Teaching time is one of the most important factors in determining how well students perform at A Level, and it is a question we take seriously at Cardiff Sixth Form College. The amount of time a student spends in structured, high-quality teaching is directly related to how deeply they understand their subjects and how well they perform in assessments.
Here we want to explain how our timetable is structured, why we prioritise teaching time, and how it compares to the broader sector.
A Full and Intensive Timetable
A Level students at Cardiff Sixth Form College benefit from a genuinely intensive teaching programme. In each of their A Level subjects, students receive significantly more timetabled teaching time than is standard at many schools and colleges across the UK.
This reflects our philosophy that A Level success does not happen by accident. It requires sustained, expert teaching, regular opportunities to practise and be tested and consistent feedback from specialist teachers who know their subjects and their students well.
Optimal Classes That Maximise Learning
Teaching hours only deliver their full potential when class sizes are optimised for meaningful interaction. At Cardiff Sixth Form College, where all our students are bright, our class sizes are generally around 15 to a class however this depends on the subject. This means they are small enough to provide individual support, yet not too small, as our students require opportunities for discussion and debate. You can explore more about our academic approach on our website.
Here, our teachers, most of whom are extremely highly qualified, can identify quickly when a student is struggling with a concept and address it before it becomes a deeper problem. We also offer one to one support on a daily basis for students who need extra help or conversely extension to explore concepts in greater detail. Because we also structure our teaching differently as our students are all very able, our students have more opportunities to ask questions, debate ideas and receive individualised feedback. As well as top-down teaching, peer to peer discussion and mentoring is encouraged. That quality of interaction, combined with more hours of teaching makes a significant difference not only to results but also to students genuinely developing a passion for the subjects they are studying.
Structured Study and Independent Learning
Beyond timetabled lessons, students at Cardiff Sixth Form College benefit from a structured programme of guided independent study. We do not just point students towards a textbook and tell them to get on with it. We teach students how to study effectively, how to plan their revision, to research and how to approach exam questions with precision and confidence.
Study periods are supervised for our GCSE students and staff are always available for A Level students. They are designed to be purposeful. Whether students are working on coursework, consolidating recent teaching, or preparing for mock assessments, they are doing so in an environment that supports focused work.
Teacher Availability and Support
Our teachers are available to students outside of timetabled lessons as well. Whether through dedicated support sessions, one-to-one conversations, or our structured mentoring programme, students at Cardiff Sixth Form College always have access to expert guidance when they need it.
This culture of availability and support is one of the things that current students and alumni consistently mention when they describe what makes Cardiff different. It is not just the number of hours. It is the quality of the relationship between teacher and student.
If you would like to find out more about our academic programme, visit our A Levels pages or come and meet our teachers at an open day or visit.
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