Academic achievement at all levels must be outstanding, and beyond this, students will be expected to be widely read around their chosen subject. A-Level choices are typically traditional, academic subjects relating to students’ intended degree courses.

Students who have achieved outstanding GCSE results will be invited to join the Stretford Grammar High Achievers Programme. This will involve attending specific tutorial sessions on preparing a competitive application for a course at an Oxbridge College or other ambitious courses at prestigious universities. Students will be supported with advice on gaining work experience, preparing a successful Personal Statement and interview preparation. Stretford Grammar Sixth Form is also a member of the South Manchester consortium for the Cambridge Universities HE+ Programme, an initiative to prevent financial hardship and social background being a barrier to students entering the most ambitious top universities.

Universities are very keen to see what students have done outside the classroom in their independent study time.  Students have the opportunity to undertake an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) which involves creating an independent piece of work under supervision from a teacher on a subject of their choice.

There is a focus on super curricular activities at both Oxford and Cambridge, something we consider in our tutorial sessions, and is encouraged in subject-specific independent reading that is promoted as part of our academic offer.

For us, this includes students undertaking a MOOC(Massive Open Online Course), which is an area of interest: this is part of the tutorial programme. MOOCs are open-access online courses offered by some of the leading universities in the world, and are designed to give a flavour of undergraduate content. To complete a course requires self-motivation and organisation, and enriches all students' personal statements, regardless of their future aspirations. The websites below are good starting points for learning about these:  

Further details of suggested super curricular activities for both Oxford and Cambridge can be found via the links below:

Stretford Grammar School is a member of the HE+ programme. This programme helps support students who meet certain widening access criteria to make strong applications. Details of this initiative can be found here:

These are considered to be world-class institutions and comprise 24 UK Universities with a reputation for High Quality research. As with Oxbridge, GCSE grade expectations are generally high and A-Level choices are typically traditional academic subjects that are related to students’ areas of interest. Further information about Russell Group Universities can be found at the link below:

Students will learn more about Russell Group universities in tutorial sessions. Crucially, as with Oxbridge applicants, a personal tutor will support students in writing a personal statement that allows them to compete for places on these courses.

For the vast majority of courses, Chemistry is required; Biology, and/or Mathematics/Physics are routinely studied alongside Chemistry, but universities are often flexible about the third subject, and studying a different subject can often show academic versatility. 

At Stretford Grammar School there is a calendared time to undertake work experience. This will take place at the end of Year 12 and is especially important, as this work experience is essential for entry into these fields. Students will be guided through the UCAS process, and supported with mock interviews which play an important role in the selection process for most courses. Students have benefited from our connections with professionals working in the field who support us to deliver tutorial sessions to our students on various aspects of the process.

When choosing an A Level subject, students should:

• Have an interest in and enjoy studying it.
• Have a good chance of obtaining a high grade in it i.e. have been good at it previously or, if students have not studied it before, have high GCSE grades in subjects which require similar skills.
• Have researched the subject and know what is involved in studying it to A Level – this may sometimes be quite different from what is covered at GCSE, and it may be much more difficult. If students have not studied the subject before, what is it actually about, and will it suit students’ strengths?
• Consider whether it will help students to meet higher education or future career aspirations. Students who know which degree course they would like to study at university can use the table below to see the likely requirements.

Please note that this is a guide only and students should refer to www.ucas.com or individual university websites to check detailed entry requirements for specific courses. 

Some degree courses may not require any specific subject background. If students are unsure about their future career options, subjects that tend to give the most options include Mathematics and Further Mathematics, the Pure Sciences, Geography, History, English Literature and Modern Foreign Languages. These subjects are particularly favoured by the Russell Group Universities.

The information above has been taken from Informed Choices:

It is recommended that students refer to this site before choosing their A Level options.