Bedford School offers boys the choice of studying A-Levels or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma during the Sixth Form. We strongly recommend that boys visit the school to talk through their Sixth Form education with the Head Master and the Director of IB, if appropriate.
Entrance assessments for the Sixth Form are held in the January of the intended year of entry and boys are asked to indicate their preferred A-Level or IB subjects in advance of the assessment day.
Boys who are not applying for an Academic Scholarship are assessed in underlying ability and have an interview with a senior member of staff. We also request a confidential reference from the Headteacher of their current school, which should include an indication of your son’s predicted GCSE grades.
For boys who wish to be considered for the 16+ Academic Scholarship, this process replaces the normal Sixth Form entrance assessments. These boys are required to sit two subject papers of their choice plus are assessed in underlying ability. They are also required to have a formal interview with the Head Master or another senior member of staff, and we will request a confidential reference from the Headteacher of their current school.
Offers made after the Sixth Form assessments in January are conditional on performance at GCSE and will be confirmed once GCSE results are published in August.
A-Level
For entry into the Sixth Form to take A-Levels, a boy must:
a) Gain a minimum of grade 6 at GCSE in their chosen four A-Level subjects. Some subjects have further requirements:
- Boys wishing to study A-Level Physics, Chemistry and Biology are required to get a minimum grade 7 at GCSE (or 8-7 grade if studying Double Award Science).
- Those wishing to study Physics A-Level are additionally required to get at least a grade 7 in Maths.
- Those wishing to study Maths are required to get at least a grade 8 in Maths.
- Those wishing to study Further Maths at A-Level are required to get at least a grade 9 in GCSE Maths.
- Those wishing to study Computer Science are required to get grade 7 in GCSE Computer Science and grade 7 in GCSE Maths.
b) Gain at least grade 5 in Maths and at least a grade 4 in either English Language or English Literature (ideally both).
International Baccalaureate
For entry into the Sixth Form to take the IB Diploma, a boy must:
a) Gain a minimum of grade 6 at GCSE/IGCSE for their chosen Higher Level subjects, and a minimum grade profile at GCSE/IGCSE of grades 665 for their chosen Standard Level subjects. Some subjects have further requirements:
- Boys wishing to study HL Physics, Chemistry and Biology are required to get a minimum grade 7 at GCSE (or 87 grade if studying Double Award Science)
- Those wishing to study Physics HL are additionally required to get at least a grade 7 in Maths.
- Those who wish to study Maths HL are required to get a grade 8 in Maths at GCSE.
- Those wishing to study Maths: Analysis and approaches SL are required to get a grade 7 in Maths.
b) Gain at least grade 5 in Maths and at least a grade 5 in either English Language or English Literature (ideally both).
Where a chosen A-Level or IB Level subject is not offered by the school at GCSE/IGCSE the following grades are required in defined and related subjects as described here:
- For Economics – At least grade 6 in Mathematics and English
- For Business – At least grade 6 in Mathematics and English
- For Philosophy – At least grade 6 in Religious Studies (or following discussion with the Head of Religious Education and Philosophy)
- For Politics – At least grade 6 in English and History or Geography
- For Music Technology – At least grade 6 in Music (some exceptions may be made for boys who have not studied music GCSE after consultation with the Director of Music)
Pre-IB boys entering the school in the Fifth Form are expected to achieve this required standard, and the school will review a pre-IB boy’s case in respect of Sixth Form entry if he has not achieved this standard.
For boys who have taken IGCSE English as an Additional Language, a grade 6 is required for entry to the Sixth Form. Boys joining from outside the UK, who have not taken English Language or English Second Language, must demonstrate a B2 upper-intermediate level on their EAL admission test.
Boys whose first language is not English will usually be required to take additional EAL lessons to support them with academic English if the subject teacher judges this to be necessary for the student to cope with the requirements of his written work. The school can also provide tuition to students who wish to study for the IELTs (International English language Testing System) qualification, which is usually required for university entrance.
Boys who have applied for Music, Sport, Art or Drama Scholarships will be required to attend separate assessment days for each area applied for.
