3 A Level Programme

Minimum of 66444 at GCSE (Please note : grade 4 may be replaced by an 'old C' grade and grade 6 by 'old' B grade)

Vocational subjects cannot replace GCSEs for entry on to an A Level programme.

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

4 A level programme

If you achieve a minimum of 3 GCSE's at grade 8 (A*) plus 5 at grade 7 (A) 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 other Russel Group universities. Grades in vocational subjects cannot replace GCSE's for entry to this programme.

Vocational programmes

Minimum of five grade 4 at GCSE (or old grade C) or Merit/Distinction in a relevant BTEC First Diploma (or equivalent) plus 1 grade 4 (or old grade 4) at GCSE. You must also study English Language and/or Maths GCSE if you have not already achieved grade 4 in these subjects.

Level 2 programme

Minimum of three grade 4 at GCSE (or old Grade C).

This programme is designed for those students who just miss our entry requirements for level 3 study. It includes an opportunity to improve your GCSE English Language and Maths grades, alongside a Workskills course to develop the skills required for progression into employment or onto a level 3 programme.

You will also explore issues such as why our voting system is seen as unfair, whether we have a right not to vote and what comes first; protecting you and me against possible terrorist attacks or defending the rights and freedoms of the individual.
In your first year of study, you will learn about people and politics which will involve looking at the British political system and how democracy operates in practice, why participation in mainstream politics is declining and the role and function of elections. You will also explore the unique nature of the UK constitution, the role of Parliament and whether it is effective and the role of the Prime Minister and how the cabinet is formed. In the second year of study, you will focus on completing political ideologies and global politics which includes sources of power, global conflict and the distribution of wealth, different global organisations such as the UN and NATO and liberalism, conservatism, socialism and feminism.
Every year we attend the Politics Conference in London where you get to listen to a range of MPs. We also hold a Question Time debate in College with MPs like Norman Lamb and representatives from a range of parties. This course is ideal if you are interested in local, national and global current affairs, enjoy debating a range of ideas and are capable of formulating your views in extended essays.

You will sit three exams at the end of your second year with each of these exams being two hours long. They will contain a choice of essay questions and a source based question.