Learning Pathways
The Sixth Form at the Piggott School offers a wide range of courses. We welcome students to the Sixth Form who wish to work hard and play an active part in the life of the school.
Students should have a good record of attitude and behaviour in the previous years of their education; references will be requested for students who wish to join the Piggott School in the Sixth Form from other schools. Please see The Sixth Form Admissions section of the The Piggott School Admissions Arrangements document for more detail.
Four different pathways are offered:
- A Level Pathway
- Level 3 Vocational Pathway
- VRQ Coaching Programme and BTEC Sport
- Level 2 Vocational Pathway
Please click on the links above to find out more about each of these pathways and the entry requirements for them.
Please click on the links on the right to view information about individual courses.
A Level Pathway
Most students will study four AS subjects in Year 12 and continue with three of those subjects in Year 13.
Entry requirements are as follows:
43 points – number of B grades is greater or equal to the number of C grades
plus a minimum of Grade C in English and Mathematics
Based on Average Points Score (APS)
A* - 58 points
A - 52 points
B - 46 points
C - 40 points
D - 34 points
E - 28 points
- Individual subjects will have their own entry requirements (eg grade B at GCSE)
- In order to progress to year 13 from AS level a minimum of ‘D’ grades must be obtained in three subjects at the end of year 12
- GCSE Calculation Table for Average Points Score
The A Level and equivalent Level 3 subjects offered are: (Please see links to course information on the right of this page):
Art & Design, Biology, Business Studies, Business BTEC, Chemistry, Computing, Drama & Theatre Studies, Economics, English Literature, Food Technology, French, Geography, German, Government & Politics, Health and Social Care BTEC, History, ICT Cambridge TEC Level 3, Mathematics, Media Studies, Music, Photography, Physical Education, Physics, Product Design, Psychology, Science (Applied), Spanish, Sport BTEC, Sociology, Textiles, VRQ Coaching Programme.
Please note that the school reserves the right to withdraw courses but that this is a very rare occurrence.
Level 3 Vocational Pathway
Students opting for this pathway will take three or four vocational options over two years by one of the following routes:
Equivalent of 4 vocational options
Equivalent of 3 vocational options + 1 AS Level
Equivalent of 3 vocational options
The pathway chosen is subject to staff approval.
The BTEC National and the Cambridge Technical Diploma in ICT Level 3 are two year courses. We currently offer BTEC National in Business Studies. They are Level 3 courses and therefore the work is at A-level standard. The BTEC is a longstanding, widely recognised qualification and carries UCAS points for university applications, as does the Cambridge Technical Diploma in ICT Level 3. The BTEC and Cambridge TEC Level 3 courses are portfolio based and ideally suited to students who favour continuous assessment rather that assessment through examination.
Entry requirements are as follows:
38 points – at least twice as many C grades as D grades
plus a minimum of grade D in English and Mathematics
- You must follow an English course (equivalent to GCSE) if you do not have at least grade C in English.
- You must follow a Mathematics course (equivalent to GCSE) if you do not have at least grade C in Mathematics.
- GCSE Calculation Table for Average Points Score
The courses on offer are:
- BTEC National Diploma in Business (equivalent to 2 A-Levels and counts as two options).
- BTEC National Subsidiary Diploma in Business (equivalent to 1 A-Level)
- BTEC National Subsidiary Diploma in Sport (equivalent to 1 A-Level)
- BTEC National Subsidiary Diploma in Health & Social Care (equivalent to 1 A-Level)
- Cambridge Technical Diploma in ICT Level 3 (equivalent to 1 A-Level)
- Applied Science (1 A-Level)
The Vocational pathway enables students to gain a good base from which they can move onto further study or into employment.
VRQ Coaching Programme and BTEC Sport
The VRQ Football Coaching course is a two year course: year 12 covers Levels 1 and 2 while year 13 is at Level 3 standard and is equivalent to two A Levels. An interest and some ability in football are helpful but the course will ultimately support a student’s development in coaching a range of sports.
The BTEC National Subsidiary Diploma in Sport will also run alongside the Football Coaching and will be part of this programme. An AS Level is a possible alternative.
Level 2 Vocational Pathway
If you have fallen short of the entry requirements for either the A-Level pathway or the Vocational pathway a year Level 2 Pathway option is available. This pathway allows you to take core and additional subjects to GCSE level which will enable you to bolster your grades / point scores. After completion of this year, you may have achieved the requirements for entry onto the Level 3 Vocational Pathway.
Entry requirements:
- Level 3 criteria not met
- 34 points – equivalent to grade D in all subjects
- A minimum of grade D in English and grade E in Mathematics is required
- GCSE Calculation Table for Average Points Score
Compulsory subjects
- Level 2 English qualification
- Level 2 Mathematics qualification
- Workskills – Certificate
In addition you will study the equivalent of three Vocational Certificates at level 2 from the following choices
The optional courses on offer are:
(BTEC First Certificate = 2 GCSEs; BTEC First Diploma = 4 GCSEs)
- Business Dual Award BTEC First Diploma (this counts as two choices)
- Business Single Award BTEC First Certificate (this counts as one choice)
- Health & Social Care BTEC First Certificate (this counts as one choice)
- Engineering BTEC First Certificate (this counts as one choice)
- Cambridge Technical Diploma in ICT Level 2 Certificate (1 GCSE) (this counts as one choice)
If you have any questions or concerns regarding Sixth Form pathways you should contact the
Head of Key Stage 5.
