FAQs

We have a wide range of courses available: A levels, level 3 BTEC/CTECs, a T-Level, and some level 2 qualifications. For more information, please look on our course list.

Yes, from September 2026 we will be offering a new T Level - Legal Services. 

Since the publication of the 2026 prospectus, the government has defunded the Applied Science BTEC Extended Certificate (single), Applied Science BTEC Extended Diploma (triple), and Health and Social Care CTEC Diploma (double). As a result, we will no longer be able to offer these courses from September 2026.

Instead, we will offer new BTEC/CTEC replacement courses known as AAQs (Alternative Academic Qualifications). From September 2026, AAQ courses will be available at Notre Dame in Applied Science, Medical Science, and Health and Social Care. Each AAQ course is equivalent to one A-level.

The entry requirements are as follows:

- AAQ Applied Science:
A minimum grade 54 in GCSE Combined Science or two single GCSE science grades.

- AAQ Medical Science:
A minimum grade 54 in GCSE Combined Science or two single GCSE science grades.

- AAQ Health and Social Care:
Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including GCSE English Language and GCSE Maths, plus two grade 4s in GCSE science.

In addition, to study A-level Geography, you will need a grade 5 in GCSE English Language and a grade 5 in GCSE Geography.

An A-level is similar to GCSE where you will study for 2 years and have exams at the end of Y13. BTEC/CTEC/AAQ courses tend are more coursework based and you will be assessed throughout the two years. T Levels are courses you study by itself with 20% of your time on a work placement and 80% of the time in the classroom. You will be assessed through exams, employer set projects and assignments. A T Level is the equivalent to 3 A-levels. You can find out more here.

What are AAQs?
You might know them as BTECs and OCR Cambridge Technicals, these will now be called Alternative Academic qualifications (AAQs). The Alternative Academic Qualifications (AAQ) are stand-alone qualifications that are equivalent to A levels in both qualification level and UCAS points. AAQs are the same size as A levels – they are timetabled for the same amount of hours and are two years in length.

Are they new?
They have recently been launched in the UK and we started offering AAQs in Applied Science, Health and Social Care, and Medical Science to replace some BTEC and CTEC courses defunded by the government.  

What subjects do they cover?
At the moment, we are offering Applied Science, Medical Science and Health and Social Care. Each of these subjects is the equivalent of one A-level.

How many can you do?
You can study a maximum of three AAQs if you are only choosing AAQs. There is also the option to study a mixture of A levels and AAQs (totalling three overall). Students can use our easy grid table to help them choose the right combination of AAQs and A levels, or Level 3s, depending on their interests and timetable availability.

Do they carry UCAS points?
AAQs carry the same UCAS points as A levels.

Will all universities accept AAQs?
Universities will accept AAQs and their UCAS points based on degree subject choice. It will depend on the university degree chosen – for example, if a medicine or veterinary degree is chosen, the university will no doubt require full science A levels (such as Biology, Chemistry and Physics) and is it unlikely an AAQ in Medical Science or Applied Science would be accepted in the place of full science A levels. College staff will provide full advice and guidance at interview evenings and at enrolment appointments.

Yes! Notre Dame will allow you to mix and match BTECs with A-Levels in order to give you the maximum amount of flexibility and future career options.

We offer a wide range of A-levels, Level 3 AAQ / BTEC / CTEC, and T Level qualifications. Students can choose to study all A-levels or all AAQ / BTECs / CTECs, with many choosing to study a combination of both. You will normally study three subjects at A-level (or the equivalent number of AAQ / BTECs / CTECs) but if you have very good GCSE results you may be able to choose four if you achieve an average GCSE point score of 7 or above. Students completing a T Level programme will receive a qualification equivalent to three A-levels.

A-levels

A-levels are traditional academic qualifications that follow on from GCSEs and are ideal for students who enjoy classroom-based learning and exams.

- Mostly exam-based assessment (some subjects include coursework)
- Two-year courses
- Students usually study three subjects
- Strong preparation for university study
- Wide choice of subjects available

T Levels

T Levels are technical qualifications designed with employers and focus on preparing students for specific careers.

- Two-year, full-time courses
- Combination of classroom learning and practical assessments
- Include a mandatory 45-day industry placement
- Equivalent to three A-levels
- Strong links to employment and apprenticeships

AAQs (New BTEC & CTEC Courses)

AAQs (Alternative Academic Qualifications) are new applied qualifications replacing many BTEC and CTEC courses.

- Equivalent to one A-level
- Assessed through a mixture of coursework and exams
- Designed in line with employer and university requirements
- Support progression to university, apprenticeships, or employment

Examples include Applied Science, Medical Science, and Health and Social Care.

Even if you are planning to apply for a competitive degree like Medicine, or to a competitive university like Cambridge, three A-levels are enough. However, if you have a very strong GCSE grade profile (an example would be all grade 7/8/9), you could take a fourth A-level or study for an EPQ: we will discuss this with you at enrolment.

The Notre Dame Pathway is designed to help students who don’t meet the entry requirements for level 3 courses. For one year, you would study level 2 BTEC/ CTEC qualifications and retake GCSE Maths or English Language. You would then progress to a level 3 study programme at Notre Dame provided you demonstrate a positive attitude to learning and have a grade 4 in GCSE Maths and English Language. To take a BTEC/CTEC level 2 qualification, you should have at least four GCSEs at grade 3 or equivalent qualifications including at least a grade 4 in GCSE English Language or GCSE Maths.

Once you receive your GCSE results, you will attend your enrolment appointment and a member of staff will help you with your next steps. If you change your mind about a course or don’t meet the entry requirements you can discuss this at enrolment.

This guidance is given on the application form: “In this section, please explain in approximately 200 words why you want to study at Notre Dame and what extra-curricular activities (e.g. sport, volunteering, part-time work) you take part in". Please also describe any ideas you have about future careers or university subjects.” We will talk to you about your personal statement during your interview.

During your interview, we will ask why you have applied to Notre Dame, what sort of degree or jobs you are interested in, and if you take part in any extra-curricular activities or have any interests outside of school. We'll also double check your choice of subjects, tell you more about Notre Dame, and see if there's any extra support we can offer you. The interview will take ten to fifteen minutes.

You will have listed your predicted grades on your application form, and we will use these to check that you’ve applied for appropriate courses. However, if you have more recent grades - from mock exams or from your recent school progress tracker - please tell us about these during your interview.

Please contact the admissions team using admissions@ndonline.ac.uk if you have any queries about your application. We will be interviewing until the end of May.

Subject choices can be discussed at enrolment once you have your GCSE results, and will be subject to availability.  

Here at college, our teachers are busy putting together all sorts of activities and resources, which will give you a head start when it comes to your A level and BTEC/CTEC courses. You can access the programme here.

Enrolment will be taking place from 20th - 26th August 2026. We will send you a detailed enrolment pack in the post. This will explain how this year's enrolment days will work, what you will need to bring with you to your appointment and how to enrol if you can't make these dates. Students must attend their enrolment appointment in person in order to receive a place at Notre Dame. To find out more about our order of enrolment, you can view our Admissions Policy here. 

Once you have enrolled at Notre Dame, you will then be invited to your induction day which will be early September (exact date TBC). We’ll give you lots of helpful information about the College, and will take you on a tour of the campus.

The Experience Notre Dame Days are for students who have applied to study at Notre Dame for September 2026. They will take place on the 6th and 7th July. You will only need to attend one of the dates, on which you will be allocated. We will let you know which date you need to attend in June.

There is no uniform, but we ask students not to wear anything revealing, offensive, or impractical.

We do have a canteen; it sells a range of hot food that changes daily. We also have a Starbucks that sells cold food such as meal deals, toasties, sandwiches as well as hot drinks. There are also vending machines in the lower study area that sell snacks.

Around 1300 new students enrol with us each year, so there are approximately 2600 Notre Dame students.

The college day begins at 9am and finishes at 4pm, but students aren’t in from 9 until 4 every day. You will have some periods on your timetable when you aren’t in class. You can use this time to write up notes, complete coursework, revise etc. and a lot of our students will go to the library or the IT suite to work. But you don’t have to be in college when you don’t have a lesson, and you don’t have to stay in college for lunch – just make sure you’re back in time for your next class!

The PTE programme aims to encourage the formation of the whole person and seeks to be inclusive, challenging and affirming to all, irrespective of faith or perspectives. Through reflections and discussions, we foster a community based on respect and trust where everyone feels valued. In this class, you will discuss the wider issues in life. They look at the big questions, spiritual development and how they relate to their internal and external worlds. There are no exams, no homework and no coursework in this lesson. You will also have the opportunity to gain the Stella Maris Leadership Award.

We are a Catholic College that welcomes all faiths and none. Our Mission & Ethos is important to us and all staff and students follow this. There are prayer opportunities every week, which you can join in with if you wish or be respectful of those who do. You will see examples in the Catholic Life section of our website of the many charities and volunteering opportunities our students are involved with. All students must attend PTE, which you can read more about here

Yes, but don’t work for more than 10 hours a week, as otherwise this can affect your grades.

We are a Sixth Form College, which means our A-Level, T Level and BTEC Level 3 courses only cater for 16 years olds usually on a two-year programme.

Yes, we do have some lockers available.  A £20 deposit is required to hire a locker for your 2-year course and is refundable on the return of your key. Please enquire at the Finance Office. 

A virtual tour of the college is available on our website, which shows you the Notre Dame campus.

We don’t have a college bus, but Notre Dame is situated a 20-minute walk from Leeds Bus Station and the train station is a 15-minute walk away. There are a variety of cycle routes into the city and there is provision to store your bicycle securely within college grounds. Once you are 16, you will be able to apply for a half fare bus and train pass. You can find out more about this here: https://www.wymetro.com/

We do not allow this: once you’ve enrolled, please speak to your personal tutor for further information.

The College has a specialist careers team who will provide you with impartial advice and guidance at every stage of your academic journey. The Careers Department provides support with career planning, UCAS and higher education, interview skills, job applications and CV writing:  https://www.notredamecoll.ac.uk/students/careers-support

Our careers team can support you with finding work experience. You can find out more here: https://www.notredamecoll.ac.uk/students/careers-support

We offer a huge range of enrichment activities. You can find out more on our ‘Enrichment and ND+’ page:  https://www.notredamecoll.ac.uk/why-choose-us/enrichment

Although a laptop is not essential for any of our courses, if this is your preferred way of working you are permitted to bring in your own.