A Parent’s Guide to A Levels

A Levels are one of the most significant academic milestones in a young person’s life, and for parents they can feel just as intense. Subjects to choose, universities to consider, revision timetables to support, and a results day that arrives faster than anyone expects. This guide explains how A Levels work, what to expect at each stage, and how to support your daughter whilst letting her captain the ship.

At Channing, our Sixth Form sits within one of the best senior schools in London for girls. The advice here is drawn from years of walking the A Level journey alongside our families.

How do A Levels actually work?

A Levels are linear two-year qualifications studied in Years 12 and 13. Most pupils take three subjects, with some taking four. At Channing the number depends on student ability but we usually recommend three A Levels and an EPQ (Extended Project Qualification). Assessment is almost entirely by examination at the end of Year 13, with some subjects also requiring coursework, fieldwork or non-examined assessment.

Grades run from A* down to E, with U denoting an unclassified result. Universities typically make offers using a combination of grades – for example, AAB or A*AA – and many courses now also reference UCAS Tariff points, particularly for joint or vocational degrees.

How many A Levels should my daughter take?

Three. Three strong A Levels are almost always preferable to four average ones, and top universities make their offers on three subjects. A small number of pupils take a fourth subject, either as a full A Level or as an additional qualification (for example, an EPQ), where it genuinely strengthens an application. It is worth a conversation with her tutor before committing – the right number is the one she can perform consistently well in.

If a student takes four A levels, they may well receive a university offer based on all four subjects – and be compared only to other candidates also taking four when competing for university places.

Are AS Levels still relevant?

In most subjects, no. AS Levels no longer count towards the final A Level grade. A small number of pupils take an AS in Year 12 as a fourth subject. At Channing, students taking Further Maths as a fourth A Level take the exam at the end of Year 13.

How should she choose the right A Level subjects?

Subject choice is the single most important decision your daughter will make at the start of Sixth Form. We are flexible for the first month of Year 12; students can change their minds if the timetable and set sizes permit. The right combination opens doors; the wrong one can quietly close them. Three principles help:

Start with strengths and genuine interest

A Level content is significantly more demanding than GCSE. Pupils who choose subjects they enjoy and perform well in are more likely to stay motivated through the harder months of Year 13.

Keep options open if a degree path is uncertain

If your daughter is undecided about university courses, a balanced combination – for example, one essay subject, one analytical subject and one creative or applied subject – preserves the widest range of choices.

Check the requirements for likely degrees

Medicine, dentistry and veterinary science usually have firm subject requirements. Engineering, economics, architecture, law, and some humanities at Russell Group universities also list preferred A Levels. Our Head of HE and Careers is always available for advice and guidance.

Which A Level subject combinations work well together?

At Channing, you can choose whatever you want because we build the timetable around the student, but there are some tried-and-tested combinations.

• Maths, Further Maths and Physics: a powerful trio for engineering, physics, computer science and economics.
• English Literature, History and a modern language: classic for humanities, law and journalism.
• Biology, Chemistry and Maths: the dependable medicine and biosciences combination.
• An academic core plus one creative subject, for example History, Politics and Art, for pupils whose creativity is part of who they are.

Ultimately, results are more important than subject content. The majority of degree subjects do not specify A level subjects; those that do are predominantly in the STEM area.

What is Sixth Form actually like, day to day?

Sixth Form is more than the sum of three subjects. The shift in tone, from being a senior pupil in school to being an emerging adult, is significant. Pupils take more responsibility for their own learning, manage longer independent study periods, and begin to think seriously about life beyond school.

In a strong Sixth Form, that growing independence is supported, not assumed. At Channing Sixth Form, pupils benefit from small teaching groups, dedicated tutors, structured supervised study, an extensive co-curricular programme, and a tutor team that knows each pupil well. Sixth Form in London also means access to galleries, museums, lectures, university talks and cultural events that enrich every subject.

How can I compare Sixth Forms in London?

If you are still comparing Sixth Forms, look beyond the results tables. Ask about class sizes, the breadth of subjects offered, how academic stretch is provided for the strongest pupils, what wellbeing and pastoral support looks like, and what the typical leavers’ destinations have been. The best Sixth Forms in London for girls combine academic ambition with genuine pastoral depth.

The most useful single thing you can do is visit. Our Sixth Form Open Day runs in the autumn term and offers the clearest picture of life at Channing.

How do I apply to university?

UCAS is the centralised system through which pupils apply to UK universities. Most A Level pupils apply during the first term of Year 13, with the heavy lifting happening between late Year 12 and the autumn term of Year 13.

Year 12, autumn–spring

Settle into A Levels, begin to explore degree options and start thinking about wider reading and super-curricular activities. A good school will support you every step of the way through parent and student talks, events involving universities and 1:1 support from subject teachers, form tutors and the Head of Careers. At Channing, the Spring term brings a Higher Education (HE) information evening and a Springboard and HE Fair,

Year 12, summer term

Research courses and universities seriously, draft the personal statement, attend open days and consider work experience for relevant degrees.

Year 12, summer holiday

Refine the personal statement, finalise the university shortlist (up to five choices), and prepare for any interviews or auditions in autumn. Complete your work experience.

Year 13, September–October

The early UCAS deadline (mid-October) applies to Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses. This is when you will sit any required admissions tests (for example, BMAT, LNAT or the Cambridge subject tests where applicable). Most other applications are submitted in the autumn term.

Year 13, January

The equal-consideration UCAS deadline for the majority of courses. This means that any applications made up to this date will be considered equally with any that have already been submitted – in other words, there’s no rush to ensure that an application (other than ones required for the early deadline) gets in quickly. School deadlines will always be earlier than the UCAS deadlines for any school or college.

Year 13, spring

Offers arrive. Pupils make a firm choice and an insurance choice.

Year 13, summer

Final examinations, then results day in mid-August.

Dates shift each year slightly — check the current UCAS calendar at the point of application.

How can I support revision without taking it over?

Revision is the moment when many parents understandably want to step in. The instinct is well placed, but the strongest results almost always come when pupils feel ownership of their own preparation. Your role is to create the conditions for good work, then trust her to do it.

• Protect a quiet, well-lit space at home, even if it is just a corner of a shared room. Phones on the other side of it.
• Encourage a routine rather than rescue marathons. Daily, sustained revision beats last-minute sprints almost every time.
• Keep the basics steady: sleep, meals, water, fresh air. Tired brains revise badly.
• Ask open questions (“What are you focusing on this week?”) rather than closed ones (“Have you done your revision?”).
• Notice the wins. Acknowledging progress matters more than chasing perfection.

Watch for stress that tips into something bigger – sleep loss, withdrawal, persistent low mood – and speak to her tutor or our pastoral and wellbeing team early. Asking is always better than waiting.

What happens on A Level results day (also known as Confirmation and Clearing)?

A Level results day falls in mid-August. For pupils planning to go to university, results are released to schools first thing in the morning, and UCAS Track updates simultaneously to confirm university places.

• If she meets her firm offer, her place is confirmed automatically – there is nothing more to do that day, beyond celebrating.
• If she narrowly misses her firm offer, universities often still confirm the place. If not, her insurance offer may still be confirmed.
• If neither the firm nor insurance offer is confirmed, students can use Clearing. Lists of university course places still available are published in July, with more becoming available on results day if both offers fall through.

What if results aren’t what we hoped for?

Disappointing results are difficult, but they are rarely the end of a plan. Options include securing an alternative place in Clearing, requesting a priority remark on a borderline paper, exploring a different course or gap year, or considering resits. The most important thing on the day itself is calm – clear heads make better decisions. We are in school on results day to support pupils and parents at every step, and we have seen many of the strongest outcomes emerge from the most stressful mornings.

What can my daughter do after A Levels?

For most pupils, A Levels lead to university, but they are not the only road. Increasingly, our leavers consider degree apprenticeships, conservatoires, art foundation courses, gap years with purpose, and universities overseas. The right path is the one that fits the pupil, not the headline. Our Leavers’ Destinations page gives a sense of where Channing pupils have gone in recent years.

How Channing supports A Level pupils and their families

Channing Sixth Form combines academic ambition with the warmth and pastoral depth that characterise our school. With small teaching groups, dedicated tutors, a sustained UCAS programme, and one of the broadest co-curricular offers among the best senior schools in London for girls, pupils leave us prepared not only for their next step, but for everything that follows it. To find out more, please visit our Sixth Form pages or join us at an Open Day.

Useful links

• Channing Sixth Form – introduction, subjects offered, life in Sixth Form.
• Results & Leavers’ Destinations – recent academic outcomes and university destinations.
• Open Days – upcoming dates and how to book.
• Admissions – entry points and how to apply.
• Welcome from the Headmistress – a personal introduction to Channing.