---
title: "Science education in England"
chunk: 8/14
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_education_in_England"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T04:21:10.973540+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

== Science education post-16 or ‘KS5’ ==
For the ages of 16, 17 and 18 (and older for those that remain in education below university level), students in England do what is sometimes loosely called ‘key stage 5’ or KS5; it has no legal meaning (unlike the other key stages). And unlike KS1–4 in which the levels of complexity of topics learnt at each stage are prescribed within relatively narrow limits, at KS5, the levels of complexity of topics cover a wide range, although the highest level of complexity at KS5 is RQF level 3. Whether or not a student actually studies at this level of complexity in KS5 depends on their GCSE results. Crucially, on what subjects the student obtained passes at RQF level 2 standard (including mathematics and English) as well as the actual grades themselves. In other words, unlike KS1–4, where a specific student studies at one RQF level, at KS5, a specific student may be studying at several RQF levels depending on what the student obtained at GCSEs. Regardless of the RQF-level mix, KS5 students can complete post-16 study in one of the following:

School with a sixth form
Stand-alone sixth form college
Further education college
Apprenticeship
Traineeship
KS5 study can be done either full-time or part-time. If done part-time, the student also has to be working or volunteering for at least 20 hours a week. The science curriculum and education at KS5 is highly varied, often disparate and tends to be specialised such that students no longer have to study all three sciences, but rather, select only those sciences considered important for their planned careers. If the student's GCSE results are not considered robust enough for RQF level 3 study of their chosen subject, the student may be required to undertake (or resit) one or two relevant subjects at RQF level 2 before undertaking study of the subject at RQF level 3. If the student is studying their chosen subject at RQF level 3, the level of depth of study required of the subject depends on the course being undertaken.

=== A-levels ===

A-levels are probably the highest profile KS5 studies in England, and contain the most content, taking two years to complete – the first year is called AS level and the second year is called A2. Like GCSEs, A levels were also reformed and until that happened, the now discontinued Cambridge Pre-Us offered the most content. Individual A-levels in chemistry, biology, and physics build on the core areas covered at KS3–4 but at a significantly more advanced level. A-level students are also introduced to areas that have developed from two or more KS3/4 core areas into highly complex fields in their own right. For instance, quantum mechanics, which A-level physics students study, developed from several KS3/4 core areas of physics, such as mechanics, waves, atomic structure, particle model of matter. This idea of studying areas that have developed from two or more KS3/4 core areas is taken much further at university level. It should be noted, however, that the Department for Education, which prescribes content for A-levels, does not include the KS3/4 core area of space physics and astrophysics in the A-level physics curriculum; hence, AQA makes this area optional, but OCR does not. It should also be added that the Department for Education includes psychology as a science; five core areas for study of the subject are specified:

Cognitive
Social
Developmental
Individual differences
Biological
Typically, an A-level student may choose only one or two science subjects, and mix with mathematics or non-science A-level subjects. A comprehensive bank of A-level past exam papers (with time durations) in sciences from all A-level examination boards serving England can be found online. Grading can be read here.

=== Non-A-level routes ===
Although A-levels are probably the highest profile KS5 studies, there are other qualifications at RQF level 3. Examples include BTECs, IBs, AQAs (different non-A-level qualifications), OCRs (different non-A-level qualifications), NVQs, T Levels, university specific foundation year programmes (generally offered to students that have taken A levels, but not the correct ones—can also be offered to those that have failed their A-levels), Access to HEs (generally not available to students under 21). The make-up of their content can vary significantly from qualification to qualification and from college to college although their content is based on different parts of the A-level curriculum. Direct contact with the college offering the non-A-level qualification of interest is really the best way to ascertain the exact content of the qualification, as all colleges do not offer the same content for the same non-A-level qualification. Grading tends to be three levels: distinction, merit, pass. Grade boundaries are not uniform across these qualifications; more information on that is best found by visiting websites for the various boards offering the various qualifications, which can be searched for online.

=== Beyond KS5 ===
Most students taking KS5 study will either go to university or apply for apprenticeships. For those that apply to study science at university, they will either choose to study a science in much more detail, or opt for a vocational education. Some universities offer degree apprenticeships.

=== Adult returners to education ===