girls sat on the grass together

Entry Requirements

We are delighted you are considering Thornton College Sixth Form.  At Thornton we offer a wide selection of A Level and Vocational Qualification courses and the individual student experience is at the heart of all we do.  

Sixth Form courses are demanding and require a great deal of commitment and independent study.  Students need to be aware that a strong performance at GCSE is advisable to start an A Level course in order to cope with the challenge and volume of work.  In accordance with the Thornton College ethos, however, academic ability is not the only part of the selection process.  We recommend that students pursue courses in which they have attained a grade 6 or above at GCSE; however, we are able to explore pathways and options for those with lower starting points.  Our aim is always to support individuals in pursuing the right pathway for them, so that students can be both successful and happy in their Sixth Form courses and beyond.

External applicants must be formally registered to be included in the options process. Internal students will transition from Year 11 into Year 12 and there will be lots of opportunities and events to discuss subject choices with teachers and the Sixth Form team.  Staff at Thornton will be able to advise students on their suitability for any subject choice, particularly those which are new introductions at Sixth Form level, such as Economics, Forensics, and Health & Social Care.  Individual aspirations and suitability for courses will be discussed to ensure students and families feel secure in the subjects and courses chosen and how these will lead to university, apprenticeship or career routes after the Sixth Form.

Those students who are studying their GCSEs at a different school and would like to join Thornton for Sixth Form are very welcome to apply.  Each year we admit many UK and international students into our Sixth Form and we have an exciting induction programme in place to aid transition.  As part of the admissions process there will be the opportunity to meet with our Head of Sixth Form, Mrs Ruth Coates, to discuss subject choices and suitability.  It is also a requirement for families and prospective students to have an interview with our Headteacher, Dr Shaw.  Please visit the admissions page of our website to learn more about this process.

Candidates will be informed whether they have been offered a place following an interview.  All offers are conditional on satisfactory performance at GCSE. 

Thornton is a welcoming school and we work with each student supporting their individual pathway.  We welcome new families and UK and international students for Sixth Form entry and would be happy to discuss any individual circumstances or queries.  For further information please contact our Admissions Team at admissions@thorntoncollege.com.