Entry Requirements

We believe that Holy Cross is unique, and as you learn more about us through this website, open evenings and talks in high schools, we hope you will agree. We warmly welcome applications from students of all faiths and beliefs and as a result we have a wonderfully diverse student population. All members of Holy Cross – whatever their background - are treated on an equal basis.

How do we select students?

In offering places we take into account the following:

• Your application form – which tells us about you as an individual;
• Discussions at interview, which are focussed on whether you would be happy here and whether our courses are the right ones for you;
• A reference from your school – telling us your approach and commitment to school;
• The date of receipt of the application form, if after the closing date.

In other words, we want to get to know you. We are not in the business of ensuring high league table places by only taking those with very high grades. We achieve our high league table position while welcoming a wide range of students. What we are looking for is commitment, passion and hard work. Beyond that, we try and keep our GCSE tariff as welcoming as we possibly can for the courses we offer. We find that some hardworking students can improve by several grades at Holy Cross, providing they follow our advice about the right courses to study.

What do you need to achieve?

Our general Entry Requirements for 2025 are available to download below.  Individual subject requirements can be found on each subject course page.  Remember you will need higher grades to study 4 Advanced level subjects rather than 3 (the norm is in fact now 3 for most students - following Government reforms). Offers of a place are always conditional upon students meeting these entry requirements.

*The College reserves the right to make changes to particular entry requirements (general or subject specific) in light of the development of government policy and local and national circumstances.