Advanced level qualification. A-Levels are a UK subject-based qualification for students aged 16 and above. They are usually studied over the course of 2 years, and lead to qualifications recognised for entrance to higher education institutes in the UK and many others worldwide.

Business Technology Education Council. BTECs are more practical based subjects and cover a range of topics that you might not have studied before. They are usually studied alone and in depth. Students who achieve 4 GCSEs at grades 9-4 (including English and Maths) usually study a BTEC Level 3 across 2 years. Students whose GCSE grades are below a grade 4, often start at a Level 2 which can be 1-2 years long. Some courses also require students to study the course from a Level 2 due to the level of knowledge require for the subject. Depending on your GCSE results some students may start their BTEC at a Level 1.

T-Levels are new courses which follow GCSEs and are equivalent to 3 A-Levels. These 2-year courses, which launched September 2020, have been developed in collaboration with employers and businesses to ensure the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for work, further training or study.

You could go onto studying a Level 3, Advanced Level Apprenticeship after leaving school, or you may start at a lower level apprenticeship and work your way up. A Level 3 Apprenticeship is equivalent to two A-Levels and usually take between 1-2 years, where you will combine practical training in a job with study. To apply for a Level 3 apprenticeship, you may be expected to have GCSEs at certain grades and already have some experience relevant to the role and be able to demonstrate your relevant skills.

Sixth Form's usually offer A-Levels of which you will also usually study three or possibly four subjects. Some Sixth Forms allow you to study a combination of A-Levels and BTECs (Level 3 National Extended Certificate). As studying A-Levels requires you to study multiple option choices this allows you to keep a variety of pathway options open Post-18.

Our Academy has its own Sixth Form of which more information can be found by clicking here. There are other local Sixth Forms with varying entry requirements and subjects on offer. These can be discussed with the Careers Leader.

Colleges offer BTEC and T-Level courses with many also offering Apprenticeships and some even A-Level courses.

Please find below information about some of our local colleges:

Tresham College - Offers BTECs, T-Levels and Apprenticeships and has three main sites at Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough. Corby and Wellingborough offer Engineering, Construction and Motorsport based courses amongst other whilst Kettering offers Art and Design and Hair and Beauty courses amongst others.
Click here to visit their website.

Stamford College - Offers A-Levels, BTECs, T-Levels and Apprenticeships (Also has an Air and Defence College).
Click here to visit their website.

Moulton College - Located in the Northamptonshire countryside covering 450 hectares, with a further 170 hectares rented as grazing for their livestock, Moulton is a specialist land-based college with more than one hundred years' experience in training young people and adults in skills associated with the natural, built and recreational environment. The college farm much of the land commercially to provide a realistic resource for our students, while a number of businesses are also based on the estate too.
Click here to visit their website. 

Northampton College - Offering BTECs, A-Levels and Apprenticeships.
Click here to visit their website.

National College for Motorsport - The National College for Motorsport is located within Technology Park, which is directly next to the Silverstone circuit. The college offers specialist Race Technician BTECs.
Click here to visit their website.