Netherthorpe Sixth Form

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Do I need to pick 4 subjects?

No. Universities advise you require 3 Level 3 Qualifications if that's the route you wish to go down. If you want to go into employment or an apprenticeship they also do not require 4 and employers only expect students to have 3 A Levels, it’s certainly no advantage to have 4. We've found, previously, students that take 4 subjects find that the workload impacts the grades they may have got if they'd done 3. There is an exception to this and we ask any students wishing to take Further Maths as an option take it as a 4th Subject (one of the others must be Maths). You can, of course, start with 4 if you are unsure of a subject, we also allow you to change your subjects in the first couple of weeks of Year 12.

Question 2: What is the Sixth Form OFSTED rating?

Netherthorpe's Sixth Form was judged to be GOOD and always has been. In 2022 the Ofsted inspectors reaffirmed what we already knew about our amazing Sixth Form and the efforts from our dedicated staff and fantastic students.

Question 3: I already go to Netherthorpe. Does that mean I automatically get a place and don't need to apply?

Not quite. Whilst we will guarantee any of our students in Year 11 a place, providing they meet the entry criteria, you do still need to apply after which you’ll receive a conditional offer. When the applications open, it doesn't take long as lots of your details will have already been filled in. Simply go to your school email address and use the login details you’ll get sent to finish the application.

Question 4: If I don't go to Netherthorpe for Year 11 will I even get a place?

YES! We provide conditional offers, without the need for a formal interview to determine the offer, to EVERYONE that applies. There is only 1 condition on that offer too, you get the grades in the summer. We don't ask to see your predicted grades first either. The only ones that matter are your summer results. We also will guarantee you priority, should we reach capacity, if you currently attend Springwell, Heritage, Bolsover or Whittington Green School. Every year, at least 45% of our new Year 12 students are new to Netherthorpe.

Question 5: You don't offer A Level Law, will this stop me choosing a career in Law?

Absolutely not! We've selected our course offerings carefully and made sure that, no matter the destination, there are options to suit everyone. With the example here, we know that even the top universities do not require A Level Law, e.g. Cambridge, who state “We do not require Law at A Level” instead preferring A Levels in essay based subjects e.g. English and History. Please contact us if you have any questions relating to your specific career plan and we can go through the requirements and guide you to resources that we utilise in order to make our decisions.

Question 6: Do other schools have a better chance of getting me into Uni or on to a job/apprenticeship?

The short answer is no. You can decide that one for yourself though. For the last 5 years 100% of students leaving Year 13 have gone on to study at university, gone into paid employment or gone onto an apprenticeship. Every single student gets mentored through Year 13 to ensure that they have advice and support from the people around them including independent careers advice and advice and support from external speakers and visitors. We continually keep up to date with the changing trends in destinations for our students so we can offer the best possible support and advice when it comes to you moving on from us. In addition, we have a range of different professions our Alumni or "old students" have gone into and are willing to support. We coach and support all students no matter their destination but have extra groups for highly competitive options such as Oxford & Cambridge, Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary. We celebrate the achievements of our former students too and many jump at the chance to help future generations get into the same career as them.

Question 7: What are the results at Netherthorpe like?

For the past 3 years, the national trend has been a fall in A* to B grades. Netherthorpe, however, has bucked this trend each year and seen the % of grades awarded A* to B rise year after year showing that our students are increasing their achievement of top grades which is a testament to their hard work and that of our fantastic teaching staff. We know that this isn’t the case everywhere else.

Question 8: Do I have to wear a uniform?

Yes you do. We're proud of our uniform and how smart our students look. The uniform is distinguished from main school with a different tie. If our students go anywhere they always look incredibly smart. Plus it cuts out the worry if "what do I wear tomorrow!?"

Question 9: Do you only offer A Levels?

Not at all. Whilst we do offer a wide range of A Level subjects we also offer Level 3 courses in a variety of subjects. These are a lot more coursework based and give a great alternative to studying at college.

Question 10: Is it not just the same as being at school and won’t college give more freedom?

It depends what you want to achieve over the 2 years. If you want excellent results through excellent teaching by expert teachers in their subjects then Netherthorpe is the place to go. You do still get 10 hours of non-contact time per week which allows you to regulate how and where you study and you get some additional perks and privileges not offered lower down school. In addition to this you get your own dedicated section of school which contains excellent facilities including study rooms and common rooms along with outdoor green space.

Question 11: Do I need really high GCSE grades to get in?

Not necessarily. Some courses have higher entry criteria than others. For example you need Grade 6 or above in Maths or Science to study them at A Level but for most others you need to have achieved a Grade 5 in it at GCSE. Some subjects, where they aren't offered at GCSE may look at other subjects. Some Level 3 courses require a Grade 4 or higher in order to study those subjects. If you aren't successful in achieving a Grade 4 in either English Language OR Maths at GCSE you would repeat that in the Sixth Form also.

Question 12: Are there any trips for Sixth Form students?

Oh yes, we have plenty! We offer students the opportunity to visit different parts of the UK including Wales with Geography or Scarborough with Biology. In addition we have many other trips run through extra curricular clubs and groups. If that isn't enough how about venturing further afield? We offer trips to Switzerland to visit the CERN Hadron Collider, a Ski trip to the Alps, History trip to Auschwitz or how about a 2 week visit to Mexico in the name of conservation.

Question 13: What Sixth Form Facilities are there?

As well as all the facilities in the main school, Sixth Form students have access to their own building with study rooms, common rooms & kitchen. Sixth Formers also benefit from study rooms within certain subject areas as well as their own dedicated canteen (with all the things we can't sell in Year 7 to 11). Sixth Form students also get access to the fitness suite afterschool and can access a range of difference extracurricular clubs and teams including leading lower school teams. Plus don’t forget the outdoor garden space for Sixth Form students too!