Gateway Sixth Form College Review 2026: Broad post 16 pathways with open access ambitions

Gateway Sixth Form College is a large, mixed post 16 provider serving Leicester and the surrounding area, with a broad offer that spans A levels, vocational Level 3 routes, T Levels, GCSE resits, and entry level programmes. With capacity for 1,600 learners, it is designed for scale, choice, and progression rather than a narrowly academic intake.

Leadership is led by Principal James Bagley, who is publicly identified as principal in official documents and external reporting, and was in post by February 2018. The college sits within Better Futures Multi Academy Trust, a specialist 16 to 19 academy trust.

The most recent published A level outcomes place the college below England averages on headline grades. That does not make it a poor choice, but it does mean families should judge fit carefully, especially if the primary goal is top end A level attainment rather than a wider set of vocational, technical, and support focused pathways.

This is a sixth form college that presents itself as busy, practical, and programme led. The offer is structured around distinct study routes and progression planning, with student support framed as a core part of how the place runs, rather than an add on. The college’s course guide describes a student experience structure that includes pastoral leaders, mentors, and regular tutorial time, alongside student representation through a Student Union and wider feedback mechanisms.

There is also clear emphasis on community and participation. Formal descriptions and official reporting point to students being involved in college life through events and student voice activity, including large communal moments such as a prom and culture day. The implication for families is that students who thrive in a more adult, self directed environment, with multiple routes and timetables across the week, are likely to find this a comfortable cultural fit.

The college also signals an interest in wider recognition beyond examination outcomes, including wellbeing and arts related awards cited in its published prospectus and course guide materials. For students who want a wider identity than grades alone, that positioning can matter.

Gateway’s A level outcomes, as published used for this review, sit below England averages on top grades. In the latest published figures, 0.72% of grades were A*, 5.43% were A, and 18.12% were B, with 24.28% of grades at A* to B. England averages in the same frame are 23.6% for A* to A and 47.2% for A* to B. The gap is material and should shape expectations for students aiming for highly selective degree routes where A* and A profiles dominate.

The college’s A level performance rank is 2,349th in England, and 18th locally in Leicester, placing it below England average overall and within the lower performance band in England. These are FindMySchool rankings based on official data. For parents comparing options across Leicester, the FindMySchool Local Hub and Comparison Tool can help place these outcomes alongside other sixth form routes, including school sixth forms and neighbouring colleges.

Where Gateway can still be a strong choice is for students whose plan is not defined solely by A level grades. The course guide positions the offer as spanning technical and vocational routes, GCSE resits, and structured support for progression, which can be a better match for students who need a clearer pathway and stronger scaffolding than a typical school sixth form provides.

The curriculum model is explicitly pathway based. A levels are part of the offer, but they sit alongside vocational Level 3 programmes, GCSE English and maths routes, and T Levels with their industry placement requirement.

Entry expectations are published clearly. For Level 3 study, the college states that students will usually need five or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 including English Language and maths, with some courses adding specific requirements. On individual A level pages, the college also sets subject level thresholds, for example mathematics and science grade requirements for sciences and psychology. The practical implication is that students can plan realistically, but should also expect course level gatekeeping on more demanding A level subjects.

The wider programme also appears designed to keep progression options open. The course guide references support for routes into university, apprenticeships, and employment, with a stated emphasis on employer links and work experience.

Where Students Go Next

Gateway does not publish a single headline university pipeline figure in the materials reviewed here, so the best evidence for destinations is the published leavers data.

For the 2023/24 leaver cohort (cohort size 505), 43% progressed to university, 4% moved into apprenticeships, and 16% entered employment, with a smaller proportion recorded in further education. These figures indicate a mixed destination profile, consistent with a college that serves multiple pathways rather than a single university only route.

Oxbridge progression is present but small scale. In the measurement period captured, three students applied to Oxford or Cambridge and one secured a place. For a large provider, that is likely to represent a niche route for a small number of highly academic students, rather than a defining feature of the college.

A practical way to interpret this is to start with the student’s intended pathway. If the priority is an apprenticeship or employment route alongside study, a mixed destination pattern can be a positive sign. If the priority is a highly selective university route where a high proportion of students move into Russell Group programmes, families will want to ask more detailed questions about subject specific performance, enrichment for competitive applications, and how many students take that route each year.

Admissions are presented as open access with a defined application pathway and published timings for entry in 2026.

The college’s course guide sets out the annual cycle for entry in 2026, including:

• Liaison activity with schools from September to December 2025

• Open events on 6 November 2025, 8 November 2025, and 12 February 2026

• Applications from November 2025 through July 2026

• Interviews where required from February to May 2026

• Applicant decisions and confirmations from February to July 2026

• A welcome event in June 2026

Applications can be made online, either via the PS@16 system used by many local schools or directly through the college’s own process.

Entry requirements vary by programme. The college’s published baseline for Level 3 is typically five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 including English Language and maths, with course specific requirements on top for some subjects.

The most recent inspection evidence points to a supportive culture, with governance and leadership closely connected to student voice and the day to day experience. It also confirms safeguarding effectiveness, which is a critical baseline for any post 16 setting.

In practical terms, Gateway describes a pastoral structure that includes a student experience team, regular tutorial contact, and routes into careers advice and counselling support where needed. For students moving from school into a more adult environment, that combination can help bridge the transition, particularly for those who need structure to maintain attendance and momentum.

Gateway’s enrichment and wider experience offer is best understood as programme linked rather than purely club based. The college highlights student leadership through the Student Union, and structured opportunities connected to careers, progression planning, and events activity.

There are also distinctive course related pathways that function like signature co curricular programmes. The course guide references specialist technical routes such as NextGen Games Animation and VFX, which has been associated with external recognition in the college’s own materials. For students drawn to creative and technical industries, provision like this can be a differentiator compared with smaller school sixth forms that cannot run niche pathways at scale.

For families, the key question is how enrichment aligns to the student’s goal. A student targeting competitive university courses should ask what super curricular support is offered in their subject area. A student targeting employment or apprenticeships should ask how work experience is sourced and supported, and how the college helps them build an evidence based CV.

As a post 16 setting, the day structure will vary by programme and timetable. A published case study describes a typical learning day with sessions beginning around 9:00am and afternoon learning extending to around 4:00pm, although individual timetables differ.

Travel is a clear practical strength. The college’s own travel guidance notes that it is a short walk from Hamilton town centre, and lists bus services to the Hamilton Centre area, including Arriva 58 and 58A, First 38 and 38A, and Centrebus services, with additional local guidance provided in a downloadable document.

• A level attainment profile. The headline A level grade distribution is below England averages for top grades, so highly academic applicants targeting selective courses should investigate subject level performance and support for competitive applications carefully.

• Best fit depends on pathway. This is a multi route provider, which suits students who value choice and a clear progression plan, but may feel less tailored for students who want a small sixth form with a tightly academic identity.

• Timetable variability. As a college with multiple programme types, students should expect a timetable that can include independent study periods and variable start and finish times, which requires good self management.

Gateway Sixth Form College is best viewed as a large, open access post 16 hub for Leicester, with strength in breadth of offer, structured support, and practical progression planning. It suits students who want multiple routes available, including vocational and technical pathways, and who will benefit from a college model rather than a school sixth form. Families primarily seeking the highest A level grade outcomes should treat it as an option that requires careful subject specific investigation, alongside other local sixth form routes. For shortlisting, the FindMySchool Saved Schools feature is a simple way to track Gateway against nearby alternatives and return to key questions after open events.