Admissions
Birchwood High School Sixth Form enjoys an outstanding reputation for academic excellence and student support, offering a wide range of courses and opportunities for post-16 students. Our curriculum is delivered in a challenging, exciting, and nurturing environment, where students from all backgrounds are welcomed and encouraged to succeed. We pride ourselves on being a school that cares for every member of our community. We offer a wide range of A Level and BTEC qualifications, designed to offer flexibility, ensuring that every student can pursue the right courses tailored to their strengths and future ambitions.
In the following section, you will find detailed information about our 2024/25 entry requirements, including the qualifications we offer, the Total Point Score System used for admissions, and the criteria for both A Levels and BTECs. We will also outline the different curriculum pathways available, along with guidance on making the right subject choices to ensure a fulfilling and successful Sixth Form experience.
For further information, please contact: Mr Ian Torrance
Apply Here
All applicants, both internal and external, will need to complete the following online application via our application portal, Applicaa: https://birchwoodonline.applicaa.com/application_forms/12
* Please note applications will go live on Thursday 14th November.
The application deadline is Friday 20 December 2024.
Guidance meetings will take place on Saturday 25 January 2025 for external students and offer letters will be sent to both internal and external successful applicants by February half-term 2025.
All offer holders will be invited to an Induction Day on Tuesday 8 July 2025.
We will be holding an open morning week from 25 - 29 November 2024 for external applicants, so you will get the chance to see the Sixth Form in action, and you will have the opportunity to ask any questions to our current Sixth form students. Booking for this can be found on the Applicaa portal.
If you have any questions regarding your application, please contact Ms Hewlett.
2024/25 Entry Requirements for the Birchwood Sixth Form
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:
We expect all students entering Birchwood’s Sixth Form to study 3 or 4 courses. For the majority of students, these will be A levels courses, which are 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.
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 student’s attainment at GCSE and BTEC Level 2. This will be done by taking the 8 best subject grades and assigning them a points value. These points are added together to produce a Total Point Score. The minimum requirement for entry into Birchwood Sixth form is a total point score of 34 or above to access BTEC courses and a total point score of 40 or above to access A Level course. More information on our Total Point Score System can be found here.
Please note, all students wishing to study at Birchwood High School Sixth Form must have achieved a grade 4 in Maths and English at GSCE. Students must also meet the entrance criteria for the individual courses they wish to study. These are outlined in the course outlines QR code, on the school website and on the application form. These minimum requirements apply to both internal and external applicants.
We offer all applicants a guidance interview. These are used to ensure students are making appropriate subject choices and offer information and advice being a sixth form student.
Our full admissions policy can be found on the Policy page.
