A Level Retakes

Yes. Whether you need to retake one subject or several, we’ll design a tailored programme around your specific needs rather than putting everyone through the same course.

Year 14 is Collingham’s dedicated year for students re-sitting A levels or taking a new A level in one year, rather than two. Most schools finish at Year 13, so students who need extra time or a fresh attempt are often left with nowhere proper to go. Year 14 is built for exactly that: focused teaching, a class of students in the same position, and tutors who know how to get a full course covered well in twelve months.

The whole A level. Under the current linear system you sit all the exam papers again, in one sitting, in May or June. The one exception is non-exam assessment (coursework), which can sometimes be carried forward. Your subject teacher will tell you what applies to you.

It depends on what you need. Options include a full one-year course, a short intensive course (for example, starting in January or just the Spring Term), or additional tuition alongside a gap year and work experience. We’ll work out which shape suits you.

We accept applications on a rolling basis. Most students start in September, but short courses can begin in January or straight after mock results, and many students join us just after their August results come out.

No. Admissions tutors see resit grades every year. What they’re looking for is the final grade on your UCAS form, and evidence that you’ve worked hard to get there. A retake year, done properly, often produces a stronger personal statement, not a weaker one.

Yes, this is common. Some students use their retake year to add a subject that strengthens a particular university course, while resitting the grade that’s holding them back.

Retake options cover a wide range of subjects, including Mathematics and Further Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English Literature, History, Politics, Geography, Economics, Business Studies, Psychology, Sociology, French, Spanish, Latin, Art, Photography and Media Studies. See our full subject list and exam boards for details.

Small enough to matter. Group sizes average five students, with a maximum of eight, and individual tuition is available where it’s the better fit.

Year 14 students get 7 hours of teaching per subject each week (8 for Chemistry, 4 for one-to-one). You’ll have regular Personal Tutor meetings arranged as needed, and independent study should add roughly the same number of hours again per subject.

On the two-year A level programme, Year 12 students get 5 hours per subject (3 if 1-to-1), two 2-hour supervised study periods, one hour of Selfhood (PSHE) and 1 to 2 hours of Friday afternoon activities. Year 13 students get 6 hours per subject (4 if 1-to-1).

Generally we’ll keep you on the exam board you originally studied, and our tutors can teach all the major boards. Occasionally it’s better to switch, and we’ll say so if that’s the case. Talk to us and we’ll give you honest advice based on your specific subjects.

We allow private external candidates to sit exams with us, but only if they’ve had some tuition from us first. This usually means a minimum of twenty hours, though it can vary by candidate and subject. Get in touch and we’ll talk through what would apply to you.

Come and see us. We’ll go through your options there and then, calmly, and help you decide whether a re-sit, a different subject combination, or a different path altogether is the right next step. You don’t need to have an answer on the day itself.

Most schools stop at Year 13. Collingham offers a focused Year 14 built specifically for students who want to re-sit or take an A level in one year. You’ll be alongside others in the same position, taught by tutors who know how to cover a course properly in twelve months, not stretch it thin.

It’s worth doing both in parallel rather than choosing one. A review can take weeks with no guarantee of a changed grade. Enrolling for a re-sit at the same time means you’re not losing preparation time while you wait. Talk to us and we’ll help you weigh up whether a review is worth pursuing for your specific paper.

Yes. Retake students get structured UCAS guidance, including personal statement writing and improvement, university reapplication advice, Oxbridge and competitive course strategy, and preparation for entrance exams and admissions conversations.

By the time you need a reference and predicted grades, you won’t be a stranger to us. Your teachers will have marked your work, sat with you in class, and watched how you handle the material for months. What’s different in a Year 14 reference is that we can speak honestly about what happened the first time and what’s changed, which often makes for a more convincing UCAS application, not a weaker one.

Yes, plenty. Success looks different for every student. For some it’s Oxford or Cambridge. For others it’s art college, a degree apprenticeship, or something else entirely. One graduate went on to work on rollercoaster design at Alton Towers. You’re an individual with your own backstory and your own goals. We want to help you get there.

There’s no blanket grade requirement. Some subjects have a recommended GCSE starting point (Maths and Economics generally need a good GCSE in Maths; humanities generally need a good GCSE in English), but we look at individual circumstances rather than applying these as strict cut-offs. Every student starts with an academic consultation where we build a personalised re-take plan and advise honestly on whether the course is the right fit.

That’s not a problem. We take students straight from school, students returning after time away, and students who’ve been studying independently. Get in touch and we’ll talk through where you are and what a Year 14 place would involve for you.

Yes. Collingham is licensed to accept students up to the age of 19, so you can’t be over 20 when you join us.

See our fees page for current course fees.

Access arrangements have to be reassessed at each new centre, based on evidence of how you normally work, so they don’t automatically transfer. Bring us whatever evidence and reports you already have as early as possible and we’ll get the process started well before exam entry deadlines.

Contact the Admissions Team and arrange a consultation and meeting with our Principal, James Allder, or other senior members of the team. International applicants can join by video call. Call 020 7244 7414 or complete our enquiry form below.