All courses offered at Birchwood Sixth Form are Level 3 qualifications. In order to provide objective admission criteria, as well as ensure that the right students embark on the right courses, the following will apply:  

From September 2024, we will expect all students entering Sixth Form to study 3 or 4 courses. We would expect students to supplement this with enrichment opportunities and / or additional supplementary qualifications.  For the majority of students, this will be A levels. These will be linear in structure, with examinations taken at the end of the two years. However, we also have a significant number of students studying for BTEC qualifications. These have a greater degree of modular assessment.  

A growing number of students in our Sixth Form combine both A Levels and BTEC qualifications and our curriculum is designed with this flexibility in mind.  Therefore, our curriculum plans are designed to ensure students are following appropriate courses based upon their prior levels of attainment.  

We operate a Total Point Score System that measures what students achieve at GCSE and BTEC Level 2. This will be done by taking the best 8 subject grades. These are then added together to produce a Total Point Score. More information on our Total Point Score System can be found here. 

All applicants, both internal and external, will need to complete an online application. We will also offer all students a guidance interview. These will be used to ensure students are making appropriate choices and offer information and advice with reference to their application. Students must meet the entrance criteria for courses they wish to study.