Entry Requirements
General Entry Requirements
Admission to Year 12 is subject to you meeting the following minimum entry requirements:
- Achieving 4 grade 4s, including English Language or Mathematics
- and meeting the individual subject entry requirements
When you come to make your pathway choices you will need to choose three subjects. You may choose a purely academic pathway (comprising of A Level subjects only), a purely vocational route (comprising of vocational subjects only) or a mixed academic and vocational route dependent on the grades you achieve at GCSE.
Pathway 1 – Academic
-
Students will study three A Level courses
- Grade Requirements: A minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades 4-9 (including English and Maths) and meeting the subject specific entry requirements
Pathway 2 – Mixed Academic & Vocational
-
Students will study a mixture of three A Level and/or Level 3 vocational courses
- Grade Requirements: A minimum of 4 GCSEs at grades 4-9 (including English or Maths) and meeting the subject specific entry requirements
Pathway 3 – Vocational
-
Students will study three Level 3 Vocational courses
- Grade Requirements: A minimum of 4 GCSEs at grades 4-9 (including English or Maths) and meeting the subject specific entry requirements
For all pathways, students will also take part in:
- Core RE
- Extension Studies enrichment opportunities
If students meet the general entry requirements but have not passed either GCSE English Language or GCSE Maths, they will be required to study for resits of these qualifications.
* Students will not be considered for any Pathway if they have achieved below a grade 4 in both GCSE English Language and GCSE Maths.
Curriculum Offer
The Sixth Form Curriculum Offer is reviewed each year and the school may need to remove qualifications that are not viable due to low student uptake. The decision to remove subjects will be made as early as possible in the Spring Term. Students will be contacted by the Sixth Form Team if a qualification is removed and an alternative qualification offer will be discussed.
Please note, if you studied Foundation Maths or Sciences at GCSE you will not be able to apply to study A Level Maths or A Level Sciences respectively as GCSE Foundation grades are capped at grade 5.
Individual Subject Entry Requirements
| Subject | Award | Minimum Entry Requirements (Essential) |
| Art & Design: Fine Art | A Level | 5 in Art |
| Biology | A Level | 6 in Biology (or 6 6 in Combined Science) 5 in Mathematics |
| Chemistry | A Level | 6 in Chemistry (or 6 6 in Combined Science) 6 in Mathematics |
| English Literature | A Level | 5 in English Literature 5 in English Language |
| Geography | A Level | 5 in Geography |
| Government & Politics | A Level | 5 in English Language or Literature |
| History | A Level | 5 in History |
| Further Mathematics | A Level | 7 in Mathematics |
| Mathematics | A Level | 6 in Mathematics |
| Physics | A Level | 6 in Physics (or 6 6 in Combined Science) 6 in Mathematics |
| Psychology | A Level | 5 in Mathematics |
| Religious Studies | A Level | 5 in Religious Education |
| Sociology | A Level | 5 in English Language |
| Vocational |
|
|
| Business | BTEC | 4 GCSEs at grade 4 or above (pass in Maths preferred) |
| Criminology | Applied Diploma | 4 GCSEs at grade 4 or above (pass in English Language preferred) |
| Health and Social Care | AAQ | 4 GCSEs at grade 4 or above (pass in English Language preferred) |
| IT | AAQ | 4 GCSEs at grade 4 or above (pass in Maths preferred) |
| Science | AAQ | 4 GCSEs at grade 4 or above and 5 5 in Combined Science |
| Sport | BTEC | 4 GCSEs at grade 4 or above (pass in English Language preferred) |
| Super-Curricular | ||
| Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) | Extended Project | 6 in English Language |
| Maths in Context: Core Maths | AS | 5 in Mathematics |
When you make your application, you will be able to choose three subjects across the four blocks. Your three choices must all come from separate blocks.
Subject Blocks September 2026
Subject Information Guide 2026-28
You also have access to Russell Group Informed Choices to help you make decisions about post-16 education. You may find this helpful as you consider the best courses and subjects for you to study at our Sixth Form.
Alternatively, to find out where your Post 16 options could take you or find specific advice, visit the Which? Guide