News
T Level, A Level and/or BTEC: What Are My Choices?
Here at Cadbury Sixth Form College we offer a wide range of Level 3 programmes combining A Levels and BTECs, as well as T Levels and several Level 2 courses if you need to improve on your GCSE grades. Picking the right route for you post-GCSEs is important, so it’s good for you to understand the different types of qualification on offer to work out which route works best for you.
If you’re unclear about which route to opt for, here are some things to consider when choosing your options after school:
– What do your current studies at school tell you? Do you love Maths and working with numbers and theories, or are you creative? Do you enjoy more hands-on learning? Thinking about what you are good at can help you choose the best route.
– Select subjects you enjoy – studying a subject you are genuinely interested in will greatly improve your chances of succeeding at college.
– What are your plans for the future? Whether you intend to go to university, on to an apprenticeship or straight into employment, different routes may require you to study specific courses at college – so make sure you do your research.
– Seek advice – ask our Careers Team questions weekly via our web chat facility or discuss your choices with a member of staff at interview.
– Visit the Sixth Form – attend Open Days, Taster Sessions and Applicant Days to meet your subject teachers and current students.
What’s the difference?
All of our Level 3 programmes are equal to A Levels and are accepted by universities if that’s your goal. What’s important is matching your ambitions and strengths to the options available to ensure you get the best results for you.
A Levels
A Level courses are predominantly assessed by examinations, although some subjects may have a coursework component as well. All A Level courses are linear, meaning examinations are taken at the end of two years. These are Level 3 courses, ideally suited for progression into University or Higher Level Apprenticeships.
To study an A Level course you will need a minimum of five GCSEs (with two at grade 6, and three at grade 4). Due to the advanced level most subjects will have additional individual entry requirements.
BTECs
Because BTEC courses are vocational in nature they are more practical routes of academic study. Each course will have a larger coursework element to the assessment method. All our BTEC courses are studied at Level 3, meaning they are ideally suited to progression to University or Higher Level Apprenticeships. BTEC courses come in different sizes and are the equivalent to either one, two or three A Levels.
To study a BTEC Level 3 course you will need a minimum of five GCSEs at grade 4. BTECs can also be studied alongside A Level courses if you meet the entry requirements, making them an extremely flexible option that can be tailored to your demands.
T Levels
T Levels are an alternative to A Levels, apprenticeships and BTECs. Combining academic study of A Levels with a focus on vocational skills can help students into skilled employment, university or higher level apprenticeships. Each T Level includes an industry placement of at least 45 days giving students valuable experience in the work place.
5 Great Reasons Why You Need to Sign Up for Talk & Tours Now
Due to high demand we will be hosting a series of Talk & Tours at Cadbury Sixth Form College to help you plan your next move when you leave school. Our next events will be happening on Tuesday March 5, 4-7pm, and Saturday March 9, 11am-3pm.
Here’s why you need to book your place now!
- The Personal Experience: You’ll get a real feel for where you’ll be studying in September when you come to campus.
- Our knowledgeable student ambassadors will be there to share their own experience and insights with you and take you on a personal tour of the college.
- You’ll get to experience life through the eyes of a current student, ask all the questions you need answers to, and see all the facilities we have to offer you.
- We’ll cover many different areas on the tour including our brand new £10 million Science City campus, Psychology, Law and Art rooms, plus the IT suite, learning centre, drama theatre, science labs for Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Forensic and Biomedical Science. You’ll also be shown the individual study pods and learner coaching spaces. We’ll visit the Media, Film, Design and Photography areas for some creative and cinematic inspiration, before the tour concludes in the Eat Central dining area.
- Careers advisers and Student Mentors will also be there to offer specialist advice and guidance to help you navigate your next steps. It’s important to do your research and understand what’s involved in studying certain subjects and which professions they lead to before you commit to your final choices. We can give you lots of support with this.
Remember also that you can apply there and then at Talk & Tours, if you haven’t already. If you have applied but your plans have changed since you signed up, you can still update your choices.
Whether you have favourites in mind, or would like to try something brand new like Psychology, Law, Politics or Criminology, Talk & Tours offer you the perfect time to apply and continue your career journey.
So come and join us, and book your place here.
Making The Right Choice For You at Cadbury
Here at Cadbury we’re big believers in choice and think that students shouldn’t have to compromise on what they enjoy when deciding what to do after school. For that reason we have one of the largest course offers in the region with over 50 subject areas to choose from.
Applied Science BTEC with an Art A Level? No problem. Some university courses and careers will require you to study certain courses at Level 3 after you leave school but lots of them won’t. The most important thing to remember when selecting your courses is to concentrate on what you’re good at and what you enjoy.
In theory you are free to do any combination of courses you want here at Cadbury – you just need to do a combination which adds up to the equivalent of three A Levels. We do however have recommended combinations that provide pathways into careers and university courses.
Older News & Event Articles
We are pleased to announce the launch of SafeHaven, a new initiative created in partnership with Cadbury Sixth Form College, which will empower local youth through creative arts, sports, and community-building activities.
SafeHaven will provide a safe and inspiring environment for young people at Cadbury Sixth Form College with free entry for ages 9-17. The programme aims to foster self-expression, resilience, and teamwork among young people through a wide range of activities, from music production to sports and visual arts.
The initiative will run twice a week, offering tailored sessions to engage both primary and secondary school students. Mondays (4PM – 6PM) will feature activities for primary students ages 9-13, while Wednesdays (4PM – 6PM) will be focused on secondary students ages 13-17.
Each session provides participants with exciting opportunities to explore new skills and hobbies, including multi-sports, arts and crafts, music production, drama, console gaming, and Warhammer. Workshops will also feature hip-hop, graffiti, and drawing sessions led by Creative Birmingham Arts Therapy UK, encouraging creativity and cultural expression.
West Midlands Police played a pivotal role in securing funding from Clarion Housing, which was used for resources such as uniforms and gaming equipment, which will enhance the programme’s accessibility and engagement.
PC Constable Matt Shakespeare, West Midlands Police, said: “SafeHaven is a wonderful initiative that will provide young people with positive outlets for self-expression and growth. Our collaboration with Cadbury Sixth Form College on this project reinforces our commitment to supporting Birmingham’s youth and fostering a safer, more connected community.”
Lydia Maher, Principal at Cadbury Sixth Form College comments: “We are delighted to launch SafeHaven as a space where young people can feel empowered, safe, and inspired. This project aligns with our mission to not only educate but to actively engage with the community and help build brighter futures for the young people in our local area.”
This initiative will be a significant addition to Cadbury Sixth Form College’s community offerings. To book your space, please click here.
An incredibly exciting and pioneering new partnership with Birmingham Hippodrome is set to give Sandwell College and Cadbury Sixth Form College learners exclusive access to one of the city’s biggest theatre brands.
Creative Arts leaders at the college are embracing the extremely promising prospects of the partnership and the vital insights into the performing arts industry it will give to current and prospective students.
Valuable work experience opportunities will be a major plus for Performing Arts and Musical Theatre students keen to experience life in the spotlight.
Learners will also benefit from behind-the-scenes access to theatre productions and companies, and special appreciation of what goes into set construction and assembly, scenic painting and prop-making.
As a taster of what the future has in store, Sandwell Performing Arts students were recently treated to an exclusive preview of musical spectacular Play On! at the Hippodrome.
Set in the jazz scene of New York’s Cotton Club, this stylish retelling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, directed by Talawa’s Artistic Director Michael Buffong, fuses the thrilling music of Duke Ellington with street dance choreography.
Michelle King, Sandwell College’s Head of Creative Industries, said: “This new partnership with Birmingham Hippodrome is incredibly exciting for us – it will allow our current and prospective students to gain valuable experiences and insights into the performing arts industry, providing them with exclusive access to one of Birmingham’s biggest theatre brands and internationally-renowned productions and companies. We can’t wait to develop our relationship with the Hippodrome and offer so many more opportunities as part of the creative industries curriculum.”
Chris Sudworth, Birmingham Hippodrome’s Creative Director concluded: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Sandwell College and Cadbury Sixth Form College to inspire the next generation of creative talent. By providing exclusive access to our productions, backstage experiences, and industry expertise, we aim to ignite students’ passion for the performing arts and equip them with the skills and confidence to pursue their dreams. Collaborations like this are vital in nurturing a vibrant arts community, and we are excited to see the incredible opportunities this partnership will bring to life.”
A talented linguist from Cadbury Sixth Form College has achieved national recognition, winning the prestigious Stephen Spender Trust Prize for Poetry in Translation: KS5 Portuguese Spotlight.
Dennis Casey’s translation of Fernando Pessoa’s Mar Português, will be published in the Stephen Spender Trust Prizewinners’ Booklet 2024 and online. This achievement is particularly remarkable as Dennis had no previous knowledge of the Portuguese language.
Dennis, who is studying A-Levels in French, Philosophy, Maths & EPQ, expressed delight at the accolade.
“I was really surprised to have won this award, especially given that I’ve never studied Portuguese before. The fact that it was on a national scale as well was massive – I definitely wasn’t expecting to win.”
The competition required participants to translate a poem and provide a creative interpretation that captured its essence. At last week’s online award celebration, the judge spoke warmly of the sensitivity of language used in Dennis’ translation, and in the
remarkable watercolour with its striking image that Dennis painted for the creative response activity.
Reflecting on life at Cadbury Sixth Form College, Dennis credited the Languages department’s supportive environment and enriching activities for nurturing linguistic passion and skills.
“The Languages department is a community – we do a lot of extra-curricular and enrichment activities that have boosted my confidence socially as well. This year, I am a Languages Mentor helping within the department, and one of my roles is as editor of our multilingual poetry anthology.”
Sue Simson, Languages Lecturer, who organised entries to the competition, was delighted at the result: “we are very proud of Dennis’ superb achievement in gaining this outstanding award. It is well deserved, and I hope it will inspire Dennis to further literary heights in the future.”
Lydia Maher, Principal of Cadbury Sixth Form College, also commended on Dennis’ accomplishment:
“This national recognition is a reflection of the dedication and excellence we cultivate at Cadbury Sixth Form College. Dennis’ achievement not only highlights his exceptional ability but also the outstanding support and opportunities provided by our Languages department. We are incredibly proud of him and look forward to seeing his continued success.”
For further information about Cadbury Sixth Form College and its Languages department, visit www.cadcol.ac.uk.
