Withington offers a broad and diverse range of A Level subjects, ensuring that each student has the opportunity to explore their passions and interests to the fullest.

In Sixth Form, students can choose to study three or four subjects. Each subject is allocated eight periods of 35-40 minutes per week and group sizes are capped under normal circumstances at 14, though most groups are smaller than this.

For those student who start with three or drop down to three by October half term, we strongly recommend they study the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). A small number of students will continue with four subjects to the end of Year 13. If pupils do drop to three subjects after the October half term but before the end of the Spring Term in Year 12, they may still pick up EPQ at this point.

Entry Requirements

For existing pupils, there are no set GCSE grade requirements for entry into the Sixth Form. We strongly recommend that pupils have achieved a grade 7 or higher in the GCSE subject(s) that relate to their A Level choices in order to make the best progress. In Mathematics and Science A Levels, the recommendation is that grades 8 or higher are achieved in these subjects to make the best progress at A Level.

The requirements for pupils wishing to enter Withington Girls’ School Sixth Form are a minimum of six 7-9 grades at GCSE, with grades 8 or 9 in GCSEs relating to the subjects to be studied for A Level.

A Level Subjects

The following subjects are offered to our A Level pupils:

Hear more about our courses from our Heads of Department

Enrichment Programme

Alongside their taught A Level subjects, every student will participate in our Enrichment Programme.

Every student also has the opportunity to attend Extension sessions; these are particularly useful for those applying to competitive university courses including Oxbridge, for preparation for Olympiads, or for students who are keen to extend their knowledge beyond the A-Level specifications.

Our Enrichment programme contains core elements of PSHCE including how to Cook on a Budget and Self-Defence, Careers, Financial Literacy and a Preparation for Higher Education. All Sixth Formers are expected to take part in some voluntary service. The compulsory elements run on a carousel throughout the year in form groups.

Beyond those compulsory elements, pupils might have a choice of the following subjects:

These courses are either five or ten weeks long, and lessons are between one and two periods. Students undertaking a course are made aware of the time commitments they are making when they make their choices.