Environmental Science A Level

Paston Sixth Form College

Grammar School Road, North Walsham, Norfolk, NR28 9JL

GCE A/AS Level or Equivalent

Level 3

Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care

Available start dates

Tuesday, 01 September 2026

Paston Sixth Form College

2 Year(s)

Full time

Daytime/working hours

Application Instructions

Step 1: Apply

Step 2: An account will be set up for you by us, on our Learner Hub portal. You will receive a message and link via Help You Choose when this is ready for you to access.

Step 3: On our Learner Hub portal, set your first choice course (ie 'A Level Programme', 'Early Years Practitioner Level 2', 'Creative Media Level 3') and book your interview from the choices displayed

Step 4: Interview (Course discussion) You will meet with an academic tutor from your chosen area of study for an informal discussion about your course choices, to ensure you have chosen the best course for your future ambitions.

Step 5: Offer Offers are given verbally at interview but you will also receive an email confirmation. All offers are provisional until the point of enrolment and most of our course offers are conditional, meaning there is an entry criteria you need to meet before enrolling. This will be outlined in your written offer. Sometimes we are unable to offer you a place on your chosen course. If this happens the reasons will be discussed with you at your appointment and we will look at alternative options with you. We will be in contact to confirm the outcome and what to do next. We also have a team of specialist Course Advisers who are more than happy to look at alternative options with you and answer any questions you may have.

Step 4: Enrolment Enrolment is the final stage before starting your course with us and takes place within the last two weeks of August. We require you to be available to attend your appointment in person at college, so we can complete all the required steps to enrolling you on your chosen course. We may ask you to bring some documents with you so please read your enrolment invitation carefully.

NB Our main communication with our applicants is via their personal email addresses - please remember to check your inbox for messages from us!

Course Details

Environmental Science goes beyond the scientific understanding of earth's natural processes and man's impacts on these. It helps us understand how we can use technological developments to help manage these problems and create more sustainable life-styles. You will be taught using contemporary case studies by experiences and enthusiatic teachers. You can expect to undertake a range of lab work, debates, research actitivites in group and individual work.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN?

You will spend the first year studying topics related to living and physical environments. These topics allow you to explore why life exists on earth and develop a deep understanding of biodiversity and ecosystems, such as grasslands and coral reefs and the conservation of these habitats in the UK and abroad. You also study the impact that humans have on the atmosphere.

In the second year, you will learn about the challenges that the Earth’s growing population has created. Students examine how we can balance the needs of people for minerals, fuel and food with the environmental impacts this creates. You will discover how technological developments can help humans continue to exploit resources but in a more sustainable way.

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES

You will have the opportunity to take part in up to 4 fieldwork days and a variety of lab experiments. These are taken in the local area and could include day trips to Winterton-on-Sea and the Norfolk Broads to learn about conservation and habitats. There have also been opportunities for students to venture further afield on international expeditions, such as conservation work in South Africa. Closer to home, students have also taken part in the annual Biodiversity Conference in Norwich.

IS IT SUITABLE FOR YOU?

This course is ideal for anyone interested in contemporary environmental issues. If you are excited and optimistic about how new technologies could help us create new solutions to environmental problems and develop more sustainable societies, this is the course for you.

HOW YOU ARE ASSESSED?

This course is assessed through examination only. You will sit two 3 hour exams that include multiple choice questions and extended writing.

THIS COURSE GOES WELL WITH…

Geography, Biology and all other sciences as well as all social-science and humanities subjects.

Entry requirements

3 A Level Programme

Minimum of 66444 at GCSE

You must also study English/Maths GCSE if you have not already achieved grade 4 in these subjects.

If you achieve a minimum of 3 GCSE's at grade 8 plus 5 at grade 7 and your English Language and Maths are at minimum grade 4, you will have the option to join the A Plus programme.

Please note that A Plus is designed for applicants to academic courses at Oxford, Cambridge or Russel Group.

Your next steps...

YOU CAN GO ON TO DO...

A wide range of careers such as; agriculture, economics, environmental law, conservation or environmental management. It is well respected by universities and students go on to study a wide variety of science or social science courses.

For more courses like this, check our courses page.