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 7 in Maths with a GCSE score of 4.8 & above
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.