Admission Process

Step One: Familiarise yourself with our curriculum offer and learning pathways. It is very important that you make an informed decision about your prospective choices.

Step Two: Fill in the application form, which can be found from the attached documents. All applications should be completed and returned before the December deadline.

Step Three: To help you choose the right courses and pathway, all applicants will be invited to a subject guidance meeting with a member of the Sixth Form team. These interviews take place across February and March. This is an excellent opportunity for you to ask any questions and for us to explain the opportunities and responsibilities that come with studying in the Sixth Form.

Step Four: Successful students will be sent a conditional offer by the end of March. We will keep in touch with you during the summer term to invite you to our transition days in July and give a start date for your courses in September.

Step Five: On GCSE results day, if your grades have met your conditional offer requirements for entry, you just need to confirm your place. If your results didn’t work out the way you hoped please don’t worry. We will invite you in to meet with a member of the Sixth Form and Careers team to give you further help and guidance. We may be able to change your offer to another suitable course or pathway to suit your grades.

Please note that we do not give priority to applicants from particular schools. Admissions are based on meeting the entrance requirements and references received from current education establishments.

Key Dates

  • KS5 Masterclasses (Year 11 only) - Monday 21st October
  • Sixth form open evening - Thursday 24th October
  • Sixth Form Tours - Week commencing Monday 4th November
  • Sixth Form application closing date - Monday 9th December
  • Sixth Form Guidance Interviews - Thursday 27th February and Thursday 6th March
  • Sixth Form conditional offer letters sent home - Thusday 20th March
  • Sixth Form Induction days - Thursday 3rd July and Friday 4th July

Curriculum Offer

These are the subjects we are offering for this academic year. There are no option blocks this year, so students have a free choice on the three or four subject choice, if there are any subject combinations that we are unable to make work for a student then we will be in contact.

  • Biology
  • Business
  • Chemistry
  • Computing
  • Economics
  • English Literature
  • English Language
  • Further Maths
  • French
  • Geography
  • German
  • Government & Politics
  • History
  • Law
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology
  • Religious Studies
  • Sociology

Vocational Courses:

  • Performing Arts (Extended Certificate - equivalent to 1 A-Level)
  • Sports (Extended Certificate - equivalent to 1 A-level; also Extended Diploma - equivalent to 3 A-Levels)
  • Business (Extended Diploma - equivalent to 3 A-Levels)
  • Level 3 Applied Diploma in Criminology

Extra Courses (worth half an A-level):

  • EPQ (Extended Project Qualification)
  • Core Maths

BTEC Business Extended Diploma and BTEC Sport Extended Diploma need to be taken in all Blocks.

Core Maths and EPQ are additional qualifications worth half an A level. Core Maths is highly recommended for students who are studying Maths, Economics, Business, Biology and Psychology. These qualifications can only be taken when opting to study 3 A levels.

Pathways

There are three main routes that you can take within entry into the Sixth Form. These are dependent on your GCSE grades and whether you meet the necessary entrance requirements.

Which Route should you take?

Route A - Academic Students choosing this purely academic route have typically achieved at least 8 GCSE grades at 9-5 or Level 2 BTEC pass equivalent, including GCSE English and Mathematics at Grade 5+. Students will choose 3 or 4 A-Levels which they will study for a two year period. This may include two or more facilitating subjects*. In addition to achieving an average of 40+ points from their best 8 GCSEs, (50+ points for a 4 A-Level programme) students also need the requisite subject specific entry grades at GCSE for each subject A-Level chosen. Students on this route also likely to follow the Extended Project Qualification enrichment course or take AS Core Maths to complement their programme of study.

Route V - Vocational Students taking this vocational route have typically achieved at least 7 grades 9-5 at GCSE or Level 2 BTEC pass equivalent, including GCSE English and Mathematics at Grade 5+. They will choose one Extended Diploma Qualification (worth the equivalent to three A-Levels) or choose three BTEC subjects at Extended Certificate level (each worth the equivalent to one A-Level Qualification). Students will study these courses for a two year period and will need the requisite subject specific entry grades for each BTEC course selected. Students on this route also likely to follow the Extended Project Qualification enrichment course to complement their programme of study.

Route M - Mixed Students taking this mixed route have typically achieved at least 7 grades 9-5 at GCSE or Level 2 BTEC pass equivalent, including GCSE English and Mathematics at Grade 5+. 'They will choose a mixture of three qualifications; one BTEC subject at Extended Certificate level (worth the equivalent to one A-Level Qualification) and two A-Levels. Students will study these courses for a two year period and will need the requisite subject specific entry grades for each BTEC and A-Level course selected. Students on this route also likely to follow the Extended Project Qualification enrichment course or take AS Core Maths to complement their programme of study.

*Facilitating Subjects Facilitating subjects are those identified by the top group of universities (The Russell Group) which are most likely to facilitate entry onto degree courses. They help you keep your options open when choosing a degree, and many of the top universities will ask you to have at least one A-Level in a facilitating subject when you apply.

The facilitating subjects are:

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Geography
  • English Literature
  • French
  • Further Maths
  • German
  • History
  • Maths
  • Physics

Things to consider when selecting your A Levels: The Uni Guide