Entry Requirements
Find the right programme for you.
Our entry requirements are designed to make sure that every student begins a Sixth Form programme on which they have the knowledge, skills and foundations to succeed.
At BOA Digital, we offer a range of academic, vocational, technical and Foundation programmes. The programme available to you will depend on your GCSE results, GCSE Average Point Score (APS), English and Mathematics grades, and the specific entry requirements for individual subjects.
Our general Level 3 entry requirement is five GCSEs at grades 4/5 or above, including English and Mathematics, with different programmes requiring different GCSE Average Point Scores.
How does GCSE Average Point Score work?
Your GCSE Average Point Score (APS) helps us identify the programme that is most appropriate for you.
At BOA Digital, your APS is calculated using eight GCSE subjects, including GCSE English and Mathematics.
For example:
- If your eight GCSE grades were: 7 + 7 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 47
- Your GCSE APS would be: 47 ÷ 8 = 5.875
Your APS is considered alongside your English and Mathematics grades and any additional entry requirements for the individual courses you want to study.
Which programme could I access?
Our entry requirements provide different routes according to your GCSE profile:
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| Programme | Proposed Entry Requirements | Typical Programme |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Academic | GCSE APS 7.0+ and minimum Grade 5 in English and Mathematics | 4 A Levels |
| Academic | GCSE APS 6.0+ and minimum Grade 5 in English and Mathematics | 3 A Levels |
| Academic Vocational | GCSE APS 5.5+ and minimum Grade 5 in English and Mathematics | 2 A Levels + 1 vocational qualification |
| Advanced Vocational | GCSE APS 5.0+ and minimum Grade 5 in English and Mathematics | 2 vocational qualifications equivalent to 2 A Levels + 1 A Level |
| Vocational | GCSE APS 4.5+ and minimum Grade 4 in English and Mathematics | 3 vocational qualifications equivalent to 3 A Levels |
| Technical | GCSE APS 5.0+ and minimum Grade 5 in English and Mathematics | T Level – equivalent in size to 3 A Levels |
| Foundation | GCSE APS 3.5+ and minimum Grade 3 in English and Mathematics | Level 2 Foundation programme |
Some subjects have additional requirements
Meeting the entry requirements for a programme does not automatically mean that you meet the requirements for every course within it.
Some subjects require particular GCSE grades because they build directly on knowledge and skills developed at GCSE.
Computer Science
Minimum Grade 6 in GCSE Mathematics
Mathematics
Minimum Grade 7 in GCSE Mathematics
Physics
Minimum Grade 7 in GCSE Physics, or 7–6 in Combined Science
English Literature
Minimum Grade 6 in GCSE English Language or English Literature
History
Minimum Grade 5 in GCSE History
These subject-specific requirements form part of the proposed curriculum.
What if I'm not ready for Level 3?
Our proposed Foundation pathway provides a Level 2 route for students with a GCSE APS of 3.5 or above and a minimum Grade 3 in English and Mathematics. The programme includes the proposed Foundation Certificate in Digital Systems and Data, providing an opportunity to strengthen your digital knowledge and prepare for progression to Level 3.
The Foundation year is designed to be a stepping stone, not a destination. Successful students can work towards progressing onto an appropriate Level 3 pathway once they have developed the qualifications, knowledge and skills required.
English and Mathematics
If you have not achieved Grade 4 or above in GCSE English and/or Mathematics, you will be required to continue studying the relevant subject alongside your Sixth Form programme.
For some courses, higher Mathematics or English grades are also required as part of the individual subject entry requirements.
Your results open the door.
Your programme takes you forward.
Entry requirements aren’t simply about whether you can access a course. They’re there to help make sure that the programme you begin gives you a realistic opportunity to achieve well, enjoy your studies and progress successfully to your next destination.
Explore the individual course pages carefully, check the requirements for the subjects that interest you and think about how your choices could work together.
ACHIEVE. CHOOSE. PROGRESS.
- Explore our courses.
- Discover your pathway.
- Visit us and see what your future could look like.