Courses
The Milton Keynes Academy Sixth Form offers a wide range of Advanced General Certificate Education (A Level) and BTEC courses.
A level courses are now two year courses, with no AS exams at the end of the first year. Students who have not achieved a grade 4 or better in English and Maths GCSE are now required to continue to study English and/or maths post 16. BTECs have also changed to include an element of the final grade being assessed by examination. All our students benefit from a fully structured timetable, and are normally expected to study four options. Our students are expected to demonstrate high levels of motivation and hard work.
The reality is that Sixth Form study is demanding and we have very high expectations for all our students. We are an excellent choice for students wishing to study either academic or vocational courses, or a combination of both, leading directly to further education, training or university.
About the courses and options available
The Post 16 curriculum at The Milton Keynes Academy is rich and varied. We offer a broad range of both A level and BTEC courses. Students study courses at level 3 based on their attainment at Key Stage 4. We offer a great deal of expert guidance to young people on the best combination of courses to suit their abilities and aspirations.
Selecting the right course
Level 3 courses are a significant step up from those completed at Key Stage 4. You must choose your subjects carefully. Try to choose subjects that you are good at; this is why we recommend a B/6 grade at GCSE in any subject studied at Key Stage 5. It can be hard to stay motivated if you are struggling with a subject. Look carefully at the subject syllabus and how it is assessed. Consider which subjects ‘fit together’ and complement each other. Not only does this help in developing skills, but may also reduce overall workload. Finally, make sure your subject combination prepares you for your future goal, be it the world of work or higher education.
We look to ensure that students are able to choose subjects that are ideal for them as individuals and their future aspirations. They will choose three A Level courses that will be studied in Years 12 and 13. In exceptional circumstances we are happy to discuss with individuals the possibility of doing four A Levels if the need arises. In addition to this, students will have the option of completing Core Maths or The Extended Project Qualification.
All students hoping to complete these courses at The Milton Keynes Academy Sixth Form need to have at least 5 GCSEs at grade 5 or above including English and Maths with grade 6 or above if they wish to study the subject at A-Level, students wishing to study BTECs should achieve at least 5 GCSES or equivalent at grade 4. However, there are also some subject specific qualification requirements that have been introduced to ensure that students choose the subjects that are most suitable for their abilities.
Where students achieve grade 7s or higher in their GCSEs we would recommend taking three A Levels in facilitating subjects, such as Maths, English, Sciences or Humanities. For students achieving grades 5 and 6 we would suggest three A Levels of any choice. For those achieving grades 4 and 5 we would advise BTEC subjects. These pathways can all be discussed with members of the team.
Course Information
Click the links below to find out more about courses in each of the curriculum areas:
A Level Courses
BTEC Courses
Additional Information
Click here to download an application form.
