Curriculum, Column Choices & Entry Requirements
Sixth Form Curriculum
Students will study three A level subjects from the beginning of Year 12, with some students additionally taking an EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) and a few, Further Mathematics, as a fourth A level. Alternatively, students will select one BTEC Extended Diploma course, which is the equivalent of three A levels.
Information about all our courses and entry requirements can be found at the bottom of this page.
A level Courses
For access to the majority of courses on offer students are required to attain at least 3 GCSE grades at 5 to 9 alongside a minimum of a 5 in English and a 5 in Mathematics. In some subjects students are required to attain 7 or above at GCSE in that subject to commence the course at A level (please check the schedule of grades required for entry by subject). All students select 3 subjects (A level or Mandarin Pre-U) to study from the start of Year 12. The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is available to take as an additional qualification and Further Mathematics is available as a 4th subject (see subject specific requirements).
BTEC Courses—BTEC Extended Diplomas
We are delighted to offer BTEC Extended Diploma courses this year as an alternative to A level study. An extended Diploma is the equivalent of 3 A levels and is accepted as a pathway to a vast number of courses at Universities across the UK. Students require at least 3 GCSE grades at 4 to 9 alongside a minimum of a 4 in English and a 4 in Mathematics to gain entry onto these courses. Students would select to study this course by choosing it for all 3 options.
We are offering the following BTEC courses from September 2021: BTEC Extended Diploma in Creative Digital Media Production, Advanced BTEC Diploma in Sport.
Cambridge Pre-U Courses
Cambridge Pre-U is a rigorous programme of study designed to develop in-depth subject knowledge, research skills and the ability to work independently. The Pre-U has a grade scale that represents the students across the full ability range. The most able students can gain above A* at A level. Students are able to study the following Pre-U course:
Mandarin (Principle Pre-U – 2 year course)
For this course students will need to meet the standard entry requirements for A level study (with a grade 5 in Mandarin for that particular course). They would study the Pre-U Mandarin course alongside 2 A level courses, to provide an effective combination of qualifications with which our students can commence undergraduate study.
Subject Columns for 2021 Entry
Subject columns will be confirmed for commencement of applications on 01st December 2021
A Level Courses
Column A |
Column B |
Column C |
Biology |
Chemistry |
Biology |
Chemistry |
Classics |
Computer Science |
Drama & Theatre Studies |
English Literature |
Further Maths (includes Maths ) |
Economics |
English Literature and Language |
Geography |
English Literature |
Fine Art |
Government and Politics |
Film Studies |
French |
History |
Fine Art |
Geography |
Maths |
Further Maths (including Maths) |
Government and Politics |
Mandarin |
History |
History |
Music |
Maths |
Maths |
Philosophy |
Music Technology |
Media Studies |
Photography |
Psychology |
Maths |
Physics |
Physics |
Photography |
Product Design |
Sociology |
Psychology |
Psychology |
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Sociology |
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Spanish |
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BTEC Creative Digital Media (counts as a choice in all three columns) |
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Advanced BTEC Diploma in Sport (counts as a choice in all three columns) |
Please note that the offer of a subject is dependent on sufficient numbers of students choosing it.
Entry Requirements by Subject (For 2021)
Students studying alternative qualifications such as IGCSE will be expected to attain equivalent grades.
Biology |
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Classical Civilisation |
5 in English GCSE plus a grade 5 in one other humanities subject |
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Chemistry |
7/7 in GCSE Combined Science, if taking Separate Sciences then two grade 7s including Chemistry. 5 in Maths GCSE, 5 in English GCSE |
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Computing |
5 in both maths and English |
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BTEC Creative Digital Media
BTEC Sports Studies |
3 grades at 4 or above in any GCSE subjects and 4s in English and Maths |
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Drama |
5 in GCSE Drama, 5 in English. Must pass audition |
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Economics |
5 in Maths. 5 in English. 5 in a relevant Humanities subjects (e.g. History, Geography) 5 in Economics and 5 in Business if studied at GCSE (GCSE Business and GCSE Economics is NOT required) |
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English Literature
English Language & Literature |
5 in both English and English Literature GCSEs |
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Film Studies |
5 in both English and English Literature GCSEs |
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Fine Art |
5 in Art GCSE |
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French |
5 in GCSE French. 5 in both English and English Literature GCSEs |
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Geography |
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History |
5 in History GCSE. 5 in English GCSE |
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Mandarin (Pre-U course) |
5 in GCSE Mandarin. 5 in both English and English Literature GCSEs |
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Maths Further Maths |
7 in Maths GCSE 8/9 in Maths GCSE |
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Media Studies |
5 in both English and English Literature GCSEs OR grade 5 in Media Studies GCSE (GCSE Media is NOT a requirement) |
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Music |
5 in Music GCSE. Commitment to performance |
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Music Technology |
5in Music GCSE. 5s in Maths and English. 5 in technology subject |
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Philosophy |
5 in English and English Literature GCSEs |
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Photography |
Grades for entry to 6th form for Academic courses (3 grade 5s and 5s in Maths and English) |
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Physics |
7/7 in GCSE Combined Science, if taking Separate Sciences then two grade 7s including Physics. 5 in Maths GCSE, 5 in English GCSE |
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Politics |
5 in English GCSE. 5 in either History, Geography, Sociology or RS GCSE |
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Product Design |
GCSE grade 5 or above in a Design and Technology subject is required. 5 in English. |
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Psychology |
5,5 in Science OR at least 2 grades if studying 3 separate GCSE Science subjects. 5 in Maths and English |
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Sociology |
5 in Sociology if studied at GCSE (GCSE Sociology is NOT required). 5 in English GCSE |
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Spanish |
5 in GCSE Spanish. 5 in both English and English Literature GCSEs |