A Levels

Students sit linear A-Levels in all subjects. This means that students will be assessed at the end of Year 13. Full mock exams will be sat by Year 12 students for each subject during Term 3. This will be used as the basis for UCAS references.

To take A-Levels, students must meet the subject grade requirement, which is generally five Grade 5 or more, including English and maths. For some courses, Grade 6 is required in certain subjects to ensure students have the necessary foundation of learning and skills required to access the A-Level content.

All A-Levels are challenging, high-status qualifications, but some are particularly prized by universities and employers. These are called facilitating subjects and we encourage all students to study at least one of the following:

• English Literature
• Mathematics
• The Sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, computer science)
• Humanities (history and geography)
• Modern Foreign Languages (Spanish and German)

BTECS

BTEC lessons are as practical as possible and focus on preparation for application of skills in the workplace.

Because they are broken down into units which are individually graded, these grades (Distinction, Merit, Pass) are then converted into credits, the total of which decides the overall grade for the course. Students will need three GCSEs at Grade 5 or above, plus English and Maths at minimum Grade 4 to study BTECs.

BTECs offer an alternative route that focuses on vocational learning. Students may complete BTEC courses alongside more traditional A-Levels when this route is an appropriate gateway towards their future ambitions.

BTECs are Level 3 qualifications and equivalent to A-Levels in terms of the UCAS points they achieve. BTEC courses combine externally assessed exam units and internally assessed coursework units. However, in certain BTEC courses, the externally assessed exam may not be written, but instead take the form of a timed assignment given within a vocational context.