Course Entry Requirements

General Entry Requirements

Entry Requirements for Sixth Form to study 3 A-Level/BTEC courses are a minimum of 5 GCSEs including 3 at Grade 5 and 2 at Grade 4 or better.

Entry Requirements for Sixth Form to study 4 A-Level/BTEC courses are a minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grade 7 or better.

Those students who have achieved between 5 GCSE Grades at 4 and the Standard Entry Requirement should talk to the Academy about individualised programmes of study based on a reduced list of options.

Specific Entry Requirements for Subjects

A Level

Art and Design

It is desirable to have 5 at GCSE.

Biology

Desirable: Grade 7 in GCSE Biology and one other GCSE science and Grade 7 in GCSE Mathematics or Grade 7-7 in  Science(Trilogy) and Grade 7 at GCSE Mathematics

Essential: Grade 6 in GCSE Biology and one other GCSE science and Grade 6 in GCSE Mathematics or Grade 6-6 in  Science(Trilogy) and Grade 6 at GCSE Mathematics

Business Studies

English Language GCSE Grade 6 and Mathematics GCSE Grade 5

Chemistry

Desirable: Grade 7 in GCSE Chemistry and Grade 7 in GCSE Mathematics or Grade 7-7 in  Science(Trilogy) and Grade 7 at GCSE Mathematics

Essential: Grade 6 in GCSE Chemistry and Grade 6 in GCSE Mathematics or Grade 6-6 in  Science(Trilogy) and Grade 6 at GCSE Mathematics

Computer Science

Grade 6 in GCSE Mathematics

Economics

Grade 6 in GCSE English Language and Grade 6 in GCSE Mathematics

English Language

Grade 6 in GCSE English Language

English Literature

Grade 6 in both GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature

French

Grade 6 in GCSE French

Geography

Grade 6 in GCSE Geography and a grade 5 in both English and Mathematics.

History

Grade 6 in GCSE History and GCSE English Language

Mathematics 

Grade 7 in GCSE Mathematics is desirable and grade 6 is essential

Further Mathematics

Grade 7 in GCSE Mathematics

Media Studies 

Grade 6 in GCSE English Language

Music 

Grade 6 in GCSE Music or a BTEC Music at Level 2 Distinction and ABRSM Practical Exam Grade 5 and play a musical instrument

Philosophy and Theology

GCSE Grade 6 in Religious Education, Grade 5 in GCSE English Language

Photography

No formal requirements

Physics

Desirable: Grade 7 in GCSE Physics and Grade 7 in GCSE Mathematics or Grade 7-7 in  Science (Trilogy) and Grade 7 at GCSE Mathematics

Essential: Grade 6 in GCSE Physics and Grade 6 in GCSE Mathematics or Grade 6-6 in  Science (Trilogy) and Grade 6 at GCSE Mathematics

Politics

Grade 6 in GCSE English Language

Psychology

Grade 6 in GCSE English Language, Grade 5 in GCSE Mathematics and Grade 5 in any GCSE Science

Sociology

Grade 6 in GCSE English Language

Spanish

Grade 6 in GCSE Spanish

Textiles Design

Grade 5 in GCSE Textiles

Three Dimensional Design

Grade 5 in GCSE Product Design

Other Level 3 Courses

BTEC National Extended Certificate in Business Studies

Minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above preferably including GCSE Mathematics, GCSE English Language

BTEC National Extended Certificate in Applied Science

Minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grade 4 preferably including English Language and Grade 5 at GCSE Mathematics.  Two Grade 5’s from GCSE Physics/GCSE Biology/GCSE Chemistry and Grade 5 at GCSE Mathematics  or Grade 5-5 in  Science(Trilogy)

BTEC National Extended Certificate in PE & Sport

Minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grade 4 preferably including English Language, Mathematics with a grade 5 in GCSE Biology or GCSE Science with evidence of commitment to school/club level sport. It is recommended that you have successfully studied GCSE or BTEC PE or equivalent in Key Stage 4.

BTEC National Extended Certificate in Applied Law

Minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grade 4  including English Language, Mathematics at a grade 4

Cambridge Technical Diploma in IT

Minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above.  A qualification in IT would be advantageous but not required.

GCSE

English 

All students who have not achieved a Grade 4 at GCSE English must follow this course. Those students who have not yet achieved a Good Pass of a Grade 5 are advised to re-sit in November in an attempt to do so.

Mathematics 

All students who have not achieved a Grade 4 at GCSE Mathematics must follow this course. Those students who have not yet achieved a Good Pass of a Grade 5 are advised to re-sit in November in an attempt to do so.