A discussion of the effects of the introduction of the new Advanced Subsidiary (“AS”) qualification on students at (A SIXTH FORM COLLEGE)

When I started teaching at (“(A SIXTH FORM COLLEGE)”) in September, I not only had to learn a new profession, I was also having to design and implement the new AS physics curriculum at the college. For the past year I have been on a steep learning curve and have been very much left to my own devices with regard to both the content and methods used in my lessons. Although the head of physics has been very supportive whenever I have approached her with questions, the interpretation of the new syllabus and approach to the new qualification has been very much my own work. I therefore believe that it is extremely important that I not only evaluate my contribution, but also consider the wider issues surrounding the introduction of the new curriculum. This will help ensure that decisions made by the college are in the best interests of our students.

The introduction of changes to the A level curriculum, now known as Curriculum 2000, was made in April 1998 by Baroness Blackstone, th...