Level    Entry Requirements
       
Level 1 Level 1BTEC Introductory Diploma and Key Skills Level 1   Mostly E's & F's with some other grades.
Level 1 Plus BTEC Introductory Diploma with some Key Skills at Level 2 or a GCSE   One Grade D with mostly E's
Level 2 Level 2 BTEC First Diploma with a GCSE   At least 2 Grade D's with up to 2 Grade C's
Level 2 Plus Access to Advance Study
BTEC First Diploma with an AS or BTEC Award in an area where your GCSE's show particular strength. 		  3 Grade C's
Level 3 Level 33 AS/BTEC Awards or a BTEC National Diploma, with an extra Level 2 course to suit your needs.   4 Grade C's
4 AS/BTEC National Diploma with another course, for example at advanced level, if needed.   At least 5 Grade C's
Level 3 Plus Up to 5 AS/BTEC awards.   At least 5 Grade A*s or A's
 

You will also need to check out specific grades required in a particular subject for some courses. These details are given in the Course Directory section of this web site. Remember that at this stage, we are looking at your probable GCSE grades. We don't make any final decision until you have your results. In many cases this means we might work on a 'Plan A' and a 'Plan B' with you.

When you have worked out which level of course will probably be right for you, go to the Course Directory and look at the range of courses available. You will see several different types of course.


Description

BTEC Introductory Diploma These courses take up most of the time on your timetable and will give you a good grounding for further study or work. They are set up to give you a taste of several work related areas so that you have the maximum range of choices for your next step. There is a strong emphasis on coursework and developing important skills with number, communication and IT.

BTEC First Diploma Level 2 courses each of which is equal to four GCSE grades. If you manage a Distinction, this equals four A grades; a Merit equals 4 Bs and a Pass 4 Cs. Each of the First Diplomas will take up most of the time in your timetable and has a strong emphasis on coursework.

GCSE'sAlthough you will be familiar with these courses, you must remember that they will be very different at college. For a start, we have just over 2 terms to cover what you did in 2 years at school. They are intensive courses aimed to get you the vital passport qualifications in English, Maths and Science which are requirements for many employers and universities. Students who have skills in languages not taught at school, can also take GCSEs with our support.

BTEC National Diploma Level 3 courses that take up nearly the whole of your timetable. Each Diploma is the equivalent of 3 A levels and can be used for university entry as well as for job applications. There is a strong emphasis on coursework with some external testing. These are graded as pass, merit or distinction.

BTEC AwardThese are units of the BTEC Diplomas and each one is equivalent to an A level.

AS & A2 These together make up the traditional A level. You take AS after the first year as a stepping-stone qualification. The marks from your A2 in the second year are added to the AS to give you your final grade at A level after 2 years. All the courses are split up into 3 modules each year and you can re-take AS modules in the second year to improve your marks. If you pass these courses, you are given a grade from A to E. All these grades are accepted as passes by universities and employers, not just the A-C grades as for GCSEs.