- Sixth Form Course
Prospectus & Course Information
Our Sixth Form Prospectus and course/subject information can be viewed below.
Applications for a Sixth Form place for the academic year 2023/24 open in January 2023 and we will welcome your application for a September 2023 start.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
The minimum entry requirement for Tewkesbury School Sixth Form is 5 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above with English or Maths at Grade 4 or above. Students are expected to demonstrate evidence of a positive, self motivated approach to their learning. Certain subjects have their own subject specific entrance criteria and advise a 5 or a 6 in that subject to continue it to A Level (criteria is listed on each of the subjects below). We always consider entry on a student by student basis.
Students with lower than a grade 4 in English OR Maths must attend lessons in these subjects to enable them to improve their grades in these GCSEs, as these are essential qualifications in many careers and further education courses.
Course of study: Two years, studying three or four subjects depending on future plans.
What is an A Level?
In Year 12 students can choose to take three or four A Levels. Each course is taught for 5 lessons per week. Each A Level comprises of a number of units (usually 3-4) that are assessed through examinations, coursework or a combination of the two. Assessments take place at the end of Year 13 in May / June. In all A Level courses A* to E grades represent a pass.
What is a BTEC / applied course?
BTEC stands for the Business and Technology Education Council. BTECs are specialist work-related qualifications. They combine practical learning with subject and theory content. They have a higher content of coursework than most A Levels, although, like A Levels there is an examined component.
Choosing a course:
After the Sixth Form Open Evening Year 11 students will have an interview with a member of the Sixth Form team. During this interview, we will advise students and recommend an appropriate pathway based on your academic strengths and aspirations. The Sixth Form Team support every student in choosing their most appropriate pathway for level 3 success. This might be 3 or 4 A Levels, a BTEC package, or a combination of BTECs and A Levels.
These pathways and the unrivalled support offered at Tewkesbury School Sixth Form have enabled our students to go on to careers in Medicine, Veterinary Practice, Law, Teaching, Midwifery, Engineering, Fashion Design, Criminology and Accountancy to name but a few.
Things to consider when choosing your subjects:
Enjoyment
Choose subjects in which you are most enthusiastic, confident and likely to succeed. Think about whether the subject genuinely interests you.
Suitability
Look carefully at the requirements of universities and degree courses that you may want to study in the future. Consider which subjects go well together. Certain ‘facilitating’ subjects will offer students a greater number of degree courses, and may be a requirement for entry into some universities.
Ability
Think about how the different courses are assessed. Are you good at the subject already? Listen carefully to the advice from your own teachers, tutor and careers advisor when thinking about which subjects to choose.
Please read our Sixth Form Prospectus (below) for more information.
