FAQs

1. Read through all the course descriptions and talk to your subject and careers teachers. Get as much information as you can about the subjects you are interested in.
2. Come along to our Open Evening at the Business Design Centre in Angel and speak with subject staff about the subjects you are considering taking. Each IC6 school also holds events throughout the year so if you are interested in being based at a particular school please visit their website and see if they are holding any open days. Website details can be found on each of the schools’ pages. Alternatively please sign-up to our mailing list and we’ll let you know about all of the open events at the IC6 Schools throughout the year.
3. Think carefully about the subjects you enjoy that will help you move on to university or work and will open up the kind of opportunities you might want or need in the future. These are different routes which you can take (i.e. A level or BTEC).
4. Research universities and courses. What are their entry requirements?
5. Research jobs and careers. What subjects, qualifications and skills will make employers keen to employ you?

A Level Programme

This two year advanced level course is aimed at students who wish to follow an academic programme of study which will could lead to university.

From September 2015 a number of A level subjects changed to become Linear, in line with reforms required by the Department for Education. This currently means that there are two different types of A level that are taught across IC6: the new Linear A levels, and the current modular A levels.

The main changes are:

• Some AS qualifications and A levels were ‘decoupled’. This means that the AS does not contribute to the overall A level grade and is, in effect, a standalone qualification with reduced UCAS points for university
• The new A levels are two year ‘linear’ courses, with exams only at the end of the second year.

It will be possible to combine ‘new style/linear’ with ‘old style/non-linear’ A levels in a programme of study. The number of AS or A levels you take will depend on your GCSE results, your future plans and what other activities you would like to be involved in at IC6.

As a guide, most students currently take three to four AS/A level subjects but some take more and some less depending on the linear nature of the A level. You will have the opportunity to discuss what’s best for you when we meet you during the interview process.

BTEC courses and the Cambridge Technical Qualifications are designed as vocational (specialist work-related) qualifications and cover a range of sectors. They are graded using a Pass (P), Merit (M), Distinction (D) and Distinction* (D*) scale; the number of these grades you receive will depend on the size of your course. Both courses are delivered by different examination boards.

The Extended Certificate, is designed to occupy one third of a student’s curriculum within a broader programme of study. It is equivalent to the size of a single A level and as such you receive one grade on the scale identified above (P to D*).

The Diploma route is designed to occupy two thirds of a curriculum programme across a two year period. This enables the learner to develop a significantly greater core of the knowledge in that specific field. It is still designed to be studied with another supporting qualification, generally complementary to the main subject area. This course is equivalent to the size of two A level programmes, subsequently giving you two grades on the scale (PP to D*D*).

The Extended Diploma is equivalent to the size of three A level programmes and is studied across two years. It is a full time course with a variety of units which can take you to university, on to apprenticeships and in to work.

To follow a full A level programme you will need an average GCSE point score of 6 often including a score of 6 (equivalent to B) in that particular GCSE subject as well as a minimum of grade 6 (B) in both Maths and English.

In addition to this each A level subject has particular entry requirement which can be found on each of the subject pages.

To follow a BTEC/Cambridge Technical programme you will need an average GCSE point score of 5 (equivalent to a C grade) often including a score of 5(C) in that particular GCSE subject as well as a minimum grade 5(C) in Maths and English.

Please note that each student will attend a course guidance meeting with a member of the sixth form leadership team before being offered a place at IC6. On occasion it may be possible to waive the entry criteria for a particular subject if the sixth form leader thinks it is necessary. If you have not attained the entry grades please contact IC6 and we will arrange for you to speak directly to a sixth form leader.

How do I calculate my average GCSE point score?

Your performance at GCSE gives us a good guide when considering suitability for either an A level or BTEC programme. When being interviewed for IC6’s programmes teachers consider your average GCSE point score and use this calculation to find the appropriate courses for you.

How is the average GCSE point score calculated?

Every grade which you achieve in each of your GCSEs is given a point. By using the simple table below you can convert your GCSE grade to points. When converting use only your top 8 GCSE grades:

A*             8

A               7

B               6

C               5

D               4

E                3

F                2

G               1

A BTEC Level 2 Diploma or OCR (4 GCSEs) is counted as 2 grades for the calculation of the average GCSE point score, a BTEC Level 2 Certificate or OCR (2 GCSEs) counts as 1 grade and a BTEC or OCR single award counts as 0.5 of a grade. A Distinction pass gives 7 points, a Merit pass gives 6 points and a Pass gives 5 points.

Once the conversion has been made, your score is added up and the average calculated by dividing the total points by the total number of GSCE subjects.

Example: Andrew has two A* GCSEs which gives him (2 x 8 = 16 points); two subjects at grade A (2 x 7 = 14 points); two at grade B (2 x 6 = 12 points); one at grade C (1 x 5 = 5 points) and one other at grade D (4 points). In total he has 51 points. To obtain the average, divide this score by the 8 GCSE subjects: 51 points divided by 8 subjects gives: 51/8 = Average GCSE point score is 6.375.

Students who are accepted onto courses without at least a grade 4 in English or Maths GCSE will be required to re-take these examinations as a condition of entry.  Central Foundation Boys’ School, Highbury Fields School and City of London Academy Highbury Grove offer the option of English and Maths GCSE re-takes.

There are no uniform rules for sixth form students other than the requirement that clothing is neat, smart and never offensive. You are expected to show a good example to younger students and to comply with the IC6 dress code which supports and reflects the ethos of our learning environment, and prepares you for the world of work.

A full copy of the IC6 Dress Code can be downloaded here.

There will be periods when you do not have a lesson. All schools have their own sixth form common room and study area where you can get on with learning in a quiet environment. You can leave the school during your free periods as long as you are back in time for your next session.

Learning is supported through the Bursary Fund which has replaced the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) and outside agencies.

The four IC6 schools are all in the London borough of Islington and are all within 5 miles of each other.

Central Foundation Boys’ School is next to Old Street Tube Station and both Highbury Fields and Highbury Grove are walking distance from Highbury and Islington Tube Station. City of London Academy Islington is walking distance from Angel Tube Station.

There are also buses (routes 43 and 271) which travel between the schools.

Students change classes during the lunch break (i.e. you could start your Monday doing Maths A level at Central Foundation and then study History in the afternoon over at Highbury Grove).