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Making choices

A new sixth form course guide is available below.

The choice you make about which path to take at the age of sixteen will influence the future direction of your life. It is a critical decision.​

Choosing the right course in the sixth form is an important first step to success. We offer two types of Level 3 courses at Highlands Sixth Form and both are designed to help you progress to university, an apprenticeship or employment.

A Levels are the traditional academic route. They require a strong ability to recall learnt knowledge and are examined at the end of two years of study.

BTECS are applied learning, based on a work sector. They include both exams and coursework assessment taken throughout the course.

Both routes are, of course, challenging and represent a significant step up from GCSE. However, your particular learning and preferred assessment style may favour one of the routes, so it is important to be informed.

A levels

A Levels are two-year courses with challenging exams at the end of the course which test the whole of the syllabus. There are no longer any units or resit opportunities during the two years.

Most students will choose to study three A levels through years 12 and 13.

Some of our most able students will study four A levels.

Art (Fine Art) Drama and theatre studies  Mathematics Politics
Biology Economics Mathematics: Further Psychology 
Chemistry  English literature Photography Religious Studies, Philosophy and Ethics
Computer science Geography Physical Education Sociology
D&T Product design  History Physics Spanish

Whenever possible Highlands Sixth Form will deliver these subjects through lessons based on site. The provision of any individual subject is based on student numbers with a minimum group size of 11. Highlands is an active member of the Enfield Sixth Form Consortium, and we are able to offer minority subjects through collaboration with local schools.


BTEC National Level 3

BTEC Nationals are Level 3 (A level equivalent) work-related qualifications and are assessed through written examination and coursework. The courses provide specialist, work-related learning, delivering the knowledge, skills and understanding students need to prepare for their chosen career. BTEC Nationals offer progression to higher education or directly into employment. The qualification is equivalent to three A levels and is graded at Distinction*, Distinction, Merit and Pass.

We offer a choice of two:

  • Business (L3 BTEC) Triple
  • Business (L3 BTEC) Single
  • Media Production (L3 BTEC) Triple (film, television and interactive media)
  • Media Production (L3 BTEC) Single (film, television and interactive media)

Full details of the A level courses and BTEC courses can be found in our prospectus.

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

Our outstanding Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) course is offered to students aiming at the elite universities. Studying an EPQ demonstrates valuable proof of your capacity for independent learning, as well as your passion for the subject you want to study at a higher level. 


An EPQ is an excellent taster of university-style learning as it is effectively an independent research project which can, but does not have to relate to an A level subject that is being studied. It is important therefore that students choose topics that they are interested in and relate to further study so they are motivated to complete it. For example, an aspiring medic could write a research article analysing the difficulties associated with management of the NHS. This could help students substantiate evidence for their desire to study a specific degree course. Students who achieve top grades at EPQ have also been offered lower tariffs by Russell Group Universities. 

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