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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’re thrilled to celebrate the journey of Taranpreet, a past student and former Student President, who is inspiring the next generation of learners to achieve their goals at Cadbury Sixth Form College.
Now in her gap year Taranpreet has returned to where it all began – this time as a valued member of our team at The Sandwell Colleges.
During her time as an A Level Geography and BTEC Forensic & Medical Science student, Taranpreet was supported by our incredible learning coaches, who helped her thrive academically and personally. Now, she’s paying it forward, stepping into the role of learning coach herself.
Taranpreet’s story is a testament to the power of opportunities available across The Sandwell Colleges – not only are our teams providing learners with quality learning, but also coaching and mentoring to truly open doors to the next step. She says: “I loved getting involved in college and all the activities it offers to students, such as basketball, and it was this experience that made me reach out to the managers to ask for any opportunities that may become available.”
As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week 2025, let’s mark the achievements of one of Cadbury Sixth Form College’s amazing alumni, Eniya Ali, who is climbing the career ladder at AutoTrader UK.
Eniya’s journey from junior designer to product designer, has been defined by determination and growth. Balancing her studies with work, she has honed her craft and is now guiding emerging designers, securing a permanent position with the UK’s largest automotive marketplace.
At Cadbury Eniya achieved A*A*A in A Level Graphics, Media and Psychology. She then worked as a freelance graphic designer for a year before joining AutoTrader as an apprentice on a Level 6 digital user experience (UX) degree apprenticeship affiliated with Manchester Metropolitan University. Although she worked 9 to 5, Eniya split her time 80% working and 20% studying towards her degree.
Eniya says: “I felt grateful I was around like-minded people in a similar boat as me. Early careers make up around 10% of the business and very quickly I felt like I belonged to a community. Becoming a graphic designer means I am able to put my design skills and what I learnt in Cadbury College into application, it’s an effective way to learn and grow within the industry and you create real impacts.”
Watch Eniya’s story on YouTube
New beginnings beckon for you at Cadbury Sixth Form College when you apply for a place to start in September 2025.
At Cadbury we pride ourselves on offering school leavers an impressive range in excess of 50 advanced level subjects, in an inspirational recently revamped campus designed to exclusively meet the needs, interests and aspirations of the young adults we serve.
We’re on an ambitious mission to provide expert education, leading to excellent university and employment prospects for our diverse and vibrant community of students.
Whatever their destination, our students leave prepared for their next steps: independent, adaptable and resilient. And you could be joining us this year if you apply to us now.
What are the benefits of getting your application in early?
– You can focus firmly on your exam preparation once you know your college place is confirmed and your future is secure.
– You can make a well-informed decision on which of our 50+ subjects are best for you and tailoring your timetable to include a mixture of practical and theoretical, A Level and BTEC, or all academic routes by researching your choices thoroughly and getting meaningful careers advice from our caring tutors.
Travel Far
Cadbury sixth formers travel all over the city to reach us – anywhere from Solihull, Hall Green, Bordesley, Sutton Coldfield, Redditch and even further afield – to experience our specialist college.
We offer all of our students FREE bus travel, regardless of their financial circumstances, so whether the college is local to you or not, we make it easier for you to get on board.
Professional Growth
Cadbury students are benefiting from our industry-focused learning spaces, employer connections and wraparound careers and pastoral support as part of our Young Professionals Academy, gaining professional growth and career opportunities.
Hamilton star Khalid Daley, BBC football expert Eniola Aluko, Birmingham Poet Laureate Casey Bailey and Auto Trader UK product design apprentice Eniya Ali are just some of our amazingly successful alumni who started their journey with Cadbury.
Launch Pad
Discover why Cadbury is the best place to launch your career after leaving school, and how T Levels will give you that much needed head-start in Health, Research Science, Digital, Education, Childcare, Broadcast Media, Business Leadership and Law, by signing up for our T Level Tuesday Talk & Tour on 11 March. Select a 5pm or 6.15pm arrival slot and come and explore our new multi-million pound facilities at Cadbury.
Lydia Maher, Principal of Cadbury Sixth Form College, says: “At Cadbury Sixth Form College we are able to offer an inclusive, nurturing, and aspirational environment for young people to flourish in. We want to unlock the full potential of every single learner, ensuring that they leave us fully prepared for a bright and successful future. Whatever your plans might be, we’re here and ready to help – so there’s no better time to apply for every exciting opportunity available.”
Catch up on the latest from our Cadbury community, accelerate your career and apply now for 2025.
