Brookhouse Schools

Curricula, explained

• A Level

  Last 2 years of school · Ages 16–18

  The British university-entrance qualification: usually 3–4 subjects studied in depth for two years; UK universities make offers on these grades.

• AS Level

  1 year (age 16–17) · Ages 16–17

  Roughly the first year of an A Level, taken as a stand-alone qualification or to add a subject.

• BTEC

  Secondary, career-focused · Ages 14–19

  Pearson's career-focused qualification in fields such as business, IT or sport, assessed mainly through assignments; taken instead of or alongside A Levels.

• IGCSE

  Ages 14–16, 2 years · Ages 14–16

  A subject-by-subject qualification taken around age 16 in British-style schools — usually 5–10 subjects studied over two years.

• British curriculum

  Early years to sixth form · Ages 3–18

  Follows the English National Curriculum; pupils usually take IGCSEs around age 16 and A Levels in the last two years.

Ages are the usual bands; schools can differ.Curriculum basics guide