Post 16 Course Selection

The Sixth Form is a vibrant part of Enfield Grammar School, offering many opportunities for academic and personal development.

We offer students joining our Sixth Form a valuable experience. In addition to our proven record of accomplishment of academic success, we offer outstanding pastoral support and an array of extra-curricular opportunities for our students.

Our curriculum is flexible and broad, offering a range of A Level and BTEC choices; we offer high-quality teaching by experienced teachers who will expect students to take a great deal of responsibility for their own learning. In return, we ask that students display a high level of commitment to their studies and make an active contribution to our school community.

We pride ourselves on the quality of support we offer when preparing students for the next stage of their lives. The support and guidance offered to students through the UCAS process means that students have a high level of success in securing a place at their chosen university: typically, over 90% of students accept places at their choice of university.

We offer further, tailored support for students applying for courses at competitive universities enabling students to be successful in obtaining places at Oxford or Cambridge and other leading universities. We have been successful offering personalised support for students who apply to study medicine and law.

In addition, we offer guidance to students seeking employment or apprenticeships, helping them to prepare CVs and offering practical advice and support on applying for jobs and the interview process. In recent years, students have faced great competition in their applications for apprenticeships. We are proud that, due to their resilience and determination, amongst a host of other characteristics and skills, Enfield Grammar School students have successfully secured highly sought after placements with some of the best companies in the UK to undertake Degree Apprenticeships on leaving school.

Subject Information Booklet

6 Things You need To Know Before Making Your Choices

Click here for a Pdf version;

Six things you need to know before making your A-level choices

Whether you have already decided your A levels for next year or you are struggling to decide, here are six steps to making the right A level choices ………

1. Certain university courses will look for specific A-levels

This is important if you have a particular degree in mind. You won’t be able to apply to some degree courses without having taken some specific A levels (and scored the right grades in them too, of course).

Below are a few examples to give you an idea of what to expect (some are no- brainers)

Pharmacy must have: chemistry, plus at least one from biology, maths and physics
English must have: usually English literature, maybe English literature and language or English language.
Geology/earth sciences must have: at least two from maths, physics, chemistry and biology.
Economics sometimes need: maths, very rarely do you need economics.

For more guidance on what to study at A level to go on to particular degree subjects, see our full list of university subjects and their typical A level requirements.

Tip: Check out the full entry requirement details for a handful of courses across different universities to make sure you are ticking all the boxes with your subject choice.

2. Making certain A levels will open up more university course options

Keep your future options wide open when choosing your A levels by selecting a smart mix of the most commonly asked-for subjects in university entry requirements, known as ‘facilitating’ subjects.

These are:

Biology
Chemistry
English
Geography
History
Maths
Modern and classical languages
Physics

The more of these you choose, the more courses at university will be open to you.

Additionally, if you have a talent for art, design or music and think it could be an avenue you will pursue, taking the relevant A levels will help that to happen.

Be aware: Some universities openly discourage students from taking certain combinations of A level subjects, particularly when subjects are very similar like business studies and economics – something to bear in mind when you are making A level choices.

3. A-levels are a lot tougher than GCSEs

The reason you take a particular subject at A level will come down to one (or more) of these three scenarios (usually): you need it to pursue a particular career; it is a subject you enjoy and are good at; or it is a subject you have not studied before, but you think will suit you.

Either way, be prepared for a big jump in the level of difficulty when you transition from GCSE to A level (or any other Advanced level qualification for that matter). You will also see differences in the way you are taught and in what is expected of you.

4. Some courses and universities have lists of subjects they don’t accept

Particular courses – take, for instance, an architecture course at the University of Bath – will view certain A levels as less effective preparation for university studies than others. Similarly, some universities – such as the University of Sheffield – actually list which A level subjects they prefer. Others, like the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) have ‘non-preferred’ subject lists.

If your subject choices don’t match up, you shouldn’t necessarily discount the course, or be put off from taking a creative or vocational A level subject you are really interested in.

Taking a subject such as history of art, classical civilisation, economics, geology, government and politics, law, media studies, philosophy, psychology, religious studies and sociology in conjunction with at least one (ideally two) of the ‘facilitating’ subjects listed above should not be an issue, if you get the grades.

5. Know myth from reality

Don’t take everything you hear at face value – the reality might be quite different.

Say you have heard that you have no chance of getting on to an ultra-competitive law course at the University of Durham because it doesn’t accept psychology A level. Well, Durham Law School proactively states on its website that ‘we do not make offers in respect of critical thinking or general studies, but we are otherwise unconcerned by the subjects you take’. Couple that with a closer look at what A levels current students on the course took – in this case you will find that 14% of students studying law at Durham arrived with A level psychology! It is always worth investigating things yourself so you get the full picture.

A university may view you differently from another candidate based on other factors such as extra-curricular interests or your portfolio. Don’t rely on preconceived assumptions or what you hear through someone else from their experience. Double check your facts!

We have found that media studies, law and general studies usually throw up some confusion and cases of ‘he said-she-said’. Read our guides on how universities view these at A level.

6. Many universities and courses will consider you whatever you choose

Question: Accountancy, anthropology, archaeology, banking, business studies, classical civilisations, hospitality, information science, law, management, marketing, media studies, philosophy, politics, psychology, public relations, religious studies/theology, retail management, social work, sociology, surveying, television, travel and tourism …… What do these subjects have in common?

Answer: They will all consider a very wide range of A level choices and do not normally have essential subject requirements! So don’t get too bogged down in essential A levels you have to take.

6th Form Entry Requirements

Click here to download PDF: EGS 6th Form Entry Requirements for 2026 Entry

Subject Specific Entry Requirements: September 2026

To study A-level courses, students are required to attain at least five grade 5 GCSEs including English Language and Mathematics in addition to the individual subject entry requirements below.

To study L3 BTEC courses, students are required to attain at least four grade 5 GCSEs and GCSE grade 4 in English Language and Mathematics in addition to the individual subject entry requirements below.