Frequently Asked Questions about the Sixth Form
To submit a formal application, you must first have completed an Expression of Interest form. The formal application process then opens on GCSE results day.
For entry to Year 12 in September 2026:
- The Year 12 application form will be available on the Bournemouth School website from 08:00 on Thursday, 20 August 2026.
- Completed application forms, including evidence of GCSE results, must be received by 10:00 on Friday, 21 August 2026.
- Offers of places in Year 12 will be emailed by 17:00 on Friday, 21 August 2026.
- Parents and carers must complete the online enrolment process by Monday, 31 August 2026.
- Year 12 Induction Day will take place on Thursday, 3 September 2026.
If you are joining us from another school, you will have an opportunity to discuss and amend your subject choices at one of our Sixth Form Information Sessions. Details of these sessions and how to book will be published on the School website.
If you are currently a Bournemouth School student, please contact the Sixth Form team to request a change to your proposed A-level subjects.
All subject choices remain subject to meeting the relevant entry requirements and the availability of places.
There is a short period at the beginning of Year 12 during which subject changes may be possible. Any change will depend on:
- whether there is space on the proposed course;
- whether you meet the subject’s entry requirements;
- whether the change can be accommodated within the timetable; and
- whether staff consider the change to be academically appropriate.
Students considering a change should speak to the Sixth Form team as soon as possible.
Bournemouth School has a long history of welcoming students from other schools into Year 12. New and existing students learn together in subject classes, tutor groups and enrichment activities, giving everyone opportunities to establish new friendships.
Induction activities and support from student leaders are designed to help new students become familiar with the school and settle quickly into Sixth Form life.
Yes. Year 12 students take part in an induction programme at the beginning of the academic year.
Student leaders and staff support new students through introductory sessions and activities intended to help them become familiar with the school, meet other students and understand the expectations of Sixth Form study.
Please contact the Sixth Form team or the School’s Admissions team using the details on our contact us page.
Most students study three A levels alongside a Plus Option: either Core Maths or the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).
Students who meet the relevant entry requirements may instead follow a programme of four A levels.
The most appropriate programme will depend on your academic strengths, subject choices and intended pathway after the Sixth Form.
Most students begin Year 12 with one of the following programmes:
- three A levels and a Plus Option, comprising either Core Maths or the EPQ; or
- four A levels.
The Plus Option is normally completed by the end of Year 12.
Your decision should be based on the entry requirements for any university course, degree apprenticeship or other post-18 pathway that you may be considering. Some courses require particular A level subjects or combinations of subjects, so it is important to investigate these requirements before making your final choices.
Further Maths must be studied as a fourth A level at Bournemouth School.
Studying four A levels provides additional academic breadth, but it also involves a greater workload and more examinations. Studying three A levels with a Plus Option provides more time for each main subject and for wider activities such as admissions-test preparation, academic reading, work experience, volunteering and enrichment.
Taking four A levels does not automatically make an application stronger. It is generally better to achieve excellent results in an appropriate and well-considered programme than to take on an unsustainable workload.
If your fourth A level or Plus Option begins to affect your progress in your other subjects, the Sixth Form team will discuss the available options with you. Discontinuing a subject would normally be considered only after appropriate support and guidance have been provided.
Your choices should reflect:
- any subjects required for your intended post-18 pathway;
- the subjects in which you have demonstrated academic strength;
- the subjects you enjoy and are motivated to study in greater depth; and
- the way in which your subjects complement one another.
Each A level subject has its own minimum GCSE entry requirements. These are published on our Sixth Form subjects pages.
Students who are uncertain about their choices should research the entry requirements for possible future courses and seek advice from subject teachers, careers staff and the Sixth Form team.
The school operates a two-week timetable comprising 60 periods. There are six 50-minute periods each day.
The school day also includes:
- five-minute morning registration;
- a 15-minute morning break;
- 20 minutes of tutor time; and
- a 45-minute lunch break.
Each A level subject is allocated ten taught periods per fortnight. Teaching is normally shared between two teachers, with the periods divided either equally or on a six-and-four basis.
Core Maths is allocated seven taught periods per fortnight.
Students completing the EPQ have two taught periods of study skills each week and are allocated an EPQ supervisor. Much of the research and project work must be completed independently.
During Year 12, students normally follow four elements of study: either four A levels or three A levels and a Plus Option. This programme includes 11 supervised study periods each fortnight.
The number of supervised study periods increases to 22 each fortnight after the Plus Option has been completed, or where a student has discontinued a fourth subject following discussion with the Sixth Form team.
Students also have:
- one unsupervised study period for each subject, except Core Maths;
- four additional study periods where Core Maths is taken; and
- one personal development period each fortnight with their tutor and form group.
Wednesday afternoons are allocated to sport, enrichment, volunteering, work experience or additional study. Volunteering and work experience outside school must be organised in advance and approved by the Sixth Form team.
Students who meet the relevant participation and attendance requirements may be permitted to leave school early on Wednesday afternoons.
A level study requires considerably more independent work than GCSE study. Students should aim to complete approximately five hours of independent study for each A level subject every week, using both their allocated study periods and time outside lessons.
Independent study may include:
- consolidating and reviewing lesson content;
- completing set work;
- wider reading and research;
- practising examination questions;
- revisiting areas of difficulty; and
- preparing for future lessons and assessments.
The Sixth Form Study Centre provides a dedicated environment for independent work and remains open until 16:30 each school day.
Students are expected to use study periods purposefully and to develop effective routines from the beginning of Year 12.
The transition from GCSE to A level study is demanding. Students may initially find that assessment results are lower than those to which they have become accustomed while they adjust to the increased depth, pace and independence of A level work. This is a normal part of the transition, but students should seek support promptly rather than allowing difficulties to accumulate.
Support is available through:
- subject teachers, both during and outside lessons;
- form tutors;
- subject-specific resources;
- intervention and support sessions;
- Workflow Planners, to help students organise their independent study; and
- guidance from the Sixth Form team.
Subject teachers are usually the best first point of contact when a student is experiencing difficulty with a particular topic or aspect of a course. They will be happy to explain material, recommend further resources and advise on how best to improve.
Students are encouraged to take part in a broad programme of academic, cultural, sporting and community activities alongside their A level studies.
Opportunities include:
- recreational and representative sport;
- student-led societies;
- visiting speakers;
- volunteering;
- work experience;
- leadership roles; and
- wider academic and careers-related activities.
Wednesday afternoons provide dedicated time for sport, enrichment, approved volunteering, work experience or additional study.
The school also hosts a varied programme of guest speakers throughout the academic year.
Yes. Sixth Form students are encouraged to participate fully in the school’s extensive range of clubs, sports teams and societies.
Examples of student societies include medicine, dentistry, aviation, philosophy, Christian Union, computing, psychology and law. The programme changes in response to students’ interests, and Sixth Form students are encouraged to establish new societies where there is sufficient interest.
Participation provides opportunities to pursue interests beyond the curriculum, meet students from different subjects and year groups, and contribute to the wider life of the school.
Yes. Sixth Form students have a range of opportunities to undertake positions of responsibility and contribute to the school community; these include membership of the prefect and senior prefect teams. The application process normally opens to Year 12 students during the autumn term.
Leadership roles enable students to develop skills including communication, organisation, teamwork, initiative and responsibility. They may also provide valuable experience for future education, employment and training applications.
Sixth Form students have access to:
- a dedicated Sixth Form Study Centre;
- a Sixth Form IT suite with 56 computers;
- the school library; and
- Le Bistro.
These facilities provide spaces for quiet study, collaborative work, research and relaxation during appropriate periods of the school day.
Yes. Sixth Form students are expected to dress in accordance with the School’s Sixth Form dress code.
The dress code reflects the professional and purposeful character of the Sixth Form while allowing students greater choice than the uniform worn in Years 7 to 11.
Full details are available on the uniform page of our website.
Sixth Form students may be granted additional privileges in recognition of their increasing maturity and independence.
These include:
- permission to leave the school site during lunchtime, between 12:50 and 13:30;
- permission to leave early on Wednesday afternoons where the relevant requirements have been met;
- use of mobile phones and other personal devices during break and lunchtime in the Sixth Form Study Centre, provided that their use is appropriate; and
- use of laptops during study periods.
These arrangements help students develop the independence, judgement and personal responsibility required for education, training and employment after the Sixth Form.
Privileges remain subject to appropriate conduct, attendance, punctuality and academic engagement. They may be reviewed or withdrawn where expectations are not met.
If you completed your GCSEs at Bournemouth School, your existing SEND provision will be reviewed as you move into the Sixth Form and will continue where it remains appropriate to your needs.
If you are joining Bournemouth School from another school, we will contact your previous school to obtain relevant information about your needs and the support you have received. This information will be reviewed by the school’s SENDCO so that appropriate support can be considered.
Students and parents or carers are encouraged to share relevant information as early as possible so that any necessary arrangements can be discussed before the beginning of Year 12.
Financial assistance may be available to eligible students through the 16–19 Bursary Fund.
The fund is intended to help with costs that might otherwise make it difficult for a student to participate fully in their programme of study. Further information about eligibility, the application process and the support available can be found on the bursary page of the school website.
