Introduction

The College adopts a consistent and optimistic approach to predicting UCAS Grades to ensure that they are both aspirational and achievable. A UCAS Grade is what we believe a student could achieve by the conclusion of their course in positive circumstances and the UCAS grade provides universities and colleges with some understanding of a student’s academic potential. However, it is important to emphasise that the College has a responsibility to ensure that our UCAS Grades are not excessively optimistic, as this is not in the best interests of the College or our students. In addition, it is worth emphasising that UCAS Grades are commonly entered at the half-way point of a course. Therefore, with further academic development students can exceed their UCAS Grade, and conversely in the face of more challenging second year content, a student may not always achieve their UCAS Grade. The College UCAS Grades Policy is consistent with external UCAS guidance, please see LINK​ for further information. Please see below for our approach to both A-level and BTEC qualification UCAS Grades.

A level

A level UCAS Grades will be based upon student achievement in Progress Review 3, prior attainment at GCSE, 6.1 in-year performance and the professional judgement of subject teachers. When deciding whether to increase a UCAS Grade above performance at Progress Review 3, subject teachers will use individual performance data as evidence of student potential to inform their final judgement. UCAS Grades will be published via Progress Review 3. If significant and evidenced academic progress has been achieved over the summer period, where appropriate, some subject areas may further increase UCAS grades in the Autumn Term, but not after 04/10/21.

BTEC

BTEC UCAS Grades are based on either Progress Review 3 or the externally accredited 6.1 qualification that students achieve in August of their first year. The Progress Review 3 report will only feature Current and UCAS Grades for BTEC subjects that do not complete an external qualification at the end of the 6.1 year. This Current Grade will be informed by completed units and/or other assessments. Reporting on completed 6.1 BTEC qualifications will take place via the portal on BTEC results day. As a result, BTEC courses completing an external qualification in the 6.1 year will publish UCAS Grades via the portal before teaching begins in September. When deciding whether to increase a UCAS Grade above performance at 6.1, subject teachers will use prior attainment at GCSE and unit performance data to inform their final judgement. If significant and evidenced academic progress has been achieved over the summer period, where appropriate, subject areas may further increase UCAS grades in the Autumn Term, but not after 04/10/21.

One-Year Courses

The UCAS reference will refer to any one-year courses undertaken in the 6.2 year and provide an update in relation to a student’s recent level of progress.

UCAS Grade Entry Deadline Summary

  • ​A level UCAS Grades will be published via Progress Review 3: 02/07/21
  • BTEC qualifications not completing a qualification in the 6.1 year will publish UCAS Grades via Progress Review 3: 02/07/21 and BTEC qualifications that complete a qualification in the 6.1 year will publish UCAS Grades via the database: 30/08/21
  • Autumn Term UCAS Grade Review Deadline: 04/10/21