Study Programmes

All students at Blackpool Sixth are following full-time study programmes which lead to highly valued qualifications which will set you on course for future success. Apart from your main subject learning, your study programme will also include pastoral mentor support sessions and personal development through the 6Xtraprogramme, 6Advance and work experience.

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16 to 19 study programmes

At Blackpool Sixth, our curriculum follows the principles of the 16 to 19 study programmes as provided here. This means that students at Blackpool Sixth are enrolled onto study programmes that provide​s​ them with a structured and challenging learning programme ​to support their development and progression in line with their career plans. Our study programmes are individually tailored but all combine the elements below.

i) All courses at Blackpool Sixth are substantial academic, applied or vocational qualifications that stretch students and prepare them for education at the next level or employment. You can view all our courses here.

ii) ​O​ur study programmes include ​GCSE English and maths qualification resits where students have not yet achieved a GCSE grade 4.

iii) All study programmes include an element of work experience, in its widest sense, to give young people the opportunity to develop their career choices and to apply their skills in real working conditions.

iv) Our study programmes include pastoral and enrichment act​i​vit​ies to develop students’ character, skills, attitudes and confidence, and to support their progression.

The different kinds of study programme are listed below.

The A level Programme

The A level Programme provides an excellent preparation for university entry as well as higher apprenticeship programmes.

In year one (Lower Sixth) you can choose three A level courses, in some cases, four choices may be possible. In year two (Upper Sixth), you will concentrate on completing three A levels.

What GCSE grades will I need?

For our A Level programme, we require at least two GCSEs at grade 5 and three GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English and maths. The pass grades need to be in academic GCSEs and relate to your chosen A level courses. You must also meet the specific requirements for the individual courses you want  to take.

The Vocational Programme

The Vocational Programme will appeal to you if you want to focus on a particular industry or vocational area. Built around National Occupational Standards, they have the full backing of employers and universities.

The Vocational Programme is designed to provide you with a broad range of transferable skills that will support progression for university, higher level apprenticeships or employment. At the same academic level as A levels, they also provide a practical, real-world way of learning. The majority of assessment is through internally set, work-related projects or briefs that develop skills for the workplace along with some external assessment that also builds skills for university. In some subjects we offer more than one size of course to add flexibility to your choices. You will need to take a triple course or a double plus a single in both the first and second years.

What GCSE grades will I need?

Vocational level 3 courses are advanced courses, we require five grade 9-4 passes (or equivalent) including English language or maths. You must also meet the specific requirements for the individual courses you want to take.

The Combined Programme

Our Combined Programme provides an opportunity to create a package of study that includes elements of both vocational and A level study to suit an individual’s career aspirations; this works particularly well when grouping together related courses.

The Blackpool Sixth admissions team are happy to discuss options and provide advice about what combines well to support your next steps / progression. For the Combined Programme you will need the same minimum grades as for the Vocational Programme and also meet the specific requirements for the individual courses you want to take. Your programme needs to be the equivalent of three A levels.

Route3

Want to study at Blackpool Sixth but not sure you’ll get the grades you need? We have the ideal option for you.

Our ‘Route3’ programme gives you an opportunity to gain your level 3 qualifications over three years instead of two. This is ideal for students who may not quite obtain the grades they need to progress straight into our level 3 programmes when they leave school. We’ll look at your career and study goals and help you build a package that will get you there, including supporting you to achieve your all-important GCSE English and maths.

What GCSE grades will I need?

To join this programme you will need 4 GCSEs at grade 3 (or equivalent). One of either English Language or maths needs to be a grade 3 whilst the other needs to be no less than a grade 2.