Admissions Policy and Admission Procedure for entry into Sixth Form
The Governors intend to admit around one hundred and thirty students each year in Year 12. The full intake of one hundred and thirty is not always taken up entirely by students from our own Year 11 and we welcome applications for the places from students in other schools.
A and AS level Entry Requirements
St Mary’s specialises in A and AS level courses. With all of our students in the sixth form following a programme of A levels, we feel we can offer a wide range of subject combinations and deliver them expertly. Students would usually be expected to follow a core programme of three or four A level subjects in Year 12 with the opportunity to opt for further A or AS levels to complement this programme, such as Ethics. In Year 13 we would expect students to follow through into the second year of A level study (A2) in at least three of their core subjects.
In addition to the high expectations of conduct, appearance and effort, applicants to Sixth Form should also satisfy the following academic requirements:
- Five or more GCSE passes at grade C or above,
- Grade B or above in all the subjects you wish to study at A level*
- Any additional requirements for the subjects you have chosen, as stated in the subject entries for each subject in this prospectus.
Internal Applicants, from our own Year 11, apply in the Spring term and demonstrate their general suitability by obtaining, on their application form, the signatures of parents, present teachers in all subjects chosen for A level, Form Teacher, Heads of Year and Deputy Head of School.
External Applicants are welcome. Applicants should write or telephone the school during their Year 10 or 11 and ask for a prospectus. At the same time, or later, please ask for an appointment to visit the school and be shown around. During this visit, we will give more information about the school, show the facilities, explain the application procedure, and give the necessary application forms. The full entry requirements will be discussed at this meeting. If students wish to make an application, we would then ask you to send in the completed forms and an appointment will be made with the Headteacher.
*If you have not studied your chosen A level before, then additional grades at A or B will be required in a subject which is allied to your chosen subject.