Cardiff Sixth Form College Review: Rankings, Fees And More
Cardiff Sixth Form College (CSFC) is a leading boarding school in the UK– committed to breaking new ground by integrating small class numbers, personalised attention, and outstanding education to fully realise each student’s potential. In our guide, we cover the essentials of what makes Cardiff Sixth Form College so successful.
Share This Article
Table of Contents
Summary of School
- Type of school: Co-educational
- Age range: 15 – 19
- Pupils: 365; sixth formers: 340
- Boarders: 85%
- Fees: Day £24,100 – £27,700; Boarding; £57,100 – £62,700 pa
- 2024 A Level Results: 90.7% A*-A
- 2024 GCSE Results: 81.8% 9-7
Cardiff Sixth Form College Overview
Cardiff Sixth Form College is renowned for its rigorous academic programs, which create an intellectually stimulating environment that drives students to achieve exceptional results. The college operates two campuses: one at Trinity Court on Newport Road in Cardiff and a recently established campus in Cambridge.
The college embraces a unique blend of educational philosophies, merging Eastern and Western approaches. The Western emphasis on individual creativity and personal development is harmonised with the Eastern focus on discipline and structure.
This combination creates a supportive yet challenging environment for students seeking to step beyond their comfort zones. According to the CSFC website, the school is ideal for students who aspire to secure places at top universities and pursue courses that promise both fulfilment and academic challenge.
Another standout feature of CSFC is its commitment to small class sizes, ensuring each student receives personalised attention and a focused learning experience.
Cardiff Sixth Form College Courses And Programmes
Below is an overview of the academic programmes available at both Cardiff Sixth Form College campuses, designed to provide students with a strong foundation and prepare them for success in competitive university admissions.
GCSEs
Cardiff Sixth Form College’s GCSE programme provides an ideal platform for students progressing to advanced studies, offering both one- and two-year courses that lay a solid foundation for academic success. Students can choose to study between six and ten core academic subjects while benefiting from intensive teaching in small class sizes. Additionally, the programme supports English proficiency development, ensuring students build strong communication skills.
Led by the college’s experienced faculty, the GCSE curriculum extends beyond academics. Students actively participate in sports, cultural activities, a super-curricular programme, and academic enrichment opportunities, fully integrating with College life alongside A Level students. It’s a comprehensive experience designed to prepare students holistically for the next stage of their education.
A Levels
For A Levels, Cardiff Sixth Form College offers an extensive selection of subjects, attracting students with a strong ambition to succeed in a top-tier academic setting. Known for its inspiring teaching, comprehensive career development, and state-of-the-art boarding facilities, the college ranks among the best in the UK.
Students benefit from 24-30 hours of scheduled class time each week, complemented by one-on-one tutorials. With a teacher-to-student ratio of 1:7, the college ensures that each student receives personalised attention and guidance.
For detailed and up-to-date information on available courses, please visit the Cardiff Sixth Form College website or contact us directly.
Cardiff Sixth Form College Rankings and Results
Cardiff Sixth Form College has been topping the A Level rankings for over a decade and is one of the top A Level schools globally. In the recent 2024 examinations, the college ranked 1st in the 2024 A Level League Table, with 90.7% of students scoring A*-A. Also in 2024, CSFC achieved impressive GCSE results, with 81.8% of the cohort scoring grades 9-7.
Cardiff Sixth Form College Fees
Fees (2024-25 Intake)
Registration Fee | |
UK and EU Boarders | £180 |
International Boarders | £250 |
Acceptance Deposit | |
UK and EU Boarders | £3,000 |
International Boarders | £9,500 |
A Level September 2024 | |
Total price with Cluster Boarding | £57,600 |
Total price with Studio Boarding | £62,700 |
Tuition fee | £24,100 |
GCSE September 2024 | |
Total price | £57,100 |
Tuition | £27,700 |
Boarding | £29,400 |
Day Fees September 2024 | |
Registration Fee | £180 |
Acceptance Deposit | £500 |
Second year top-up | £500 |
A Level Tuition Fees | £24,100 |
GCSE Tuition Fees | £27,700 |
Pre-Sessional Course August 2024 | |
August 2024 Pre-Sessional Course | £5,200 (payable in addition to the fees for September 2024) |
Note: Boarding fees include:
- Tuition
- Group IELTS preparation (excluding exam fees)
- Exam fees (excluding re-takes)
- Use of all College facilities
- Accommodation
- Meals (catering is not included during the Christmas, and Summer holidays)
- Complimentary bedding pack (one per year)
- Weekly room cleaning
- One complimentary airport pickup (on specific dates)
Cardiff Sixth Form College Entry Requirements
For the A-Level programme, applicants are expected to have achieved at least six GCSEs at grades 8/9 (A*), including the subjects they wish to pursue at A-Level. Additionally, candidates must take entrance exams in the four subjects they intend to study and achieve an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher. For the GCSE programme, entrance exams in English and Mathematics are required, with an IELTS score of 5.0 for the two-year course and 5.5 for the one-year course. All applicants will also attend an interview, either in person or via Zoom.
Cardiff Sixth Form College Application Deadline
Applications for boarding places should be submitted to the college by September in the year prior to the start of the academic year the student wishes to enter. For example, applications for entry in either September 2025 or January 2026 should be submitted before September 2024.
Cardiff Sixth Form College Accommodation and Boarding Experience
At Cardiff Sixth Form College, the majority of students—approximately 85%—choose to board, with purpose-built, modern accommodation located conveniently close to academic facilities. Students can choose from three distinct room types, each thoughtfully designed to suit different preferences. Cluster rooms are ideal for those who enjoy a more communal setting, housing four to six students with individual bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom, as well as a shared kitchen and lounge. Apartments, suited for two students, include single bedrooms and shared bathroom, kitchen, and lounge facilities. For those seeking a more private experience, studio flats provide a single room with an en-suite bathroom and a kitchen, though without a lounge; these are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Beyond the individual rooms, students benefit from extensive communal amenities, including large common rooms, fully equipped laundry facilities, dedicated music practice rooms, art spaces, and on-site medical centres.
Living on campus offers a unique chance to engage in a multicultural environment. Cardiff Sixth Form College emphasises respect, tolerance, and cooperation, encouraging students to appreciate and learn from diverse cultural backgrounds. This multicultural setting fosters friendships and allows students to develop a broad understanding of others’ experiences and perspectives.
A team of experienced boarding staff is on hand to ensure that students feel supported and secure in their surroundings. These staff members provide outstanding pastoral care, offer guidance, celebrate student achievements, address any challenges, coordinate activities, and keep families well-informed. This supportive environment helps create a close-knit, family-like atmosphere where students feel genuinely at home.
To enrich students’ weekends and free time, the college organises a wide array of activities. Cardiff’s lively surroundings—complete with shops, cafes, and green spaces—complement a diverse schedule of extracurricular activities, from sports teams and clubs to charity work and local work placements. Students have plenty of opportunities to explore interests, socialise, and unwind beyond their studies.
Cardiff Sixth Form College Pastoral Care
Cardiff Sixth Form College delivers exceptional pastoral care, with each student supported by a dedicated Head of House who monitors both their academic progress and personal well-being. The Heads of Houses are also responsible for delivering Personal, Social, and Health Education (PSHE) lessons that cover vital topics beyond academics, including online safety, healthy relationships, and mental health awareness.
The college’s Assistant Principal for Pastoral Care introduced the CREATE© Portfolio, a unique pastoral programme designed to foster academic achievement alongside personal growth. This programme helps students develop into independent, empathetic young adults with a genuine interest in the wider world. Each student selects three well-being pathways within the CREATE© Portfolio, completing a series of tasks aimed at enhancing resilience, self-care, and confidence. The CREATE© initiative has received significant acclaim, winning the Welsh Independent Schools Council Award for Wellbeing in 2019 and the ISA Pupil Personal Development Award in 2020.
Cardiff Sixth Form College Extracurricular Activities
Cardiff Sixth Form College offers a vibrant array of extracurricular activities, promoting a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Activities range from traditional sports to specialised classes in yoga, fitness, dance, and swimming, catering to a wide range of interests.
Debating is an integral part of the extracurricular programme, encouraging students to build confidence, hone communication skills, and develop essential life skills for the future.
Music is also a popular choice, with opportunities like the Glee Club, where students of various cultural backgrounds come together for performances and productions, enriching the experience with diverse perspectives. Additionally, students can pursue private lessons in 18 different instruments, with many accomplished musicians honing their talents at CSFC.
One of the college’s standout clubs is the NASA Club, which engages students in a global competition to design innovative solutions for a future human settlement in space. The club’s dedication and creativity led them to the finals of the competition in 2018, marking a proud achievement for the college.
Cardiff Sixth Form College Reviews
I studied at Cardiff for two years. The school studied our successes, developed programs for participation in volunteer activities, taught how to seek practice and helped if we could not cope with this. All this contributed to the admission to universities. We had wonderful teachers. Definitely the education that Cardiff provides is at such a high level due to the teaching staff.
My proudest moment at CSFC was receiving my UCL offer to study; coming to CSFC has been fantastic mental preparation for what awaits me at university. It is great to live independently in such nice accommodation but of course I miss my sister, parents and friends at home.
I found my first year at medical school rewarding, though also thoroughly challenging as the academic leap from A-level to university education was quite staggering. However, thanks to my time spent at CSFC I was no stranger to hard work, nor being pushed as far as I could go and so I was fairly well prepared to press forward and make the most of my year.
I moved to the UK to begin my A Levels here (at CSFC). Now, two years later, I am due to study Medicine at Plymouth University in September and am really excited to find a direction to head towards in Medicine.
Aside from the rigorous but rewarding academics at Cardiff, I have had plenty of time to form lasting friendships and have made friends from all over the world. This has been helped of course by my involvement in the Medical Society, Philosophy and Art clubs
Cardiff Sixth Form College Frequently Asked Questions
- What percentage of students are boarders at Cardiff Sixth Form College?
Approximately 85% of the student population consists of boarding students. - Does Cardiff Sixth Form College offer scholarships?
Yes, scholarships are awarded based on academic merit. International students take four scholarship exams in the subjects they wish to study, with awards of up to 50% off tuition fees depending on exam results. - What sort of university application support does the college provide?The careers team excels at guiding students toward top-ranked universities suited to their chosen subjects, considering essential factors like location, course content, research opportunities, teaching quality, and future employment prospects. For those aiming for Oxbridge, the team offers a dedicated programme focused on developing critical thinking, research, and analytical skills, along with extension projects tailored to meet the unique demands of these prestigious institutions.
Cardiff Sixth Form College Contact Information
- Website: https://ccoex.com
- Address: Cardiff Sixth Form College, 1-3 Trinity Court, 21-27 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 0AA
- Email: admissions@ccoex.com
- Phone: (+44) 029 2049 3121
Contact us for application assistance
Join our UK Study newsletter and get helpful articles on UK study, admission tips, courses and more delivered to your inbox.
