GCSE Resits

To gain entry to one of our level three study programmes, students need to have achieved a minimum of five GCSEs at grades 4/C or above, or equivalent level 2 qualifications. Equivalent level 2 qualifications include, for example, level 2 BTEC qualifications or Functional Skills qualifications at level 2.

What if I don't have GCSE English and/or mathematics at grade 4 or above?

If students enrol with us and haven't already got a grade 4/C or above in GCSE Mathematics, English Language or English Literature, or an equivalent qualification such as a level 2 pass in Functional Mathematics or English, they will be automatically enrolled on the GCSE resit course in the required subject.

Retaking GCSEs at sixth form is an additional demand on students' time. Any student who needs to retake GCSE English and/or mathematics should expect to need to attend for four days per week rather than three condensed days on the main full-time level three study programme. Because of this extra demand on students, we recommend students work hard in school to achieve the best possible standard they can at GCSE English and maths at their first attempt at these qualifications in school. 

However, we recognise that some students will need further study in these subjects at sixth form college to reach their grade 4s in these subjects, and if they do, they are in safe hands and have lots of success: Maria Bridges, the English teacher, and Chris Tasker, the maths teacher, are expert teachers, work as GCSE examiners to support them to give the best support and advice to students as to how to improve exam performance, and both worked as heads of departments in their subjects in their previous educational settings. Class sizes are small and teachers work hard to help students make quick progress towards target grade 4s or above.

Do I need to retake GCSE English Language if I have achieved GCSE English Literature at grade 4/C?

The government rule is that a student does not need to retake GCSE English Language if they have achieved a grade 4 or above in GCSE English Literature. However, some students make the choice to join the retake GCSE English Language classes to work towards gaining a grade 4. These students tend to achieve their qualification quickly linked to already having demonstrated transferable skill in this subject in previous GCSE English Literature exams. Students sometimes make this choice to retake GCSE English Language because they have awareness that a grade 4 in GCSE English Language is specifically asked for by some universities or for entry to certain professions they may be interested in exploring in the future, such as teaching.

 

Which GCSE awarding bodies do we teach at LIPA Sixth Form College?

EDEXCEL GCSE English Language 9-1 (2015)

WJEC/EDUQAS GCSE Mathematics 9-1 (2015, version 3)

 

Who can I contact to ask questions about GCSE resits at LIPA Sixth Form College?

Maria Bridges, Teacher of English: m.bridges@lipasixthformcollege.org

Chris Tasker, Teacher of maths: c.tasker@lipasixthformcollege.org

Amy Deane, Deputy Principal (Senior Leader for English & Maths): a.deane@lipasixthformcollege.org