Making the Right Choice
You will have already received considerable advice from your present school about the main types of courses and how you should decide which combination is right for you. All of this advice is equally valid for Partnership courses. The main thing is to choose subjects which you will enjoy studying and which will help you progress in your chosen career. It is also important to choose courses at the right level.
Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2 Programmes (eg BTEC, GCSE)
These last for one year and lead either to further study at a higher level, or to employment or to training. Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2 programmes in schools vary from centre to centre and you should consult your Head of Post 16 to find out exactly what is on offer. The City of Bristol College also offers a range of full-time courses. GCSE resits in English, Maths and Science are also available in some centres.
The courses listed in this prospectus should form the main part of your programme and other courses will be added according to your career interests and after discussion with your Head of Post 16.
Entry requirements: There are no entry requirements for Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2 courses, except for a genuine interest in the subject and a commitment to work hard.
Level 3 Programmes (eg AS / A2, Diplomas)
These are essentially 2 year programmes although it is possible to complete the first year only and still gain AS qualifications. Level 3 programmes usually mean 4 AS courses in Year 12 and 3 A2 courses in Year 13 or a Diploma plus 1 or 2 AS courses. Gaining Level 3 qualifications allows you to access Higher Education courses at university which in turn offers access to professional careers in which a degree is required such as medicine, law, teaching etc. Alternatively gaining Level 3 qualifications allows you the opportunity to enter your career at a higher level with a greater chance of training, promotion and therefore job satisfaction, not to mention a higher salary!
Normal entry requirements for AS/A2 courses:
- Students should have a minimum of 5 x GCSE at grades A* - Cs
- Students should preferably have grade Bs or above or equivalent in those subjects to be studied at Level 3
- Students should have English and Maths at grade C or above or a commitment to resit these subjects during Year 12
Entry requirements for BTEC Nationals may vary slightly from the above Where particular circumstances exist, exceptions to the normal entry requirements may be made in negotiation with your Head of Post-16
