Subject Options

Subject Option Blocks 2024-2025

The Subject Option Blocks have now been confirmed for 2024-2025. Students can choose to start with three or with four subjects – one from each of the blocks. Please see below for Course Guides, Entry Requirements and Frequently Asked Questions.

 

Course Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Three or Four Subjects?

Students can choose to start with three or with four subjects. Students starting with four subjects are not required to complete all four and the majority of our students complete three courses.

If you are confident in your three choices, then there is no need to choose a fourth. However, we reserve the right to timetable you onto a fourth subject if, in our judgment, this would be the best choice for you. For example, if you are choosing three subjects you have not studied before, or your grade point average suggests that a fourth subject would be advisable for you.

Additionally, everyone starting on three subjects is strongly advised to also choose an EPQ and/or our Level 3 Certificate in Core Maths in addition.

Why choose 4?

While there is no expectation to choose three subjects, there may be good reasons to choose a fourth subject – for example:

• If you are convinced that there are four courses that you want to pursue.
• If you plan to apply to very competitive universities or courses e.g. Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, or for very competitive courses e.g. Medicine, Law, Dentistry or Veterinary Medicine
• If you are very undecided about your choices and the majority of subjects that you are choosing are not subjects which you have studied at KS4, you may want to experience four courses before settling on your best three.

Are all combinations of subjects allowed?

To enable students to manage their workload effectively and in anticipation of the demands of the exam window in these subjects, students are advised to take no more than two of the following:

• Fine Art
• Graphic Communication
• Photography
• Textile Design

Whilst we make every effort to accommodate all students’ first choice combination of subjects, it is not always possible to do so. Where this happens, we will make contact with students in the spring when timetable structures are confirmed and invite them to amend choices.

Are there any other courses available beyond the main subject choices?

Yes, students can apply to study Level 3 Certificate in Core Maths alongside their main subjects. For students who are not studying A Level Mathematics, this can support progress in subjects with significant numeracy elements (Business Studies, Economics, Geography and Psychology). Students will have the option to choose it as part of the enrolment process in September.

Students can also complete an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) in addition to their A Level choices.  This can be completed outside of your timetabled A level choices and can be chosen in addition to your 3 or 4 choices.

Subject Specific Entry Requirements

Our overriding aim is to ensure that students access courses which they will be able to complete successfully. If you are looking to take an A Level course that you have studied at GCSE, all the evidence suggests that, in most subjects, successful completion of the course requires you to have secured a Grade 5 in that subject. The step up from GCSE to A Level work is particularly steep in some subjects and we have identified subject specific entry requirements in the table below and in our Course Guides.

For General Sixth Form Entry Requirements please take a look at our Sixth Form Admissions and Apply page.