and Gold: The Making of Spain (BBC
 Netflix documentary series)

 Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee
 (2007)

 Things to do Spanish Armada
 Listen to some classic protest music: In Our Time radio
 Bob Dylan (Murder of Emmett Till), http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00v1
 Billie Holiday (Strange Fruit), Sam qyb
 Cooke (A Change is Going to Come), Gil
 Scott-Heron (Whitey on the Moon)

 19

HISTORY SSS (Sovereignty, Superstition and Schism)
In the Lower Sixth, you will cover the following topics:

  England 1445-1509: Lancastrians, Yorkists and Henry VII
  The German Reformation and the rule of Charles V 1500-1559

In the Upper Sixth, you will cover the following topics:

  Popular Culture and the Witchcraze of the 16th and 17th Centuries
  Independent study on the Crusades

Type of Course: Two year linear A Level (public exams at the end of Upper Sixth)

Things you can do before the course:

If you want to broaden your horizons on the Early Modern world, try reading any of these books
or watching any of these films. Listening to some of the podcasts from the Radio 4 In Our Time
archive is a brilliant place to start. There is no expectation that you read, listen or watch any of
the following in advance of next year.

England 1445-1509: Lancastrians, Yorkists and Henry VII

Books (first couple of chapters):
  Lancaster and York – Alison Weir
  Wars of the Roses – Michael Hicks
  The Hollow Crown – Dan Jones

Historical Fiction and Films:
  Stormbird, Trinity, Bloodline and Ravenspur – Conn Iggulden
  The Wars of the Roses, In Our Time – Radio 4
  The Hollow Crown

The German Reformation and the rule of Charles V 1500-1559

Books:
  The European Reformation – Euan Cameron
  Reformation: Europe’s House Divided 1490-1700 – Diarmaid MacCulloch
  Clash of Empires: Europe 1498-1560 – Martin Jones
  The Emperor Charles V – Martin Rady
  Charles V - Ruler, Dynast and Defender of the Faith 1500-58 – Stewart MacDonald

Historical Fiction and Films:
  Q – Luther Blissett
  Luther (2003)
  Martin Luther – Heretic (1983)
 20

LATIN
In the Lower Sixth, you will read a selection of prose and verse authors that will help you bridge
the gap between GCSE and A Level. You will also have lessons that focus on the language itself,
introducing you to new grammatical features and how these were used.

Type of Course: 2 year Linear A Level (public exams at the end of Upper Sixth)

Specification: OCR H443 Latin A Level GCE
http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/220734-specification-accredited-a-level-gce-latin-h443.pdf

Things you can do before the course:

If you want to introduce yourself to some fresh ideas, try reading any of these books, watching
any of these films or programmes or visiting any of these museums or sites:

Historical Context:
  Rubicon/Dynasty Tom Holland
  SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome Mary Beard
  Caesar/Augustus Adrian Goldsworthy

Historical Fiction:
  Imperium/Lustrum/Dictator Robert Harris
  I Claudius/Claudius the God Robert Graves

Ancient Texts in Translation:
  Lives of the Twelve Caesars Suetonius
  The Aeneid Virgil
  Fall of the Roman Republic Plutarch (selections from the Roman Lives)
  The Annals of Imperial Rome Tacitus

Films/TV programmes to watch:
  Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire (BBC Mini-series 2006)
  Gladiator (2000)
  I, Caesar (Channel 4 miniseries 1997)
  Mary Beard’s Ultimate Rome (BBC 2016)

Museums/Roman Sites to visit:
  Museum of Classical Archaeology, Cambridge University Sidgwick Site
  Museum of London
  Colchester Castle Museum
  Verulamium (Roman St. Albans)

 21

MATHEMATICS/FURTHER MATHEMATICS
See Appendix

These courses build on the work of the Edexcel IGCSE (4MA0H) and provide an excellent
preparation for a wide range of university courses, whether they incorporate some or much
mathematical content.

Type of Course: 2 year linear A Level in Mathematics (‘single’) or Mathematics and Further
Mathematics (‘double’). There is a third stream of students studying a 2 year linear A Level in
Mathematics and AS in Further Maths. All external exams are taken at the end of Year 13.

Things you can do before the course:

You will have access to a booklet (on paper or online) for either Single Maths or Double Maths
(both A Level and AS Level Further Maths) which gives details of the key algebraic skills that are
necessary for a smooth transition to A Level study. These provide targeted practice for you, as
well as links to a Dropbox with further question material. We hold short assessments early in
September covering these topics for single and double Maths (but not AS Further Maths). For
Single Maths there is an on-line test we ask you to take as you get ready for the start of term,
which will help you assess your skills.

 22

MUSIC PRE-U
Type of course: 2 year linear Pre-U (public exams at the end of Upper Sixth)

Specification: http://www.cie.org.uk/images/329676-2019-2021-syllabus.pdf

Course Content:
Historical Studies (30%)
  A study of the symphony in the Classical period. You will also be comparing different
 recordings of these.
  A study of opera in the Romantic period. In this you will study extracts from operas by
 composers such as Verdi and Wagner.
  “Nationalism in the Twentieth Century (c.1914–c.1965)”. This will include an analysis of
 the set work by Copland: Appalachian Spring Suite for full orchestra.

Performing (22.5%)
  You will give a recital, performing as a soloist, an accompanist or in a small ensemble.

Composing (22.5%)
  You will be able to submit one piece of composition based on a commission such as a
 given note pattern or rhythm. It can be in any style of your choice.
  You will also learn to harmonise melodies in given styles such as Bach Chorales.

Personal Study (25%)
  This is for you to extend your musical skills by spending time on a challenging project of
 personal interest. These are your options:
 o Advanced Recital
 o Dissertation
 o Advanced Composition
 o Music Technology Project

Things you can do before the course:

The following reading and listening lists would provide a very useful basis for the start of your
Pre-U course.

Reading:
  Ross - The Rest is Noise
  Lawson and Stowell – The Historical Performance of Music
  Walsh – A School for Lovers (A novel based on Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte)

Listening (selected repertoire taken from the BBC Proms 2017):
  Beethoven – Symphony No.1 (Prom 30, Monday 7 August)
  Haydn – Symphony No.82 ‘The Bear’ (Prom 66, Saturday 2 September)
  Haydn – Symphony No.99 (Prom 20, Saturday 29 July)
  Mozart – Symphony No.38 ‘Prague’ (Prom 3, Sunday 16 July)
  Shostakovich – Symphony No 5 (Prom 68, Sunday 3 September)
 23

PHILOSOPHY PRE-U
In the Lower Sixth you will begin studying two distinct elements of the course in preparation for your
Upper Sixth examinations: An Introduction to Philosophical and Theological Thinking, and The
Philosophy of Mind.

Type of Course: 2 year linear Pre-U (public exams at the end of Upper Sixth)

Specification: CIE 9774 Cambridge Pre-U. http://cie.org.uk/images/150380-2016-2018-syllabus.pdf

Things you can do before the course:

If you want to broaden your horizons on the fields of Philosophy, Theology, and The Philosophy of
Mind, try reading any of these books, watching any of these films or programmes or visiting any of
these museums or exhibitions:

Introduction to Philosophy and Theology:
  50 ideas your really need to know: Philosophy Ben Dupre
  Epistemology: a beginners guide Robert M Martin
  Philosophy: the classics Nigel Warburton

The Philosophy of Mind:
  Descartes’ Meditations (A Reader’s Guide) Richard Francks
  Understanding Philosophy of Mind Mel Thompson
  An introduction to the Philosophy of Mind K. T. Maslin
  What is it like to be a bat? - Thomas Nagel
 http://organizations.utep.edu/portals/1475/nagel_bat.pdf
  What Did Mary Know? Marina Gerner
 https://philosophynow.org/issues/99/What_Did_Mary_Know
  Why I am not a property dualist John Searle
 http://www.imprint.co.uk/pdf/searle-final.pdf

To watch/listen to:
  The Truman Show (1998)
  The Matrix (1999)
  Her (2013)
  The Brain with David Eagleman (BBC 2016)
  A.C. Grayling on Descartes' Cogito
 http://philosophybites.com/descartes/
  Ted Honderich on What it is to be Conscious
 http://philosophybites.com/2014/10/ted-honderich-on-what-it-is-to-be-conscious.html
  John Searle: Our shared condition – consciousness
 https://www.ted.com/talks/john_searle_our_shared_condition_consciousness

Exhibitions/Museums
  States of Mind: Tracing the Edge of Consciousness at The Wellcome Collection, London
  Philosophy Faculty, University of Cambridge
  Divinity Faculty, University of Cambridge

 24

PHYSICS PRE-U
Type of Course: 2 year linear Pre-U (public exams at the end of Upper Sixth)

Specification: CIE 9792 Pre-U Physics. http://www.cie.org.uk/images/163265-2016-2018-syllabus.pdf

Holiday reading ideas:
We don’t expect you to do any formal work over the summer, but here are some ideas for some great
physics books to read if you want to broaden your horizons.

 What If? Serious
 Scientific Answers to 17 Equations that The Ten Most 1001 Inventions that
 Absurd Hypothetical Changed the World Beautiful Experiments changed the world
 Questions Ian Stewart George Johnson Jack Challoner
 Randall Munroe

 The Man who
 Changed Everything: Cosmic Imagery: Key
 The Life of James Clerk The Big Questions: images in the History
 Maxwell Physics Big Bang of Science
 Basil Mahon Michael Brooks Simon Singh John D. Barrow

 Physics for Future Quantum: A guide for
 About Time: Einstein’s The Character of Presidents: The the perplexed
 Unfinished Revolution Physical Law Science Behind the Jim Al-Khalili
 Paul Davies Richard Feynman Headlines
 Richard A. Muller

 25

POLITICS
Type of Course: 2 year linear A Level (public exams at the end of Upper Sixth)

Specification: Edexcel A Level Politics (Specification Code: 9PLO)
https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/A%20Level/Politics/2017/Specification%20
and%20sample%20assessments/A-level-Politics-Specification.pdf

To prepare for the Politics course next year you could choose to read or follow or view one or
two of the following websites, blogs, newspapers, books or films. The course does not require
any previous knowledge of the subject, but familiarising yourself with current political issues,
events, controversies etc. will certainly be helpful in preparing for the course in September.

Newspapers & Magazines
 • The Guardian
 • The Times
 • The Telegraph
 • The Financial Times
 • The Economist
 • Time
 • The New Statesman

Radio & podcasts
 • Week in Westminster – a good review of the major events & issues of the previous week -
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qjfq
 • Any Questions, the radio equivalent of Question Time -
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qgvj
 • Westminster Hour - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/the_westminster_hour/
 • Pienaar's Politics - http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/pienaar
 • Today - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qj9z
 • PM - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qskw

Websites/Blogs
 • BBC News Politics - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/
 • Laura Kuenssberg, the BBC’s Political Correspondent -
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/correspondents/laurakuenssberg
 • Sky’s UK Politics page is lively & up-to-date - http://news.sky.com/politics

Popular blogs include:
 • Alastair Campbell: http://www.alastaircampbell.org/blog/
 • Guido Fawkes: http://order-order.com/

For US Politics you could try:
 • The national papers’ websites are generally good: e.g. the Washington Post -
 http://www.washingtonpost.com/
 • The Hill: http://thehill.com
 • Washington Week video podcast: http://www.pbs.org/weta/washingtonweek/

 26

Books
 • All Out War, How Brexit Sank Britain’s Political Class by Tim Shipman
 • The End of the Party - Andrew Rawnsley chronicles the rise and fall of New Labour
 • Recent political diaries/memoirs are often a good read. For example, Chris Mullins’ (ex
 Labour MP) diaries: A View from the Foothills & Decline & Fall
 • The Blair Years - Alastair Campbell
 • The Prince - Machiavelli
 • The Rule of Law - Tom Bingham
 • Politics - Andrew Heywood is an excellent (although weighty) introduction to the subject
 as a whole. (Always look for the most recently published version of textbooks)

TV
 • Newsnight
 • Question Time
 • Andrew Marr Show

Some of the fictional accounts of political life on film or television are also very good. The West
Wing is excellent for those interested in US politics. Borgen is also very good for an insight into
Danish coalition politics!

 27

PSYCHOLOGY PRE-U
You have never done any psychology before, so the activities listed below are designed to
capture your interest, introduce you to some aspects of the syllabus and to allow you to begin to
apply some skills that you will need. Doing these activities is desirable, not essential.

Type of Course: 2 year linear Pre-U (public exams at the end of Upper Sixth)

Specification: CIE 9773 Pre-U Psychology
http://www.cie.org.uk/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-pre-u-psychology-9773/

Things you can do before the course:

 Watch a feature film
 The Experiment (2010) American drama film about Zimbardo’s 1971 Stanford prison
 experiment. Certificate 15. For information visit http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0997152/
 Experimenter (2015) In 1961, famed social psychologist Stanley Milgram conducted a
 series of radical behaviour experiments that tested ordinary humans willingness to obey
 authority. Certificate 12. For information visit http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3726704/
 Compliance (2012) A normal Friday service at a fast food restaurant becomes interrupted
 by a police officer who claims an employee stole from a customer, but something more
 sinister is going on. This is also based on Milgram’s obedience studies. Certificate 15.
 For information visit http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1971352/
 The Nightmare (2015) A film about sleep paralysis. Certificate 15. For information visit:
 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3317522/
 37 (2016) ‘37’ is a powerful drama and a fictional account of the night Kitty Genovese was
 murdered in 1964, Kew Gardens, Queens, where 37 neighbours witnessed the killing and
 did not intervene. For information visit: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4882174/

 Discover your Brain type
 Research suggests that people are systemisers or empathisers. Which type are you? Access
 the article at: http://docs.autismresearchcentre.com/papers/2003_BCetal_sysquoAS.pdf
 DO NOT read this article because it is too complex. All you need are the two questionnaires
 so scroll down to Appendix A (The Systemising Quotient) and Appendix B (the Empathising
 Quotient). Print Appendix A and B and then circle the answer that applies to you. Bring
 your answers along in September and we will analyse your scores then.

 Watch your favourite television programme! The bad news is that you must watch it with a
 parent (so choose something you both watch/like). After the programme has ended, each
 of you is to write about a half A4 page summarising what the programme was about. Then
 compare what you have written with what your parent has written. Discuss the similarities
 and differences, and decide what important features either of you has missed out.

 Conduct some research and go shopping! Find Google Scholar. Use it to locate this
 reference: Vrechopoulos, A. P., O’Keefe, R. M., Doukidis, G. I., & Siomkos, G. J. (2004).

 28

Virtual store layout: an experimental comparison in the context of grocery retail. Journal of
Retailing, 80(1), 13-22. Save it to your Google Scholar library. Open the pdf (on the right-
hand side). Find out about Grid and Freeform store layout. Also find out about the Maze
design (not in this article). Find one or two examples of shops/stores using these types of
layout. Take a photo (e.g. on your phone) and write notes on which you think is the best
and worst design.

 29

RELIGIOUS STUDIES
In the Lower Sixth you will study both Ethics and Religion and the Philosophy of Religion.

Type of Course: 2 year linear A Level (public exams at the end of Upper Sixth)

Specification: AQA 7062 Religious Studies A Level GCE
http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/rs/specifications/AQA-7062-SP-2016-V1-0.PDF

Things you can do before the course:

If you want to broaden your horizons on the fields of Ethics and Theology (Philosophy of
Religion), try reading any of these books, watching any of these films or programmes or visiting
any of these museums or exhibitions:

Ethics and Religion:
  Being Good Simon Blackburn
  What does it all mean? Thomas Nagel
  Animal Liberation Peter Singer
  Beginning Lives Rosalind Hursthouse

The Philosophy of Religion:
  The Puzzle of God Peter Vardy and Paul Grosch
  The Philosophy of Religion Peter Cole
  The Potted Guide to Theology Tony Gray and Steve English
  Thomas Aquinas – a very short introduction Fergus Kerr

Films/TV programmes to watch
  Seven Pounds (2008)
  I, Robot (2004)
  A short stay in Switzerland (BBC 2009)
  The Big Questions (BBC1 – Sunday 10.00am)
  Minority Report (2002)
  The Secret You (BBC 2010)
  My sister's keeper (2009)

Exhibitions/Museums
  Holocaust Exhibition - Imperial War Museum, London
  Religious Art section – National Gallery, London
  Divinity Faculty, University of Cambridge

 30

SPANISH
In the Lower Sixth, you will study aspects of the culture, history and arts of the Hispanic world.
Lessons will focus on discussion, aural comprehension, reading, writing and translation.

Type of Course: 2 year linear A Level (public exams at the end of Upper Sixth, with an internal AS
style exam at the end of Lower Sixth)

Specification: AQA 7692 Spanish A Level GCE
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/as-and-a-level/spanish-7692

Things you can do before the course:

We hope that as you have chosen to pursue your study of Spanish at A Level, you will be keen to
build on your skills over the summer! Here are some suggestions of what you can do to broaden
your linguistic and cultural horizons and keep your knowledge fresh:

Cinema:
You will study a film as part of the Lower Sixth course. The works of Pedro Almodóvar, Guillermo
del Toro and Luís Buñuel are perhaps a good starting point in an exploration of Hispanic cinema,
as they are particularly accessible and have achieved mainstream popularity around the world.

Literature:
In the Upper Sixth you will study a literary text. A popular contemporary author is Carlos Ruíz
Zafón, who is famous for young adult fiction (El príncipe de la niebla, El palacio de la medianoche,
Las luces de septiembre, and Marina), and his best-selling novel for adults, La sombra del viento.
Grant and Cutler at Foyles Bookshop in Charing Cross Road in London is a treasure trove of
foreign language books, where you will find a large stock of classic and modern Hispanic
literature, much of which is available in translation too.

Current affairs:
The content of the A Level course is closely linked to contemporary social issues and current
affairs, so it would be helpful for you to familiarise yourself with matters affecting the Hispanic
world, and how global news is communicated in Spanish. A user-friendly website for browsing
the day’s headlines is www.bbc.co.uk/mundo, which also includes the latest sports news.

Arts:
The Embassy of Spain in London (http://www.spainculturescience.co.uk/events) and the
Instituto Cervantes (http://londres.cervantes.es/en/culture_spanish/culture_spanish.htm)
regularly organise exhibitions, talks and performances.

 31

Appendix

 32

English and Drama Department
 Sixth Form Reading List

Chinua Achebe Arrow of God
 A Man of the People
Adavind Adiga The White Tiger
Monica Ali Brick Lane
Maya Angelou I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Nadeem Aslam Maps for Lost Lovers
Margaret Atwood The Handmaid’s Tale
 Cat’s Eye
 Alias Grace
 The Blind Assassin
Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice
 Emma
 Persuasion
 Sense and Sensibility
 Mansfield Park
 Northanger Abbey
J. G. Ballard The Atrocity Exhibition
 Crash
Iain Banks The Wasp Factory
 Espedair Street
Pat Barker Regeneration
 The Ghost Road
 Border Crossing
H. E. Bates The Larkin books
William Boyd Any Human Heart
E. Braithwaite To Sir With Love
Charlotte Bronte Jane Eyre
 Villette
Emily Bronte Wuthering Heights
John Bunyan The Pilgrim’s Progress
Anthony Burgess A Clockwork Orange
A.S. Byatt Possession
 Virgin in the Garden
Albert Camus The Outsider
Lewis Carroll Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Angela Carter Wise Children
 The Bloody Chamber
 Nights at the Circus
Agatha Christie The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
 Murder on the Nile
Arthur C. Clarke 2001 A Space Odyssey

J.M. Coetzee Disgrace
 Foe
Wilkie Collins The Woman in White
Joseph Conrad Heart of Darkness
 Nostromo
 The Secret Agent
Louis de Bernieres Captain Corelli’s Mandolin
Daniel Defoe Robinson Crusoe
 Moll Flanders
 Journal of Plague Year
Charles Dickens Our Mutual Friend
 Dombey and Son
 Bleak House
 David Copperfield
 Martin Chuzzlewit
 Nicholas Nickleby
Roddy Doyle The Commitments
 The Van
Margaret Drabble The Millstone
George Eliot The Mill on the Floss
 Middlemarch
 Daniel Deronda
 Adam Bede
Sebastian Faulks Birdsong
 Of Human Traces
Henry Fielding Joseph Andrews
 Tom Jones
 Shamela
F. Scott Fitzgerald Tender is the Night
E.M. Forster Howards End
 A Room with a View
 Where Angels Fear to Tread
 Maurice
 The Longest Journey
 A Passage to India
Elizabeth Gaskell North and South
 Wives and Daughters
 Cranford
 Mary Barton
 Ruth
 Life of Charlotte Bronte (non-fiction)
Sebastian Faulks Birdsong
 Charlotte Gray
John Fowles The French Lieutenant's Woman
 The Magus
 The Collector
William Golding Lord of the Flies

The Inheritors
 Pincher Martin
 Rites of Passage trilogy
Graham Greene The Third Man
 The Heart of the Matter
 The Quiet American
 The Power and the Glory
 The End of the Affair
Thomas Hardy Tess of the D'Urbervilles
 Far from the Madding Crowd
 Jude the Obscure
 The Return of the Native
 Short stories
L. P. Hartley The Go-Between
Nathaniel Hawthorne The Scarlet Letter
Ernest Hemingway A Farewell to Arms
 For Whom the Bell Tolls
Barry Hines Kes
Kazuo Ishiguro Remains of the Day
 Never Let Me Go
Henry James Portrait of a Lady
 The Turn of the Screw
Jerome K. Jerome Three Men in a Boat
James Joyce A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
 Ulysses
Thomas Kenneally Schindler’s Ark
 The Playmaker
Rudyard Kipling Tales from the Hills
D.H. Lawrence The Virgin and the Gypsy
 Sons and Lovers
 The Rainbow
 Women in Love
 Lady Chatterley’s Lover
Doris Lessing The Grass is Singing
 The Fifth Child
 The Good Terrorist
Andrea Levy Small Island
 Long Song
C.S. Lewis Out of the Silent Planet
 The Screwtape Letters
 A Grief Observed
Bernard MacLaverty Cal
Gabriel Garcia Marquez One Hundred Years of Solitude
Cormac McCarthy The Road
Ian McEwan Amsterdam
 First Love Last Rites
 The Cement Garden

The Comfort of Strangers
 A Child in Time
 Enduring Love
 Atonement
 Saturday
 On Chesil Beach
 Solar
Rohinton Mistry A Fine Balance
Toni Morrison Song of Solomon
 Beloved
Herman Melville Moby Dick
Margaret Mitchell Gone with the Wind
Iris Murdoch The Sea The Sea
 The Black Prince
 Under the Net
 Billy Budd
Vladimir Nabokov Lolita
 Short stories
V. S. Naipaul A Bend in the River
 A House for Mr Biswas
David Nicholls One Day
Michael Ondaatje The English Patient
George Orwell Animal Farm
 1984
 Down and Out in Paris and London
Sylvia Plath The Bell Jar
Edgar Allan Poe Fall of the House of Usher
 Pit and the Pendulum
 Tales of Mystery and Imagination
Lynne Reid Banks The L-shaped Room
Erich Maria Remarque All Quiet on the Western Front
Samuel Richardson Pamela
 Clarissa
Jean Rhys Voyage in the Dark
 Wide Sargasso Sea
Arundhati Roy The God of Small Things
Salman Rushdie Midnight’s Children
 Shame
 The Satanic Verses
Willy Russell Educating Rita
 Shirley Valentine
J. D. Salinger Catcher in the Rye
Bernhard Schlink The Reader
Sir Walter Scott The Heart of Midlothian
 Ivanhoe Paul
Scott Staying On
Mary Shelley Frankenstein

Zadie Smith White Teeth
Muriel Spark The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
 Loitering with Intent
John Steinbeck The Grapes of Wrath
 East of Eden
Laurence Sterne The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy
R. L. Stevenson Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Bram Stoker Dracula
William Styron Sophie’s Choice
Patrick Suskind Perfume
Graham Swift Waterland
 Last Orders
Jonathan Swift A Modest Proposal
Donna Tartt The Secret History
W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair
 The Luck of Barry Lyndon
 Pendennis
J.R.R. Tolkien The Silmarillion
Jean Toomer Cane
Anthony Trollope The Way We Live Now
 The Warden
 Can You Forgive Her? (Barsetshire and Palliser chronicles)
Mark Twain The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Jules Verne Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea
 Around the World in Eighty Days
 From the Earth to the Moon
Alice Walker The Color Purple
 Meridian
Evelyn Waugh Brideshead Revisited
 A Handful of Dust
 Vile Bodies
 Decline and Fall
 Sword of Honour trilogy
H.G. Wells Kipps
 The Time Machine
 The History of Mr Polly
 War of the Worlds
Oscar Wilde The Picture of Dorian Gray
 The Time Machine
 The War of the Worlds
 Island of Dr Moreau
Jeanette Winterson Oranges are not the only fruit
Virginia Woolf To the Lighthouse
 Mrs Dalloway
 Orlando
 Road to Wigan Pier