THE HONOURS

PROGRAMME

Coleg Catholig Dewi SantCatholic Sixth Form College

www.stdavidscollege.ac.uk

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stablished in 1987, St David’s Catholic College is the only Catholic sixth form college in Wales. St David’s is the only institution in Cardiff which is fully dedicated to the

education and progression of 16 to 19 year olds.

In a bid to cater to the individual needs of our learners, we have established a programme designed exclusively for students who show particular academic aptitude. These will be students who show an interest that goes beyond the normal limits of the classroom, and a desire to explore the sorts of questions that would both expand their world view and improve their ability to engage in academic conversation

The Honours Programme has seen many of its students go on to read for degrees at Britain’s leading universities, in every subject from Art History to Zoology. Our record over the years of helping students achieve their full potential has been recognised and praised by universities, inspectors, parents, and students alike.

This prospectus outlines the course content, details what students can expect to gain from the programme, states the entry requirements, and provides details on how to apply. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

INTRODUCTION

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s a member of the Honours Programme, a student begins by undertaking the study of

four AS courses following advice from staff who are experienced in guiding students towards the goals they have set for themselves.

In addition to these academic subjects, students will complete their key skills, along with a course in systematic theology at University level in the first year. There will also be a number of opportunities for extension work, including University lectures, extracurricular clubs, and volunteering: to improve the experiences of Honours Programme students.

The Honours Theatre, which is separate from the main College building, fosters further academic development by providing a lecture room which replicates a University learning environment, as well as a resource library, where students can spend time in quiet study or discussing ideas they would like to share with their peers.

Finally, staff expertise in university applications to places like Oxford and Cambridge, along with very competitive programmes such as medicine, dentistry and veterinary studies, will mean that Honours students will receive the best UCAS advice. Part of this advice includes different trips with students to Oxford and Cambridge, and encouragement to extend the students themselves with the universities and courses that interest them most.

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

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“Coming from an area which is known for its high levels of socioeconomic deprivation, I never expected that I would be able to apply to Oxford. Thanks to the support from the staff at St David’s, especially on the Honours Programme, I had the confidence to do so and successfully gain a place.”

Bethan Broad, Oxford student*

*not pictured

ur belief is that a student’s understanding of any subject is extended when they are introduced to the roots of that subject. This is at the heart of our

desire to provide the broadest possible curriculum proposal. As a result, students are encouraged to choose four AS subjects, which are then supported and deepened by looking at the source, etymology, and fundamental ideas alongside their conventional studies.

SUBJECT CHOICES

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ar from being exclusive and pious, the study of theology really is the study of everything.

Classically referred to as the ‘Queen of the Sciences’, the subject of theology was once understood to be the ultimate pursuit, and arriving at theological truth the very point of study.

Students on the Honours Programme are often enthralled when they first encounter the breadth of possibilities inherent in theology: the critical study of texts; an understanding of history from antiquity to the present; philosophy and how it has shaped our understanding of the world around us; language, and how it informs the content of ideas.

For this reason, we have embraced the opportunity to provide students with the chance to encounter the Western intellectual tradition through the medium of theology, something they will do at a first-year university level. This means that students of the Honours Programme will have experience of lectures, of note-taking, of research, and of assessment that more closely resembles the sort of academic challenge they will encounter once they leave College.

Ultimately, though, they will gain knowledge that will facilitate their experience of everything, from chemistry to literature, from art to mathematics.

THE THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION

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A student of the Honours Programme can expect to be challenged at the highest level academically, socially, and philosophically.

A student of the Honours Programme can expect to receive well-informed advice on applying to the world’s top universities.

A student of the Honours Programme can expect an enhanced university application experience in order to meet the demands of Russell Group universities.

All students of St David’s College can expect to be cared for, advised, taught, and treated with the respect they deserve as a student within a Catholic college, and most importantly, as a child of God.

EXPECTATIONS

1234 “It has enabled me to

think on a deeper level, to question myself and my thoughts in a way that I have never experienced before.”

r Grindulis believes in a holistic approach to knowledge and equipping

students with the academic rigour and independence of thought necessary to effectively educate themselves in this age of information saturation, ensuring that enquiring minds can adeptly satisfy themselves. With an honours degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, he incorporates society, our incentive structures and the underlying principles which guide both, into the Honours Programme, with focus on how we can positively contribute within a rapidly changing global community alongside exploration of the arts, developments in all human and physical sciences and geopolitical shifts.

Encouraging proactivity in addressing local and international concerns, Mr Grindulis offers his experience from

outside the academic world, having worked with the Spanish Commission for Refugee Aid in Seville, where principles and ideas must be enacted to complement their theoretical engagement. He can offer students a unique perspective of one of the greatest mass migrations in history, relaying accounts of the perils faced by those fleeing conflict zones and oppression as well as insight into tangible challenges facing refugees arriving in Europe.

Having been internationally educated at Red Cross Nordic United World College his language capacities and love of literature from around the globe ensures that intercultural understanding and peace is effectively encouraged in the face of emerging insular, quasi-nationalist approaches to geopolitics.

MYOUR COURSE

r Constant has a research background in philosophy and a wealth of experience

teaching numerous curriculum subjects, both at sixth form and degree level. With a focus on logic and critical thinking, he promotes the kind of higher-order thinking skills in the classroom that are valued by employers and competitive universities. Drawing on his philosophical expertise and on educational research and theory, Dr Constant is keen to foster a ‘community of enquiry’ in lessons, where students feel comfortable to try out ideas in context of respectful, other-regarding debate, on a shared journey of academic discovery.

In the Honours Programme, this is pursued through various methods and topics, principally by taking an interdisciplinary approach, where

different subject interests are encouraged to interact. The value of science and mathematics is explored in context of humanities and the importance of ‘humanistic’ and ethical questions is explored in context of the sciences.

To this effect, Dr Constant helps students develop a range of skills, from public speaking and presentations, to group work, essay writing, argument analysis and lateral thinking. These are achieved by tackling a range of topics not usually covered in curriculum subjects, such as the difference between ‘real’ and ‘thought’ experiments, decision-making and ‘transformative choices’, forms of inference and strategies for critical thinking and argument analysis.

DDIRECTORS

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“The additional support I received with my personal statement was really helpful. I don’t think I would have got into Oxford without that.”

Jimmy Webster,Oxford student*

f you wish to be considered for the Honours Programme, please state this on your College application

form in the Spring. Candidates are required to submit a separate application form for the Honours Programme. This is available on our website, at interview or can be sent to you upon request. Potential members are then short-listed in August based on their GCSE grades and application. Short-listed members are then interviewed in September, where the final sixty students are selected.

ADMISSIONS INTERVIEWS

Through our initial interview days, usually held in the spring term, we are able to speak to every applicant on an individual level. This allows us to assess every student’s specific needs, discuss desired career paths, and ensure the course package is tailored to the student. During this time, our admissions officers look for students who they believe have the most academic ability and potential; who will most benefit from, and are best suited to, the rigours of the Honours Programme; and have the proven ability to take on academic challenge with real interest and engagement.

HOW TO APPLY

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St David’s Catholic Sixth Form CollegeTy Gwyn Road

PenylanCardiff CF23 5QD

Tel: 02920 498 555Email: honours@stdavidscollege.ac.uk

Web: www.stdavidscollege.ac.uk

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