Admissions

2024 Sixth Form Admissions

Open Evening 

Thank you to everyone that was able to attend our open evening on the 18th January, we do hope you enjoyed the evening. 

If you would like to review the presentation given by Mr Burke and Mr Leatherbarrow, please click here

If you were unable to attend the open evening and would like to visit Balcarras Sixth Form, please contact Cheryl Crowley in the Sixth Form Office (01242 545118) to arrange a visit at another date. 

In the meantime, please find further information below (a video showing the Sixth Form, the latest prospectus and grade entry requirements). 

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Application Form 

Our application form is now live! The deadline for applications for 2024 admissions will be Sunday 4th February, 2024. Please review our application process and key dates in addition to this subject choice's matrix document, which is a useful tool to help decide the subjects students wish to chose for Sixth Form. Please review our courses offered section, where you can find details and videos on all the courses we offer in Sixth Form. 

Prospectus 

Please click here view the 2024 Balcarras Sixth Form prospectus. If you have questions, please click here for some FAQs. 

Entry Requirements 

The minimum requirement for entry to the sixth form is 2 grade 6s and 3 grade 5s in full GCSE courses. These must include a grade 5 or above in both mathematics and English language or literature. In addition, many A-level subjects will require a specific grade in that particular subject at GCSE. Please click here to review our Sixth Form entry requirements by subject. 

Consultations Meetings 

Consultation meetings will take place with a member of the Sixth Form team after the application deadline during the month of February. This will be informal 1:1 meetings with the student/staff member to discuss the students' current predicted grades and aspirations for Sixth Form. Invitations will be sent to students after we have received their application form. 

Conditional Offers 

Conditional offers will be given to successful students after their consultation interview.  Please note that all offers of places are dependent on GCSE results. For information on our oversubscription criteria, please click here.

Pre Admission Form 

Once you have been given a conditional offer, we require all parents/guardians to complete a pre-admission form, this form will be available nearer the time. 

Induction Day  

All students that have received a conditional offer to join Sixth Form in 2024 will be invited to our induction day, which will be held on Tuesday 2nd July, 2024. The morning will consist of a welcome assembly, followed by a selection of 30-minute taster lessons based on the students' chosen A Level courses. Included will be a break with a complimentary snack and drink, the opportunity to meet other students and staff and to learn about the extra-curricular and enrichment opportunities available at Balcarras Sixth Form. Students are not required to wear uniform but should attend in smart-casual wear. 

Getting A Level Ready 

Once you have received your offer letter, please do use the summer to review our getting A Level ready presentation to help you to prepare for joining Balcarras Sixth Form. 

GCSE Results Day 

The Balcarras Sixth Form team will be managing admissions in school on results day, Thursday 22nd August.  Please note the following information:

Balcarras Students:

If you have met the required grades as detailed in your offer letter, please email cc@balcarras.gloucs.sch.uk by 3pm to confirm you would like to take up your place. If you have not met the required grades for one or more of your chosen subjects, please go to the Year 13 study room (6B6) to meet with Mr Rothwell to discuss. If you would like to change a subject, please go to 6B3 to meet with a member of the team. If you have not met the grades detailed in your offer letter but would like to discuss this, please go to 6B7 to meet with Mr Constance. 

Non-Balcarras Students:

If you have met the criteria stated in your offer letter, please email your GCSE results to cc@balcarras.gloucs.sch.uk and confirm you would like your place. We will get back to you over the coming days to confirm the availability of your place. If you have not met the criteria for one or more of your chosen subjects, please come to Balcarras (entering via the Sixth Form entrance) and ask a student ambassador or member of staff to take you to the Year 13 study room, where you can meet with Mr Rothwell or Mrs Derrick to discuss. If you are unable to come into Balcarras, please email cc@balcarras.gloucs.sch.uk with your results as soon as possible.  If you have not met the criteria but still wish to discuss, please come into Balcarras and go to 6B5 to meet with Mr Constance. As above, if you are not able to do this please email or phone into the Sixth Form offices. 

If we do not hear from any applicant by 3pm on results day, we will assume that they do not wish to take up their place and the offer of a place will be withdrawn.

Subject Choices and Changes 

Please click here for details of the courses we offer and the entry requirements for each subject.

All students choose FOUR courses. Our prospectus gives guidance on combining courses. It is important that you try and be as sure as you can be about the courses you choose. You will be spending up to two years studying them, so please take the time to talk to your teachers, parents and career advisers about them! Please review the option blocks (posted here nearer the time) for the 2024/25 academic year to ensure that you have chosen subjects that will not clash on the timetable. 

Please note that there will be time to change your subject choices post-results day, should you wish. We do offer a grace period during the first few weeks of Year 12 where you may visit the Sixth Form offices and talk to a member of staff. Please ensure you have consulted the option blocks and entry requirements before discussing any subject changes. 

“Joining Balcarras 6th Form from Winchombe School was quite daunting with new subjects, new teachers and new classmates, but the school was really welcoming right from the start … Balcarras was my first choice for sixth form and I have no regrets with my decision. It has lived up to its positive reputation and has allowed me to experience a wide range of activities whilst pushing me to achieve my academic goals.” Aidan Cheale, former Winchcombe student

"The sixth form ... has standards that are among the highest in the country". Ofsted