General Entry Requirements

Whatever your performance at school, there is a programme of study here for you at Barrow Sixth Form College.

The aim of our general entry requirements is to facilitate students being enrolled onto a study programme where they will be successful and which will enable them to make appropriate progression; these requirements are displayed in the table below. As you can see, the study programmes available to students will be determined by the grades gained at GCSE; you will see, too, that the GCSE English Language grade is particularly important.

These general entry requirements incorporate 2 significant changes from recent years: the introduction of numerical grades in all GCSE subjects; for most students, the switch to studying 3 rather than 4 A Levels/Cambridge Technical L3s. In the light of these variants, and the unfamiliarity they bring for all concerned, we will be flexible in applying these entry requirements at enrolment in September. Our prime aim will still be to enrol students in a study programme where they will be successful and which will enable them to make appropriate progression!

Band	Qualifications on entry	6F study programme
1	average GCSE score 7.0 or above	Full L3* programme, with full choice of qualifications (providing individual subject entry requirements are met); option of Honours programme i.e. EPQ or 4^th A or AS Two years duration
2	either: grade 6 or better in GCSE English Language, plus grade C or better in 3 or more GCSEs or: grade 5 in GCSE English Language, with an average GCSE score of 5.5 or better from at least 4 GCSEs (excluding Maths)	Full L3* programme, with full choice of qualifications (providing individual subject entry requirements are met) Two years duration
3	either: grade 5 or better in GCSE English Language, plus grade C or better in 3 or more other GCSEs (excluding Maths) or: grade 4 in GCSE English Language, plus an average GCSE score of 5.5 or better from 5 GCSEs	Full L3* programme, must include at least 1 CTec/BTEC L3 course (individual subject entry requirements must be met) Two years duration
4	grade 4 or better in GCSE English Language, plus grade C or better in 3 or more other GCSEs (excluding Maths)	Mixed L3/L2** programme; at least 1 L3 must be CTec/BTEC (individual subject entry requirements must be met) Two years duration, unless aim to progress to HE/HL Apprenticeship: in this case, three years duration
5	qualifications below those required for above study programmes	L2*** programme One year duration, with clear progression opportunities to higher level programmes

* Full L3 programme (i.e. A level equivalent): 3 x A Level/CTec/BTEC L3 courses; Plus programme as appropriate
** Mixed L3/L2 programme (i.e. A Level/GCSE equivalent): 3 courses: either 2 x L3 + 1 x L2, or 1 x L3 + 2 x L2; Plus programme as appropriate
*** L2 programme (i.e. GCSE equivalent): 4 x L2 courses (or L1 English / Maths, depending on prior qualifications)

For more details on the Honours Programme, please click here

For more details on the Plus programme, please see below

Plus Programme

The standard study programme for Level 3 (i.e. A level or Cambridge Technical L3) students will comprise three subjects. The majority of L3 students will be enrolled onto such a study programme.

In addition to this is the Plus Programme, i.e. the study of a 4th subject, available to some students. There are two key components of this Plus Programme:

provision which boosts students’ performance in English and/or Maths
provision which provides additional support and challenge to the highest performing students i.e. those achieving an average GCSE score of 7.0 or higher

For some students, participation in the Plus programme will be compulsory, for others it will be optional

It will be compulsory in the following cases:

For students not already achieving at least grade 4 in GCSE English: GCSE English
For students not already achieving at least grade 4 in GCSE Maths: GCSE Maths
For students already achieving grade 4 in GCSE English, but not opting to improve their grade as in b.i. below: English for Advanced Studies
For students studying at least one of A level Accounting, Chemistry or Physics but not studying A level Maths: L3 Certificate in Mathematical Studies

It will be optional in the following cases:

For students already achieving grade 4 in GCSE English, but wanting to improve their grade for future progression purposes: GCSE English
For students already achieving grade 4 in GCSE Maths, but wanting to improve their grade for future progression purposes: GCSE Maths
For students studying A level Business but not studying A level Maths: L3 Certificate in Mathematical Studies
For students achieving an average GCSE score of 7.0 or higher: either the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) or a 4th A level or an AS level (please click here for full information on the Honours programme)

NB

In addition to the Plus Programme, all L3 students will have the opportunity to participate in enrichment activities (sports teams, Duke of Edinburgh Award, volunteering activities etc.) and will be expected to complete a meaningful work experience at some point within the two years’ duration of their study programme.