A-levels

A full-time A Level programme (three subjects) usually includes four hours of teaching per subject per week, plus tutorial and independent study time.

In 2016–17, nearly 600 Activate Learning students went on to study courses at over 90 different higher education providers across the UK, including Oxford University and King’s College London, and at 18 out of the 24 universities that make up the world-class Russell Group.

2018

• 99% pass rate in City of Oxford College
• 97% pass rate at Reading College
• More than two thirds of all A Level entries resulted in an A* to C grade

Subjects

We have organised our subjects into pathways, which lead you to different career destinations. Each pathway provides a selection of A Level choices, helping you gain the UCAS points you need for your university application.

You will be encouraged to expand your skills with additional activities, such as joining the Learner Voice network, taking on summer internships and participating on student trips. We will help your UCAS application be as strong as possible, so that you can impress university admissions teams, as an academically-able, well-rounded, independent individual.

Please choose three A Level subjects from within one pathway. Please contact us to discuss any requests to mix subjects from different pathways.

A Level pathways at City of Oxford College

Business pathway

You can choose three subjects:

• Business studies
• English language and literature
• English literature
• Government and politics
• History
• Law
• Maths (you'll need a Maths GCSE at Grade 5 or above)
• Psychology
• Sociology

Communication pathway

You can choose three subjects:

• Art and Design
• Drama and theatre studies
• English language and literature (you'll need an English language GCSE at Grade 5 or above)
• English literature
• History
• Media
• Philosophy and religious studies
• Psychology
• Sociology

Science pathway

You can choose three subjects:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Further maths
• Geography
• Maths
• Physics
• Psychology

(If you are selecting maths or science, you'll need a GCSE in that subject at Grade 5 or above)

Social sciences pathway

You can choose three subjects:

• Business studies
• English language and literature (you'll need an English language GCSE at Grade 5 or above)
• English literature
• Geography
• Government and politics
• History
• Law
• Psychology
• Sociology

Entry requirements

You'll need six GCSEs at Grade 4 (C) or above, including English language, maths, additional science, plus three other academic subjects. Tutorial/ Extended Project Qualification is compulsory for all pathways.

A Level pathways at Reading College

Business pathway

• Accounting
• Business studies
• Computer science
• Geography
• Law
• Maths (you'll need a Maths GCSE at Grade 5 or above)
• Philosophy and religious studies
• Psychology
• Sociology

Communications pathway

• English language and literature (you'll need an English language GCSE at Grade 5 or above)
• Geography
• Government and politics
• History
• Law
• Philosophy and religious studies
• Psychology
• Sociology

Science pathway

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Computer science
• Further maths
• Geography
• Maths
• Physics
• Psychology

(If you are selecting maths or science, you'll need a GCSE in that subject at Grade 5 or above)

Social sciences pathway

• Business studies
• English language and literature (you'll need an English language GCSE at Grade 5 or above)
• Geography
• History
• Law
• Philosophy and religious studies
• Psychology
• Sociology

Career pathways

At Activate Learning, we provide every student with a career pathway; a plan, with clear, practical steps you can take to achieve the career of your dreams.

This will help you get the skills, attributes and knowledge that future employers want, giving you a greater chance of success.

Our career pathway maps will show you the best routes through college, higher education and employment and into the most popular industry sectors.

Qualifications

A Levels are still the most popular route into university in the UK.

A full-time A Level programme (three subjects) typically includes four hours of teaching per subject per week, plus tutorial and independent study time.

Industry partnerships

A Level students at Activate Learning benefit from our links with leading universities, such as the University of Reading, Oxford Brookes University, the University of Winchester and Southampton Solent University

In autumn each year, second year A Level students take part in UCAS Takeover Week, attending workshops run by universities on subjects such as personal statements and student finance. Each college also has a higher education fair, with over 40 university exhibitors on campus.

In addition to university links, employers such as Penningtons Manches, a leading law firm, provide legal masterclasses for A Level students.

What’s happening in A-levels

21 August 2019

What to do if your results don't go as expected

15 August 2019

Reading College students celebrate A Level success

01 August 2019

Never too late to learn – Reading College students celebrate Access to Higher Education success