Sixth Form Admissions Policy

Prospective parents are welcome to visit the school at any time. An appointment should be made by telephoning the school in advance to ensure that a member of staff is available. All visitors must report to the school reception first.

Sixth Form Admission Policy 2025/2026

The William de Ferrers School sixth form is available for all existing students and applications from external students are most welcome. Students will be admitted into the sixth form at age 16 where the school agrees it is able to offer and resource, for the student, a programme of study from which they will benefit.

Key stage 5 courses chosen by students and their GCSE results will be discussed individually with each student prior to a place being confirmed at the commencement of the relevant academic year. Successful applicants will sign an agreed working contract.

Entry requirements:

Students must meet the specific subject requirements as published in the sixth form course guide available from the school.

Students must achieve a minimum of 40 points across their best 8 GCSEs to study ‘A’ levels and 30 points for BTEC courses.

Students must achieve a grade 4 or above in English and Mathematics.

We understand there might be extenuating circumstances, and we will consider applications and interview students who don’t quite meet the criteria. If you start in the Sixth Form without a grade 4 or above in English and/or Mathematics we expect you to re-sit the exams to achieve at least a grade 4.

Offers will be made according to places available in the relevant teaching groups and subject to courses running. Where this does not provide sufficient differentiation between students for the final places preference will be given to:

i. A ‘looked after child’ or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, residence, or special guardianship order. A looked after child is a child who is (a) in the care of a local authority, or (b) being provided with accommodation by a local authority in the exercise of their social services functions (see the definition in section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989).

ii. Those students who have attended William de Ferrers School.

iii. The student(s) who live(s) closest to the school. Priority will be determined by straight-line distance from home to school, those living closest being given highest priority.

For applicants not awarded a place as a result of the above they may appeal to an independent statutory appeals panel established under the current regulations especially for this purpose.