One year A level retakes at Rochester Independent College

Fast track A level resits

Intensive A level resit courses

If you are thinking about where to retake your A-levels, RIC can support you on your journey. Many students arrive at RIC each year having missed their offers and leave with three top grades and a first choice university place- even for subjects like Medicine, Maths or Law- after an intensive one year A level retake course. Equally important is the self-confidence gained from these successful academic improvements. If you have missed your A level offer grades and are not happy with the thought of applying through Clearing there are positive options for students needing to resit their A levels. We have been offering intensive A level resit courses since 1984 and on average students improve by two grades in a year, taking Bs to A*s and Cs to As.

Resitting A levels at RIC is not like going back to school. As a non-traditional independent school, there’s no uniform, no petty rules, and teachers and students are on first name terms. It’s a stepping-stone between school and university. Retaking can be a journey filled with detours, roadblocks, and unexpected turns but RIC is here to help students along the way.

"Many students transfer here after poor progress at A level and the effect can be dramatic. It’s a sound investment- among the retakers all got into university and three-quarters won Russell Group places."

Good Schools Guide

How to resit your A Levels in a year

Right results, brighter futures

RIC offers a range of one year A level courses that can be successfully combined with A level resits. The one thing to remember is that retaking A levels does not necessarily diminish your chances of attending a top university and, through the years, RIC has enabled retake students to actually improve their future academic prospects as students leave us to start degree programmes they initially thought beyond their reach before joining us.

But perhaps what sets RIC's retake program apart is the sense of camaraderie and community. It's a place where many are on the same journey, even if they are heading in different directions. Lois, RIC Alumnus said: "As a retake student, RIC really helped me change the mistakes I'd previously made when applying to university. I found a new passion for film at RIC that I wanted to explore further at university along with English literature."

What’s it like to learn in a sixth form boarding college?

Classes are small at RIC, average eight, meaning students have individual attention. Exam practice is frequent. It can be both reassuring and stimulating to join A Level classes with those in the same position who have also moved schools.

Just as you reach the end of two years of study, retaking those same qualifications all over again may feel like the last thing on earth you would want to do. However, many students leave at the end of the year saying that A Level retakes were the best choice they made in education. With expert guidance, another year in the Sixth Form is likely to open up far more possibilities both for university and beyond. For many, it is also the best year of their academic life.

Can I combine resits with new intensive one-year courses?

When looking to retake A Levels, it is important to seek out expert advice and guidance. It is important to consider what didn’t work first time around and to have the right support in place to ensure things are different during your resit year. You will likely want to consider your subject choices. Often students take on subjects they are not well suited for and which are not required for their uni course. This can be an opportunity to realign your subjects towards your interests at the same time as strengthening your chances of achieving As and A*s and making your application more attractive to universities. And yes, it is entirely achievable to sit a new A Level in one year and achieve top grades - at RIC it happens every year.

If things are not going as planned, call or email us at Rochester Independent College for an informal conversation about options.

A level resits for changing directions

Sometimes A level retakers change direction while on their course. Maia from Colfe’s School originally joined RIC as a boarder to retake A levels for Medicine but swiftly decided to switch, opting for one-year courses in Fine Art and English Literature alongside resitting Chemistry and winning a place at UCL’s Slade School of Fine Art.

Art work from a RIC student on a one year A level resit programme

Retake FAQs

RIC has taught A level retake courses for over 40 years.

Our small tutorial-style classes (average 8 students in a group) ensure a high level of personal attention.

Our expert teachers have years of experience teaching intensive retake courses

Our retake courses focus on exam technique, subject mastery, and independent learning

Our futures team offer full UCAS application and interview support tailored to the individual. They have years of experience advising retake students on their UCAS applications.

Our very small, tutorial style classes (average 8 students) ensure that each student is treated as an individual. In addition to the highly experienced subjects teachers, academic progress and personal welfare are also closely monitored by Directors of Studies. All students have fortnightly individually timetabled meetings with their allocated DoS to discuss progress.

Yes, one year A level retake courses allow students to be comprehensively retaught. Exam practice is regular and students are kept on target. Individualised help is plentiful. Our engaging tutors help students towards their academic destinations with precision and flair.

Yes, weekly tests under exam conditions take place in the school hall which are marked and detailed feedback is given. This helps build student confidence and 'normalises' exam taking.

Some students on A level resit courses have missed periods of school in the past due to illness. Some have struggled with exam technique, organisation or knowing how to study and revise independently. Others have not flourished in previous schools or simply not worked hard enough before! All benefit from our supportive Directors of Studies and university application expertise.

Yes, the small, tutorial style classes (average 8 students) ensure that there's no 'back of the class'. Each student is treated as an individual. Academic progress and personal welfare is closely monitored by Directors of Studies. All students have fortnightly individually timetabled meetings with their tutor to discuss progress.

In order to make an A level retake course as stimulating and productive as possible it is usual for students to add at least one new subject studied intensively to full A level. This keeps things fresh and sometimes after a 2 year A level course students realise that one or two of their original A level subject choices may not have been right for them in the first place.

We see retakes as a new chapter and many students find that retakes are a turning point, offering a second chance to reach goals like going to medical school or to a top-tier university.

Yes, we are able to offer places in our on campus halls of residence to students on A level resit courses. We group such older, university aged students together in boarding. The atmosphere is closer to a university halls of residence than a traditional boarding school but with more structure and support.

Yes but this can be subject specific. Every year our retake students secure offers from highly competitive courses such as Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science and Law and our highly experienced Directors of Studies have highly specialied knowledge in this area.

What often gives Rochester Independent College’s A level retake students the competitive edge when reapplying for university is if they add one or more new A level subjects to their resits - these prepare them for their chosen course of study and really demonstrate their academic potential as the full course is taken in only one year.

One year A level retake success stories

Year 13 at former schools was unlucky for some but many students turned things around by opting for an extra year of sixth form in RIC’s year 14, taking a mixture of one year A level and retake courses. Freddy from The Judd School, Tonbridge improved his grades from BBC to A*A*A and now has a place at Bristol University for Aerospace Engineering. He’ll be joined there by another Freddy from King’s Canterbury who improved his A levels from CDE to A*A*A and will study Engineering Mathematics.

Erin switched from Holcombe Grammar with DEE to retake and upgraded these results to A*A*A*A and will read Anthropology at UCL. Erin said that ‘It was the best decision I made to come to RIC during my A level. The teachers gave me back both the confidence and the grades I needed. I do not know any other school that cares like RIC does.’

It is always a shock not to receive the grades you wanted, but it need not be the end of high aspirations. Joel achieved grades ABB at The Judd School but this was not enough for the course he was aiming at. Joel retook two subjects and added English Literature, winning a place at Exeter University. He says: "I really enjoyed English and was so pleased with my A* result, especially since it was my only B at GCSE. Social and political protest writing linked well with Politics and Economics. RIC has been a stepping stone between school and university. Weekly boarding meant that I could get my creature comforts at home yet have a social life at college, living with people the same age as me. Taking control of my own education ensured I had the motivation to succeed."

Resitting A Levels in 2027

RIC has limited places each year for intensive A level retake courses running September to June so please contact us swiftly once you have your results to discuss resit options.

A level students who opt for a retake year are able to reflect carefully on their chosen academic direction. Were you doing the right subjects first time around? You can combine resits with new subjects. Why do you need to retake and how are you going to approach things differently second time around?

Students retaking their A levels have secured places at a range of Russell Group universities including Medicine at Sheffield and Newcastle, and Art History at Exeter and UCL.

At Rochester Independent College, we’ve helped students turn a difficult results day into a launchpad for success. Our A level retakes are designed not just to improve grades, but to rebuild confidence, strengthen study skills, and open doors to courses you thought were out of reach.

Key features of resit courses:

• Small tutorial-style classes (6–8 students) for personal attention

• Expert tutors with years of experience in intensive retake courses

• Focus on exam technique, subject mastery, and independent learning

• Full UCAS application and interview support