All of the information you need in order to apply for the Sixth Form can be found under this section of the website.

The information for all subjects is updated for courses starting in September 2024.

Timeline for the Sixth Form Application Process 2024/25

The timeline for future years will follow the same format as above.

Application Forms

The Application Forms are now available. 

• Internal Application

If you are an external applicant and would like further information, please contact the school. External applicants need to download the external application form and send in to the school to the email address given on the form.

• External Application

Course Choices

Students in the Sixth Form will study a suite of 3 A Level subjects and the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). The EPQ is highly valued by universities and employers and is equivalent to half of an A Level. These are two-year linear courses with examinations only at the end of Year 13.

Particularly able students, who wish to take four full A Levels, will have their requests considered on an individual basis. Typically, this will be for students opting for Further Mathematics. They will have to meet a higher entry requirement and demonstrate a particular talent in one or more subject areas, as well as the potential to cope with the additional workload.

Students need to think carefully about their subject choices and be absolutely certain about the nature of the subjects they intend to take and the expectations that will be placed upon them before starting their Sixth Form career. We advise students to talk to the staff who teach the A Level courses before making any course decisions.

Students must ensure that their course choices match the requirements of any Higher Education courses or eventual careers that they are interested in. For students wishing to apply for certain courses, e.g. Medicine, Veterinary Science, Law and for prestigious universities, e.g. Russell Group, it is advisable to check your subject choice against the list of facilitating subjects.

The following links are useful in making decisions about option choices:

• Informed Choices
• Cambridge Application Process
• Oxford Entrance Requirements

The courses we currently offer are:

• Art & Design
• Biology
• Business Studies
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Design Engineering
• Drama
• English Language & Literature
• English Literature
• Film Studies
• French
• Further Mathematics
• Geography
• Graphic Communication
• History
• Mathematics
• Music
• Photography
• Physical Education
• Physics
• Politics
• Product Design
• Psychology
• Religious Studies
• Sociology
• Spanish

In applying for the Sixth Form, students will have to complete an application form and choose subjects from a set of option blocks. With the creation of any option block system there will always be some combinations of subjects that are not possible. Once all of the forms are returned, we will look at whether there is sufficient demand for particular combinations that currently do not fit into the blocks. At this point, we will look to see if movements within the blocks are possible or if we are able to introduce additional classes.

We will do the best we can to try and ensure we satisfy as many students as possible, but we cannot guarantee that we can make any particular subject combination work. In addition, courses that do not attract sufficient students may not run.

Sometimes students who join the Sixth Form do not have English Language GCSE or Mathematics GCSE at grade 4. These students are expected to work towards retaking these examinations. The school will make arrangements to provide support for these students and will enter them for their resit in an appropriate examination series.

Following submission of application forms, existing William Farr students will be invited to discuss their application and subject choice with a senior member of staff and then advised of their conditional offer. External applicants will be invited to attend an open morning where they also have the opportunity to find out more about the school and discuss their application.