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Original poster

Bridging the gap to A-level - work for current Y11

86 replies

noblegiraffe · 28/03/2020 12:41

A thread for suggestions on how current Y11 can best keep their hand in and set themselves up for the start of Y12.

For Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, CGP have made their ‘Headstart’ kindle books FREE

www.amazon.co.uk/Head-Start-Level-Maths-2017-2018-ebook/dp/B06XD29GX2?tag=mumsnetforu03-21 (this is the maths one, the science are in ‘what other customers buy’ list).

Lots of work for maths here: www.dropbox.com/sh/ppm47xsrvr054p3/AACmvv67MzUCX2foyJIMJpm-a?dl=0

Some maths youtube bridging videos here: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUNK8a8DSxXv6d9HxUuliXPZbySSeTTK-

OP posts:
Greenpop21 · 03/04/2020 09:27

Can anyone recommend bridging work for Eng Lang, history and psychology?

IgnoranceIsStrength · 02/04/2020 21:11

The FE college I work for is producing packs specific to each subject to be sent out to schools so hopefully you may find as this progresses that schools recieve work from local colleges and sixth forms.

EwwSprouts · 02/04/2020 21:04

Thanks to all for the suggestions.

xsquared · 01/04/2020 22:53

For transition between GCSE to A Level Maths

Maths 4 everyone

Rearranging the formula

Complete the Square

Quadratics and Simultaneous Equations

Some links don't seem to be working at the moment on the website but the worksheets are ideal for repetition and building of confidence. It is important to be fluent with algebraic manipulation skills prior to studying A Level Maths.

Jo Morgan of Resourcaholic is excellent.

Rhapsodyinpurple · 01/04/2020 16:31

Thank you @noblegiraffe. These will be very useful.

FlyingPandas · 01/04/2020 16:11

Thank you @noblegiraffe - and for all the recommendations. Definitely going to encourage DS to keep the maths ticking over!

StrugglingThrough2 · 01/04/2020 13:56

@ladygracie my dd is also planning sports btec, she is moving for 6th form and current school have stopped all work.

It’s going to be a long 5.5 months Hmm

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 01/04/2020 13:55

@FlyingPandas

Can’t speak for the psychology side but anything that keeps the maths skills ticking over for the next few months would be highly recommended.

Anyone thinking of doing sciences or social sciences really doesn’t want to let their maths get rusty! (And they should consider taking Core Maths if it’s not already on their radar).

OP posts:
Original poster
noblegiraffe · 01/04/2020 13:52

@Newhouse76 I spotted this twitter thread of suggested reading for Politics. Plenty to be getting on with!

twitter.com/mini_lebowski/status/1244209250664144897?s=21

OP posts:
Original poster
noblegiraffe · 01/04/2020 13:49

Some great A-level maths resources here: twitter.com/kscmaths/status/1242086529830354946?s=21

The early pure ones are reinforcing GCSE work so perfect for Y11. The TES links contain workbooks to accompany the Dr Frost PowerPoints (so the same content with space for them to annotate, write answers before checking).

If you don’t have a TES account, you can access the powerpoints here: www.drfrostmaths.com/sow.php?year=A%20Level%202017&term=Pure%201

OP posts:
ZandathePanda · 31/03/2020 00:02

www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/whats-on

The National Theatre are putting on a free production on their YouTube channel every Thursday 7pm. Good for English Lit and Drama students!

petrova · 30/03/2020 21:57

My son studied OCR classical studies - he said reading the Iliad is very useful, if you have not already done so.
And obvs The Odyssey.
Also he found Religion and the Greeks useful by Robert Garland.

clary · 30/03/2020 16:51

No the films and books are for A level, no need for French novels at Gcse. Watching the films would always be helpful tho, can get them on Amazon

hoodiemum · 30/03/2020 16:45

Economics: a friend has recommended we listen to an FT webinar on the current crisis, Wednesday 1st April at 4pm. Might be useful for politics/geography too?

live.ft.com/Events/The-Global-Economic-Emergency

Newhouse76 · 30/03/2020 14:08

DD will be taking Geography, Politics and DT - any ideas of resources that might help her have a head start please?

user1468007267 · 30/03/2020 14:05

@clary Are those films and books for French GCSE pls?
Where could we find them pls?

Witchend · 29/03/2020 20:10

Thank you @noblegiraffe it was A-level. I've ordered them.

Piggywaspushed · 29/03/2020 12:15

I loved Oliver Sacks' books when I was 18. Just genuinely interesting to read!

madasamarchhare · 29/03/2020 11:31

Thank you for all this info! I will be downloading those head start books for dd as biology and chemistry are 2 of her choices for a level. Any good books to help get ahead for geography or psychology?

FlyingPandas · 29/03/2020 08:29

@noblegiraffe I’m just searching Amazon to see if there is a similar ‘Head Start’ book for A level psychology - but could only find the ‘essential maths skills for A level psychology’ book - would you also recommend this as a useful generic guide?

Thanks for this thread - very useful, not just to try to motivate the teens (oh @lljkk how I agree about the parallel universe!!) but for reading for the grown ups too! I read English at university and might give some of the recommended books a go to keep my own brain in gear...

clary · 29/03/2020 07:44

Oh yes Piggy, I did Katharina Blum too and Voltaire and Moliere for French, both still on the syllabus I see!

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 29/03/2020 00:48

Is there a text book you'd recommend for studying edexcel maths?

Witchend not sure whether you’re after a GCSE or A-level textbook?

I like this textbook for GCSE

The AQA Further Mathematics GCSE textbook is obviously aimed at Further Maths but has lots of challenging questions on GCSE content as there’s a crossover.

If you want an AS level textbook these are the business for pure

and applied

(Thanks to Margot for the shorter links...)

OP posts:
Heifer · 28/03/2020 21:57

Noble - that is fantastic. Just ordered DD New Head Start to A-level Biology & A-Level Biology: Essential Maths Skills
Many thanks :-)

wasgoingmadinthecountry · 28/03/2020 20:28

Dd (Y11) is having daily emails from her teachers/videos/Google classroom etc. She had her A level interview on the last week and has contact from the HoDs of subjects she'll take at A level. She is still working 5/6 hours a day. Her school if fab.

Piggywaspushed · 28/03/2020 20:12

And I am scarred by Baudelaire for French.