Year 9 Options - Your Choices Count!
Decisions you make when you choose your options in Year 9 could matter for the rest of your life. The choices you make could open or close doors for you in the future, so it’s good to be thinking ahead to what you might like to do next, what you enjoy and what you might want to do for a career in the future. If you already know what you want to do then that’s great; but if you don’t, that’s perfectly ok too.
If you already have an idea of what career path you want to follow, then it is easy for you to check out what subjects you may need to study by looking at college websites, and even beyond, ie university. If you don’t know what you want to do in the future, then it’s best to keep your options open.
Here are some facts to get you thinking. This page doesn’t try to cover everything, so it’s a good idea to do your own research too!
Pre-College
At school, you will usually be studying Level 2 courses, these can be GCSEs or vocational courses like BTECs. Following this, providing you have achieved the necessary GCSE grades, you will have the opportunity to progress on to sixth form college to study an Advanced Course (Level 3). This could be a programme consisting of 3 A Levels, or it could be a combination of A levels and vocational courses.
To study an Advanced Course at Varndean Sixth Form College, you will need to have achieved at least 6 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above. This should include English and Maths. It is really important to achieve a Grade 4 in your GCSE English and Maths, otherwise you will have to retake them whilst at Varndean.
Did you know?
• Most university courses also need to you have achieved at least a Grade 4 in English Language and Maths GCSE
• Most employers will also expect you to have Grade 4 in English and Maths GCSE
• Some Advanced Level subjects, such as Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, Economics require higher than a Grade 4 in GCSE Maths.
So you can see how essential it is that you try to do well in English and Maths!
At Varndean Sixth Form College
Varndean Sixth Form College is a truly exceptional place to study in. We have an outstanding academic record, as well as a real community
ethos, where students thrive and where we put student happiness at the heart of everything we do.
We offer over 30 A Levels, a wide range of Level 3 vocational courses, a significant number of Foundation Level (Level 2) courses, as well as the internationally- recognised International Baccalaureate Diploma. You can find out more about all of these courses in our Courses section at www.varndean.ac.uk/courses/
We are proud of our impressive and unique location where students experience a stimulating and enriching education, characterised by academic excellence, outstanding teaching and support, as well as extensive opportunities for development and growth.
Our aim at Varndean College is to develop our students into well-rounded, confident individuals who are aspirational, excited and
ready to move on to the next stage of their lives.
Did you know?
• To study any A Level Science course, most colleges ask for 2 x Grade 6 in GCSE Combined Science and a Grade 5/6 in Maths.
• To study a Modern Foreign Language at A Level, you will need to have achieved a Grade 6 in that language.
• You will need a Grade 4 in Maths and Science to take A Level Psychology. You do not need to have studied Psychology previously.
• Similarly, with A Level Business and BTEC Vocational Business, you do not need to have studied Business previously. You must however have at least a Grade 4 in Maths GCSE.
• For Varndean College’s Visual Arts subjects (ie Art, 3D Design, Graphic Design, Photography & Textiles), we prefer you to have studied an art or design subject at GCSE. However, this is not essential and in many cases we will accept a strong portfolio as evidence of your ability to study that subject at advanced level.
• We are the only state-funded provider of the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma in Brighton & Hove.
The timeline for applying to Varndean Sixth Form College
We hold annual Open Events every Autumn term which you can visit with your parent/carer. Some students choose to attend these when in Year 10, some wait until when they are in Year 11. Details of these are always displayed on the events page of our website.
In Year 10, you will also have the opportunity to spend at day at Varndean Sixth Form College at one of our Year 10 Taster Days in July. Details of these are always displayed on the events page of our website in the Spring.
You do not need to submit an application to Varndean Sixth Form College until the Autumn term of Year 11. The application deadline is always the first Friday in December.
Looking further ahead ...
If you already know now what career path you would like to pursue and want to get really ahead,
you can start researching university courses at any time. You can visit UCAS
(University and Colleges Admissions Service) at www.ucas.com
Contact Us
Address
Varndean Sixth Form College
Surrenden Road
Brighton
East Sussex
BN1 6WQ
Tel: 01273 508011
Email: information@varndean.ac.uk