A Level Retakes at Top Private Sixth Form College in London

As one of the earliest Private Colleges to be established in London, we use our wealth of experience to help students from various educational backgrounds as we guide them through their A Level retakes. Over the years, thousands of students have come to us and replaced their previous feelings of disappointment with a sense of purpose for their future.

We relate to young people with, first of all, respect for them, and a belief on our part that they will be able to improve. We work to achieve this, and through our personal approach to teaching we can raise confidence levels. With this new-found confidence, comes motivation, which in turn leads to the achievement of better results – often better than had been initially hoped!

Options available for A Level retakes:

• start year 12 again, after 1 year of A Levels elsewhere, either to improve on current grades or due to a change of subjects.
• start in year 13, to retake just A2 modules
• combined AS and A2 retakes over 1 year

For all retakes there is flexibility with examination dates with some available in January.

Improve A Level Grades with A Level Retakes

With competition for places at the top universities higher than ever, students who gain lower grades than expected have two possible paths to follow:

• Take a place at a lower level university, offering a place with lower grades.
• Retake the final year of A level, setting out, as described above, a plan for study that can lead to higher grades and reaching the university that your ability deserves.

We offer the second option: one year longer at the current age and level of study can lead to great things later in life.

A Level Retakes at Bales College – A New Challenge

Students often find that a fresh start really helps.  A new and challenging place of study, which puts emphasis on personal attention both during classes and more informally, could be just what is needed to reinvigorate and enthuse even the most reluctant of students.

Building upon a student’s experiences we will be seeking to increase ability at a subject and attain the grade improvements to match.

Examination Skills

An important part of our focus for year 13 retakes is on examination skills. Right from the outset you will be practicing past examination questions. Confidence that can be gained from being successful with answers can have a great knock-on effect. We give class tests every two weeks to help keep track of progress and to isolate specific areas that need further attention.

Full-scale mock examinations are held towards the end of the first term to see what progress has been made so far and to give much needed examination rehearsal experience.

All of our teaching staff agree that the key factor for success in A Level exams and A Level retakes is doing plenty of exam preparation by answering questions right from the start of the course.

Personal Tutor for A Level Retakes

Mrs Majumdar (Mathematics) and Mrs Teji (Law and Business Studies) are the joint Coordinators of Sixth Form at Bales College. They will oversee the academic progress of A Level students at Bales College. They will see students on a planned timetable of personal, one-to-one, discussion. Discussing progress, setting targets and addressing any areas of concern or weakness early in the academic year.

Students can optionally have a specific personal tutor from one of the other teaching or management staff who they can approach regarding academic or social questions or concerns they may have.

Bales College has a small community feel to it, and members of the management staff know every student on a first-name basis. As such, students get very close attention throughout the academic year, both on the academic and personal sides.

Supervised Study Sessions for A Level Retakes Students

In addition to class time, students will have set periods of supervised study, where a member of staff oversees quiet study times in one of the classrooms at Bales College.

At this time, students can work with other students on particular questions and topics, as well as get guidance from the study monitor on duty. Students must try to start the academic year well and maintain consistent study throughout. Supervised study periods are a good way of helping to establish the effective working discipline necessary for examination success.

UCAS Guidance

Each student receives personal help and careers guidance and is led through the full university application process from reviewing prospectuses and available courses to help with personal statements and advice on how to gain relevant experience. Several staff members are Oxbridge educated and can offer valuable insights and assistance in making both Oxbridge or medical/ veterinary applications.

Parents – for A Level Retakes Students

We will provide you with:

• One formal parents’ evening during the first term.
• At least two written reports during the year.
• At least one informal parents’ evening.
• Individual meetings arranged with one or more teachers for analysis and discussion of progress.

Information for Retake Students or Transferring Students

Students transferring from other schools or who wish to resit modules may wish in some cases to transfer unit grades. For examination boards under the GCQ umbrella (Edexcel, AQA, OCR and WJEC) it is possible, under most circumstances, to transfer unit marks between them, subject to considerations regarding appropriate module/topic overlapping.

Private Candidates

We are also accepting PRIVATE CANDIDATES (non-enrolling students) for January resits, however the following restrictions apply:
• No oral units
• No coursework units
• No practical units
NB We are not a centre for WJEC examinations.