sixform

Sixform, or sixth form, refers to the final two years of compulsory education in the United Kingdom's secondary sector, typically for students aged 16 to 18. It can denote the sixth form provision within a secondary school or a standalone sixth form college. In most schools, students enter Year 12 and choose a programme of study that usually includes three or four A-level subjects; many also pursue vocational qualifications such as BTECs, Cambridge Technicals, or T-levels. The International Baccalaureate may be offered at some sixth forms as an alternative to A-levels.

Admission standards vary by institution, but common requirements include GCSEs or equivalent qualifications, with particular grades in English and mathematics and in the subjects chosen for study.

Assessment is primarily through end-of-course examinations for A-levels, typically in May-June of Year 13, and through vocational qualification assessments where applicable.

Sixth form colleges operate independently of a secondary school and may have different funding and governance arrangements; in many schools, the sixth form is part of the school and shares campus and timetables.

In the UK, sixth form provision has historically served as a bridge between compulsory schooling and higher education or employment, aligning with national qualifications frameworks and university entrance requirements. Other parts of the UK have slightly different structures; Scotland uses different post-16 qualifications, while Northern Ireland maintains its own arrangements.