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Entry Requirements

All applicants will need to attend a successful admission interview and we must receive a school reference deemed satisfactory or above by the college before we make a conditional offer of a place with us. Click here for more information on the Application Process

The entry requirements below are a guide. We may consider grades that do not meet the entry requirements if grades that fall slightly below the entry requirements are compensated for in other areas with grades above the minimum entry requirements. 
Combinations Possible Minimum Entry Requirement†
4 x A levels (only recommended for exceptionally able students) 4 GCSEs at Grade 9 - 7 and a further 3 at minimum Grade 6. Must include English Language and Maths. All students wishing to study 4 A levels should have an average GCSE Score of at least 6.3.                                          
3 x A levels 6 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above, preferably including English Language or Maths        
All students wishing to study 3 A levels should have an average GCSE Score of at least 4.3
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma Minimum 5 GCSEs at grade 4 or above, ideally including English Language
OR
BTEC Level 2 Diploma at Merit with English Language at grade 4
BTEC Level 2 Diploma 4 GCSEs at Grade 3 or above with a minimum Grade 3 in English Language or Maths or Pass in Foundation Learning
Foundation Learning Interest in the subject areas, a willingness to work hard, complete assignments within a set time scale and to demonstrate exceptional attendance and punctuality
Applicants must also meet course-specific entry requirements for their chosen course(s) see below. Equivalent qualifications will be taken into consideration.

Specific Course Requirements:
 
A level & Applied
APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY Grade 4 or above in English Language, maths and double science (if single sciences are taken then a grade 4 in two sciences is required).
ART & DESIGN - Fine Art  Grade 4 in Art, Textiles or Graphic Design if taken. Applicants who have not taken an Art-related GCSE course may be admitted to the course subject to satisfactory completion of a practical assessment task. OR Merit in BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Art
ART & DESIGN - Graphic Communication Grade 4 in Art or Graphic Design OR Merit in BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Art
BUSINESS Grade 4 in English Language and Grade 5 in Maths
OR
Grade 5 in English Language and Grade 4 in Maths
BIOLOGY Grade 6 in Maths and grade 5 in English Language, Grade 6 in Core Science and Grade 7 in Additional Science; GCSE score of 4.8 or above (N.B. Applied Science not accepted)
OR
Grade 6 in Maths and grade 5 in English Language, Grade 7 in Core Science and Grade 6 in Additional Science; GCSE score of 4.8 or above (N.B. Applied Science not accepted)
OR
Grade 6 in Maths and grade 5 in English Language, Grade 6 in Biology and Grade 6 in either Chemistry or Physics; GCSE score of 4.8 or above (N.B. Applied Science not accepted)
Please refer to subject combinations below
CHEMISTRY Grade 6 in Maths and grade 5 in English Language, Grade 6 in Core Science and Grade 7 in Additional Science; GCSE score of 4.8 or above (N.B. Applied Science not accepted)
OR
Grade 6 in Maths and grade 5 in English Language, Grade 7 in Core Science and Grade 6 in Additional Science; GCSE score of 4.8 or above (N.B. Applied Science not accepted)
OR
Grade 6 in Maths and grade 5 in English Language, Grade 6 in Chemistry and Grade 6 in either Biology or Physics; GCSE score of 4.8 or above (N.B. Applied Science not accepted)
Please refer to subject combinations below
CLASSICAL CIVILISATION Grade 5 in English Language. Applicants with Grade 4 in English Language and Grade 5 + in a relevant Humanities subject may be considered. 
CRIMINOLOGY (Applied Diploma) Grade 4 in English Language
ECONOMICS Grade 5 in English Language and Grade 5 in Maths
ENGLISH LANGUAGE Grade 5 in English Language and Grade 4 English Literature
Or Grade 4 in English Language and Grade 5 English Literature 
ENGLISH LANGUAGE & LITERATURE Grade 5 in English Language and Grade 4 English Literature 
Or Grade 4 in English Language and Grade 5 English Literature 
ENGLISH LITERATURE Grade 5 in English Language and Grade 5 English Literature 
FRENCH Grade 6 in French
Speakers without a French GCSE can be assessed by the Head of Modern Foreign Languages.
GEOGRAPHY Grade 5 in English Language and Grade 4 in Maths
HISTORY Grade 5 in English Language. Applicants with a Grade 4 in English Language and a 5 in other humanities subject will be considered subject to availability
ITALIAN Grade 6 in Italian
Speakers without a GCSE in Italian can be assessed by the Head of Modern Foreign Languages.
MATHS Grade 6 in Maths with a GCSE score of 4.8 & above OR Grade 7 in Maths
FURTHER MATHS Grade 7 in Maths; GCSE score of 4.8 or above 
LAW (Applied Diploma) Grade 4 or above in English Language and English Literature.        
MEDIA STUDIES Grade 5 in English Language
POLITICS Grade 5 in English Language
Applicants with a Grade 4 in English Language and a 5 in other humanities subject will be considered subject to availability
PORTUGUESE Grade 6 in Portuguese
(Speakers without a Portuguese GCSE can be assessed by the Head of Modern Foreign Languages).
PHYSICS Grade 6 in Maths and grade 5 in English Language, Grade 6 in Core Science and Grade 7 in Additional Science; GCSE score of 4.8 or above (N.B. Applied Science not accepted)
OR
Grade 6 in Maths and grade 5 in English Language, Grade 7 in Core Science and Grade 6 in Additional Science; GCSE score of 4.8 or above (N.B. Applied Science not accepted)
OR
Grade 6 in Maths and grade 5 in English Language, Grade 6 in Physics and Grade 6 in either Chemistry or Biology; GCSE score of 4.8 or above (N.B. Applied Science not accepted)
Please refer to subject combinations below
PSYCHOLOGY Grade 5 in English Language, Grade 5 in Maths and Grade 5 in Science (Core, Additional or Applied) 
Students with a Grade 4 in Maths may be considered subject to availability
RELIGIOUS STUDIES Grade 4 in English Language
SOCIOLOGY Grade 5 in English Language or Grade 5 in Sociology.
Students with a Grade 4 in English Language and Grade 5 or higher in Sociology or other humanities subjects may also be considered subject to availability
SPANISH Grade 6 in Spanish
Speakers without a Spanish GCSE can be assessed by the head of Modern Foreign Languages.
NB: The following subjects do not require students to have studied the subject at GCSE level: Classical Civilisation, Economics, Geography, History, Media, Politics, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology.

Science and Maths subject combinations:
  • Requirement to do chemistry with at least one of physics, biology or maths
  • Requirement to do physics with maths unless taking physics with chemistry and biology
  • Preference to do chemistry with maths
  • Preference to do biology with chemistry
 
VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: LEVEL 3 EXTENDED DIPLOMAS
GENERAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL COURSES: Grade 4 in English Language AND 5 other GCSEs at Grade 4 (OR specified BTEC Level 2 Diploma – see below)
APPLIED SCIENCE Grade 4 in Core Science, Grade 4 in Additional Science and Grade 4 in Maths OR BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Science with Merit and Grade 4 in Maths
ART & DESIGN Grade 4 in an Art-related qualification OR BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Art & Design with Merit
BUSINESS Grade 4 in Maths OR BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Business (or equivalent) with Merit
CREATIVE MEDIA PRODUCTION Grade 4 in Media (if taken) and Grade 4 in English language OR BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Media with Merit
ENGINEERING  Grade 5 in Maths, Grade 4 in Core Science and Grade 4 in Additional Science
OR
Grade 5 in Maths, Grade 4 in two separate science GCSEs (Biology and/or Chemistry and/or Physics)
OR
BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Engineering with Merit and Grade 5 in Maths
FOOTBALL ACADEMY High level of football ability demonstrated at SFX football trials. 
Must also meet the entry requirements for Sport & Exercise Science, taken alongside Football Academy.
HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE Grade 4 in Maths and Grade 4 in English language preferred
OR BTEC Level 2 Diploma in a relevant Level 2 qualification with Distinction
NB: A BTEC AWARD is not sufficient on its own without meeting other requirements
IT  Grade 4 in Maths OR BTEC Level 2 Diploma in IT (or equivalent) with Merit and Grade 4 in Maths
PERFORMING AND PRODUCTION ARTS Grade 4 in English language or English Literature and Grade 4 in GCSE Music, Dance, Drama or Expressive Arts
OR
Grade 4 in English language or English Literature and Pass in BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Performing Arts
OR
Grade 4 in English language or English Literature and appropriate experience in music, dance or drama performance (decision of Head of Department)
SPORT & EXERCISE SCIENCE Grade 4 in Core Science, Maths & English Language OR BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Sport (or equivalent) with Merit and Grade 4 in Maths
TRAVEL & TOURISM Grade 4 in English Language or Maths OR BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Travel and Tourism (or equivalent) with Merit
 
VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: LEVEL 2 DIPLOMAS
GENERAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL COURSES: 4 GCSEs at Grade 3 (including Grade 3 in English Language and Maths)
BUSINESS Grade 3 in English language and Maths
HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE Grade 3 in English language and Maths
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Grade 3 in English language and Maths
.
FOUNDATION LEARNING
There are no specific course entry requirements. However, a good record of attendance and punctuality is needed with ability to meet deadlines and work independently and as part of a team.