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Watch our Return to the Forbidden Planet trailer
Watch the trailer for our Performing Arts Department production of Return to the Forbidden Planet
Read our latest newsletter
Download our Spring Newsletter 2012 and read about our recent college news.
Four Students recieve offers from Oxford and Cambridge
Four students have had confirmation of offers to study at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in 2012.
Blackpool Sixth students get a future career boost through new workplace mentors
Blackpool Sixth students will get a unique boost to their future careers over the next eighteen months as they are paired up...
13 Blackpool Sixth students achieve national Maths success
13 students from Blackpool Sixth have achieved success in the national Mathematics Senior Challenge with five students...Announcements
Course Advice Evening
29th February 6.00pm - 8.00pm
Return to the Forbidden Planet
6th March 7.00pm - 10.00pm
Return to the Forbidden Planet
7th March 7.30pm - 10.00pm
Choosing the right course
Blackpool Sixth Form has a wide range of courses on offer. This allows you to select courses which exactly match your interests, abilities and future plans.
There are five main programmes we offer. By “programme”, we mean ways of combining your choices in order to put together a set of courses which will meet your needs and set you up perfectly for the next stage. All programmes include Personal Tutor sessions, an “additional studies” component and an enrichment choice.
International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)
The A level Programme
This well-known programme provides an excellent preparation for University entry. It is also extremely flexible as you can choose almost any combination of AS courses. In year 1 (Lower Sixth), you choose 4 AS courses. Many students on this programme will also study General Studies as their “additional studies” course. In year two, you study the second part of your courses, called A2. This will complete your programme together with your Personal Tutor sessions and additional studies course.
Click here for a list of our A level courses
Which A levels should I choose?
This is really down to you. The best advice is to think carefully about what your plans are after A levels and choose courses which help you achieve this goal. For example, if you are thinking about maybe applying for a University course in a particular subject e.g. Medicine, then this will mean that you’d need to choose certain subjects - in this case ones like Biology and Chemistry.
For many Higher Education courses and jobs, the exact choice of A levels is not too important but it’s always worth checking out with your Careers Teacher or a Connexions advisor.
If you don’t have a specific goal for after A levels, then you are best to choose subjects which both interest you and which you feel you will do well in. As part of your enrolment to Sixth Form, we will talk through your course choices with you, so don’t worry if you are finding it hard to choose!
What kind of GCSE grades will I need?
For our 4 A level programme, we require at least 2 GCSEs at B grade and 4 GCSEs at grade C or above, including English or Maths. The B grades (or above) need to be related to the subjects you wish to take at AS level e.g. a B grade in English is normally required for “essay” based subjects such as English, History, Law. B grades in Double Science are required for our AS courses in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
What if I need to resit my Maths or English?
Clearly it is much better if you are able to pass both your English and Maths first time. Both are essential qualifications for University entry and most career routes these days. If you do need to re-sit one of them, this can be fitted into your programme. We are also able to offer a single Science option for those who need this for going into areas such as nursing or primary teaching – this is normally taken in the second year of your courses.
International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)
The Blackpool Sixth Form is the only non-fee paying Sixth Form in the area to offer this exciting programme. The IB is an alternative to A levels for those who want a broad-based course which allows you to build your knowledge in key subject areas and also gives you a range of other options to choose. This programme is well-known across the globe for its high standards and its development of excellent personal and independent learning skills.
Click here for more details on the IB Diploma
Gifted and Talented Programme
This programme is for students who achieve mainly A* and A grades at GCSE. In Year 1 (Lower Sixth) you choose 4 AS courses. You will also take an exciting course called AS Critical Thinking (see page 70) which helps you extend your reasoning and analysis skills. It is well respected by top universities as evidence of your higher level abilities. You will also receive an individualised package of support to help you with applications to the more selective university courses such as Oxbridge and Medical courses. There are specific tutor groups for Gifted and Talented students to ensure that you benefit from spending time with other very high ability students.
Please note that you do not need to apply specifically for the Gifted and Talented programme. You will be advised at enrolment on the basis of your predicted grades if it is likely that you will be eligible for entry onto the programme.
Our Gifted and Talented programme also includes taking the EPQ and the AQA Baccalaureate. Click here to download our AQA Baccalaureate and EPQ Information document
In 2011, eight students from our Gifted and Talented programme gained places at Oxford and Cambridge. Click here to read more.
The Applied Programme (BTEC)
This programme will appeal to those of you who want a more work-related focus to your studies than the traditional A level courses offer. These courses are all much more coursework-based than A levels, in fact BTECs have no public exams at all.
With this option, the core of your programme is an advanced applied qualification in one of a range of occupational areas. This qualification will count the same as two or three A levels and is studied over two years. If you are taking the two A level equivalent option then you will need to also choose one or two AS levels in the first year which you will follow to A2 level in the second year.
You also take an Additional Studies course related to your main studies. If you need to take a GCSE re-sit in English or Maths, then this will normally take the place of one of your choices.
Click here for a list of our BTEC courses
What are BTEC Level 3 Diplomas?
BTEC Level 3 Diplomas are practical, work related courses. You learn by completing projects and assignments that are based on realistic workplace situations, activities and demands. There are no public exams. BTEC Level 3 Diplomas are equivalent to two A levels. The BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma is equivalent to three A levels.
The BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma is worth one A level over two years. You can use these courses either to move into employment or to go into Higher Education. They are very well known and respected in business and industry.
Is this programme only for those definitely interested in particular jobs?
No. These are very well respected qualifications which will help you succeed in a wide variety of different career and study routes. The job areas which the courses relate to are very broad e.g. IT is used in most jobs nowadays. The main thing to think about when choosing this programme is that it offers more practical, “hands-on” learning than the academic A levels. If this is the way you like to work then you will get a lot out of these courses.
What kind of GCSE grades will I need?
As BTEC Level 3 Diplomas are advanced courses, we generally require 5 A*- C passes of C grade or above (or equivalent) including English or Maths. Your passes must cover at least three different subject areas.
If you have taken courses such as BTEC Level 2 Diplomas at school, these are a very good preparation for our higher level BTEC courses. We will normally expect you to pass these at Merit level if you wish to progress in that particular subject area. The same is true for the new Diploma courses – a Merit is required and you
must have a C grade or above in English or Maths and at least one other “core” GCSE such as Science or ICT.
The Level 2 (Dual Pathway) Programme
This programme is designed for those of you who want to move on to Sixth Form but who may not to get 5 A - C’s at GCSE at this stage. The Level 2 programme offers you the perfect chance to improve your skills and take highly respected qualifications in a range of job-related areas. When you have completed this one-year programme, you will be ready for the next step which could be either the A level Programme or the Applied programme.
Click here for a list of our Level 2 courses
What kind of grades do I need to get onto the Level 2 Programme?
The course is designed for students who have at least 4 D grades at GCSE.
Our Career Pathway documents are designed to help you path your future in specific employment sectors.
Each document contains information about employment in that sector and a number of career pathways with the courses we recommend you study in order to follow this route. For example, if you are interested in working in aviation or engineering, there is a relevant Engineering route in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths Pathway and guidance on the courses we suggest you study.
In addition, the documents provide examples of former students of Blackpool Sixth Form who are working in that sector.
Choose a Career pathway below:
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