Applicant Information Guide

2026
Dear Students,
It’s a busy time in Year 11 and one of the important things that you need to do in amongst
preparing for your GCSEs is to choose the right sixth form for you. This is really exciting because you
have lots to think about and it may be the first time in your life that you are able to make a decision
just for you. Because sixth form is so important for your future success deciding where you will
complete sixth form is in many ways a huge decision and in other ways a simple decision.

If you talk to any sixth former they will tell you how challenging level 3 courses are (level 3 courses
are A levels and Vocational courses you can study at sixth form). In this situation it’s really
important that you are in an environment where you are known and supported to do your very
best. In an environment where the teachers know exactly what you studied at GCSE, how you
performed, what your strengths and areas for development are, and how you like to work. This
environment would be Swakeleys Sixth Form.

One of the reasons that some Swakeleys students give for moving on after Year 11 to a different
school/college is that they want a change. My response to that would be firstly you can have a
change whilst remaining in an environment where you are known and feel comfortable– when you
join Swakeleys Sixth Form you are able to wear your own clothes, attend lessons in a different part
of the school building, use mobile phones, and have a separate area to study and socialise.

Secondly I would question why, if you’ve done well at Swakeleys, would you take a risk to go
somewhere else at such a critical time in your school career. You will have a huge change when you
start university, training, or a job after sixth form so think very carefully about whether you need to
make that change at this exact time in your education.

When we think of a change we might always assume that means that it’s going to be a change for
the better. Many sixth form colleges have large numbers of students and it can be hard to find your
place. At Swakeleys we have a small sixth form with 250 students across Year 12 and Year 13. In
such an environment you should feel confident you will be known, supported and safe. Every year
we have students who try somewhere else and come back to us at Swakeleys because they didn’t
feel comfortable elsewhere.

I am really proud of Swakeleys Sixth Form. We have excellent staff – teachers and those who look
after you to make sure you’re doing well. We have experienced and stable leadership of the Sixth
Form area. The facilities are modern and support the needs of our
Sixth Form students. Sixth Form students are also very much part of
school life at Swakeleys – helping us organise school events such as
leading our assemblies, and helping the school run smoothly in their
role as prefects. Students do incredibly well at Swakeleys Sixth Form
and can then confidently head off into the world to follow their
passion.

I recommend Swakeleys Sixth Form most highly and am sure

that you will be happy and successful with us.

Ms Stevenson - Head Teacher

Welcome to Swakeleys Sixth Form
We are delighted that you are considering joining Swakeleys
Sixth Form. We are an ambitious, hardworking, diverse and
supportive community.

The Sixth Form has a proven track record of supporting

students to reach their academic potential and achieve
outstanding grades. These results are the product of our
students’ commitment to their studies as well as the
support given by our dedicated Sixth Form teachers,
expertly guiding students to do their best.

We also believe that alongside helping students to reach

their academic potential that it is also vital that we
empower students to develop wider skills that will enable
them to thrive in their future workplace as well as a make a
positive contribution to their communities. This is why we
run a comprehensive character and culture curriculum,
offering students a multitude of different opportunities to
develop themselves outside of the classroom.

As a community we work together to support one another.

We value and celebrate our differences as well as giving
time to come together in shared experiences. We believe
that for a student to be successful they need to feel safe,
known and understood. This is what we seek to achieve
each day, through creating an environment of respect and
kindness.

I am confident that by choosing Swakeleys Sixth

Form you will have the support, opportunity, and
challenge that will enable you to achieve your goals.

Mr Hayden

Head of Sixth Form

 90% of grades
In 2025 achieved were
24% of A level Grades A*-C
achieved @ A Level
were A*-A

22% of students secured places at

Russell Group Universities

59% of grades 64% of BTEC Grades

achieved were were either Distinction
or Distinction *
A*-B

92% of students secured their choice of

University
Student success in securing degree
apprenticeships at high profile corporations such
as KMPG, Deloitte & Jacobs
Life as a student at Swakeleys Sixth Form

Our number one priority is to support you to be successful in your time with us. We know that success is not
based on luck or prior achievements but on helping you to build the resilience, ambition, and responsibility
to identify and realise your goals.

Our key commitments to you are:

To care for your wellbeing

At Swakeleys Sixth Form we take student wellbeing very seriously. We want all of our students to feel safe,
valued and happy here. We therefore have put in place a range of support for students’ wellbeing, including
an experienced tutor team, Pastoral Lead and support staff who are able to help students deal with challenges
they may face.

We also have a team of student mental health ambassadors who have been trained to support other students.
This team have created a mental health first aid station with take-away resources to
support students. The team also run a weekly games club in Sixth Form, in order
to create a supportive space students can come, relax and chat to others.

As part of the Sixth Form PSHCE programme we also run workshops on mental
and physical wellbeing. For students who may need further support we work
closely with our in school counselling service Place 2 Be, who also run workshops
for sixth form students on dealing with exam pressure.

To encourage you to realise your aspirations

At Swakeleys Sixth Form we also encourage students to be aspirational. We know that if a student is goal
orientated, this acts as a powerful motivator. We are always so proud and excited to see the variety of
pathways students take when they leave us.

The programme of support for post 18 options begins in January in Year 12, where through assemblies and
PSHCE workshops we introduce students to the different options available to them and how the application
process works. We also give all students’ access to Unifrog – the online destination platform.

In the Summer Term Year 12 students have 2 days off timetable to focus on future choices and how to make
strong applications. We have a range of external speakers who contribute to these days. Students in Year
12 finish the term with a week of work experience to further support this process. In Year 13 students have
one to one meetings with their tutor to review applications and receive further guidance. All students also
have the benefit of being able to see our in schools career advisor who also runs sessions during the year on
the apprenticeships pathway.
Oxbridge / Medicine pathway

We also run an Oxbridge & Medicine pathway for students who achieved outstanding
GCSE results. This programme begins in October for Year 12 students and involves a
series of workshops by our partner colleges at Cambridge (Peterhouse) and Oxford (St
Anne’s). Our Oxbridge and Medicine societies run weekly/fortnightly meetings to
support students with developing the necessary skills and knowledge to make
competitive applications. These students also receive support from an external
Oxbridge advisor and for medicine students we work closely with Brighton and
Sussex Medical School as well as ‘Tutoring Doctors’, an organisation set up by a
former student of Swakeleys to support future medics.

To empower you to reach your academic potential

We teach students about the key characteristics of a successful Sixth Form student which includes support
for students to understand how to organise themselves effectively, as well as implement the best ways to
study and revise. This is supported by two induction days, one prior to Year 12 and the other at the start of
Year 12.

Students in addition to their subject lessons are allocated 3 hours of supervised study per week on their
timetables with the specific focus being for exam skills practice. We believe giving students a silent
environment to practice exam questions and/or respond to feedback given by teachers on previously sat
assessments gives students the best possible chance of making strong progress.

We also operate a peer mentoring programme during form times to support students’ academic progress.
As all of our form groups are a combination of Year 12 & Year 13, once a half term Year 13 and Year 12
students pair up and the Year 13 can offer advice and support, based on their experiences the previous year.

In order to ensure all students get timely opportunities to practice exam skills and receive feedback on
academic progress, there are five formal assessment periods over the two years of study (prior to the final
examinations). These are called Milestone Assessments and completed in exam conditions. Academic
performance in these assessments is reported home.
After every progress check report, we also identify students in need of extra academic support and they are
then formally mentored by a member of the Sixth Form Leadership Team.

Financial support with academic expenses

All students entering Sixth Form will be able to loan subject textbooks for the duration of their course.
Students may also be required to purchase other supporting materials such subject specific equipment or
contributions towards trips to enrich and support learning. This is why we offer a 16 to 19 bursary fund,
which is designed to support students who may struggle with the costs of full-time education or training. The
school receives a bursary fund from the Government, which is then distributed to students in various ways
throughout the academic year. Students who successfully apply will be provided financial assistance with
course related materials, as well as support with meals, equipment or transport where required.

To enable you to develop your wider skills for the work place and beyond
We encourage our students to get involved in a wide variety of extra- curricular activities and clubs. We
believe it is very important for students to develop not just academic skills but also wider social skills to help
them be successful and positive citizens. We therefore give students access to a range of activities such as
leadership training, student mentoring, and oracy sessions. We also have a bespoke PSHCE programme with
a range of sessions and visiting speakers to equip students for life both at and after Sixth Form.

All Sixth Form students are expected to take part in extra-curricular activities such as participating in or
leading a lunch time club. We also encourage students to
participate in programmes that stretch and challenge them,
such as DofE & Mark Evison Foundation projects.

We also run regular social events and trips in the Sixth Form
organised by students themselves. These have included in
the last year – Theatre trips, Halloween dress up day, sports
afternoon, Zorbing, and Ice Skating

Student Leadership Programme

At Swakeleys Sixth Form we recognise that our students are leaders of today and tomorrow. We therefore
invite students to apply to join our Student Leadership Programme, where they receive training and
opportunities to develop their leadership skills. Students serve as Head students and prefects and are
responsible for representing the needs of students in the Sixth Form and initiating projects to improve the
school and wider community.

Community Champion Award

We also expect all Year 12 students to give of their time throughout the year to volunteer in school to
support others. This could be through helping at school events, mentoring younger students, or assisting in
clubs for example. The Community Champion award scheme recognises and celebrates the voluntary work
our students do. By completing voluntary work students can apply for a Bronze, Silver or Gold Community
Champion Award
Choosing what to study
Deciding on what to study can be difficult. It is important for you to make good, considered choices that will
support strong academic progress. Our advice would be to:

1. Choose subjects you will enjoy.

A Levels and Level 3 Vocational course can be challenging. To succeed, students will need to show high
levels of effort and commitment. Students who are interested in, and enjoy the subjects they study are often
more likely to show the sufficient levels of engagement to make good progress.

2. Choose subjects you will be good at.

For many careers or courses, grades matter more than subjects. In addition, it is difficult to stay motivated if
you are continually struggling to understand the subject, no matter how hard you work. It will be important
to be guided by the entry requirements for each subject and the grades you are currently working at.

3. Choose subjects that will help you achieve future goals.

Ensure that the combination of subjects you choose meets the requirements of any careers or courses that
you are considering. You can do this and still keep your options open – very few careers or courses specify
more than one or two subjects within their overall requirements.

What is essential? What is preferred? What is useful?

Bear in mind that some careers and courses need particular A-levels. For example:

 Engineering and technology require maths and physics.

 Medicine requires chemistry, plus at least one other science – preferably biology.
 Computer sciences needs maths and sometimes further maths.
 Health care professions such as physiotherapy look for biology.
 For many degrees such as English, history, French and maths you will normally need an A
level in this subject.
 For others like law, psychology, or economics for example, no prior knowledge is
required, though it is useful to study a similar subject to show your aptitude and interest.

The Russell Group – made up of the 24 UK

world-class, research-intensive universities
have an excellent web site to support on
which subjects to choose to help assist with
future options. We recommend that this site
is used to help with subject choices.
[Link]
Different Types of Courses
What are A levels?

These are academic qualifications, the majority of which are assessed through examinations at the end of
the second academic year. Some courses have a Non Exam-Assessment (coursework) which makes up a
percentage of the grade.

Most students are expected to choose 3 subjects to study. However if a student achieves an average Grade
of a 7 or above at GCSE they would be able to apply to study 4 subjects. A decision would then be made at
the end of Year 12 in regards to whether it is in their best interests to continue with 4 subjects. All students
who choose to study Further Mathematics must choose three other subjects

The Extended Project (EPQ)

This will also be available for Year 12 students studying A Levels. The EPQ is the equivalent to an AS Level
(half the value of a full A level). Students will apply to study the EPQ after February half term in Year 12.
Access to study the EPQ will be based on a student’s academic and attendance record in Year 12 at the time
of application.

Students will have timetabled after school lessons and will be provided a subject mentor to support their
progress. Students will submit their final project after the summer holidays.

Vocational qualifications

These are courses which provide a specialist work-related qualification that covers the key knowledge and
practical skills required in the vocational sector and also offer different emphasis through the choice of
specialist units. These qualifications are a combination of modular examinations in Year 12 & 13 and
coursework. They are equivalent to an A level. For 2026 we are offering 3 vocational courses.

GCSE English and mathematics retakes

If a student has achieved the entry requirements to study A Levels or the vocational pathway but has not
achieved a grade 4 in either maths, English or both, students will be expected to retake these GCSE exams.
Students will be supported to do this by the maths and English departments with timetabled extra lessons.
Students will be given an opportunity in either November 2026 or May 2027 to resit these exams.
Swakeleys Sixth Form Entry Requirements
Academic Requirements
To study A Level subjects (or a combination of A Level subjects and Vocational Courses) we expect a student
to achieve a minimum of five GCSE grade 5s or above. This should include a 5 in either English Language or
Literature

To study Vocational Courses only we expect a student to have achieved a minimum of four GCSE grade 4s or
above.

General Requirements
We require that students have 95% attendance in Year 11 (excluding known medical conditions/ exceptional
circumstances) and an excellent behaviour record.

Subject Specific Requirements

Subject GCSE minimum grade

A LEVEL
Art and Design Art 5
Art and Fashion (Textile Design) Art 5
Biology Science 7-7 & Maths 6
Business Maths 5 & Business 5 (if studied)
Chemistry Science 7-7, Maths 6
Computer Science Computer Science 6 & Maths 6
Economics Maths 6
English Literature and Language English 5-5
English Literature English 5-5
Geography Geography 5 (if studied)
History History 5 (if studied)
Mathematics Mathematics 7 & entrance exam
Mathematics – Further – This can also be Mathematics 8
chosen as an AS level
Media Studies Media 5 (if studied)
Photography Art 5 (if studied)
Physics Science 7-7, maths 7
Politics Citizenship or History 5 (if studied)
Psychology Psychology 5 (if studied)
Religious Studies RE 5
Sociology Sociology 5 (if studied)
LEVEL 3 Vocational
Early Childhood Development Ext Cert BTEC 4 GCSEs at 9-4
Health & Social Care Ext Cert BTEC 4 GCSEs at 9-4
Professional Cookery Ext Cert CTH 4 GCSEs at 9-4

Please not that we give all students a free choice and once we have received all applications we then create
a timetable to try and ensure the vast majority of students have their desired combination of subjects.

All offers on courses will be subject to necessary student numbers.

Application Process

November 2025
Applications for 2026 entry open on Thursday 13th November. To apply students need to complete
the online application form which can be found on the school website

We welcome applications from students studying at other schools.

January 2026
The deadline for applications is Friday 9th January. Yr11 students at Swakeleys who have applied will be
invited to a taster day in sixth form on Tuesday 13th January. This will give a students a day in the life of a
sixth form student with, where possible, lessons in their chosen subjects

All applications will be reviewed in January.

February 2026
Students at Swakeleys who have applied will be invited for an interview to discuss their application in the
first two weeks after February Half Term. Interviews will be conducted by one of, Ms Stevenson (Head
Teacher) Mrs Devereux (Deputy Head Teacher) Mr Hayden (Head of Sixth Form) Mrs Tooker (Sixth Form
Academic Lead) or Mrs Cherry (Sixth Form Pastoral Lead). The interviews will take place during the school
day and will last no more than 10 minutes.

March 2026
After the interview process decisions will made about offers. Students will be informed via a letter given via
their form tutor in March. Students will be ask to accept or decline their offer via an online form by the end
of April.

External student applications will be reviewed and selected students may be invited to an interview
afternoon in March. External students invited for interview will be informed by email if they have been
offered a place before the Easter holiday.

June 2026
All students who have accepted their Swakeleys Sixth Form offer will be expected to attend an induction day
on Friday 19th June. Failure to attend this day will result in a student’s place being reviewed.

August 2026
On GCSE results day, 20th August, students will be required to enrol to confirm their place and chosen
subjects.