We are in the process of consulting on admissions arrangements for students applying for places for the academic year beginning September 2027. The consultation will run for 6 weeks from 12 December 2025 until 23 January 2026.
The Fullbrook School Admissions Arrangements do not have any proposed changes.
The Fullbrook 6 Admission Arrangements have the following proposed changes:
Minimum Entry Requirements for 4 A-Level Subjects:
Current requirement:
Students wishing to study 4 A-Level subjects (or equivalent, e.g. BTEC National Diploma Level 3 or Level 3 Cambridge Technicals Extended Certificate) must achieve a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades 5–9.
Proposed change:
Increase the minimum entry requirement to 5 GCSEs at grades 7–9 for students wishing to study 4 A-Level subjects (or equivalent).
Rationale for change:
- Academic suitability and student wellbeing:
The academic and workload demands of studying 4 A-Level subjects are significantly higher than those of 3. Only students who have consistently demonstrated high academic ability across a range of subjects (typically through achieving grades 7–9 at GCSE) are likely to cope successfully with this increased demand. This change ensures that only students with a proven track record of top academic performance are permitted to take on such a challenging programme, reducing the risk of student overload or underperformance. - Curriculum demands and timetable implications:
Students taking 4 A-Levels have 24 lessons per cycle, compared with 18 lessons per cycle for those taking 3 subjects. This removes the possibility of study periods on their timetable, leaving little time for independent learning during the school day. The higher entry requirement reflects the additional commitment and time management skills required to sustain this workload effectively. - Alignment with university entry requirements:
Most universities, including the most competitive Russell Group institutions, make offers based on three A-Level grades or an equivalent UCAS tariff score. Very few degree programmes require or give additional credit for four A-Levels. Therefore, it is generally more advantageous for students to focus on achieving the highest possible grades in three A-Levels rather than spreading their efforts across four. An additional Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is often viewed more favourably by universities, demonstrating independent research and academic curiosity. - Encouraging strategic subject choices:
By setting a higher threshold for taking 4 A-Levels, students are encouraged to make more thoughtful and realistic decisions about their subject combinations. This supports a more focused approach to academic success and better preparation for higher education or employment pathways.
Summary:
Raising the minimum entry requirement for studying 4 A-Level subjects from 5 GCSEs at grades 5–9 to 5 GCSEs at grades 7–9 ensures that only the most academically capable students undertake this demanding route. It aligns Fullbrook 6’s policy with best practice across the sector, prioritises student success and wellbeing, and reflects the realities of university admissions and post-18 progression routes.
Fulllbrook School Admissions Arrangements 2027 – 2028
Fulllbrook 6 Admissions Arrangements 2027 – 2028
Your Questions
We are happy to answer any questions you may have. Please contact us as admissions@fullbrook.surrey.sch.uk and we will respond as quickly as possible. A hard copy is also available at our reception.
Your views
We would welcome your views on our consultation. Please ensure you respond to the consultation by noon on Friday 23 January 2026. You can respond by:
Emailing your views to admissions@fullbrook.surrey.sch.uk
Or
By post: Fullbrook School, Admissions Office, Selsdon Road, New Haw, KT15 3HW
Next steps
After our consultation period, we will consider all responses and discuss these with our board of governors.
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