Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

I'm in the middle of applying to CH for 6th form and I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask but to do Religion, Philosphy and Ethics will I need a full course RE GCSE, or will a short-course qualification be adequete?
Also what will I need to do Archeology? History? Or [hopefully] nothing?

Thanks!!

Hopeful_2009_Dep wrote:I'm in the middle of applying to CH for 6th form and I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask but to do Religion, Philosphy and Ethics will I need a full course RE GCSE, or will a short-course qualification be adequete?
Also what will I need to do Archeology? History? Or [hopefully] nothing?

Thanks!!

I took a look at the CH website and accessed the prospectus but there were no clues.

Two of my daughters studied or are studying this subject (Religion, Philosophy and Ethics) at "A" level so I was interested to read the CH approach.

A number of CH Staff read the forum so hopefully somebody will be able to help you. If you need the information urgently it might be advisable to contact the School and ask the direct question.

Thanks you!

That was quick!

Hehe,
I accidentally dropped my first application form in the fire I'm hoping the next one will be here on time, I might just download one.
I really hope I get in!

Unless the system has changed in the last few years, you won't need anything (like a History GCSE) to do History at A-Level or AS-Level. But maybe it's different for new Dep entrants. Certainly for current pupils, it was not necessary, many people did it...at the end of the LE, you had to choose one between Geography and History and you weren't allowed to do both, but when you got to AS-Level and subsequently A-Level you were allowed to do both, or just do the one that you didn't do for GCSE, if you know what I mean.

e.g. you chose Geography at GCSE, but you were perfectly allowed to study History for AS and A-Level, even though you didn't have a History GCSE; and vice versa.

Thank you!

icant remember there being any certain rules when i went in as a new dep in 2000. I did economics as which of course i had no GCSE for. So i think the same will apply for subjects like archeology where there is no gcse.
but things may have changed

If you want to study Philosophy at A level (we no longer offer RS A level), then you will not need to have studied GCSE full or short course RS. You will need to be fairly bright as the course is academically demanding, covering amongst other things political philosophy, the philosophy of art, religious philosophy, epistemology and ethics. You will find that most CH students who study a subject to A level offered up to GCSE will have gained an A or higher in that subject. If you study Economics, Archaelogy etc that do not have a GCSE equivalent, then you will just need to get the grades. The expectations are quite high - A's in GCSE's where you studied that subject before and at least 6 B's elsewhere. Most CH students meet those exam criteria comfortably.

Good luck as competition for places is tough - make sure that you take time to write essays that reflect your potential and be yourself at interview.

(I speak as a teacher and Sixth Form tutor by the way!)

thats changed since i joined in 2000 as a new dep, i just had to get at least 6 B's including the subjects i wanted to do at a level.

Is this change of the new head?

Thanks everyone!
I'm just off to fill out the forms and get them sent off!

Also, if I am accepted [some hope eh?] what processes will I need to go through? I've read somewhere about an induction week, and will I be able to put down a house I would like to be in? [I have friends in Barnes B - Maisie Bryant in case any one knows her, and I've met Jess Howath]

Amy, I think that change is a fairly recent thing - my son has just done his GCSEs and their year were told they had to get an A or A* in their chosen AS/A2 level subjects - thankfully he did

I think this is probably fairly general in highltacademic schools as so many students now get A or A*.

Hello, and welcome! (I'm a bit of a Bird-of-Prey for applicant threads, but don't mind me, I don't bite)

If you have a GCSE of some kind it will undoubtedly help you with studying Philosophy at AS/A2, but I doubt they'd stop you without one. Archaeology and history would complement it well, but are by no means necessary either to understand it, as all the classes are taught independently - but if you can cross-reference then it will certainly help.

I just noticed that OWGC has said the exact same thing, and thanks to this post I now know who he is (having wondered for some time!) - he's certainly more qualified to say it than I am (assuming my guess is right).

It's good that you already know people here - they'll certainly be helpful in giving you a CH crash course

All the best,

Josh (current Grecian)

Thanks, I'm sending my application form off tomorrow. II'm so scared that it will be totally oout of my hands then, no little changes, nothing.

Also is the open day also interview day?