Sixth Form | Epsom College

A-levels, leadership and preparations for life beyond Epsom… these two years are an exciting time and the pinnacle of everything you’ve worked for, whether you’re moving up from our Fifth Form or joining us from another school.

There are around 380 students across the two year groups, which allows everyone to receive tailored individual attention while being part of a lively, diverse community.

Individual Support

Academic aspiration is the central focus of Sixth Form studies. We want to inspire you to become inquisitive, independent learners who leave ready to thrive at university and beyond.

You will have a personal academic tutor who will work alongside you, monitoring your performance, agreeing targets and helping to ensure the best working practices are followed. You will meet your tutor frequently for one-to-ones but – crucially – you own the process.

The A-level Curriculum

You will study three Principal Subjects at A-level (four if you choose Maths and Further Maths). These will be supplemented with an option from the Core Curriculum, which provides breadth and develops key skills essential for your future.

Which subjects can I choose?

You will choose three from the following list:

  • Art (Fine Art)
  • Biology
  • Business
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science
  • Design & Technology
  • Drama & Theatre Studies
  • Economics
  • English Literature
  • French
  • Geography
  • German
  • History
  • Latin
  • Maths (and Further Maths)
  • Mandarin
  • Music
  • Photography
  • Physical Education
  • Physics
  • Politics
  • Psychology (from September 2023)
  • Religious Studies
  • Spanish

Students may also study the Business BTEC Diploma, which is equivalent to two A-levels.

What are the entry requirements?

To be considered for a place in our Sixth Form you will need a grade average of 6.5 across all your GCSEs, with at least a Grade 7 in the subjects you wish to study at A-level.

You must have at least Grade 8 for the more technical subjects, such as maths, sciences and modern languages.

Why only three subjects?

We work closely with Russell Group universities and their clear advice is that three subjects is optimal. Universities base their offers on three subjects, and studying this many allows students to go deep into their chosen subjects while also having time in the week to enjoy the breadth of opportunities on offer at the College.

Employers and Admissions Tutors want to meet candidates who are rounded and have experiences that go far beyond the classroom. We feel that the balance of our curriculum gives you the best chance of achieving this.

What about English as an Additional Language?

In the Sixth Form, we support students with English as an Additional Language (EAL) by focusing on two specific areas of study:

  • qualification for entry to British or other English Language universities
  • broadening and consolidation of academic skills in English language

The course of choice leads to the IELTS exam (International English Language Testing System) in Lower Sixth.

Tertiary institutions across the world recognise the IELTS exam as evidence of sufficient knowledge of English to successfully complete undergraduate courses in an English-speaking environment. It is also possible for pupils to undertake study that leads to examinations such as the Cambridge University Main Suite Exams (CPE, CAE or FCE).

In the Upper Sixth, private tuition is the norm, and pupils may resit the IELTS exam if required.

We assess all pupils for whom English is an Additional Language and ensure that they have appropriate access arrangements in public examinations.

What else is studied?

All students have the opportunity to lead a lively intellectual life outside of the classroom. Everyone has to take an option from our Core Curriculum (see below) and – in addition – the Sixth Form curriculum allows time for you to take part in one of:

  • Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award
  • The Combined Cadet Force
  • The College’s award-winning community service programme

You will also take part in a series of Personal & Social Development (PSD) lectures and seminars. These focus on your wellbeing and your transition into adult life beyond the College. You will cover such things as finance, body image, consent, leadership and resilience.

What is the Core Curriculum?

The Core Curriculum provides you with skills and experience that complement your A-level studies. You choose one option from the following:

Core Maths

A chance to continue maths beyond GCSE, but at a level less taxing than A-level. The focus is on functional skills that use mathematical processes, rather than ‘pure’ maths. This is ideal if you’re studying Biology, Geography, Business and Economics A-levels.

English AP

This is roughly equivalent to the A-level course for US students. This qualification is accepted by US Universities, and increasingly by their counterparts in the UK who have been known to lower grade boundaries for pupils who have English AP.

The focus on language and composition make it a great choice for aspiring journalists, or those pursuing a career where clear, coherent and persuasive communication is key. 

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

If you want to hone your independent research skills, and follow a topic of your choosing, the Extended Project Qualification is a great choice. You select a topic of interest, fine-tune your research question with the support of a teacher and conduct university-level research to produce a 5,000-word report. This is great training for university dissertations.

International Certificate for Digital Literacy

Recognised as the international standard for digital workplace skills, you will acquire advanced skills in word processing, spreadsheets, presentation software and databases. The final qualification is worth 24 UCAS points.

Young Enterprise

The internationally recognised starting point for business people and budding entrepreneurs. You will work as part of a team to build your business from scratch, learning how to develop a product, bring it to market and – hopefully – turn a profit.

Your Weekly Routine

The image below shows the structure of a typical week in the Sixth Form. The majority of students take three A-levels plus a Core-Curriculum option (see above).

The day begins with registration at 8.25am. You will have seven periods per week for each subject and – on average – one period per week will be spent following your core curriculum choice.

The School day ends at 6pm with College transport departing at 6.15pm. However on several days each term there are further opportunities for enrichment during the Cultural Hour, including guest lectures, performances, readings, and plays.

Games

The benefit of a longer day, and time on Saturdays, is that we can provide you with ample opportunities to indulge your interests, or discover new ones. Sport is a big part of the College, but our extensive co-curricular programme aims to stretch minds as much as muscles. 

Games sessions are delivered on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. The majority of fixtures take place on Saturday afternoons. The major games are:

Michaelmas Term

  • Rugby (boys) / Hockey (girls)

Lent Term

  • Football (boys) / Netball (girls)

Summer Term

  • Cricket, Tennis and Athletics (boys and girls) / Rounders (girls)

Learn more

Clubs, Societies & Activities

Activities are timetabled Monday-Friday, 4.10-5.55pm. The choice is huge, with over 150 clubs, activities and societies to choose from throughout the year (see below).

Our co-curricular programme gives Sixth Form students the chance to cement their position as leaders and senior members of the College community. The opportunities are there to lead groups, clubs and societies. You can mentor younger pupils, and help to lead sessions or direct performances and productions.

And if you feel that there’s a gap in the programme, you can pitch your ideas to the Head of Sixth Form. If we think the idea is worth pursuing, the time, support and (sometimes) money will be given to bring your idea to life. A number of pupil-led societies started this way, including Amnesty International, Charity Committee, African, Caribbean, Asian and Allies Society, Climate Committee and LGBTQIA+ Committee.

Learn more

Enrichment

Beyond A-levels, students benefit from a stimulating enrichment programme. Of course we aspire to the top grades, but what we really consider a success is helping to develop top people. Our Sixth Form helps to develop young people who are well-rounded, intellectually adventurous, independent and socially aware.

You will mentor younger pupils, take leading roles in many of our 150+ co-curricular activities, organise social and charity events, direct plays, lead committees and take an active role in our service in the community programme.

Pastoral Care

We are often asked to define the typical Epsom College pupil, but the truth is there is no ‘type’. Each person is valued equally in our community, as each brings their own set of skills, qualities and kindness to the College.

Our Pastoral provision has won awards, and Sixth Form students have been central to its success. They are pivotal, assuming leadership roles in their Houses and across the College, mentoring younger pupils, and leading by example in the community.

Join our Sixth Form

We would love to welcome you as part of our Sixth Form. To apply, simply click here to find out more.

Learn more