A-Levels

The Art department is a welcoming, creative hub within the Academic building.

The study of Art is a journey of exploration and our aim is to undertake projects that stretch the appreciation and understanding of the aesthetic, technical and conceptual aspects.

Courses

In the Sixth Form we offer Art A-level and Photography A-level, following the EDEXCEL specification.

Both courses enable students to experience a whole range of new processes and materials and to appreciate various art forms in a contemporary as well as historical context. Students explore and expand their visual language to a high level which is ideal preparation for further and higher education in general, or applying for an Art Foundation course.

Students on the Photography course produce all work photographically, exploring digital and darkroom techniques in a dedicated studio. Those opting for the Fine Art course may choose to work through painting and drawing, printmaking, sculpture or alternative media such as film, photography, installation and mixed media assemblage.

Facilities

Our Art Studio is a purpose-built facility and is always open for students to pop in and pursue their individual projects. We have specialist facilities including a Mac computer suite with an A2 photo printer, photographic studio, darkroom, printing press for etching and collagraph, photo-based screen printing, textiles and ceramics.

Co-curricular

There are many co-curricular opportunities for students to explore their creativity beyond lessons, including weekly Life Drawing classes for Sixth Formers and evening studio sessions for catch up.

“Coming from a university environment, with a focus on independent study, it is fantastic to see that students are given the opportunity to learn from each other. The Art Department encourages open topical discussions to stimulate ideas and incite self-evaluation, which are key skills for future study and working in various industries after Hurst. The wide variety of media and facilities available allows students to develop their skills past those taught in lessons, with teachers committed to ensuring all students fully engage with the subject.”

Suzie Jones, Artist in Residence

In the Sixth Form, A-level Biology enables students to acquire a systematic body of biological knowledge and an appreciation of its significance. It is a subject that can provide great enjoyment and respect for all living things. This course develops many of the topics students may already have studied and introduces some of the exciting areas of Biology in the contemporary world. For example, students may study the influence that genes have on our development, new biotechnologies, environmental issues and aspects of human health. It is hoped the course will also help students to gain some understanding of the dynamic and exciting nature of biology today, and an awareness of the ethical, technological and economic aspects of the subject.

We follow the OCR A specification and assessment is through three papers taken at the end of the two years of study.

Events/trips

A group of Sixth Form biologists are entered into the Biology Olympiad competitions and all Sixth Form biologists also take part in a residential field course in Somerset to explore ecology and conservation in further detail. The Biology department ran a conservation trip to Madagascar last year with Operation Wallacea, which will included a week of terrestrial conservation and another week of marine conservation. Along with other Sciences, students have the opportunity to gain a CREST award in a biological area.

Facilities

The Biology department is housed within one building alongside Chemistry and Physics. Teaching takes place within well-equipped laboratories and the department has its own prep room and specialist technician.

Head of Sixth Form Biology

Natasha Coxon
Natasha joined Hurst in 2014 after teaching for six years in London. She studied Zoology at Durham University where she also gained her PGCE. Her subject interests include conservation and population genetics.

The Business department at Hurst is an engaging environment where students can learn about the latest developments in the world of commerce. Real world Business features heavily in the news, and opportunities for finding out how these reports of trading activity, the changing performance of companies and issues regarding products can affect us are frequent and diverse. Any future career will demand an understanding of how organisations operate and succeed, making study of this area universally useful.

Course

Students come with a variety of interests, ranging from a desire to start their own business, gaining an understanding of how companies compete for customers and having strong knowledge of business operations to climb the ladder in an established company.

In the Sixth Form, A-level Business students learn how companies carry out their various functions including marketing, finance, people and operations management. They look at how external factors affect businesses (such as competition, consumer demand, the activities of pressure groups and ethical issues) and how businesses react to them. The course also draws together business functions and the external environment to study the objectives and strategies that businesses adopt, and allows students to relate to their experiences with Young Enterprise and other extra-curricular activities.

Facilities

Business is taught in the new extension to the Academic Quad. These classrooms are specifically designed for small Sixth Form classes.

Co-curricular

There are two academic clinics every week, for students to refresh their knowledge and ask extending questions that go beyond the scope of their current course. A trip is run in the UVI to a real-world business, and periodically guests speakers are invited to talk about their business. Hurst also has a very successful Young Enterprise programme.

Head of Business (and Economics)

Liam Agate
Liam joined Hurst straight from studying Geography at university in 2012 as one of the first Teach Hurst graduates. He completed his PGCE in Business in 2013, assumed the role of Head of Business in 2017, and took on the post of Head of Economics in 2018. He is also the Director of Academic Development in charge of Gifted and Talented students across the College and co-ordinates the Sixth Form HSU Programme and the school-wide “Top House” competition – Hurst’s very own version of University Challenge.In Business his interests lie in the power of brands and branding to add value to businesses, as well as various aspects of consumer behaviour and psychology.

Chemistry is integral to our understanding of the natural world around us. It is a physical science, and is the study of the properties of and interactions between matter and energy. It uses both mathematical and physical concepts to generate ideas important for understanding biological and geographical processes. It is also the creative science, with chemists being at the forefront of the design and synthesis of new and exotic materials that change our lives. Ironically, Chemistry permeates so much of our existence that its importance is often overlooked.

Course

In the Sixth Form, Chemistry is taught with an emphasis on the practical experience and development of practical skills and applications. At A-level, we follow the OCR Chemistry specification and assessment is through three papers taken at the end of two years of study.

Facilities

The Chemistry department is housed within the newly extended science block and students have access to six well-equipped laboratories.

Co-curricular

In the Sixth Form students are encouraged to read and discover the applications of Chemistry beyond the specification, making use of publications such as Chemistry Review. Each year we encourage students to participate in national competitions such as the Lower Sixth Cambridge Chemistry Challenge and the Chemistry Olympiad. Along with other Sciences, students have the opportunity to gain a CREST award. In addition there are weekly extension sessions for those wanting to pursue Chemistry at university level.

Beyond Hurst

Chemistry is a popular subject in the Sixth Form with many students going on to study Chemistry or related subjects such as Biochemistry or Medicine at highly selective universities. It is known as a facilitating subject as it helps in the development of logical thought, numerical and communication skills; many employers consider it to be excellent training for almost any occupation or profession.

Head of Sixth Form Chemistry

Sue Crickmore
Sue joined Hurst in 2010. She studied Natural Sciences at Newnham College Cambridge and remained there to complete her PGCE. Alongside her teaching she has also been an A-level Chemistry examiner for 25 years. As well as overseeing the A-level Chemistry course, Sue is responsible for supervising and supporting Hurst students who have an interest in applying for medicine, dentistry or veterinary science. Outside the classroom Sue is a very keen orienteer, competing in events all around the UK and overseas, and as a planner at two British Championships.

The classical world is vibrant, colourful, challenging and very much alive as a result of new research and discoveries made on a regular basis. Ancient ideas about philosophy, politics, religion, history, maths, science, anatomy and art form the bedrock of so much about Western understanding of the world around us; by tapping into that world we learn as much about ourselves as we do about mankind in general.

We understand that the love of a subject has as much to do with what students do outside the classroom as it does within the classroom, and this wider exploration of the ancient world beyond the syllabus can only strengthen a students’ world view and any university and post-Sixth Form applications. The HSU (Highly Selective Universities) programme of talks and research for those interested in Classics at university, visits from a range of speakers plus trips to the British Museum and Cambridge Literature Conference all enhance pupils’ learning beyond the curriculum.

Courses

At A-level we offer courses in Classical Civilisation, Latin and Classical Greek (dependent upon pupil numbers), following the OCR specifications.

Latin (2018-2021 specification)

Language: Pupils enhance their knowledge through covering all of the grammar on the specification up until Christmas. The rest of the year is spent honing exam technique through translating unseen passages of Latin and learning how to translate English into Latin (prose composition).

Literature: Virgil’s Aeneid Book 11, a selection of poems from Ovid’s Amores Book 3, Cicero’s Philippics 2 and Tacitus’ Histories Book 1.

Classical Civilisation

World of the Hero: we read selected books from Homer’s Odyssey and Virgil’s Aeneid in translation and cover the cultural and historical background of the texts.

Greek Theatre: we read Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, Euripides’ Bacchae and Aristophanes’ Frogs in translation. These texts are studied in combination with archaeology and vase paintings to learn about theatre in Greece.

Greek Religion: as part of the Belief and Ideas side of the course, pupils study a number of literary sources alongside architecture, sculpture and vase paintings to gain a holistic understanding of religion in the ancient world. There is a philosophical component in which pupils’ must examine the belief systems of the ancient Greeks.

There is a biennial trip to Greece where pupils benefit hugely by seeing the artefacts and buildings which they study at A-Level.

Head of Classics

Katherine Barker
Katherine joined Hurst in 2014 having spent time teaching in York, Cambridge and Oxford. She studied Literae Humaniores at Oxford and gained her PGCE from Cambridge. She currently oversees the Classics provision for pupils from Year 3 to Upper Sixth, and spends time reading about and following new developments and research in teaching and Classics. Her interests are wide ranging, but she is most excited by the literature and stories of the Greeks and Romans and any new discovery at Vindolanda. Katherine also helps run the Duke of Edinburgh programme.

The Computer Science department at Hurst is a vibrant place where students can engage in a practical way with the latest developments in computer technology.

Course

In the Sixth Form, A-level Computer Science is an exciting and dynamic subject and students are encouraged to develop an understanding of the principles of problem solving, the range of applications and the effects of their use so that they can apply this understanding to develop computer based solutions. Students will also develop an understanding of systems analysis and design and methods of implementation, testing and documentation. It is the aim of the department to ensure that all students acquire the practical skills that will make them employable in the real world, increasing their choice of opportunities when they leave the College.

We follow the OCR specifications, and although only 20% of the final marks are awarded for coursework, Computer Science is a highly practical course where we teach beyond the limits of the syllabus.

Facilities

There is a specialist Sixth Form computer suite with 14 computers, and a wide range of software available to enable students to fulfil all of their computing projects.

Co-curricular

Students are encouraged to produce projects beyond the taught curriculum. Teachers are available to assist students to further develop their skills and expertise in a range of computing projects. In the past these have included game creation, website design and graphics.

Achievements

We have had students gain places to read Computer Science at some top universities in recent years, including Cambridge, St Andrew’s and Loughborough. Some of our students have worked on smartphone apps and had them published to the Apple App Store. Please take a look:

itunes.apple.com | Nameflake

itunes.apple.com | Gran Stead’s Ginger Shop

Head of Computer Science

Steve Crook
Prior to joining Hurst in 2008, Steve worked in the finance industry as a Systems Analyst and Developer. He holds a first class degree in Computing from the University of East Anglia, and a PGCE from the University of Brighton. Steve’s specialism is teaching programming to students from Year 7 through to the Upper Sixth. He is particularly interested in App design, and has supported a number of students in publishing apps on the Apple App Store. In his spare time Steve enjoys running and to date has completed 11 marathons.

Dance is fully supported throughout the College and participation is encouraged for both boys and girls. Our philosophy is that whether you consider yourself to be a natural dancer or not, the real importance lies in simply being open to the experience, gaining an appreciation of the subject and utilising the variety of transferable skills that dance can provide. Creative subjects are being increasingly seen as playing an integral role within a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum.

Dance provides an increased awareness of physical and expressive skills, an appreciation of the cultural and social context, employment of lateral thinking in response to creative tasks, the development of interpersonal skills and an acute awareness and appreciation of the human body.

Course

Studying A-level Dance provides students with the opportunity to acquire knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the subject, delivered through practical and theoretical studies. Students are encouraged to discover their own original movement vocabulary as well as increase their own performance ability to a high standard and to think creatively and analytically, which fittingly primes them for higher education in general or more specific performing arts courses. We follow the AQA specification, with all exams taking place at the end of the course.

“I am hoping to go on to study Medicine at university and taking A-level Dance has benefitted me greatly as it has helped me to develop an acute awareness of the body. I love the anatomical theory aspect of the course and how I can relate it to my own body through dancing. Also, taking dance helps to differentiate me from other medical applicants as it shows I have interests beyond the Sciences.”

A-level Dance student

Head of Dance

Nicola Dominy
Nicola gained a BA (Hons) Degree in Dance from the University of Surrey before continuing her training and work experience at two of Britain’s most prestigious contemporary dance centres, The Place and Trinity Laban Conservatoire for Music and Dance in London. She later became a dance artist for Pitstop Dance Company, Prang Dance Company and The Long and Short Of It Dance Company. After gaining her PGCE teaching qualification, Nicola worked for three years in a maintained school and has now been at Hurst for eight years delivering dance at KS3, GCSE, and A-level as well as running an extensive extra-curricular programme and is an examiner for AQA.

Drama is a thriving art form at Hurst and there are numerous opportunities for students to engage in the theatrical life of the school. Whether students want to take part in one of more than 20 annual extra-curricular productions, or simply study Drama as an academic subject, we believe that one thing is certain: they will leave us with greater self-confidence, and an abundance of theatrical skills.

At Hurst, students will improve their practical performance and technical skills, develop an appreciation of live theatre, and learn how to communicate meaning through various styles and genres. They will study a range of theatrical texts, from Ancient Greek comedies to modern-day classics, fostering a love of drama in all its guises.

Course

A-level Drama & Theatre demands practical, creative, academic and communication skills in almost equal measure. Students will extend their ability to create drama and theatre, either in a performing or production role. They will also be required to write about drama and to develop their powers of analysis to become an informed critic. The course involves taking part in drama productions, as well as studying plays, playwrights and practitioners. They may be keen on acting, writing or on the visual and technical side of theatre and wish to develop their skills in some or all of these areas. Equally they will be interested in going to the theatre to see plays performed by different theatre companies. We follow the EDEXCEL specification which is split into three components, studied across the two year programme.

Facilities

The department has access to some amazing facilities, including a brand new, state-of-the-art theatre; a drama studio; two newly-built teaching/rehearsal classrooms; drama rooms for one-to-one LAMDA lessons; costume and props stores and access to sound, lighting and staging technology (overseen by two resident technicians).

Co-curricular

Extra-curricular opportunities are extensive. Each year we stage more than 20 productions, from large-scale musicals with a professional orchestra, to small-scale scripted and devised plays. All productions offer students the opportunity to act, provide technical support or direct.

Beyond Hurst

The department runs practical workshops for those wishing to study Drama in higher education. In the past few years, several students have gone on to read Drama at top universities, with others gaining places at prestigious Drama schools both in England and the USA.

Head of Academic Drama

Liam Harris
Before pursuing a career in education, Liam set up Bridges Arts Group in 2010. As its Artistic Director, Liam ran arts projects predominantly in schools, pupil referral units and detention centres both nationally and internationally. He completed this work alongside attending the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, graduating in 2013, before completing his PGCE at the Institute of Education, London in 2014. Liam is particularly interested in Drama-in-Education methodologies and child-centred pedagogies, thinking about Drama not just as a subject but as a fundamental means of knowing and understanding the world around us. His specialist subject interests include ‘In Yer Face’ and physical theatre forms. Liam is also the current Chairman of the National Association for the Teaching of Drama, a position he has held since 2014.

Design and Technology (DT) is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject which prepares students to live and work in the designed and made world.

At Hurst, students are encouraged to problem-solve and stretch their creative thinking. Subject-specific knowledge and understanding is taught, but the curriculum crosses over into with other areas such as Maths, Science, Business Studies, IT/Computing and PSHCE. DT is underpinned by the design process and students have to solve a wide selection of problems, not only for themselves, but also give consideration to the wants and needs of other people. It also provides excellent opportunities for teamwork and for students to apply value judgments of an aesthetic, economic, moral, social, and technical nature to their own designs and to existing products.

Many students begin to foster their enthusiasm for Product Design, Architecture or Engineering through DT and choose it to complement other subjects, others choose it purely out of interest, as it is a subject that teaches many life skills.

Course

A-level Design and Technology allows students to further their studies through Product Design, where they design and model a new pavilion stadium for the college, learn traditional silversmithing skills in the production of a bespoke piece of silver jewellery in the Lower Sixth, before embarking on their major project for a real client in the Upper Sixth. We follow the AQA specification, where students gain a real understanding of what it means to be a designer, alongside the knowledge and skills sought by higher education and employers, especially those in the creative industries. The course is closely linked to the real world of product/system manufacture, allowing students to develop an awareness of the potential to change and shape lives.

Resources

The new Design Centre, completed in 2016, is a well-resourced department with four well-equipped workshops, including a large metal workshop with a casting crucible, foundry, MIG and TIG welding; a large wood workshop; two multi-material workshops; three large laser cutters; two 3D printers and a plotter cutter printer.

Beyond Hurst

Design and Technology is a subject that teaches practical skills and theoretical knowledge alongside the confidence to succeed in a number of careers, especially those in the creative industries.  Students leaving the college with an A-level in DT often go on to read Industrial, Product or Sports Design; Engineering; Graphic and Visual Design or Architecture at universities such as Brunel, Loughborough, Exeter and Southampton.

“Design and Technology is about making things that work well. Creating these things is hugely exciting: it is an inventive fun activity.”

Sir James Dyson, Industrial Designer/Inventor and founder of Dyson

Head of Design and Technology

Kaeran MacDonald
Kaeran has been teaching since 2005, and joined Hurst as Head of Department in 2015. He has a BA honours degree in Industrial Design and Technology from Brunel University London and a PGCE from the University of Brighton. Kaeran found his love for DT aged thirteen, whilst at school, and has been making things ever since!

Economics is popular at Hurst and it presents students with an exciting opportunity to branch out into unknown academic territory. Students learn how to think logically and use theories to understand how economies operate. They learn the basic economic problem of how we divide up our scarce resources and how decisions resulting from this affect us. They also learn Macroeconomics (the study of economic growth, inflation, unemployment, international trade and government economic policy) and Microeconomics (the study of companies and different market structures).

Courses

Economics is offered in the Sixth Form as an A-level and we follow the EDEXCEL specification.

Facilities

The department is located in the brand new Humanities classrooms. These are specifically designed for small Sixth Form classes.

Co-curricular

The Economics department runs a weekly discussion session for students hoping to apply for Economics related courses at university. Students benefit from an online subscription to the Financial Times, as well as the option of subscribing to the Economist magazine at a heavily discounted rate. Students also use this time to plan their entries to external essay competitions, for example the Royal Economics Society or Institute of Economic Affairs annual competitions.

A trip to the City of London is offered in the UVI, and students are also able to attend a trip to Washington DC in conjunction with the Politics department during either the LVI or UVI year.

Beyond Hurst

The number of students continuing Economics at university has increased significantly in recent years. The recognition of the value of a degree in this subject has led to many more students choosing various Economics-related degrees. A recent study by LSE has found that Economics graduates to be the highest earning post-graduation.

Career options with an Economics degree are vast and in light of the recent ‘Brexit’, we predict a rise in interest and numbers as students want to make sense of ‘Brexit’ implications.

“I was very impressed with the quality of Hurst College students when I met them for mock interviews prior to university application. They had a good understanding of Economics and showed a clear appetite to learn. They also appreciated the need to think analytically about the subjects they are likely to study at university, a vital skill to have. I am confident they would do well in any top quality university.”

Mike Barrow, Senior Economics lecturer, Sussex University

Head of Economics (and Business)

Liam Agate
Liam joined Hurst in 2012, straight from studying Geography at university, as one of the first Teach Hurst graduates. He completed his PGCE in Business in 2013, assumed the role of Head of Business in 2017, and took on the post of Head of Economics in 2018. He is also the Director of Academic Development in charge of Gifted and Talented students across the College and co-ordinates the Sixth Form HSU Programme and the school-wide “Top House” competition- Hurst’s very own version of University Challenge. In Economics his interests lie in studying the limitations of current economic models, and exploring the possible alternatives that are currently being put-forward by economists from outside the mainstream, as well as the causes and consequences of economic inequality within and between countries.

The English department prides itself on engaging students with dynamic and intellectually challenging voyages into literature that nurture a lifelong love of English in all its forms.

Our journeys through the texts encourage students to engage fully with the language, form, structure and deeper meanings of a wide range of literature. Lively debate and questioning is seen as a vital part of the analytical process. To engage in meaningful exploration, we ensure that our students have a firm grounding in literacy in order to gain the tools that will allow them to make progress and grow, becoming confident in their handling of all texts.

Course

In the Sixth Form, the students hone their analytical skills and embark on a journey covering a variety of literary periods and movements. The OCR English Literature A-level course allows for individuality and for the development of an incredibly informed, personal response to the texts studied, whilst encouraging the wider reading and research that will be so useful as they continue their education beyond college. The range of texts is broad and varied and lessons are exciting and challenging. Those who possess an enquiring mind and a passion for our linguistic heritage will relish the diversity of English Literature and thrive on its creative possibilities. The intellectually curious will learn to express opinion with confidence, freedom and skill, to enjoy the effects of discerning use of language and to explore a complex range of ideas from across the ages.

Head of English

Tom Smith

Tom joined Hurst in 2015, having previously taught at Wycombe Abbey School, the Lycée International Paris and St John’s Leatherhead, where he was Head of English. He studied English at Pembroke College, Cambridge. Tom’s literary interests range from Chaucer to Modernism and he has a particular appetite for contemporary poetry. A keen runner, he is involved with the college’s Triathlon team.

We teach Geography in a relevant, engaging and challenging way that stimulates an interest in, understanding of, and respect for the world around us.

The Geography department’s central philosophy is to instil a deep appreciation and understanding of the differences and difficulties experienced in the wide range of cultures and societies that exist.

Course

Geography is a popular and key subject at A-Level, in our modern world of globalisation and increasing pressures upon cultures and resources. As a bridge between the sciences and humanities, the physical and human aspects of the subject allow students to acquire elements of both scientific and socio-economic methodologies. Our schemes of work are designed to enable students to learn a range of geographical skills and develop informed views about environmental and development issues on a local to global scale. We facilitate pupil’s understanding of the necessity to view human and physical geography as interdependent on each other and that they can no longer be studied as stand alone ‘physical’ or ‘human’ geography’. We follow the AQA specification which has two exams and an NEA which is worth 20% of the A-Level.

Resources

The Geography department is well resourced with a variety of journals, magazines, books, online revision resources and fieldwork equipment.

Trips

We believe that fieldwork is a vital part of geographical education and so we offer a varied and exciting programme of local, regional and overseas trips to destinations such as Brighton, Somerset, The South Downs, The North Downs, Switzerland and Iceland. We also regularly attend geography lectures at the Brighton and Hove Geographical Association and host external speakers.

Beyond Hurst

Many of our students have gone on to study Geography or related subjects at university.

Head of Geograpy and Sociology

Beccy Bownas 

Beccy joined Hurst in 2015, after four years teaching in an HMC school in the North East and a year prior to this as a lacrosse and netball coach at Caterham School. She gained a BSc in Geography from the University of East Anglia and a PGCE from the University of Buckingham. Beccy’s subject specialisms and interests include demographics, international development and natural hazards. Beccy, who set up the Sociology department in 2017 is also Head of GCSE Geography, works in the Eagle boys boarding house and coaches netball.

History is the study of human experience; it explains the world we live in. History teaches students to think in a combination of ways not found in any other subject. The use of sources as evidence requires critical skills of detective work, sifting bias and prejudice. Students have to understand real people whose motives and ideologies are alien to our own, and make balanced judgements about them.

At A-level our students study the English Civil War, the fall of Russian Tsarism and the rise of the Soviet Union, and Britain’s fractious relationship with Ireland during the 19th and early 20th Century. We follow the AQA specification.

Beyond Hurst

History develops skills of research and information handling; how to select relevant information to construct logical, analytical arguments and to express them concisely and clearly. These are skills which are valued in a variety of professions. History combines well with all other arts subjects, and increasing numbers of students combine it with mathematics and/or a science, because it demands similar skills of logic and analysis. It leads to History, Politics or Modern History courses at university, and is regarded as excellent preparation for careers in management, law, politics and the media. History is a popular university choice amongst our students, and most go on to study at highly selective institutions. We run weekly sessions to help prepare students for these applications.

“If we consider the shortness of human life, and our limited knowledge, even of what happens in our own time… A man acquainted with history may, in some respect, be said to have lived from the beginning of the world, and to have been making additions to his stock of knowledge in every century.”

David Hume

Head of History

Joanna Clarke
Joanna joined Hurst in 2008. She has an MA from Edinburgh in History and gained her PGCE and DipEd from Equalitas as part of the GTP programme at Hurst. She has a special educational interest in helping teenagers to write argumentatively, and has also taught English, Drama and Citizenship. Jo has a particular interest in Middle Eastern history and the history of religious fundamentalism. She loves singing the blues and drawing portraits in her spare time.

We have 16 teachers in the Maths department, who are all passionate about the subject and supportive towards all the pupils.

Mathematics is a popular subject at Hurst, with around half of our students taking Mathematics further than GCSE level.

At A-level, we offer Mathematics and Further Maths, and support our most able students to study STEP or similar for university entry. In 2019, two students scored the top grade in STEP, with one going on to study Mathematics at Cambridge. Mathematics is a challenging but fascinating and extremely rewarding course. It will help students develop many skills including organising and presenting a structured and logical argument, thinking in an abstract way, and building confidence in mastering challenging ideas.

Co-curricular

Students are encouraged to take part in the Senior Maths Challenges.

Beyond Hurst

Many of our students go on to study Maths or related subjects at university, including Economics and Engineering.

Head of Mathematics

Leah Mackinder
Leah joined Hurst in 2010, after teaching for five years in the maintained sector. She studied Mathematics, followed by her PGCE, at Nottingham University. She enjoys pure mathematics particularly, but also studied Mechanics at university. She promotes problem solving at Hurst, and encourages participation in Maths Challenges.

The ability to communicate effectively in a language other than your own is of increasing importance in today’s world. The Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) department helps students to build on, deepen and broaden the knowledge of languages they already have. It also sets out to engender an enthusiasm for language that will encourage students to achieve the highest levels of academic success as well as giving them important skills which they can use outside school and throughout their lives.

Emphasis is on practical communication and we provide a sound base of grammar, an insight into culture and civilisation, an awareness of the structure of the language and, most importantly of all, enjoyment and intellectual stimulation. Teaching is delivered in a lively and communicative way to ensure that pupils can understand spoken and written language and express themselves confidently. Grammar is taught alongside active communication skills so that pupils have the tools to use language creatively and accurately.

Much of the teaching is conducted in the target language and we are fortunate to have native speaking language assistants who help us with preparation for the oral examinations.

Courses

In the Sixth Form, we offer French and Spanish A-levels, and follow the AQA specification. Both courses provide an exciting opportunity to study a subject that has relevance stretching far beyond the classroom. Students will gain a high level of fluency, allowing them to communicate in formal and informal situations – from studying literature and film to an in-depth understanding of the country’s politics, values and history.

Resources

In addition to traditional text books, considerable use is made of audio and video resources from the internet along with authentic materials from other sources. Our language-based classrooms are all equipped with interactive whiteboards. Students are also encouraged to make use of new technologies in the production of their work.

The department aims to provide annual visits, homestays and exchanges in order to promote and consolidate language learning along with an insight into culture and history.

Head of French

Grace Butler
Grace joined Hurst in 2018, having been Head of Languages at two Brighton secondary schools. She studied French and German at the University of Birmingham and gained her PGCE at the University of Exeter. Grace develops and promotes the use of Kagan structures in language lessons and has a special interest in Franco-African and Franco-Caribbean literature and culture. She is a Sixth Form tutor and also runs the Amnesty International Club.

Head of Spanish

Hannah Prescott
Hannah graduated from King’s College London with a first-class honours degree in Spanish and Portuguese in 2012. She has since travelled extensively in Latin Ameria and joined Hurst in 2016 after completing an MSt in Portuguese Renaissance Literature at the University of Oxford. She is passionate about the Spanish-speaking world and, during the school holidays, is usually to be found putting her language skills to good use in South or Central America.

Music is an integral part of school life at Hurst and it is viewed as a subject for all. Academic music is taught by a well-qualified team of academic and professional musicians.

A wide ranging activity, Music provides intellectual, emotional and artistic satisfaction as well as developing the ability to communicate through performance. The skills required are helpful in many areas of academia and the merits of studying music are well documented.

Courses

In the Sixth Form, we offer A-level Music and A-level Music Technology. We also provide appropriate tuition by specialist teachers in the Music School. The Music department has a long record of excellent results at A-level. Class sizes are healthy, but small enough to allow for some flexibility when selecting exam material.

A-level Music is a natural extension to the GCSE course, it also requires students to compose, perform and study set works in preparation for a listening exam, and includes a substantial coursework element. We follow the OCR specification.

Music Technology at Hurst introduces those keen on popular music or technology to the world of music production, recording, live sound, songwriting and much more. The course is based around the A-Level where each pupil will have the opportunity to write and record multiple tracks over their 2 years in the department. During the course, students can help with the multiple shows at the college, learning how Live Sound works and how to mix bands in a live scenario. The recording studio has everything necessary to create professional standard recordings: Multiple Macs, Allen and Heath Mixing Desk, Neumann Microphones, multiple recording rooms and more. Music Technology students have extended access to the recording studio to carry out work in their own time and undertake their own projects. At the end of the final year, there are 2 exams to be sat, alongside 2 pieces of coursework to be submitted.

Facilities

The College has impressive facilities for music, which include dedicated teaching rooms, a Mac suite with composing software, practice rooms for individual lessons, a music hall for concerts, a recording studio with seven workstations running the latest professional software and a soundproof drum room.

Beyond Hurst

The Music Department has a pedigree of preparing students for some of the best universities, colleges and conservatoires in the country. In recent years, a number of students have also been successfully prepared for Choral Scholarships at both Oxford and Cambridge universities. This success has also been replicated in the Music Technology Department where students have progressed to study on the prestigious Tonmeister course at the University of Surrey.

Head of Academic Music

Darren Jameson
After completing his studies at The Trinity College of Music and York University, Darren started his career in teaching, joining the Hurst Music Department in 2010. In addition to his school duties, he also works as a freelance musician, accompanist, church organist and composer. He is busy in and around the Sussex area where he works with both amateur and professional musicians, enjoying opportunities to perform on stage as much as writing and directing musicals.

Physical Education is integrated within the curriculum throughout the school. Our aim is to ensure that students learn in a safe environment where they are encouraged to take risks, whether that be by working collaboratively in gymnastics or individually in the swimming pool. The central theme is to promote a lifelong involvement in physical activity.

Courses

As our students move into the Sixth Form they can continue to follow their passion for sport by opting for A-level Physical Education or a BTEC in Sport Studies.

A-level Physical Education is a diverse course which looks in depth at the physiological, psychological, technological and sociological aspects that influence sport. This ranges from the physiology factors that enable Usain Bolt to run 100m in 9.58s, to the influence of the Olympic movement on participation at grass roots level. Students will be assessed in three exam papers and on their own practical ability for their chosen sport. We follow the OCR specification.

Sports Studies allows our students to look at the slightly broader aspects of sport in society, this ranges from sports nutrition to sports massage and developing training programmes for both the elite and novice participant. Sport Studies is a coursework-based option where students develop excellent research and presentation skills to show their understanding and gain credit towards their final grade.

Coaches and staff

The department benefits from highly enthusiastic and experienced members of staff with differing backgrounds and experience of high level of sport and theoretical knowledge from Sports Performance, Exercise Physiology, Sports Nutrition and Physical Education courses at degree level. This experience proves most beneficial when guiding our students onto higher education.

Beyond Hurst

We are extremely proud of all of our students who have graduated through all levels of physical education offered, many of whom go onto higher education courses in both sports and other fields at excellent universities.

Head of PE and Sports Science

Steve May
An old boy of the school, Steve joined Hurst full time in 2011, having previously worked as a sports coach in a number of local primary and prep schools – including our own. He studied Sport and Exercise Sciences at the University of Chichester and gained his PGCE at the University of Sussex. Steve is keen to promote the physical side of his subject making sure that every student is appropriately challenged and encouraged to develop a lifelong passion for physical activity. His specialist subject interests include exercise physiology and the use of modern technology in sport. Steve is Assistant Housemaster in boys boarding house Star, Master-in-charge of Athletics and the 1st XV rugby coach.

Physics is the most fundamental of the experimental sciences, as it provides us with the answers to some of the most complex problems in the universe, but it also gives us the tools to explain everyday phenomena. Physicists combine a wide variety of skills, they are literate, numerate, can solve complex problems and are highly sought after by prospective employers.

In the Sixth Form we offer Physics at A-level and follow the OCR specification.

Facilities

The Physics department is housed within the recently extended and refurbished Science block and consists of four spacious, very well-equipped laboratories.

Practical work is at the heart of our approach to teaching Physics and we have an enviable stock of the latest equipment available, including class sets of touch screen data-logging equipment with a variety of sensors.

Co-curricular

The Physics department offers an array of co-curricular opportunities, including participation in various competitions for the British Physics Olympiad.

Students in the Sixth Form are encouraged to enter the Engineering Education Scheme, where they are tasked with solving a real-life engineering problem given to them by a sponsor company. Teams entered from Hurst have had a great deal of success in recent years, with regular appearances at the National Finals in this competition. Students also have the opportunity to enter teams for Gold CREST awards, as well as events such as the Electric Egg Race at the University of Brighton.

In addition, there are weekly extension sessions for those wanting to pursue Physics at university level and weekly Physics clinics for those needing extra support.

Head of Physics

Naomi Smith
Naomi joined Hurst in 2018 having spent the previous few years as STEM consultant teacher at Brighton and Hove High School. She gained a MPhys First-class honours degree from the University of Leeds and spent her early career working in both research and software development for the gas industry. Her favourite physics topic is particle physics and she has led a number of trips to visit the Large Hadron Collider. Naomi is passionate about increasing the number of students choosing to be scientists and engineers and endeavours to link careers information to all subject content as well as offering engineering enrichment activities.

Politics is constantly changing. It is perhaps the most ‘up-to-date’ subject, being refreshed on a daily basis with developments in the UK, Europe and America. As a result it is challenging, but rewards an interest in current affairs on a local, national and global scale.

Politics is taught at Sixth Form only as part of the A-level course. It provides an exciting opportunity to those looking for a new challenge after their GCSEs. This course will help candidates develop a critical awareness of the nature of politics and the relationships between the different players. We follow the EDEXCEL specification.

Co-curricular

The Politics Society, or PolSoc, is open to all members of the Senior School and meets weekly to discuss the latest political issues affecting us all. The US election, the EU referendum and the Syrian Civil War have all been topics of heated debate.

We have also run school-wide mock elections. In 2015 the Conservative Party managed to win the seat for the Hurstpierpoint College Constituency and in 2016 the college resoundingly voted to stay in the EU.

Beyond Hurst

The study of politics develops a wide range of skills, from the interpretation of political information, to the ability to critically discuss political ideas. Politics is seen by universities as a rigorous, academic subject, and lends itself to a variety of courses in higher education. At university, Politics can be studied on its own or as part of a joint honours degree with other subjects (for example, Politics, Philosophy and Economics).

Head of Politics

Brian Schofield
Brian joined Hurst in 2012, following a career in the media. He studied Modern History at Oxford, journalism at Cardiff and gained his PGCE and DipEd from Sussex. Brian develops and promotes the Harkness collaborative teaching method at Hurst. His specialist subject interests include ecologism and the electoral politics of the USA. Brian also helps manage Oculus, the Hurst student magazine.

Psychology is always a popular choice and is offered only at A-level as a two year course.  The first year is a good foundation, offering a diverse range of material, and includes topics such as memory, attachment and research methods as well as considering approaches such as behavioural, cognitive and social learning theory. In the second year, the key topics studied are cognition and development, aggression and schizophrenia.

Facilities

Psychology is taught in the new Science Lecture Theatre which works well for A-level students as it creates a similar environment to university lectures.

Links to university

Our Psychology department has made strong links with the University of Sussex which has a vibrant and developing Psychology faculty. In the past five years, links have included research into attitudes to alcohol in teenagers, in which an education programme was developed and Hurst was one of the schools that took part in the development process. Visits to the university also take place when postgraduates present their research studies and findings.

Past students who are reading Psychology return to speak to our A-level groups. This gives our students an opportunity to engage with current undergraduates and discover what their university courses involve and understand what university life is like.

Beyond Hurst

About a third of our students who study A-level Psychology go on to read the same subject at university. Other than pure Psychology, Applied Psychology (Clinical) MSc and Psychology with Professional Placements are becoming increasingly popular.

Careers directly related to a degree in Psychology include: Clinical Psychologist, Counselling Psychologist, Educational Psychologist, Forensic Psychologist, Further Education Teacher, Health Psychologist, Occupational Psychologist, Primary Care Graduate Mental Health Worker, Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner and Sport and Exercise Psychologist.

Head of Psychology

Simon Poole
Simon joined Hurst in 2002 having previously taught at Reigate Grammar School, Bishops in Cape Town and then Twyford in Winchester. He read Biology at Exeter, is a former Housemaster of Star and Head of Biology and started Psychology at Hurst which currently boasts eight consecutive years of positive value-added A-level results. He is also responsible for the Teach Hurst PGCE training through Sussex University. Outside the classroom, as a Yacht Master and Professional Skipper, Simon offers sailing and training weekends to students.

Philosophy and Theology are subjects which encourage curiosity about the world and our place in it.  They are subjects which encourage the development of critical thinking alongside personal reflection.

In the Philosophy and Theology department we try to expose pupils to some of the fundamental ideas which underpin our understanding of the world and our culture, as well as encouraging the analysis and evaluation of ideas and points of view which are more alien to us.

The department takes a non-confessional approach – all views and approaches are accepted – but the expectation is that opinions and views must be justified and reasoned. No person can be a neutral participant in debates about the existence of God, what is the right thing to do or the relationship between science and religion. Reflection and awareness of our own assumptions and the fundamental beliefs we hold is essential to academic development in this subject.

Course

In the Sixth Form students can examine Philosophy of Religion and Religious Ethics with an emphasis on the Christian approach to these debates through A-level Religious Studies. This is a course for those with a curious, enquiring mind. It covers many big questions which have challenged humankind over thousands of years: Is there a God? What’s the right thing to do? How should we relate to people with different beliefs to ours? What should we do about poverty? Do we have free-will? What is goodness? How can we make sense of suffering? Why is there something rather than nothing? We follow the EDUQAS specification.

Co-curricular

The department provides many books to encourage more advanced reading and independent learning and this is supported by the staff who meet with students in small groups to encourage and foster exploration of key religious and philosophical debates beyond the syllabus.

Beyond Hurst

The department has supported many candidates’ successful applications to highly selective universities in recent years.

Head of Religion, Ethics & Philosophy

Gareth Richards
Gareth joined Hurst in 2017. He studied Theology at Exeter and undertook a PGCE in Religious Studies at Cambridge. Gareth runs Phil-Thy Soc (the school’s Philosophy & Theology society) and is involved with debating across the school. He teaches throughout the Senior School and delivers the Christian Theology section of the A-level course along with modules on Free-will & Determinism and Teological Ethics. His specialist subject interests include Religious Iconography, Applied Ethics and the history of theological thought.

Sociology is taught in the Sixth Form only and is an academic study of social behaviour. The first year of the A-Level course introduces pupils to the key concepts, and theories associated with our society and how and why society works in the way it does.

These concepts are supported with research methods and real life sociological studies and delves deeper into theories in an attempt to explain and reason these concepts, whilst gauging student interest and understanding.

We encourage students to keep up-to-date with current affairs and sociological issues affecting the world around them, and widen their reading on the topics we cover. The course is taught in a dynamic and interactive way to encourage debate, critique and sharing and justifying opinions.

Course

The topics that are covered in the first year include Sociological Theories, Research Methods, Crime and Deviance, Education, and in the second year, the pupils study Globalisation and Families and Households.

The department is well resourced and also hosts external speakers e.g. an ex-gang member to support the key concepts in the Crime and Deviance topic as well as addressing other societal wide sociological issues.

Beyond Hurst

Sociology gives students an excellent grounding and solid understanding of the society and culture we live in. It hones in on a number of skills including but not limited to; analysis, interpretation, critical thinking, debate and discussion, all skills which serve pupils well into university and beyond.

At university, Sociology can be studied as a stand-alone subject, or can be increasingly combined with a number of other courses in Social Sciences e.g. Philosophy, Politics, Criminology, Social Anthropology etc.

Head of Sociology

Beccy Bownas
Beccy joined Hurst in 2015, after four years teaching in an HMC school in the North East and a year prior to this as a lacrosse and netball coach at Caterham School. She gained a BSc in Geography from the University of East Anglia and a PGCE from the University of Buckingham. Beccy’s subject specialisms and interests include demographics, international development and natural hazards. Beccy, who set up the Sociology department in 2017 is also Head of GCSE Geography, works in the Eagle boys boarding house and coaches netball.