St Catherine's Diploma

At St Catherine’s we believe that each girl should leave our school with academic qualifications of real value but also leave knowing she’s benefitted from a truly broad education which has given her the confidence and skills to succeed in whatever ventures she chooses to pursue.

In the Sixth Form we feel that A levels continue to provide the best form of academic structure and assessment for girls of above average ability and are the best preparation for reading academic degrees at high ranking universities.

To complement each student’s A levels we encourage her to qualify for the award of the St Catherine’s Diploma. The diploma has been created to help give objectivity to a ‘broad’ education, encouraging each student to get involved in a variety of different activities and then be rewarded if all are successfully completed.
To be awarded the St Catherine’s Diploma, an Upper Sixth student should have completed all of the following by the time she completes her studies:

Academic Results

  • 9 GCSEs (A*-C)
  • 4 AS levels (A-C)

Cultural Activity.  At least two of:

  • GCSE Art, Drama or Music or AS Music, Drama, Art, Textiles or Photography
  • Grade 5 or above in one music instrument or singing
  • Taken a role in a school play or helped in its production
  • Write a minimum of 3 pieces of creative writing, worthy of special merit
  • Member of choir or orchestra
  • Been to a minimum of 5 from the following: exhibitions, plays, concerts, operas
  • Attended a minimum of 8 Siena Society lectures

Physical Activity. At least one of:

  • Member of school sports team(s) for 5 terms
  • Duke of Edinburgh Award- minimum of Silver
  • The St Catherine’s Triathlon (500m swim, 20km cycle ride, 5km run)
  • School expedition trip abroad

Communication.

  • A* in GCSE English Language or a pass in the Lower Sixth Literacy course

And one of:

  • Participation in a Debating team/society
  • Have written a minimum of 4 articles for St Catherine’s News or Sixth Form blog
  • Take part in a whole school assembly
  • Made presentations at formal school occcasions

Service to others: at least two of:

  • Have been Head of school, house, society, team or school activity
  • Raised a minimum of £200 for charity
  • Community service for a minimum of a term
  • Conservation- one term’s service
  • DoE (Silver or Gold)
  • CSLA
  • Working for a charitable organization
  • Any other form of service recognized by the Head of Sixth Form

Developing a skill. At least five of:

  • A minimum of 9 months of weekly classes to learn a new language, instrument or sport
  • First Aid course- Red Cross- Save a Life Certificate
  • Life-saving course
  • Survival cookery course
  • Dress-making
  • Touch-typing course
  • Business Enterprise
  • Completion of the EPQ
  • GCSE in ICT or successful completion of ECDL

Work experience

A minimum of two placements lasting 5 days each

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