Sixth Form Admissions

The Admissions Process

Bishop Luffa School is a Church of England Academy. Admissions are controlled by the Directors. Admissions to the Sixth Form are from the school’s Year 11 students and from those wishing to join the Sixth Form from other schools. Although we are a Church of England school, there are no denominational requirements for entry into the Sixth Form. Applicants, however, need to be aware that the ethos of Bishop Luffa is that of a church school and all those who attend are expected to be present at all assemblies and acts of worship for their year, as well as school Eucharists for the Sixth Form which take place twice in the school year.

Admission is decided upon an applicant’s academic merits. Those wishing to study A level courses will need a minimum of five GCSEs at grade 5 or above, with usually a grade 6 or above in the subjects they wish to study at A level. Applicants wishing to study Maths need to have achieved at least a grade 7 at GCSE. Specific subject requirements are detailed in the Sixth Form prospectus.

The Governors consider that the maximum entry into the Sixth Form is 400. Nominally, this would be split into 200 students in each year, with 140 places normally going to Bishop Luffa School students and 60 places for students from other schools. The deadlines for application forms to be handed in are 27th January 2025 for internal applicants and 18th November 2024 for external applicants. From applications received by the relevant deadline:

  • Up to 140 places are offered to Year 11 members of Bishop Luffa School

  • Any remaining places are offered to those applying from outside the school

  • Offers are conditional upon applicants meeting the academic criteria.

In the event of over-subscription, all applicants who have met the academic criteria will be ranked in order of their average points score (aps) at GCSE. (See Explanatory note at 5.8). For the cohort of Bishop Luffa applicants, from those who meet the academic criteria the school puts first ‘children who are looked after’, ‘children who were previously looked after’ and children who have an EHCP naming the School, followed by those ranked up to 140; the same procedure will take place for the cohort of external applicants.

Late applications are considered only if places remain after all applicants have been allocated. Applicants from Bishop Luffa School who initially opt to go to another institution but then change their minds will have to go on a waiting list if all 160 places have been filled.

Although demand for places at Bishop Luffa is high, we welcome and are keen for students from other schools to join our Sixth Form. External applicants will be offered an opportunity to discuss with the Head of Sixth Form their application and the courses they wish to take. The Head of Sixth Form will offer a place which will be dependent on the candidate achieving the required GCSE grades.

All candidates, external and internal, will be expected to attend the school on GCSE results day. Their offer of places will be confirmed soon after that date if they obtained the appropriate results, or alternative courses of action can be discussed if the qualification requirements have not been met.

In the event of over-subscription, the average points score (aps) will be reckoned using the best 8 subject grades at GCSE.

 

Link to Applicaa for online applications

https://bishopluffa.applicaa.com/year12

 

What happens next?

 

Bishop Luffa students: You are invited to state your preference of subjects in November by applying on-line by midday on Monday 27th January 2025. All applicants will be interviewed by the Head of Sixth Form and we will write to you in the Spring Term, confirming whether or not you have been offered a place in the Sixth Form, subject to you achieving the necessary grades at GCSE.

External applicants: Please complete the application form below by midday on Monday 18th November 2024. You will be invited to attend an interview with the Head of Sixth Form, who will then write to you to confirm whether an offer of a place will be made, subject to achieving the required grades at GCSE.