Modern and Vocational Studies

The world is a complex, dynamic and exciting place.  The Modern and Vocational Studies Department at Ampleforth delivers Sixth Form courses and extra-curricular opportunities which help students to understand and examine that world, so that they may find their own positive place within in.

The Department has a long and successful tradition of delivering A Level courses in Business (AQA) and Economics. Many of our students take A Levels in these two subjects and also study related or complementary disciplines, which enriches their experience of each course and leads to an engaged, enthused and interesting student body.  The Department aims to build on this, helping students to develop a passion for these subjects through the use of a variety of teaching and learning strategies, and offering a wide range of supra-curricular activities.  Each year, a high proportion of students go on to read related disciplines at degree level at highly regarded institutions in the UK and overseas.  Ampleforth students studying Business, Economics or Management at university are also able to apply for the prestigious JCB Business Scholarship, and the Department makes good use of this link.

In addition to our established programme of A Level courses, the Department now also offers Level 3 BTEC National qualifications in three subject areas: Countryside Management, Enterprise & Entrepreneurship, and Hospitality; subjects which embody Ampleforth’s Benedictine core values.  This exciting development has seen us add subject specialists to our teaching staff, and to build on the opportunities offered by our stunning location, extensive school site and excellent network of local connections.

The Modern and Vocational Studies Department has its own suite of classrooms, which includes the St Laurence Teaching Kitchen, arranged around a central foyer in the Bamford Building.