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Physics A level

Paston Sixth Form College

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

GCE A/AS Level or Equivalent
Level 3
Science and Mathematics

Available start dates

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

Physics is the study of the world around us and enables us to explain how the universe functions. From the extremely small scale with the structure of protons, to the large scale of explaining the eventual fate of our universe, physics aims to explain all. If you are someone who strives to understand how all things work, physics is the subject for you. This course is taught by a subject specialist who has studied physics at degree level and whose wealth of knowledge beyond the curriculum helps make the subject engaging and exciting.
Physics is the study of the universe and throughout the course you will cover a wide range of key topics, which will provide excellent ground work if you wish to continue to study this subject at a higher level. The course content has recently been updated to cover recent discoveries in the field of particle physics.
During this course you will cover classic Newtonian physics, electricity and electromagnetism, photons and waves, particle physics, materials, astrophysics and nuclear physics. You will also have the opportunity to complete and design a range of experiments to further enhance your understanding of the subject. This will not only provide you with the ground work to study physics at degree level, but will also enable you to approach a broad range of careers and other subjects that are reliant on problem solving and strong scientific skills. Physics provides the opportunity to complete many exciting and interesting practical activities. You will also have the opportunity to hear from guest speakers about the different opportunities available to you, as well as new discoveries in the field of physics. There are also outreach opportunities available to engage with younger students to promote the study of physics beyond secondary education.
If you are naturally curious about the world around you and have a scientific interest, then physics is the subject for you. Additionally, if you enjoy problem solving and tackling mathematical problems physics will also be an excellent choice.

You will be assessed by three written exam papers that focus on Newtonian physics, electricity and the universe and light, nuclei and options.

Additional Entry Requirements

Grade 6/B in GCSE Physics or Additional Science and grade 6/B in GCSE Maths.

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...

Physics is a highly regarded qualification and is sought after by many employers, especially those that rely heavily on data analysis and numerical skills. If you are considering university, physics will help with a variety of subjects such as engineering, mathematics, finance, medicine and architecture.


For more courses like this, check our courses page.