Courses and Entry Requirements
Your choice of course at Post 16 is one of the most significant decisions you will ever make. It is the foundation upon which you will build your university prospects, your professional career, and your future.
At GHS, we offer an outstanding and wide-ranging curriculum designed to challenge and inspire. To help you make an informed choice, our expert Post 16 course leaders have produced a series of videos detailing what each subject involves and why it is a valuable choice for your future.
Entry Criteria
Post 16 study is rigorous and demanding. We are committed to ensuring every student is placed on a course that matches their ability and aspirations, providing the best possible platform for success.
General Requirements
To be considered for a place at our GHS Post 16, all applicants must meet the following criteria:
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Academic Reference: A supportive reference from a senior member of staff at your current school.
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Professional Standards: Excellent records of attendance, punctuality and conduct are essential prerequisites.
Academic Requirements
Students must meet the individual entry requirements for every subject they intend to study:
A Levels - require applicants to have achieved a minimum of six GCSE passes at Grade 5, including English and Mathematics.
BTEC qualifications - require applicants to have achieved a minimum of five GCSE passes at Grade 4, including English and Mathematics.
Explore our Subjects
Click on any course title below to watch the introductory video and view specific subject details.
A-Level Courses
Biology
Why choose A Level Biology at Post 16?
Entry Requirements
Grade 6+ in Science (separate or combined) & Grade 6+ in Maths GCSE.
Course Content
Level: GCE A Level
Awarding Body: OCR
A level biology explores all aspects of the living world, looking at the subject at all levels ranging from:
- the molecular -what molecules are living things built from, and how do these work together?
- The cellular -what are cells like, how do they function and how do we study them?
- The organism -what are the systems that are needed for complex plants and animals to function?
- The ecological -how do different groups of organisms interact with each other?
- At the same time biology is a practical subject that covers how scientific knowledge is produced as well as the specific technical skills that biologists use in research.
Year 1
- Module 1: Development of Practical Skills in Biology
- Module 2: Foundations in Biology
- Module 3: Exchange and Transport
- Module 4: Biodiversity, Evolution and Disease
Year 2
- Module 5: Communication and Homeostasis
- Module 6: Genetics, Evolution and Ecosystems
Assessment
As a two year course, all content will be assessed at the end of Year 13. Module 1 (Development of Practical skills in biology) will be assessed internally throughout the two years.
- Paper 1: Biological processes - 37% of total A Level
- Paper 2: Biological diversity - 37% of total A Level
- Paper 3: Unified Biology - 26% of total A Level
Progression Routes
Biology can be used to gain entry to a variety of university courses, including degrees in the medical field, cellular biology, (genetics, microbiology, biochemistry) and environmental sciences.
University courses:
- Medicine, Dentistry, veterinary sciences
- Biomedical science/ Biochemistry/ Pharmacy/ optometry
- Biology
Future careers
- Medicine/ dentistry/ veterinary medicine/ pharmacy/ optometry
- Life science research
- Environmental scientist/ conservation
Curriculum Intent
What is Greenford High aiming to achieve through its Science curriculum?
At Greenford High School the Science curriculum is designed to foster a curiosity about the world around us, enable citizens of the future to understand and explore the world effectively and to be able to use scientific principles to both answer and ask questions about the universe and everything in it.
Our intent is that our curriculum:
- inspires a love of learning and curiosity about the world
- ensures students understand the second greatest advance in the history of humanity – the scientific method – and can apply this process to questions they might ask
- develops the practical knowledge and skills to use scientific equipment safely and accurately to competently test ideas and demonstrate phenomena
- fosters a sense of awe in the beauty of our universe and how we can work together (or individually) to deepen our understanding of ANYTHING
- informs knowledge of the key workings of the human body so that educated opinions and decisions can be made about health, products and stories in the media
- develops analytical skills to scrutinise data presented in any format to draw out meaning
- combines basic Maths and English skills in context to help students develop their application skills
- informs students of issues facing themselves and the wider world to help this future generation look after themselves and their planet
- ensures students leave GHS able to critically analyse and evaluate data, stories and phenomena in everyday situations
- improves transferable skills such as time-keeping, teamwork and organisation
- develops students learning skills and independence so they can go on to be life-long learners
- makes students more employable so they become a self-sufficient and productive member of society
- delivers opportunities to apply the skills learnt in the form of a wide range of practicals
- helps students develop logical thinking and problem solving skills
- teaches students how to be safe and evaluate risks in everyday life and in particular scientific contexts
Business Studies
Why A Level Business Studies at Post 16?
Entry Requirements
Grade 5+ in English and Maths GCSEs.
Course Content
Level: GCE A Level
Awarding Body: Edexcel
The aim of the course is to analyse how businesses operate, outline the problems businesses face and recommend how businesses can overcome these problems. An understanding of key business concepts and theories underpins all the work that is done at A Level.
3 Papers in total:
Paper 1 (Themes 1 and 4): Marketing, People and Global Business
- Total marks: 100 marks.
- Weighting: 35%
- Exam time: 2 hours
- There are 2 sections A and B and ALL questions must be answered and are based on stimulus material.
Paper 2 (Themes 2 and 4): Business Activities, Decisions and Strategy
- Total marks: 100 marks.
- Weighting: 35%
- Exam time: 2 hours
- There are 2 sections A and B and ALL questions must be answered and are based on stimulus material.
Paper 3: Investigating Business in a Competitive Environment
- Total marks: 100 marks.
- Weighting: 30%
- Exam time: 2 hours
- Pre-release case study of broad context will be issued in November of the previous year with questions drawn from all themes
Year 1
- Theme 1 : Marketing and People
- Theme 2: Managing Business Activities
Year 2
- Theme 3: Business Decision and Strategy
- Theme 4 : Global Business
Assessment
- Paper 1 (2 hour written paper) – Theme 1 and 3 (35%)
- Paper 2 (2 hour written paper) - Theme 2 and 4 (35%)
- Paper 3 (2 hours) Investigating business in a competitive environment (synoptic) - based on a pre-released case study (30%)
Progression Routes
The full A Level in Business Studies is a useful introduction to study a variety of courses at university. A very large number of Greenford students go on to study Business or related subjects at degree level.
University courses:
- Business Management
- Marketing
- Accounting and Finance
- Business
Future careers:
- Marketing
- Finance
- Business Management
Curriculum Intent
What is Greenford High School aiming to achieve through its Business and Economics curriculum?
- To develop students’ awareness and natural curiosity of the Business and Economic environment around them and to raise awareness of economic and business developments in the UK and around the world.
- To offer opportunities for students to engage in activities that allow them to develop their self-confidence, employability and enterprise skills.
- To promote moral, social and cultural responsibility through the real world nature of the subject via topics such as business ethics, social costs and globalisation.
- To encourage students to become effective and independent learners, as well as being critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds.
- To enable students’ to build upon their business and economics knowledge and skills and apply them appropriately to produce successful outcomes.
- To offer a broad curriculum within the department to make the subject offering comprehensive and accessible.
- To prepare students for the next stage of their education, future pathways and careers through developing their skills and attributes and providing opportunities and experiences to inspire them to succeed.
chemistry
Why choose A level Chemistry at Post 16
Entry Requirements
Grade 6+ in Science (separate or combined) & Grade 6+ in Maths GCSE.
Course Content
Level: GCE A Level
Awarding Body: OCR
Chemistry will teach students about the world around them, from tiny electrons to the chemistry of manufacturing on an industrial scale. Pupils will need strong mathematical skills which will be used to calculate values, predict the outcome of reactions and represent quantities which we cannot physically see in order to explain the real world properties of materials based on their interactions at an atomic level.
Chemistry students will follow the OCR Chemistry A specification. The first term will introduce pupils to a more developed model of the atom than they have studied at GCSE level. This will enable them to understand bonding and explain the patterns and trends in the properties of elements within the periodic table. Students will then move on to study more complex situations and ideas which build upon the basics learnt in the first unit. Throughout the year students will be required to carry out practical tasks which will allow them to evaluate their methods and the risks involved, to record data to appropriate levels of precision and interpret the data they record.
Year 1
- Module 1: Development of Practical skills in chemistry
- Module 2: Foundations in chemistry
- Module 3: Periodic table and energy
- Module 4: Core organic chemistry
Year 2
- Module 1: Development of Practical skills in chemistry
- Module 5: Physical chemistry and transition elements
- Module 6: Organic chemistry and analysis
Assessment
As a two year course, all content will be assessed at the end of year 13. Module 1 (Development of Practical skills in chemistry) will be assessed internally throughout the two years.
Paper 1: Periodic table, elements and physical chemistry
37% of total A Level
Paper 2: Synthesis and analytical techniques
37% of total A Level
Paper 3: Unified chemistry
26% of total A Level
Progression Routes
University courses:
- Medicine, Dentistry, veterinary sciences (Chemistry A Level is a requirement for these courses)
- Chemical engineering
- Biochemistry or Natural sciences
Future careers:
- Pharmaceuticals, Lab work, Forensic science
- Nuclear industry
- Nursing, physiotherapy, optometry, psychiatry
Curriculum Intent
What is Greenford High aiming to achieve through its Science curriculum?
At Greenford High School the Science curriculum is designed to foster a curiosity about the world around us, enable citizens of the future to understand and explore the world effectively and to be able to use scientific principles to both answer and ask questions about the universe and everything in it.
Our intent is that our curriculum:
- inspires a love of learning and curiosity about the world
- ensures students understand the second greatest advance in the history of humanity – the scientific method – and can apply this process to questions they might ask
- develops the practical knowledge and skills to use scientific equipment safely and accurately to competently test ideas and demonstrate phenomena
- fosters a sense of awe in the beauty of our universe and how we can work together (or individually) to deepen our understanding of ANYTHING
- informs knowledge of the key workings of the human body so that educated opinions and decisions can be made about health, products and stories in the media
- develops analytical skills to scrutinise data presented in any format to draw out meaning
- combines basic Maths and English skills in context to help students develop their application skills
- informs students of issues facing themselves and the wider world to help this future generation look after themselves and their planet
- ensures students leave GHS able to critically analyse and evaluate data, stories and phenomena in everyday situations
- improves transferable skills such as time-keeping, teamwork and organisation
- develops students learning skills and independence so they can go on to be life-long learners
- makes students more employable so they become a self-sufficient and productive member of society
- delivers opportunities to apply the skills learnt in the form of a wide range of practicals
- helps students develop logical thinking and problem solving skills
- teaches students how to be safe and evaluate risks in everyday life and in particular scientific contexts
computer Science
Why choose A Level Computer Science at post 16?
Entry Requirements
Grade 6+ in Maths GCSE.
Course Content
Level: A Level (H446) Course
Awarding Body: OCR
Computer Science is a creative, practical, and problem-solving subject. It teaches you how computers really work, how to design and program systems, and how to think logically about problems in the modern digital world.
What you’ll learn
- How computers work – from the CPU and memory to operating systems, software, databases, and networks.
- Programming and algorithms – learning to write code, break down problems, and use efficient algorithms to solve them.
- Computational thinking – skills like abstraction, decomposition, and logical reasoning that help you tackle complex challenges.
- Big ideas in tech – including artificial intelligence, encryption, cybersecurity, and the ethical and social impacts of digital technology.
How you’ll be assessed
The course has three parts:
- Computer Systems (40%) – a 2 hr 30 min written exam on hardware, software, and legal/ethical issues.
- Algorithms and Programming (40%) – another 2 hr 30 min exam testing problem-solving and coding.
- Programming Project (20%) – your chance to design, build, and evaluate your own software project in a programming language of your choice.
Why choose Computer Science?
- It’s hands-on: you’ll build real programs, not just study theory.
- It’s creative: you get to design and invent solutions to real problems.
- It’s future-focused: skills in coding, logic, and data are in high demand in every industry.
- It’s a great foundation for careers in software development, AI, cybersecurity, engineering, data science, and beyond.
What you’ll gain
By the end of the course, you’ll have:
- Strong coding and problem-solving skills.
- Experience in designing and managing projects.
- The ability to think like a computer scientist – logical, critical, and innovative.
- Transferable skills useful in maths, science, and technology-related subjects.
Curriculum Intent
What is Greenford High School aiming to achieve through its Computing and Information Technology curriculum?
- To build a computing curriculum that develops pupil’s learning and results in the acquisition of knowledge of the digital world around them, that prepares pupils to live safely in an increasingly digital British society.
- Develop learners' knowledge, skills and understanding through key computational concepts and experience. So that they will become confident and robust problem solvers and understand how to better use computers as a tool, a tool that can be configured and reconfigured to solve any number of problems that face us now and that will face us further into the future.
- The KS3 curriculum has been designed to ensure learners have sufficient knowledge to stay safe online and use computers safely in life.
- The KS3 curriculum also provides a focus on developing resilient learners who think in a more logical way, are able to recover from mistakes and effectively solve problems.
- The rationale of the KS4 curriculum is for students to develop the mind-set of a computer scientist built upon the foundations at KS3 and to build upon at KS5
- Learners to have the opportunity to develop their capability, creativity and knowledge in computer science, digital media and information technology.
- Computer Science will develop skills in programming, problem solving and analytical thinking. This qualification provides students with a range of transferable skills
- Students will develop their knowledge and understanding of computer technology to become independent and discerning Computer Scientists, who are able to make informed decisions about its use while being aware of the implications of different technologies.
- We want students to not only understand how to use technology effectively and responsibly but also how technology is developed and constantly redeveloped into new and exciting tools.