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Choosing Your Sixth Form Subjects: A Critical Decision

As you approach the end of your GCSEs, one of the significant decisions looming before you is selecting the right subjects to study at Sixth Form, whether you're aiming for A-Levels, BTEC, or other equivalent qualifications. This choice can significantly impact your future education direction, career prospects, and personal development.

The Background of Sixth Form Studies

Sixth Form is a term used in the United Kingdom to describe the final two years of education (Year 12 and Year 13) prior to university entry at age 16 to 18. Students typically choose a smaller number of subjects to study in greater depth compared to GCSE level. These subjects could be a mix of A-Levels, which are more academic, or BTECs, which are more vocational.

The subjects you choose at Sixth Form can influence your options at university and your future career path. For instance, studying certain sciences might be essential for degrees in medicine or veterinary science. Humanities can pave the way for courses like law or history at university.

Real-life Impact of Your Subject Choices

The subjects you pick in Sixth Form can open doors to certain career paths and shut others. For example, if you don't take at least two sciences at A-Level, you may struggle to get into a science-related degree course. Similarly, if you aspire to a career in engineering but choose no Maths or Physics, you might find yourself at a disadvantage.

Aside from academic and career implications, your subject choices can affect your personal satisfaction and engagement over the next two years. Opting for subjects you are genuinely interested in can make your Sixth Form years much more enjoyable and personally enriching.

How to Choose the Right Subjects

Deciding which subjects to take can seem daunting, but here are some practical strategies to help guide your choices:

1. Consider Your Future Goals

Think about what you might want to do in terms of a career or further education. If you have a specific university course in mind, research the entry requirements to see what subjects you need to take.

2. Reflect on Your GCSE Performance

Your achievements at GCSE level can be a good indicator of where your strengths lie. It's generally advisable to continue with subjects in which you have both excelled and enjoyed.

3. Seek Advice

Speak with your teachers, career advisors, and family members about your options. They can offer insights into how certain subjects are taught at Sixth Form level, as well as what future opportunities each subject may offer.

4. Balance Your Workload

Some subjects like Further Maths or the three sciences are known to be workload heavy. Make sure to choose a balanced mix that you can manage alongside your other commitments and extracurriculars.

5. Consider Subject Combinations

Some subjects naturally complement each other (like Maths and Physics). Combining these can provide a strong foundation for specific university courses. Conversely, a varied subject choice can give you a wider range of options later on.

Examples of Popular Subject Choices and Their Benefits

Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)

Continuing with sciences at A-Level can lead to careers in healthcare, environmental science, engineering, and more. These subjects are often required for related degrees at university.

Humanities (History, Geography, English)

These subjects enhance your writing skills, critical thinking, and understanding of the world. They are valuable in numerous fields, from journalism and law to education and public policy.

Mathematics and Further Mathematics

Maths is essential for fields in engineering, economics, and technology. Further Maths is highly regarded if you are considering a degree in Mathematics or related technical subjects.

Arts (Fine Art, Music, Drama)

If you are creative, continuing with an arts subject can help develop your skills and potentially lead to careers in creative industries like fashion, film, and media.

Summary

Choosing your subjects for Sixth Form is crucial as it forms the pathway towards your further education and career ambitions. While it's essential to select subjects that align with your future goals, it's equally important to choose subjects that you are passionate about. Remember, these decisions are not just about meeting university requirements but also about developing your potential and enriching your last years of school life.

How are you feeling?

It is really important that when we need help, we feel able to ask for it. This could be speaking to a parent, a close friend, a teacher or someone else you trust. Sometimes it can be really hard to share our feelings with other people but if we are feeling low or don't know where to turn, sharing with others is really important. Teachers will always take you seriously and listen to your problems in confidence if you approach them for help. Likewise, parents, siblings or friends will help you if you reach out to them.

If you feel like you can't speak to anyone you know, there are people and organisations that can help support you:

• Childline - Call them on 0800 1111 any time of the day or night, every day of the week
• NSPCC - Call them on 0808 800 5000 between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday or email them on help@NSPCC.org.uk
• The Samaritans – Call them on 116 123 any time of the day or night, every day of the week
• SANE – Call 0300 304 7000 for support (4:30pm - 10:30pm every day)
• Mind – Call 0300 123 3393 (9:00am - 6:00pm Monday to Friday)

*Sometimes we will use real life examples in our articles to aid understanding. When we do, names and ages will be changed.