Thanks Iona - I'll have a look at their website.  I've a few years yet (well, four to be precise) before I'll be looking at courses, so I think carrying on with the ABRSM theory exams is a good idea in the meantime (hmm, not sure how far I'll get with the practical in four years, but you never know..... )

The ABRSM theory books are very good prep. material for these courses. Practically everyone I met said that having applied they then went out and bought an armful of the books and worked their way through them. Having said that, once on the course, the learning curve in musicianship was pretty steep. There's also a strong emphasis on aural, but they do run an aural 'support class' which is free once you've enroled and which I found to be excellent. It's all modular. so although you're supposed to take each level over a given period of time, you can in fact take longer and just do one module for example. Whatever fits in with your life really.
As for your instrument, standard does seem to vary. A lot on the Certificate course were grade 8. Some were working for their Dip. However, I would say grade 6 ish would probably be O.K. at that level. It really only becomes an issue when (if) you want to transfer to the degree course.

Good Luck with everything
iona

Hi Clarissa,

I know that things have changed a little since I did the course, but not very much. I think they've introduced a couple of new modules and dropped others, and reduced the number of hours attendance required that sort of thing.
Each module is allocated a number of points. Some are 30, others 20, others 15  and you need to take modules to the value of 120 points. (For the Cert. that is, I'm not sure about the other levels). I think the points system relates to the number of hours attendance and the amount of work that is required. You're right,- it isn't evident from the website, but the prospectus will lay it all out for you. For the Cert. I did 6 modules over two years. i.e. 3 a year made up of  the 2 compulsory ones plus four choices. There's less to do on the Pre Foundation and Foundation levels.
Unfortunately transferring onto the degree course means attending day time lectures, but compulsory College contact time isn't all that much. If you need to, you can get away with just attending  2 or 3  lectures a week (about 2 hours per lecture, plus the odd tutorial).
My advice , if you're not sure about  enroling on an accredited course, is just to do one class, one evening, for interest. (Voice or piano or something). That way you get used to the College lay-out and the people, and you're not under any pressure to achieve anything. I heard of one chap who'd been going for 30 years (!!) to do the same singing class.
Hope that helps. Feel free to ask more questions.
all the best
iona

PS By the way...I had hold of the prospectus for about 2 years before finally plucking up the courage to 'go for it' !

Clarissa, not sure where you are in the South East, but I believe Watford School of Music (run by county) offer A level music to adults. Although it sounds like maybe you won't need the A level anyway.