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Sixth Form Entry Requirements

For September 2023

The school sets what it believes to be the minimum entry requirement for students to access and complete A Level study. The entry requirement, to secure a place in the Sixth Form, is based on the final grades achieved in GCSE examinations or GCSE equivalent examinations.

Students are expected to take 3 A Level subjects and the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). In order to do this, students must achieve:

a) 40 points in their 9 best GCSE subjects or equivalent qualifications. (Where 9 subjects have not been studied, the school reserves the right to consider entry; this will be dependent on actual exam results, not predictions, and students must still achieve the minimum individual subject requirements.)

b) A minimum of 2 grade 6s in GCSE subjects or grades of the same standard in equivalent qualifications.

c) A grade 6 or 7 (or above) at GCSE or grades of the same standard in equivalent qualifications in each of the subjects to be studied, or in a related subject where applicable, as outlined below.

All reformed GCSEs will have grades given as numbers [1 – 9] with points score equivalent to the grade, so a 5 in English Language will carry 5 points.

Students wishing to study 4 A Level subjects should have demonstrated a particular talent in one or more subject areas, as well as the potential to cope with the additional workload. They should exceed the minimum points entry requirement for the Sixth Form and exceed the minimum grade-based entry for the subjects that they wish to study. If studying 4 A levels, participation in the EPQ will not be compulsory, however if a student drops down to 3 A Levels, they will then be expected to pick up an EPQ qualification.

It is possible to study some subjects at A Level that you may not have studied at GCSE.

Providing the requirements to secure a place are met as outlined above, students will be allocated to subjects based on the following criteria:

Subject

Students must meet one of the requirements listed for each subject to be taken:

Art

  • Grade 6 in GCSE Art
  • Grade 5 in GCSE Art and a grade 6 in GCSE Photography or Graphic Communication
  • If Art was not studied at GCSE, then a grade 6 in a related subject

Business Studies

  • Grade 6 in GCSE Business Studies
  • Grade 5 in GCSE Business Studies and a grade 6 in a related subject
  • Level 2 Distinction in Enterprise and Marketing
  • If Business Studies was not studied in KS4, then a grade 6 in a related subject

Computer Science

  • Grade 6 in Computer Science
  • Grade 5 in Computer Science and a grade 6 in Mathematics or Physics or in Combined Science

Design Engineering

  • Grade 6 in GCSE Design and Technology: Electronics or Product Design
  • Grade 5 in GCSE Design and Technology: Electronics or Product Design and a grade 6 in GCSE Maths or Physics or in Combined Science
  • If Design and Technology: Electronics or Product Design were not studied in KS4, then a grade 6 in Maths

Drama and Theatre Studies

  • Grade 6 in GCSE Drama
  • Grade 5 in GCSE Drama and a grade 6 in GCSE English
  • If Drama was not studied at GCSE, then a grade 6 in a related subject

English Language and Literature

  • Grade 6 in English Language
  • Grade 6 in English Literature

English Literature

  • Grade 6 in English Language
  • Grade 6 in English Literature
Film Studies
  • Grade 6 in English Language
  • Grade 6 in English Literature
French
  • Grade 6 at GCSE in French
  • For students wishing to take French and Spanish at A Level but who have only studied one language to GCSE level the entry requirement will be a Grade 7 in that language at GCSE and a Merit in FCSE in the second language

Further Mathematics

  • Grade 7 in GCSE Mathematics (Grade 8 recommended)

Note: Further Mathematics is studied in addition to A Level Mathematics and is a more demanding course.

Geography

  • Grade 6 in GCSE Geography
  • Grade 5 in GCSE Geography and a grade 6 in English or a Science or Humanities subject
  • If Geography was not studied at GCSE, then a grade 6 in a related subject

Graphic Communication

  • Grade 6 in GCSE Graphic Communication
  • Grade 5 in GCSE Graphic Communication and a grade 6 in GCSE Art, Photography or a Design and Technology subject
  • If Graphic Communication was not studied at GCSE, then a grade 6 in a related subject

History

  • Grade 6 in GCSE History
  • Grade 5 in GCSE History and a grade 6 in English or a Humanities subject
  • If History was not studied at GCSE, then a grade 6 in a related subject

Mathematics

  • Grade 6 in GCSE Mathematics (Grade 7 recommended)

Music

  • Grade 6 in GCSE Music
  • Grade 5 in GCSE Music and ABRSM Grade 6 practical and Grade 5 theory
  • Grade 5 in GCSE Music and a grade 6 in Mathematics, English or History
  • If Music wasn’t studied at GCSE, then ABRSM Grade 6 practical and Grade 5 theory and a grade 6 in Mathematics, English or History

Photography

  • Grade 6 in GCSE Photography
  • Grade 5 in GCSE Photography and a grade 6 in GCSE Art or Graphic Communication
  • If Photography was not studied at GCSE, then a grade 6 in a related subject

Physical Education

  • Grade 6 in GCSE Physical Education
  • Grade 5 in GCSE Physical Education and a grade 6 in Biology or Chemistry or in Combined Science
  • Level 2 Distinction in Sports Science
  • If PE was not studied at GCSE, then a grade 6 in a related subject

Politics

  • Grade 6 in GCSE History or a related subject

Product Design

  • Grade 6 in a GCSE Design and Technology subject
  • Grade 5 in a GCSE Design and Technology subject and a grade 6 in a related subject
  • If Design and Technology was not studied at GCSE, then a grade 6 in a related subject

Psychology

  • Grade 6 in GCSE Religious Studies
  • Grade 5 in GCSE Religious Studies and a grade 6 in a related subject

Religious Studies

  • Grade 6 in GCSE Religious Studies
  • Grade 5 in GCSE Religious Studies and a grade 6 in a related subject
  • If Religious Studies was not studied at GCSE, then a grade 6 in a related subject

Science:


Biology
Chemistry
Physics

Entry for 1 science subject:

  • Grade 6 in the single science to be studied or
  • Grade 6-5 in Combined Science with the grade 6 in the subject to be studied

Entry for 2 science subjects:

  • Grade 6 in each single science to be studied or
  • Grade 6-6 in Combined Science

Entry for 3 science subjects:

  • Grade 6 in each single science to be studied or
  • Grade 6-6 in Combined Science and a grade 6 in Mathematics

Sociology

  • Grade 6 in GCSE Religious Studies
  • Grade 5 in GCSE Religious Studies and a grade 6 in a related subject
  • If Religious Studies was not studied at GCSE, then a grade 6 in a related subject

Spanish

  • Grade 6 in GCSE Spanish
  • For students wishing to take French and Spanish at A level but who have only studied one language to GCSE level the entry requirement will be a Grade 7 in that language at GCSE and a Merit in FCSE in the second language

A related subject is determined at the discretion of the school.