Application FAQs

If you wish to make changes after the deadline then you will need to contact the sixth form team. You can do this by emailing sixthform@mcauley.org.uk . Please note that Sixth Form courses and staffing for Y12 entry in 2024 is based on choices made before the deadline. We always try to accommodate students' requests but we cannot guarantee them.

Yes! Any student, whether from McAuley or another school, who wishes to apply to McAuley after the deadline may do so in one of two ways:

- contact the Sixth Form Team by emailing sixthform@mcauley.org.uk with your preferred subjects and a contact number or

- complete the online application form via this prospectus.

We always try to accommodate students' requests but we cannot guarantee them.

You formally enrol as a Y12 student at your enrolment meeting that will take place on GCSE results day. If you are not available on this date then please let us know by emailing sixthform@mcauley.org.uk and we will make alternative arragements. 

If you are not sure about a career path then it is always good to consider subjects that you: enjoy, are best at, and which suit your style of learning. You would have a better chance of success in these subjects. It would be helpful to seek advice from as many people as possible while you are in Y11, eg the school’s careers team, sixth form staff and any sixth form students that you know. The website www.informedchoices.ac.uk will help you understand which subjects open up different degrees, particularly at Russell Group universities. 

The option block form works for the vast majority of students. However, there will be a small number of students for whom their preferred subjects are not possible. This is because some subjects will ‘clash’ on the timetable. When you discover a clash then please contact a member of the sixth form team by emailing sixthform@mcauley.org.uk and someone will speak with you about the various options and alternatives. This will be well before the end of Year 11.

Most students apply for four subjects initially and ‘drop’ a subject. This may be at your enrolment meeting or in the first few weeks of September when they have been in lessons and have a better idea which three they want to commit to. Most students settle on taking 3 A levels by the end of September of Year 12. It is not possible to pick up new subjects after September unless there are extenuating circumstances.

We ask that you apply for 4 preferred subjects. This allows the school to plan for potential class sizes and ensure that we have the right capacity. The decision on how many A level subjects you actually go on to study in Y12 and 13 is made between GCSE results day and the end of September of Year 12.  You will be carefully advised on this during your enrolment meeting when your GCSE grades are known. Changes to your choice of subjects will be considered on a case by case basis but generally. 

You will receive your offer, in April 2024. A conditional offer means that we will accept you onto courses for which you secure the grades needed. 

Final acceptance will take place when you formally enrol at your enrolment meeting on GCSE results day (see FAQ 3 above)

Firstly, don’t panic - there are many more options than you might realise. There will be many others across Doncaster in the same position so you certainly will not be alone.We aim to give you an option to continue your education at McAuley whatever your starting point so there may be courses that you can do at McAuley. If you do not secure the grades required for your preferred choices then still talk to us at your enrolment meeting as you do have lots of options!

The minimum entry requirements are there to ensure that you have the academic foundation needed to equip you for success and make the big jump from GCSE to A level.  We will discuss your individual needs and consider all options including bespoke pathways and 3 year programs. We also have a one year Foundation Year program which is intended for students who have not yet secured the minimum grades to access Level 3 (A level) studies. Further details about the Foundation Year is available via the subject pages in this prospectus.

Subject specific entry requirements are there to ensure that you have the academic foundation needed to equip you for success in individual subjects and give you the best chance to make the big jump from GCSE to A level. If you do not secure the subject specific entry requirements for a subject then please still speak with us at your enrolment meeting! We will discuss your individual needs and offer you alternatives if at all possible.  

All Year 12 students can make changes to their choices after they have enrolled. This is done via the ‘Course Change’ process which must be completed before the end of September. Please note that Course Change requests cannot be guaranteed and will only be made if course numbers allow and if entry requirements have been met. Students will be advised about the Course Change process early in September.

Changes to your choice of subjects will be considered on a case by case basis but generally cannot be made after September 30th of Year 12 unless there are extenuating circumstances. 

We very much hope that McAuley Sixth Form would be your first choice place to continue your education but we understand that you may wish to apply to more than one place eg if you want to keep your options open or have been advised to make a contingency plan. You can apply to as many providers as you wish.  You are only committed to taking up a place at McAuley when you formally enrol in August.

Yes! Current Y11 McAuley pupils can change any subject choices before the 9 February deadline by re-submitting your option block form or emailing sixthform@mcauley.org.uk  We will update your records.

Applicants from other schools can make changes before the deadline by re-submitting their application via the online application form or by emaiing your changes to sixthform@mcauley.org.uk.

All information relating to the 16 – 19 Bursary Fund is available via the sixth form tab of school website or click on this link https://www.mcauley.org.uk/index.php/16-19-bursary-fund You will receive an application form at the time of your enrolment. 

Simply let us know, by emailing sixthform@mcauley.org.uk or by phoning 01302 537396 ext 161 and we will make alternative arrangements with you. In most cases, your enrolment meeting will take place in the first week in September but we can do it online via zoom before then and from anywhere in the world!  

The only uniform that you need to purchase through school is the red sixth form clip on tie with McAuley crest. You can purchase this at enrolment. Ties cost £10.50 each. 

All other uniform can be bought  ‘off the peg’ at many supermarkets, high street retailers or online. Uniform details can be found in the Sixth Form booklet, ‘Sixth Sense’, which is available via the Sixth Form tab of the school website.

As part of the Government’s Education Reforms, all A level subjects have now been updated with new, more rigorous content and assessments. 

The introduction of ‘New Specification’ subjects form only part of the Government’s reforms of A level education. There are other changes that apply to the ‘New Specifications’ that you should be aware of:

• The AS (Advanced Subsidiary - the qualification gained from examinations taken after 1 year at the end of Y12) and A level (the full A level gained after completing examinations after 2 years at the end of Y13) qualifications are now ‘decoupled’. This means that a student’s result from an AS examination will not contribute to their full A level grade in a ‘New Specification’ subject.
• However, if a student completes the AS examinations but does not take a ‘New Specification’ subject through to the end of the full A level (eg they drop a subject at the end of Y12 or during Y13) then the student would be awarded their AS grade.
• Our policy is that Year 12 students will NOT sit AS level examinations at the end of Y12. This means that all students enrolling onto an A level program in Year 12 are signing up to 2 year courses and continuation is conditional on all course requirements being met - as outlined in the learning agreements signed at enrolment eg making good academic progress, having at least good record of Behaviour for Learning, a minimum attendance of 96% and meeting all coursework/homework deadlines - to ensure that you have the best chance possible of securing A level success at the end of Year 13.
• Any requests by students to sit AS examinations will be considered on a case by case basis if extenuating circumstances apply and provided it is feasible.
• A level examinations in ‘New Specification’ subjects at the end of Y13 will cover content from Y12 as well as Y13 so students will have a LOT of content to revise! Your subject areas help by ensuring that any progress tests assess material covered since the start of Year 12 but the onus is on you to regularly revisit previous work.

These are the old specifications which have now been replaced. As part of the Government’s Education Reforms, all A level subjects have been updated with new, more rigorous content and assessments. The old ‘Legacy’ subjects have been replaced with ‘New Specification’ subjects.  

The best way to get a feel for life in the Sixth Form is to come and visit us, have a tour, chat with a member of the Sixth Form Team and talk to students. If you would like a 1:1 discussion and/or a tour then please email sixthform@mcauley.org.uk or telephone 01302 537396 ext 161 and a member of the team will get in touch with you to make arrangements.

Yes! If you are fluent and can write in your ‘heritage’ language then you may study for an A or AS level in it. Subjects include Polish, French, Spanish, Turkish, Arabic, German, Italian and Urdu.  You will have two timetabled lessons each week so your MFL teacher can keep a handle on where you are at and that you are accessing resources etc. You will supplement these sessions with independent study with support form the MFL department. Students who take this opportunity do very well. Students enjoy a competitive advantage if applying to university. It’s also a great fall back if one of their three or four remaining subjects are not as strong. Please contact mfitzsimons@mcauley.org.uk if you require subject specific information.