Marsh Academy, The

Welcome to The Marsh Academy

About us

Our successful Post 16 provision provides students with an excellent academic and personal development experience to prepare them for the career path of their choosing, either directly into employment or via apprenticeships or higher education. Students can choose from a wide range of courses to suit their ambitions, including A Level and Vocational courses at Level 3. We also provide a suite of Level 2 qualifications, including English and Maths to enable all students to study at a level that is appropriate for them.

We offer a friendly and supportive learning environment, with a focus on independence and self-discipline to realise both personal and academic potential. A dedicated team is on hand to provide the highest quality information, guidance, and pastoral support. This results in students making good progress in their studies and achieving well. At the end of the 2021-2022 academic year, all students wishing to attend university were able to study at their chosen universities and all others started apprenticeships or gained employment. 

As part of their personal development, our students take on extra responsibilities such as joining the Junior Leadership Team or the Wellbeing Committee or supporting younger students in lessons. Post 16 students are encouraged to positively volunteer their time, for example, supporting literacy in local primary schools or running clubs to develop their leadership skills. 

We have high expectations of students in every facet of their education and successful membership of the Marsh Academy Post 16 includes the responsibility of being an excellent role model for younger students and being an exemplary member of our wider community. Students are expected to be professional and determined young adults who progress from the academy equipped with the skills to take full advantage of further opportunities.

Applications Open: - 14th November 2025

Applications Close: - 30th April 2026

Entry Requirements: -We cater to the individual needs of each student, creating a program of study that meets their unique requirements. We offer a wide range of Level 3 qualifications, including A levels, allowing students to combine their interests with relevant courses for their future pathways. Each subject has specific entry requirements in addition to those set out below, and all students must receive a positive reference and maintain an end-of-year attendance record of 95% or higher to be offered a place in The Marsh Academy Sixth Form.

It is important to understand that all students are expected to attain a minimum of GCSE grade 4 in Mathematics and English by the time they leave school or college. Therefore, if a student has not achieved these grades, they are legally required to retake these subjects until they achieve the grade 4 or above or until they complete their programme of study. 

For students unable to undertake a full Level 3 program, we offer a combination of qualifications across Level 3 and Level 2, depending on the qualifications gained in Year 11. 

For students who achieve: 

7+ GCSEs at grade 7+ can study four Level 3 courses. 

5+ GCSEs at grade 5+ can study three Level 3 courses. 

4 +GCSEs at grade 5+ can study two Level 3 courses and two Level 2 courses. 

Level 3 Vocational Courses

5+ GCSEs at grade 4+ in English and maths GCSE to study three Level 3 vocation courses However, it is important to note that some Level 3 courses will have specific requirements in addition to those set out here. 

This year, subjects have not been placed into fixed option blocks. Instead, they have been grouped by subject area to allow students greater flexibility in selecting the courses that best suit their interests and future goals. Once we have received students’ subject choices, we will create option blocks based on demand and subject compatibility. It is important to note that while The Marsh Academy aims to offer all courses listed in the prospectus, we do reserve the right to withdraw any course that does not attract sufficient interest. This approach ensures that our curriculum remains responsive, student-focused, and sustainable.

The Marsh Academy reserves the right to review student course offers on an individual basis. 

How to apply:

Students who wish to apply for a place at the Marsh Academy Sixth Form and are currently a student at another school or college in Kent or East Sussex, must apply via the Kent Choices website application process (www.kentprospectus.co.uk). External applicants must ensure that the application is completely correctly by completing all sections of the application form in full for the application to be considered:

If you are applying from outside of Kent and are unable to register for Kent Choices, please use the external student application form which is available on the Sixth Form page of the Marsh Academy website.

Once the application has been made, we will contact you to discuss your application and invite you for interview. After the interview, conditional offers will made pending examination results. We ensure that students are kept up do date with events regarding Sixth Form during the remainder of the academic year.

On GCSE result day, students should contact the Marsh Academy with a record of GCSE results so that courses can be confirmed or adapted in line with the achieved results. Students will then attend a registration day early in September to process the required documentation.

Post 16 students follow a personalised curriculum, intended to stimulate the mind, challenge thinking and apply new information and knowledge. Courses are structured around learning rather than assessment, but in a way that enables students to achieve the best possible examination results.

The curriculum is sufficiently flexible to allow all pupils to excel. The examined and non-examined strands of our curriculum are complementary and mutually reinforcing whether at Level 3 or Level 2.

Studying at Post 16 requires a more advanced skill set compared to KS4, but our teachers ensure students are supported to become independent learners. We also have a strong induction programme so students can focus on developing research and revision skills before their courses begin. While many students choose a suite of complementary courses focusing on a particular faculty to specialise in that field, our curriculum allows students to choose a diverse range of courses from different disciplines.

At the Marsh Academy, we understand that some students require different levels of qualifications to embark on the next stage of their journey, so we offer the opportunity to study a hybrid of courses across Level 3 and Level 2, dependant on meeting the entry requirements for the subjects of study.

To further enrich the curriculum, students take part in the Marsh Academy Diploma which offers the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge which will be of value throughout their lives. Activities include planning, running and evaluating events, personal development, debating, cooking, creating applications and enhancing interview skills. Students are also able to use the Marsh Academy Leisure Centre gym during timetabled sessions as well as taking the opportunity to volunteer their time for a range of organisations.