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.

Last year (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, leading 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 (Maths at minimum B grade if Maths A-level selected)
• Psychology
• Sociology

Communication pathway

You can choose three subjects:

• Art and Design
• Drama and theatre studies
• English language and literature (English language at minimum grade B if English chosen)
• 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

(Maths at minimum grade B, relevant science minimum grade B, if those subjects selected.)

Social sciences pathway

You can choose three subjects:

• Business studies
• English language and literature (English language at minimum grade B if English selected)
• English literature
• Geography
• Government and politics
• History
• Law
• Psychology
• Sociology

Entry requirements 

Six GCSEs at A-C (9-4), 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 (Maths at minimum B grade if Maths A-level selected)
• Philosophy and religious studies
• Psychology
• Sociology

Communications pathway

• English language and literature (English language at minimum grade B)
• Geography
• Government and politics
• History
• Law
• Philosophy and religious studies
• Psychology
• Sociology

Science pathway

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

(Maths at minimum grade B, relevant science minimum grade B, if those subjects selected.)

Social sciences pathway

• Business studies
• English language and literature (English language at minimum grade B)
• 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

15 January 2018

Theale Green School joins Activate Learning

12 December 2017

UTC Reading receives the World Class Schools Quality Mark

06 December 2017

Pupils and technology employers visit Reading STEM day