Applying to Sixth Form

Sixth Form Prospectus 2026

Please click here to view our 2026 Sixth Form Prospectus.

This site provides comprehensive information about life in Ballakermeen Sixth Form, including our facilities, student expectations, dress code, subject option blocks, entry requirements, and detailed course information for each subject. Please ensure you have fully read all of the available information before making your subject choices.

September 2026 Applicants

Applications are now open for Ballakermeen students here: BHS Sixth Form Options form. When prompted to sign in, please enter your Microsoft/Outlook login (this should end in @student.sch.im).

Applications will close on 6th March 2026 at 5pm. After this date, BHS students may still apply; however, availability on some courses may be limited and it may not be possible to offer all first-choice subjects.

External students interested in joining Ballakermeen Sixth Form are invited to complete an Expression of Interest Form at this stage. Please note that this is not an application form and does not guarantee a place. It simply allows us to gather an early indication of subject interest and likely numbers. Applications for external students will officially open on Tuesday 25th August following GCSE results day on Thursday 20th August.

Information Evening

Our Sixth Form Information Evening took place on Thursday 12th February.

See presentation delivered here: Information Evening presentation

Entry Requirements

To join BHS Sixth Form in September 2026, students will need to achieve a minimum of 5 GCSE C grades, inclusive of both English and Mathematics. Following on from this, students will then have to meet the entry requirement for their chosen subjects.

For entrance to our Sixth Form, a C grade is equivalent to a 4 grade in the numbered grading system, or a Level 2 Pass.
Unless 8 people opt for a subject, we cannot guarantee that it will run. If this is the case, you will be automatically placed in your ‘reserved subject’.
In the event that a subject is oversubscribed, places will be allocated according to raw GCSE scores, starting with the highest.

Results day Procedure:

Ballakermeen Students

Students who have applied to Sixth Form and meet the GCSE entry requirements will be automatically enrolled into Year 12. No further action is needed.
Students who meet the overall entry requirements but not the grades for one or more chosen subjects, will not be able to study those subjects. Please arrange a meeting with a member of the Sixth Form team on results day to discuss alternative options.
Students who have applied but no longer wish to attend, please email sixthform.bhs@sch.im to confirm your decision and let us know your next steps (eg. workplace, alternate education provision).
Students who had not applied but meet the entry requirements and wish to join Sixth Form, please arrange a meeting with a member of the Sixth Form team when you collect your results.

External Applicants

External students interested in joining Ballakermeen Sixth Form may first complete an Expression of Interest Form. This is not an application form and does not guarantee a place. It simply allows us to gather an early indication of subject interest and likely numbers.
Applications for external students will officially open on Tuesday 25th August following GCSE results day on Thursday 20th August.
As part of this application form, students must upload a clear photograph of their GCSE results showing: Full name, UCI number, evidence of a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including English and Mathematics, as well as individual subject course entry requirements.
Once submitted, applications are reviewed by the Sixth Form team over the next few days.
If a subject is oversubscribed, places will be allocated using raw GCSE marks.
Applicants will be contacted by email to confirm: whether their place has been offered, their subject allocations, any next steps required

Choosing your A Levels

The links below takes you to various websites that provide advice about how to go about choosing your A Levels. If you are at all concerned about the subjects you should choose, then one or all the following will help:

The first link offers sound advice about how to approach various options scenarios.
The second link comes from a potential careers perspective (but don't worry if you have no specific career plan, you can search on that basis, too!)
The third offering is the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service search facility for courses you may have an interest in studying. You can search for a degree and learn out what A Levels may be required

Frequently Asked Questions

How many options subjects do I take at Key Stage 5?
All students are asked to select three subject choices, plus a reserve.

What does the qualification code BTEC mean?
BTEC courses are Level 3, which is the equivalent of one A Level. The way the course is assessed will differ from standard A Levels. For example, assessments taken during the course are likely to contribute to your final grade.

Can I change my options after I have submitted them?
We expect that you consider very carefully what you want to take as your options subjects before submitting your form. We do however understand that people change their mind. If, after submitting your options choices online, you do decide you wish to change something, you will need a parent/carer to email sixthform.bhs@sch.im with clear instructions of what needs to be changed. Please note that the later you leave making a change the less likely it is that your new option(s) will be available.

Am I guaranteed to get the options I choose?
We aim to fulfil as many students’ options choices as possible. However, it is very important that you select your reserve option carefully as situations can arise that mean your reserve choice is used in place of one of your more preferred options. These situations include: a subject you chose cannot run for lack of student numbers, a subject you chose is oversubscribed, a subject you chose cannot be offered owing to staffing issues, the school has concerns that a subject you have chosen is not suitable for you. If a subject is oversubscribed, places will be allocated using raw GCSE marks. Please note: in some very rare circumstances, it might not be possible to offer one of your three preferred options and your Reserve is not possible either. You will be consulted about possible alternatives in such cases.