At Collingham Kensington, we believe that academic success is not defined by a single examination. Our GCSE Retake Programme offers students a supportive, highly focused environment to re-sit subjects and achieve the grades required for progression to the next stage of their education.
Students benefit from expert tuition, small class sizes, and a personalised programme designed to build knowledge, confidence, and examination skills.
Yes. We offer both one-year and shorter intensive courses for students retaking one subject or several.
In England, yes. If you’re continuing in full-time education after 16 and didn’t reach a grade 4 in English and/or maths, you’re required to keep studying towards it. That’s national policy, not a Collingham rule, but we’re set up to support you through it properly rather than treating it as a box to tick.
Full-time and part-time programmes are both available. A full taught course runs from September through to the May/June exams. English and maths can also be sat in the November series, which suits students who are close to their target grade already.
We accept applications on a rolling basis. Most students start in September, but short courses can begin in January or straight after mock results, and many students join us just after their August results come out.
Retakes cover a wide range of subjects, including English Language, Mathematics and the sciences. See our full subject list and exam boards for details.
Sometimes, but it depends on the subject and how far behind you are. Some A levels genuinely need the GCSE foundations in place. Others are more forgiving of a weak GCSE grade, especially if the interest and effort are there. Talk to us about the specific subject and we’ll give you a straight answer.
You don’t retake the whole of Year 11. At Collingham, GCSE re-sits usually happen alongside your A level studies, most often for English or maths, taught in dedicated re-sit classes. If you need a broader reset across several subjects before starting A levels, that’s a different conversation worth having with us directly.
Yes. Plenty of students re-sit a grade 4 or 5 aiming for a 6 or 7, particularly where a specific grade is needed for a sixth form subject or university course. This isn’t compulsory, so fees usually apply.
No single grade “fails.” Under the 9 to 1 system, a 4 is a standard pass and a 5 is a strong pass. Schools, colleges and universities are used to seeing re-sit grades and don’t read them as a black mark. What they notice is whether you’re moving in the right direction.
It’s often better to spend a year strengthening your GCSEs before starting A levels, rather than moving on before you’re ready. We’ll talk this through honestly with you and your family, based on where you actually are, not where the calendar says you should be.
GCSE classes are capped at nine students, with an average class size of five. Small enough for real dialogue with a teacher and direct feedback on your work.
In Year 11, as a guide:
| Subject | Weekly hours |
|---|---|
| English Language / Literature | 4 |
| Maths | 4 |
| Art | 4 |
| Games / PE | 2 |
| Geography, MFL, History, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, RS, Computing/ICT | 3 |
| PSHE / Selfhood | 1 |
Independent study should add roughly the same number of hours again per subject. Where a class has only one student, weekly hours reduce slightly, typically from 3 to 2.
Generally, yes. Depending on how many subjects you’re re-sitting, we’ll usually keep you on your previous exam board, and our tutors can teach all the major boards. Occasionally it’s better to switch, and we’ll say so if that’s the case.
Talk to us before you decide anything. There’s more than one route forward and the right one depends on you, not on a generic answer online.
There are no minimum entry grades. Every programme is built around your specific needs, so gaps in understanding get addressed properly rather than glossed over. We’ll discuss the right course for your goals.
Yes. Students have access to comprehensive pastoral support, regular academic reviews, and guidance from a dedicated Personal Tutor throughout their resit year.
Collingham is licensed to accept students up to the age of 19, so you can’t be over 20 when you join us. Within that age range, we take students at various stages, not just those moving straight on from Year 11.
There’s no limit to how many times you can resit a GCSE. If it happens, we’ll sit down with you and work out why, and whether another attempt, a different subject route, or an alternative qualification such as Functional Skills is the better next step.
Access arrangements have to be reassessed at each new centre, based on evidence of how you normally work, so they don’t automatically transfer. Bring us whatever evidence and reports you already have as early as possible and we’ll get the process started well before exam entry deadlines.
See our fees page for current course fees. Mandatory English/maths re-sits for eligible students may be funded; voluntary re-sits are chargeable.
Contact the Admissions Team and arrange a consultation and meeting with the Head of GCSE, Paul Caffell, or our Principal, James Allder. International applicants can join by video call. Call 020 7244 7414 or complete our enquiry form below.
We accept GCSE retake applications on a rolling basis, and students can begin in September or, for short courses, in January or after mock results. Many students also start with us after receiving their August results.
To apply, simply click Apply Now below to contact our Admissions Team and arrange a consultation and interview with the Principal or Vice Principal. International applicants may complete their interview via video call.
