Apply to LAE

Entry Requirements

The LAE curriculum is academically rigorous and challenging. Accordingly, places will be offered to applicants who are assessed as being most likely to meet our minimum entry requirements and who will benefit from the opportunities offered at LAE.

Minimum Entry Requirements

To meet our minimum entry requirements, all applicants must demonstrate that they are likely to:

  • achieve at least five 9-7 GCSE grades (A*-A in unreformed subjects)
  • achieve a grade 6 or above in both GCSE Mathematics and English Language.
  • achieve at least a 9-7 grade in the GCSE subjects they wish to continue to study at A level in Year 12 and meet minimum course requirements

Subject Specific Entry Requirements

A Level Subject GCSE Subject Required GCSE Grade Special Notes
Biology

GCSE Biology

plus GCSE Mathematics

plus average GCSE Maths & Science grades

7+

8+

7+

Also studying another A level in Science, Psychology, Geography or Maths 
Chemistry

GCSE Chemistry

plus GCSE Mathematics

plus average GCSE Maths & Science grades

7+

8+

7+

 
Economics

GCSE Mathematics

plus GCSE English Literature or Language

7+

7+

 
English Literature

GCSE English Literature

plus GCSE English Language

7+

7+

 
French GCSE French 7+ Or French as home language if not taken at GCSE (subject to proficiency test)
Geography

GCSE Geography

plus GCSE English Language and/or Maths

7+

7+

 
History

GCSE History


if History not taken GCSE English Language

7+

 

Grades in other Humanities subjects considered on a case by case basis 
History of Art GCSE English Language or Literature 7+  
Italian GCSE Italian 7+ Or Italian as home language if not taken at GCSE (subject to proficiency test)
Maths

If taken with a Humanity or Social Science A level subject,  GCSE Maths

If taken with any combination of Chemistry, Biology or Physics A level subject, GCSE Maths

7+

 

8+

Note: students with a grade 7 will have significant gaps in GCSE skills and knowledge and will have to work very hard to overcome this
Further Maths GCSE Mathematics 9+  
Philosophy  GCSE English Literature or Language 7+ Will consider GCSE Religious Studies at 7+ as an alternative to English Literature. Other humanities subjects considered on a case by case basis 
Physics

GCSE Physics (or Combined Science)

plus GCSE Maths

plus average GCSE Maths & Science grades

8+

8+

7+

Also studying Year 12 Maths
Politics

GCSE English Language

plus GCSE Geography, History, Sociology, Politics or English Literature

7+

7+

 
Psychology 

GCSE Maths and/or English Language

plus Science GCSE (preferably Biology)

7+

7+

 
Spanish GCSE Spanish 7+ Or Spanish as home language if not taken at GCSE (subject to proficiency test)

Notes:

  • it is possible to study Economics, History,  Psychology or Philosophy and Theology (RS) in Year 12 if the subject was not studied at GCSE;
  • it is very unlikely that French, Spanish, Mandarin or Italian can be studied in Year 12 if the subject was not studied at GCSE;
  • in some cases, a minimum grade in a relevant supporting GCSE subject may be required for an offer-holder to be enrolled for the study of a particular subject at A level