About West Lakes Academy Sixth Form
As one of the highest performing sixth form centres in Cumbria you will be joining a sixth form where success is shown in our results. Many students go on to study at their top choice of university or move on to higher apprenticeships and successful careers. As a sixth form student you will have access to our dedicated sixth form centre and learning area. Our students benefit from state of the art resources and technology and outstanding ICT resources including Apple Macs and iPads. Our specialism in science is supported by our sponsors, The University of Lancashire) as well as two of the most important energy organisations in the UK; the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Sellafield Ltd. With their support we benefit from a £300k engineering suite and their expertise gives students valuable opportunities to engage in industry based activities, both in and out of the academy. Our second specialism in the arts is delivered in our performing and expressive arts centre.
STEP Tasks for Students Starting Year 12 in September 2026
BTEC Applied Science
BTEC Applied Science STEP Task
Lymphatic System – Checklist
Checklist for nutrients and balanced diet
Lymphatic system unlabelled diagram
BTEC Engineering
Engineering step task
BTEC Business
Business STEP Task
BTEC Sport
2024 Sport Step Task
SPORT STEP TASK
Sociology
Sociology step 2024
Biology
Biology 1 What to I need to do
Biology 2 Transition Pack and Step Tasks (1) (1)
Biology 3 Maths and Skills (1) (1)
Psychology
STEP Task Psychology 2024
Physics
Transition Pack
Chemistry
Chemsheets-AS-1226-Extras-GCSE-basics-2 (2) (1)
English Language
NEW Y12 Summer work and consolidation
Y12 Summer project Text A
Year 12 Summer Project Text B
MASTER copy 2026 English Language STEP Up to Year 12
History
2026 History Year 12 STEP task
Geography
Geography step tasks 2026
Art
Art step task 2026
Maths
P1-02 Quadratics
P1-02.3 – Functions
P1-02.4 – Quadratic Graphs
P1-02.5 – The Discriminant
P1-02.6 – Modelling with Quadratics
P1-02.1 – Solving Quadratic Equations
P1-02.2 – Completing the Square
P1-01 Algebraic Expressions
P1-01.2 – Expanding Brackets
P1-01.3 – Factorising
P1-01.4 – Complex Indices
P1-01.5 – Surds
P1-01.6 – Rationalising Denominators
P1-01.1 – Index Laws
P1-03 Equations and Inequalities
P1-03.2 – Quadratic Simultaneous Equations
P1-03.3 – Simultaneous Equations on Graphs
P1-03.4 – Linear Inequalities
P1-03.5 – Quadratic Inequalities
P1-03.6 – Inequalities on Graphs
P1-03.7 – Regions
P1-03.1 – Linear Simultaneous Equations
Apply for September 2026
Current Year 11 students can apply via Edulink before Friday 27th March 2026.
External students wishing to apply can download the application form here: Sixth Form Application Form 2026 Once completed please email your form to contactus.wla@changinglives.education
View the 2026-2027 course guide
Sixth Form Dress Code
Male – Formal business dress (Trousers, shoes, shirt, tie.)
Female – Formal business dress (skirts must be an appropriate length.)
(Please note – denim, trainers and leather do not qualify as formal business dress.)
Transport Arrangements for Post-16 Students
Transport arrangements are sourced and arranged by Cumbria County Council. Students in post-16 education no longer have an entitlement to a seat on transport provided by the County Council, but they can apply for a seat where the county has calculated that there are available seats. This is known as the spare capacity seat scheme.
The administration of this policy is reviewed on an annual basis and we will advise you should it change.
The spare capacity scheme only operates on existing school transport provision for West Lakes Academy.
Cumbria County Council asks the academy to indicate to them the spare seat requests from our post 16 students, this usually happens in mid-May.
The academy will send a letter and application form to post-16 applicants and current Year 12 students and we indicate a date when we must have the application forms back, so that we can pass our information to the council.
An application does not guarantee that a seat is available.
We do not request any payment with the application.
You can apply directly to the County Council for a free seat on low income grounds or if the student has Special Educational Needs. Please visit the County Council website for further information cumberland.gov.uk – and search for school transport.
- The academy does not have any influence over the allocation of seats.
- The academy will notify you if you have or have not been allocated a spare seat, this could be towards the end of August; we will request payment at this stage.
- On receipt of payment the pass will be sent to the address as indicated on the application form.
- We prefer full payment, but can offer a three term instalment plan if requested.
- You will need to consider sourcing alternative transport arrangements in the event that a spare seat is not available.
