Advanced Level 3 Courses

The South West Bristol Post 16 Centre offers a wide range of Advanced Level and Advanced Subsidiary Level courses. A and AS Levels and BTEC Level 3 are still one of the main routes to Higher Education.  

AS Levels are one year courses giving the student an introduction into the knowledge and methods of the subject.  The AS bridges the gap between GCSEs and A Levels (A2) by providing an introduction to Post 16 study.  Students are able to study up to 4 AS Levels in their first year.

For A Level courses a further year is necessary in which to further develop knowledge and understanding gained from the AS course by a range of in-depth studies.  These courses prepare students for the approaches used in Higher Education.  Students are advised to specialise in at least 2 but more usually 3 A Levels (A2) in their second year. In this way, students who wish to change courses after one year will still have achieved an AS Level qualification.  An AS Level is worth half of the full A Level.

We also offer students the chance to mix and match BTEC Level 3courses (Vocational A Levels) and traditional academic A Levels or to specialise in a BTEC Level 3 Qualification.   Students have to commit themselves fully to their studies and use their private study time constructively in order to fulfil their potential.