Sixth Form admissions
Each year, we are excited to welcome a fresh cohort of Sixth Form students to Moonstone Academy.
SIXTH FORM ADMISSIONCurrent students
At Moonstone Academy, we take great pride in seeing our students transition into the Sixth Form, with almost all Year 11 students advancing to Year 12. During their time in GCSEs, our students consistently exhibit the self-motivation, enthusiasm for their studies, and commitment to their subjects—traits that are key to thriving in the Sixth Form.
Advancement to the Sixth Form is based on meeting the following academic criteria:
- Students must obtain at least a grade 7 (or equivalent) in the subjects they wish to pursue at A Level.
- Students must achieve a minimum of 6 grade 7s (or equivalent) in their overall GCSE results.
New students
Moonstone Academy enthusiastically invites applications from new students who are passionate about their chosen subjects and looks forward to welcoming them into our academic community. For those applying for Year 12 entry in September 2025, please visit the 2025 admissions page for more information.
As part of the admissions process, we will reach out to the applicant’s current school to obtain details about their predicted grades. This will help us assess whether we can extend a conditional offer. Given the limited number of places available in subjects like Mathematics and the Sciences, candidates will also need to meet specific additional criteria to confirm their place in these courses.
Students wishing to join Moonstone Academy’s Sixth Form should:
- Have the required GCSE qualifications – students must secure at least a grade 7 (or equivalent) in the subjects they intend to pursue at A Level, and achieve a minimum of 6 grade 7s (or equivalent) across their GCSEs.
- Meet any additional criteria outlined by specific subjects, especially in Mathematics and the Sciences.
- Reside in one of the postcodes outlined in our current admission guidelines.
- Show a clear enthusiasm for their chosen subjects and academic pursuits.
- Have demonstrated the ability to meet deadlines for coursework in previous studies.
- Maintain a strong attendance and punctuality record.
More information for new students:
Application Process
There are three components to the application process:
- An application form that includes your personal details and chosen subjects.
- A personal statement, which explains your academic interests and involvement in extracurricular activities.
- A test for applicants applying for Maths, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics. The test is designed to assess logical thinking. There’s no need to prepare in advance – if you’re taking GCSEs, you’re fully capable of taking the test. Don’t worry, and don’t let it discourage you from applying.
The test lasts for a total of 72 minutes, with an additional 50 minutes for preparation, instructions, and practice spread across different segments. The test is split into three sections:
- Non-verbal reasoning (using shapes): 20 minutes.
- A personal statement, which explains your academic interests and involvement in extracurricular activities.
- Spatial and figure analysis (using patterns and numbers): 26 minutes.
- Each section will begin with an example that’s marked, followed by some practice questions. The test doesn’t rely on prior knowledge, but rather evaluates your thinking abilities.
Please be aware that there are no practice materials or past papers available for these tests, so kindly avoid contacting the academy.
Entry requirements for Math and the Sciences
Due to high demand, the Mathematics and Science courses at Moonstone Academy’s Sixth Form are oversubscribed each year, necessitating a cap on the number of offers extended for these subjects.
To ensure a fair selection process, all prospective students wishing to study Mathematics or the Sciences must take an entrance exam. The outcomes of this exam will be used to rank applicants, and places will be allocated based on these rankings.
For a place to be confirmed after GCSE results are released, students must meet all specified entry criteria.
Entry requirements for non-Math and Science Subjects
- If you choose four subjects that do not include any Maths or Science, you are exempt from taking the entrance test.
- Your offer will be determined based on your predicted GCSE results from your current school, as well as the availability of places in your selected subjects.
- A form will be sent to you, which must be filled out by your current school and returned to Moonstone Academy in order to proceed with your application.
Slection Process
- A postcode criterion applies (you can view the full list here).
- The entrance test results will be used to rank applicants.
- Conditional offers will be made to the top 60 to 80 ranked students, depending on availability in their chosen subjects.
- To receive a conditional offer, students must have at least 6 level 7s at GCSE, including level 7s in their chosen subjects (where applicable). Additionally, a minimum of Level 5 in both Maths and English is required.
- If you don’t receive a conditional offer, you may contact the academy after receiving your GCSE results. The deadline to do so is 12 noon on the day after your results are released.
- If you meet the conditional offer requirements and there are still spaces available in your chosen subjects, we may be able to offer additional places. Each year, between 15 and 20 students receive offers in this manner, based on their achieved GCSE grades.
Available Sits
- Subjects like Biology, Chemistry, Maths, and Physics are often in high demand and tend to be oversubscribed.
- On the other hand, subjects such as Art, Media, and Russian usually have more available spaces.
- To increase your chances of receiving a conditional offer, consider selecting a mix of these less popular subjects along with options like Economics, English, French, Geography, History, Music, Politics, or Religious Studies.
- Your best chance of securing a conditional offer is by choosing a combination that includes entirely under-subscribed subjects.
- Once a conditional offer is made, switching to any of the oversubscribed subjects will not be permitted.
For additional information on the study programme, subject offerings, and available A-level choices, please refer to the Sixth Form section.
“At Moonstone Academy, we are dedicated to providing exceptional support to ensure our students have the opportunities and encouragement they need to thrive and reach their full potential, both academically and in the broader community.”