Academic Development

The Sixth Form curriculum is designed to enable all students to make the transition from school to university or employment successfully. A quality curriculum is provided which reflects the students’ needs and equips them with the skills and knowledge required for the future.

Choices

The school offers a wide range of courses. The majority of students study four subjects in Year 12 and most will continue with three into Year 13. It is expected that all our leavers will secure a place at university if this is their chosen path.

Monitoring Progress

In the Sixth Form we invest in the ALIS+ value added scheme which provides us with invaluable data on student performance. The data is used to establish appropriate expectations of students’ performance and to set realistic yet challenging targets. In accordance with our school assessment policy, students’ achievement, attainment and effort are monitored closely. In recognition of the importance of the partnership between home and school, short assessments are completed by each subject teacher every four weeks. These are shared with parents and where necessary the information is discussed more fully with the subject teacher, the personal tutor and the Head of Sixth Form. Appropriate support and monitoring are put in place for any student experiencing difficulties. In addition to the short assessments, there are two Parents’ Evenings and two full reports each year.

Pastoral Care

In the Sixth Form, all students are assigned to a registration group with a form base tutor. In addition, every student maintains contact with the personal tutor assigned to them in the lower school and meets with this member of staff once a week. The personal tutor is a learning mentor responsible for the welfare and wellbeing of the tutee. Students are encouraged to share with their tutor their successes as well as any concerns they have. The personal tutor provides guidance and support, encourages personal development and monitors progress. The personal tutor helps the student to set realistic yet challenging academic and personal targets, develop their talents and skills, and encourages full participation in the school community through the acceptance of responsibilities and the involvement in school events. The personal tutor is the first point of contact between home and school and can be contacted via school email.

Teaching Groups

In the Sixth Form teaching groups are small. This ensures that all students receive a high level of individual attention from the teacher, and promotes effective teaching and personalised learning. Students feel secure and confident within a small group and develop the confidence to participate in discussions, articulate their opinions and develop thinking skills.