Our advice is to choose:
- Subjects you enjoy
- Subjects you are good at
- Subjects which will support your career ambitions
Evidence shows that GCSE grades are a good guide when considering which subjects and what level of study is most suitable. Our Admissions team will explore this with you once you’ve made your application and again at enrolment to help build a programme that is right for you.
Our study programmes are flexible and you can mix and match, combining A Levels with BTEC/AAQ courses to suit your interests and career aims.
Level 3 Courses
A Levels are subject-based qualifications, studied across two years. Assessment is through exams and coursework. With A Levels, you can progress onto university, employment or a higher apprenticeship. You can select three A Levels to form a full study programme. Alternatively, you can combine A Levels with a BTEC single or double programme or AAQ to create a full study programme.
In order to study an A Level programme, you need to have achieved:
- At least five GCSEs at grades 9-4 in one sitting.
- An average GCSE score of 5 or more is preferred.
- GCSE English at grade 4.
- GCSE Maths at grade 4.
- Some courses may have additional subject-specific criteria.
To follow a Science A Level programme (one that includes any two of these courses Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths and Further Maths) you will need an average GCSE score of at least 5.5, plus a minimum GCSE grade 6 in Maths and a 6 in Science (core) and 6 in Additional Science (or 6 in GCSE Biology/Chemistry/Physics).
Entry Requirements
Find out the entry requirements for your chosen course(s).
Level 2 Courses
Didn’t quite get the results you were hoping for? Don’t worry!
We offer a Navigate to A Levels programme for any students whose grades fall below the standard entry criteria for a Level 3 programme. If you are missing a grade in GCSE Maths or English, then you may be eligible for some Level 3 programmes. If you are missing both GCSE Maths and English then you are eligible for our Navigate to A Levels programme only. You may also have the opportunity to study GCSE Science on the Navigate course. For example, if you just missed out on passing GCSE Maths, you could resit GCSE Maths alongside studying a Level 3 course. Our college team can help you with this.
How to work out your GCSE score
Write down the GCSE subjects you have taken and the results that you have achieved or hope to get.
If you have taken more than eight subjects at GCSE, remove the lowest grades, leaving your best eight grades.
If you have taken less than eight GCSE subjects, please include them all in your calculation. Then add the points together and divide by the number of subjects you have taken.
For instance:
English: 6
Maths: 5
History: 6
Art and Design: 7
Geography: 4
Drama: 3
Total equals 32 points.
Divided by the number of subjects which is 6.
Equals an average GCSE score of 5.3
Each GCSE result is given a number of points as outlined below:
- 9 equals 9 points
- 8 equals 8 points
- 7 equals 7 points
- 6 equals 6 points
- 5 equals 5 points
- 4 equals 4 points
- 3 equals 3 points
- 2 equals 2 points
- 1 equals 1 point
- U equals 0 points