Choosing Your Courses
Choose what interests you. Think about where it could take you.
Choosing your Sixth Form courses is an exciting decision. For the first time, you have much greater freedom to concentrate on the subjects that interest you and begin shaping your studies around your strengths, ambitions and plans for the future.
At BOA Digital, there isn’t one programme that every student follows. Our curriculum includes A Levels, vocational qualifications, a T Level and a Foundation pathway, allowing us to create different programmes for students with different interests, GCSE profiles and future destinations.
The most important thing is to choose a programme that is right for you – one that you will enjoy, that you are equipped to succeed in and that keeps open the opportunities you may want after Sixth Form.
Start with three questions
When you’re considering your choices, think about:
What do I enjoy?
What am I good at?
Where might I want to go next?
The strongest programme sits somewhere between all three:
what you enjoy, what you’re good at and where you might want to go next.
Academic, vocational or technical?
Different qualifications allow you to learn and demonstrate your knowledge in different ways.
A levels
- A Levels are traditional Level 3 academic qualifications, with a strong emphasis on subject knowledge, independent study and examination-based assessment.
- They provide excellent preparation for university, higher-level apprenticeships and professional careers.
- At BOA Digital, our proposed A Level offer includes Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, English Literature and History, allowing students to build an academic programme with a strong digital and STEM focus.
V levels and Vocational
- V Levels and vocational qualifications are Level 3 qualifications that provide a more applied and career-focused approach to learning.
- Students develop knowledge and practical skills through a combination of projects, assignments and externally assessed components.
- Our proposed offer includes Digital Systems and Data (V Level) alongside vocational courses such as Digital Games Production. Depending on the qualification, can provide progression to university, higher apprenticeships or employment.
T Levels
- T Levels are Level 3 technical qualifications designed to prepare students for skilled employment within a particular industry.
- A T Level forms the student’s main full-time programme of study and is equivalent in size to three A Levels.
- Our proposed Digital Support and Security T Level combines substantial technical and practical learning with an industry placement, giving students the opportunity to develop specialist digital skills alongside valuable experience in the workplace.
Foundation
- Our Foundation pathway is a Level 2 programme designed for students who are not yet ready to progress directly onto Level 3 study.
- The proposed programme includes a Foundation Certificate in Digital Systems/Data, alongside GCSE English and/or Mathematics resits where required.
- They provides students with an opportunity to strengthen their core skills while developing digital knowledge and experience, creating a pathway towards Level 3 study, an apprenticeship or employment.
Don't choose a course for the wrong reason
Your friends’ choices shouldn’t determine yours. Neither should choosing a subject simply because you think it sounds easy.
Sixth Form study requires greater independence, depth and commitment than GCSE. Look at what you’ll actually study, how the course is assessed and what progression opportunities it can support.
Most importantly, ask questions. Speak to subject teachers, explore the course information and discuss your possible choices with us.
Keep your next step in mind
Your Sixth Form programme is a bridge between GCSEs and whatever comes next.
For some students, that will be university. For others, it will be a higher or degree apprenticeship, specialist training or eventually employment. Different destinations can have different entry requirements, so researching your options early can help you make informed decisions.
You don’t need to know exactly where you’ll be in five years. Your interests may change as you discover new subjects and opportunities.
What matters is choosing a programme that gives you the opportunity to succeed now and keeps appropriate doors open for later.
Your choices. Your pathway. Your next step.
Take time to explore the course pages. Look at the content, entry requirements and assessment methods. Think about what excites you, where your strengths lie and what you might want to do next.
Then start building a Sixth Form programme that reflects who you are now – and where you want to go next.