Electives
Electives are a unique aspect of the academic offer at Harris Rainham Sixth Form. In Year 12, students elect to study something beyond their chosen A-Levels for one period per week.
We have a broad range of electives which students can immerse themselves in. They aim to provide knowledge and develop understanding beyond A-Levels, while preparing students for university and future related careers. This looks different across all electives, with some sessions focusing on the exploration of new ideas, while others develop the skills to debate, argue and communicate their own opinions and some supporting students with university style questions which challenge logical thinking.
The electives courses provide students with an amazing array of knowledge and ideas both to inform their UCAS applications and to enliven any university interviews that they might be fortunate enough to be invited to. They are also interesting on their own terms and are often the intellectual and cultural highlights of many students’ weeks.
The following list is a selection of the remarkable courses that Harris Rainham Sixth Form students have been able to sign up to just this previous academic year:
Drama and theatrical elective |
The aim of the theatrical elective is to provide students with the opportunity to enhance their personal skills such as confidence, communication, creativity, and co-operation whilst working creatively on a range of performance techniques and activities in a creative and safe space.
Additionally, the program prepares students, and delivering presentations- equipping them with the essential skills needed to stand out from the crowd in any competitive industry. |
Sustainability elective |
The socio-economic and geographic context of our school is one in which many students have not had the privilege of exploring their local area, and even fewer have visited other areas of interest within the wider Greater London area. The aim of our sustainability elective is to address this fact and give our students the opportunity to learn about the remarkable features of their local area, develop skills in critical analysis, gain cultural capital and learn how they can participate in and lead positive change in their local area. This is particularly important as Rainham and surrounding areas are in the midst of both physical and demographic change.
Wedded to this is critical engagement with questions of social, economic, and environmental sustainability. We aim to take students from simply listing the challenges in the local area, to identifying local opportunities, proposing well-reasoned solutions, and prototyping them in miniature.
We also aim to give students the tools they need to critically engage with the sustainability issues that are certain to affect their futures, build self-confidence, agency and widen their schemas/frames of reference, allowing them to learn, understand and become inspired by best practice case studies from other places. |
Chemistry elective |
The aim of the chemistry elective is to provide students with the opportunity to enhance their laboratory skills in preparation for the School Analyst Competition, held during the final term of the academic year. Each term, we focus on a distinct area of analytical chemistry, combining theoretical learning with practical application.
Additionally, the program prepares students for university by incorporating sessions on lab report writing, data analysis using software like Excel, and delivering presentations- equipping them with the essential skills needed to excel as science undergraduates. |
Sports coaching elective |
The aim of the Sports Coaching Elective is to give students the opportunity to develop their leadership characteristics to enhance their coaching skills. Students will explore coaching models and philosophies to create their own coaching identities. Students will plan, delivery and reflect on sessions they implement at HAR but also the chance to discovery wider coaching roles, courses and careers in sport. Throughout this elective, students will meet and interview coaches/managers but also been given ample experiences whilst visiting university and witnessing live coaching sessions. |
Criminology elective |
Criminology is an engaging and dynamic elective designed to introduce students to the study of crime, criminal behaviour, and the societal response to criminal acts. This elective aims to develop critical thinking, analytical, and investigative skills by exploring the psychological, sociological, and legal aspects of criminology. Through interactive lessons, case studies, and practical activities, students will gain insight into the complexities of criminal behaviour and the strategies used to address crime.
Students will have a clear understanding of how crime impacts individuals, communities, and broader societal systems. Furthermore, they will be able to identify and apply key criminological theories, such as biological, psychological, and sociological explanations of crime.
Students will gain analytical and investigative skills as they will have learned how to critically evaluate evidence from hypothetical and real-world crime scenarios. As well as be able to create comprehensive criminal profiles by synthesizing evidence, victimology, behavioural patterns, and criminological theories.
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Economics and finance elective |
This course is designed to prepare students for university courses in economics, business, banking, and finance. Students will develop their critical Thinking and Analytical Skills by debating complex topics like government policy, globalisation, or game theory encourages students to evaluate evidence, form reasoned arguments, and challenge assumptions.
In addition, students will have opportunities to develop their research and data interpretation skills and learn to interpret economic indicators (e.g., inflation rates, GDP) and apply them to arguments, a crucial skill for university-level coursework.
Topics like globalisation or environmental sustainability challenge students to connect economic models with current events, fostering the ability to apply abstract theories to practical situations—a key skill for success in higher education. |
EPQ |
The aim of the EPQ is to provide students with the opportunity for students to develop and demonstrate their project management skills and provides opportunities for extended writing, both of which are highly valued for progression to higher education and employment. The Extended Project will develop and extend from one or more of the student’s study areas and/or from an area of personal interest or activity outside their main programme of study. It will be based on a topic chosen by the student(s) and agreed as appropriate by the centre. |