Academic Programme

Most students select three courses (A Levels, BTECs, or a combination of both) to study continuously across the two-year Sixth Form programme.

• Subject Load: Leading higher education institutions, including the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, recommend a three-subject portfolio to maintain an optimal balance and ensure academic success.

• Exceptions: Further Mathematics is traditionally taken as a fourth A Level. Deviations from the standard three-subject framework require approval from the Head of Sixth Form and depend on prior attainment and goals.

• Progression: Students sit formal internal assessments at the end of the Lower Sixth. Progression into the Upper Sixth is conditional upon demonstrating the capacity to achieve at least a pass grade by the end of the course.

A Levels are linear qualifications suited to students who excel in traditional examination structures.

• Entry Requirements: General entry requires a minimum of six GCSEs at grades 9–6 (or equivalent), alongside subject-specific prerequisites detailed at the end of the course brochure.

• Structure: External examinations are taken at the end of the Upper Sixth. However, courses following the Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) syllabus include mandatory AS Level examinations at the end of the Lower Sixth.

• Independent Study: Each A Level consists of 10 hours of timetabled lessons per fortnight, with the expectation that students match this with 10 hours of independent study.

BTECs offer an equivalent academic experience to A Levels, are recognized by major universities, and cater to students who demonstrate their potential more effectively through continuous coursework assessment.

• Entry Requirements: General entry requires a minimum of five GCSEs at grades 9–4 (or equivalent), plus any course-specific requirements.

• Course Options: Certain subjects can be taken as ‘Double BTECs’, which are equivalent to two A Levels.

• Progression: While predominantly coursework-based, some BTECs include external examinations. An overall pass in the Lower Sixth is required to progress to the Upper Sixth.

The EPQ is an optional but highly encouraged independent research project available to students taking three core subjects. Commencing in the Lower Sixth and concluding at the start of the Upper Sixth, the qualification carries substantial UCAS points and is highly regarded by university admissions teams.