Welcome to NFS-16

Nottingham Free School Sixth Form (NFS-16) opened in September 2019 offering A-Level courses to students aged between 16 and 19 years.

The combination of specialist A-Level teaching and our wider enrichment curriculum gives the very best education and preparation for further study at university or application for higher apprenticeships.

Our working week incorporates lessons, independent study, enrichment and voluntary activities alongside time with personal mentors.

We would love you to join us in Year 12. Find out more about NFS-16 on this web page, at our open evening or visit us during the working day.

Click here to view our prospectus

“I would like to warmly welcome you to our sixth form as part of Nottingham Free School.

It is with great excitement that we develop into post-16 and a privilege to deliver this level of education for our community. Our vision is to fully prepare all of our students for their next step in life.

NFS-16 builds on our strong foundations of quality teaching and wider enrichment opportunities to ensure that all of our students are able to apply to university, an equivalent higher level apprenticeship or make a smooth transition into employment.

Our school community is a welcoming environment, where we know every individual, enabling us to provide the best support for academic and personal development. This will apply whether you have studied with us for the past five years or are just joining us in Year 12.

I look forward to welcoming you into our sixth form community.”

Phil Cleveley
Head of Sixth Form

Vision and Achievement

Our vision is to ensure all our students achieve a good career through university or equivalent training.

Our high aspirations combine the key strands of strong achievement, employability skills and consideration towards others which is summed up in our motto ‘work hard, be kind’.

These principles, which guide our school community, enable our students to reach this goal and be wellrounded citizens who are highly desired by higher education and employers.

Curriculum and Wider Skills

Our curriculum goes beyond the suite of facilitating A-Level courses on offer. Alongside these, students will follow an enrichment curriculum giving them the essential skills required for university applications and the workplace.

They will be able to broaden their studies through the Extended Project Qualifications (EPQ), enter the Duke of Edinburgh Awards (up to Gold level) and participate in a variety of voluntary and work experience activities.

Sixth Form Community

Students are expected to contribute to the NFS community and play an active role in supporting their peers or younger students in a variety of ways. This can be through working with students in subject curriculum classes, tutoring sessions, lunch time clubs or enrichment lessons.

There will also be a variety of ways to contribute to our work with the wider community through various volunteering opportunities. As a sixth form student body, you will also have leadership opportunities to run clubs and societies for your peers.

Teaching

All of our staff are skilful and passionate subject specialists who are kept up-to-date with subject knowledge and awarding exam body requirements.

All students will have taught lessons in each of their subjects along with independent study periods and access to additional learning resources.

Support and Guidance

Our strong pastoral care is a highly-regarded aspect of Nottingham Free School and this continues at sixth form level. A personal tutor will monitor progress, achievement and approach to learning on a regular basis.

In addition, students will have a weekly PSHCE session where information about relevant life skills will be taught and discussed.

Life after NFS

The majority of our students are expected to progress onto higher education or a higher level apprenticeship. All students will be provided with information and guidance enabling them to make a well-informed choice as to their chosen pathway.

We already have strong links with a number of universities giving students a flavour of university life. Expert advice from our experienced staff will be provided to support all students individually with their university or apprenticeship application.

The combination of our high expectations for academic learning and the development of wider employability skills is critical for supporting applications at this level.

Students wishing to enter directly into employment will also have support with their job applications.

Apply for a Place

Entry requirements

To study A-Levels at NFS-16 you need to have achieved the following general college requirements:

  • Grade 4 or above in English and Mathematics, plus three other GCSE (or equivalent qualifications) at grade 5 or above
  • You must have achieved a grade 5 in the subject that you wish to study at A-Level

Some courses have specific or higher entry requirements in particular subjects as follows:

  • Biology/Chemistry/Physics: Grade 5 or above in GCSE Mathematics, Grade 5 or above in all three separate sciences or Grade 6 in Science Trilogy
  • Economics: Grade 5 or above in GCSE Mathematics
  • Mathematics: Grade 6 or above in GCSE Mathematics
  • Further Mathematics: Grade 7 or above in GCSE Mathematics
  • Physical Education: you should be competing at club-level or above

We know that choosing the right place to further your studies is a big decision and we would encourage you to come and visit us before making a final decision.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Apply Online

The application process for September 2024 entry is open: please fill out the form below to apply.

Please complete all the fields on the application form and ensure you enter a valid e-mail address so that we can contact you.

Please read through this form carefully before you start to complete it. You will be required to complete your personal details, information about your qualifications and your provisional course choices.

This form is used to collect information regarding your application to Nottingham Free School Sixth Form and will only be used for this purpose. We need the information collected here to enable us to manage this process effectively. The information is for internal use only and will be stored on our internal servers. This information will be kept in line with our data retention policy.

We will only use your contact details to share information with you that is relevant to this process.

If you have any concerns please contact us before you proceed.

Section A: Personal Details

Please provide your legally registered names.

Permanent Home Address

Parent/Carer Contact Details

Emergency Contact Details

Only if different from Parent/Carer above.

Section B: Guidance Details

Section C: Subject Choices

Please choose three subjects which you would like to study next year and two backup options. If you are interested in studying a fourth subject, this can be discussed at interview. Please note that certain subject combinations may be restricted by the Academy timetable.

Please list your subjects in rank order, with the first course being the subject you would most like to study.

Section D: About You

Current Subjects

Please list below the subjects you are studying at present and your most up to date projected grade for each.

SubjectPredicted Grade

Section E: Additional Needs / Extra Support

Nottingham Free School Sixth Form values all students, acknowledges differences and will support all learners. As such, in order for us to know if and where any necessary additional support is needed, please answer the questions below. Additional information regarding your responses will be discussed further and confidentially at interview.

Section F: Statement

Please read the following statements carefully before ticking the box to confirm:

  • I have provided a response to every section of this application form, unless no response was required.
  • I have discussed this application with my parents.
  • I understand that I will be required to attend an interview.