PROFILE OF SIXTH FORM
Bishop Stopford School Sixth Form is a lively community of nearly 400 students offering 28 subjects and almost all combination are possible. Most Students enrol on 4 AS courses in the Lower Sixth provided they have sufficient GCSE grades. These are negotiated at the start of Year 12. We offer the opportunity in the Sixth Form to retake English, Maths and Science GCSE in combination with AS courses.
The needs of high achievers are met not least 4>by taking up to 5 subject-specific AS courses in Year 12 which are likely to reduce down to 3 or 4 in Year 13. Opportunity to take the Advanced Extension paper is also provided.
A separate Sixth Form Centre exists with its own social area and specialist staff. Standards in the 28 A’ levels have been impressive over the last few years. A special project involving Sixth Form collaboration with Uppingham School has been a particular feature in recent times. There are approximately 150 students going to university every year including Oxford and Cambridge.
The annual ski trip and visit to Poland, Hawaii & San Francisco together with other residential experiences, give a particular bonus to being in the Sixth Form. A Head Boy and Girl are elected every Spring. They chair School Council meetings and perform a number of other leadership duties.
We are always pleased to receive applications from students at other schools who wish to join our Sixth Form. At least 10% of Year 12 is generally made up of such students who bring welcome ‘new blood’ and have generally shown great benefit from the ‘fresh start’. A separate brochure, a special Parents’ Evening and an off-site induction course all help to pave the way from Year 11 to Year 12.
ADMISSION TO THE SIXTH FORM
Admission to the Sixth Form is automatically offered to Year 11 students unless there are strong indications that this would be an unsuitable path of progression.
The school will take into account the following factors when deciding whether to offer you a place in the Sixth Form:
| (a) | You must have the prospect of suitable qualifications to benefit from the course of your choice. |
| (b) | the School must be able to provide you with a suitable course of study. |
| (c) | There is sufficient evidence to show that you will comply with the regulations of the Sixth Form. |
| (d) | What your points score is over your best 8 GCSE’s. |
Bishop Stopford School is a Voluntary Aided (Church of England) School and you need to be in sympathy with the Christian principles expressed in the School’s life. If you are seeking admission to the Sixth Form, you need to complete an application form and the Induction Registration Document .
Students in the Sixth Form are required to sign a contract and to agree to wear the Uniform as prescribed. Applications should be handed to Mrs Linnell in the Sixth form office by 1st February 2008.. It is suggested that parents of students not at Bishop Stopford School should telephone Mr King for an appointment to visit the School in advance of submitting an application, unless an interview has already taken place.
STAGE ONE
The parents’ and students’ information evening on Wednesday 5th December at 7 p.m. together with this booklet will begin the process.
STAGE TWO
Talks with subject teachers and Connexions Personal Adviser Officer, Work Experience, revision and GCSE exams will take you through to June but please keep in touch with Sixth Form staff.
STAGE THREE
GCSE exams are followed by the short Resident Induction Course. Mentor groups will be formed, subjects will be introduced and the working of the Sixth Form will be explained. Individual interviews will take place. Timetables and the final version of options will be issued. Enhancement courses will be outlined. This is a residential course with Sixth Form Tutors and Mentors in and out of School setting. In a relaxed atmosphere we want to get to know you as a person, there will be individual interviews and group activities on Sixth Form skills and learning techniques.
STAGE FOUR
On GCSE Results Day you will have the final information required to decide on your future. If you need further help the Sixth Form Staff will be on hand to help. Results are only posted if a SAE is handed to Mrs Smith in July.
STAGE FIVE
In September there will be final confirmation of courses and you will get under way with your studies.
Registration early in September.
Meeting with Mentors to discuss options
Timetable begins on the first day of the Autumn term.
SIXTH FORM CONTRACT
You enter the Sixth Form by your own choice. In order to help you achieve your potential, we shall operate under the following framework:
The Staff undertake to:
| (a) | Provide the teaching and other tuition required to enable you to complete your course. |
| (b) | Ensure that you make progress and that the progress is reported. |
| (c) | Provide help and guidance throughout your time in the Sixth Form. |
| (d) | Provide references for admissions tutors in higher education and for employers. |
| (e) | Allow you to remain in courses you have begun as long as you are working to the best of your ability. |
| (f) | Enter you for examinations so long as you have reached satisfactory levels of attendance and effort in your courses. |
The Student undertakes to:
| (a) | Abide by the Uniform regulations as laid down by the Governors. |
| (b) | Attend Sixth Form assemblies, seminars and lectures. |
| (c) | Be present in all lessons and to complete all tasks within your ability and by the set dates unless otherwise negotiated. |
| (d) | Use the learning opportunities provided in all organised activities and private study sessions. |
| (e) | Uphold the good name of Bishop Stopford School. |
There is a sanctions procedure followed where students fail to meet the above conditions:
Discipline Procedure
| 1) | The Sixth Form Team will try to resolve the code of conduct issue by speaking to the student and providing support to the student to overcome the difficulty. |
| 2) | If this is not successful and the code of conduct is broken again, the student will receive a verbal warning from the Sixth Form Team. A letter will be sent to parents explaining this. |
| 3) | If this is not successful then the Head of School and Sixth Form Team will speak to the student and issue a formal written warning. A copy will be sent to parents explaining this. A student may be given a revised contract for a short period of time. |
| 4) | In the very unusual circumstance of this being unsuccessful the Head of School will issue a final written warning following discussion with the Headteacher, student and parents. A revised Contract will be issued to the student clearly stating what the student must do. |
| 5) | If there is no improvement when the student is on the revised contract, or the contract is broken, the student will be excluded by the Headteacher for a fixed term from school. |
| 6) | Several fixed term exclusions will lead to permanent exclusion. |
SIXTH FORM COURSES
Choices There are 28 A levels and 3 GCSEs available for study in the Sixth Form.
There are a variety of A level courses available from the pure to the applied, from the theoretical to the practical, from the academic to the vocational. Recent changes to the A’ level curriculum are designed to provide a uniform structure of 3 AS units per subject in Year 12 and 3 further units per subject (known as A2) in Year 13. The new curriculum is also aiming to deliver equality of status between traditional (GCE) and vocational A levels (AVCE).
All students need to think carefully about your choice of four or five AS subjects for Year 12. The consequences of this choice will be far reaching in terms of fulfilment over the next two years, access to university degrees and your long-term career aspirations.
Students are advised to guard against choosing subjects for the wrong reasons eg.
| Because your friend(s) are doing it. |
| Because it sounds easy or ‘cool’. |
| Because you currently feel ‘safe’ in the subject. |
| Because it is simply a different or ‘new’ subject. |
Students are therefore encouraged to
| Seek information from a variety of sources (Sixth Form Brochure, careers/university literature, teachers and tutors). |
| Gain advice from a variety of sources (family, friends, Connexions Advisor, employers, teachers and tutors. |
| Take time at what is a significant moment for determining your life-chances. |
Students are urged to consider the following points:
| Your interest in the topics outlined for each subject listed in this brochure. You need to look beyond the surface or image of a subject and think about what and how you enjoy learning. |
| Your options beyond A ’Level and the way you can unwittingly ‘close doors’ if you take a narrow view. For instance the lifelong value of ‘A’ Levels in Maths and Sciences is well established; the scarcity value of ‘A’ Level qualification in modern languages is considerable. |
| Your ability or likely achievement in the various courses on offer. Some have rapid-fire assignments, some expect three month research for coursework, some rely on extensive reading/essay writing, some involve assessment of practical skills and some focus on the so called ‘real world’. |
Curriculum
Each ‘A’ level subject will be studied for nine hours per fortnight and due emphasis is placed on the importance of private study and homework.
Students are encouraged to choose at least one contrasting subject in Year 12.
We intend to offer five option blocks and some students in Year 12 will choose one from each block (5 subjects) but the majority choose from four of the blocks (4 subjects).
Students generally choose to drop from five to four subjects or from four to three subjects as you move to Year 13 and pursue interests in greater depth (i.e. A2 units). Alternatively but unusually, you my choose a different set of AS courses for Year 13.
It is only when students have gained pass grade in 3 AS units and 3 A2 units in the same subject that you may qualify for an A’ level certificate.
All students will be allocated to a personal mentor who will guide and advise them throughout their time in the Sixth Form.
RESIDENTIAL INDUCTION COURSE
Final dates to be announced. As the Sixth Form has grown the process of making all students full aware of opportunities and structures has become more important. Since 1996 we have asked all incoming Sixth Form students to join a one night, two day residential induction out of school in an informal setting.
We base ourselves in a Conference Centre in Northampton and divide into groups A (Monday to Tuesday and B (Tuesday to Wednesday). During this period we can informally work in a concentrated period and give the information you need to make a successful start in the Sixth Form in September. The course is subsidised and we ask students to pay £50.00 towards the cost. This covers full board accommodation in twin/triple en suite rooms and all other costs, (insurance, transport, materials and visitors). In spite of the cost element, we are convinced of the enormous importance and value of this course. We do not want anyone to be excluded on cost grounds and parents are asked to contact Mr King in confidence if there are likely to be difficulties.
Each year we take detailed advice from the last cohort who took part in the Induction Course. In this way we hope to make the exercise as valuable and relevant as possible. We will be incorporating some of the students themselves into your induction.
During the Induction Course you will meet the staff with whom you will be working closely during the coming two years. It is the basis of success that you know us and have confidence in us. You will have an interview with a Mentor and you will be able to find out about all A’ levels/AVCE and other courses on offer (You do not finally choose your courses until September after your results). You will be shown something of the skills which you need to develop in the Sixth Form. We shall also introduce the next stage of the process since many of you will be working towards University entrance.
Your Sixth Form time should be fun, successful but it is also short – not more than 60 school weeks separate GCSE exams to leaving home for University! What we are aiming to do is to give you as good a start and as successful time as we can. For this reason we feel that the Residential Induction Course is essential for everyone.
Both courses begin at 9 a.m. from School and both end at School at about 3 p.m. We need an even balance in both groups, we want you to be there with your friends but we want you also to make new friends. For this reason please indicate any friends you wish to be with but if you can, allow us to choose A or B for you! Only specify A or B where there are important reasons to do so. If there are any problems, please feel free to see staff in the Sixth Form Centre.
GUIDANCE AND ENRICHMENT
University Open Days
Visits to University Open Days are usually organised in the Spring Term. Kudos computer programme which identifies your views on the world of work. An immediate printout is available listing suitable jobs and the qualifications required. KUDOS is ideal if you have not yet made a career choice. KUDOS is available in School and at the Connexions Adviser. It often plays a vital role in Years 12/13 for those of you not planning to go into further/higher education.
Careers Conventions
During the year Careers Conventions take place in Northampton and Kettering. There is information on most Universities along with specific details including qualifications, opportunities etc. Booklets and prospectuses are for reference only. All students are shown how to use these resources in the Sixth Form Centre or Library at the beginning of Year 12.
Interviews
These can be arranged with the Connexions Personal Advisors at any point in the year and may be held at School or the Careers Office.
Work Shadowing/Experience
This is an ideal opportunity for those of you who are interested in several careers but have yet to make up your mind. You can spend a day or more shadowing somebody to gain an insight into what the job involves. We aim that all Year 12 students should have further work experience.
European Dimension
We try to give you an outlook on Europe during your time in the Sixth Form. Annual visits are arranged usually to one or more of the following : Krakow, Barcelona, Prague or Paris.
Community Sports Leader Award
Students have the opportunity to gain this highly regarded award. The course is administered by the British Sports Trust and aims to develop candidates organisation, leadership and communication skills in the delivery of sporting activities.
The course complements AS/A2 Physical Education, but is open to anyone who has a keen interest in sports coaching, or management.
The award is held in high regard by universities, industry and business. It is mostly practical and involves links with the community, particularly with local Junior Schools.
SIXTH FORM EXAMINATIONS
At 17+ Three modules are taken in each subject (including AVCE). These are certificated, and successful candidates are awarded a pass at Grade A (top) to E. Modules are validated separately and each may be retaken once in order to gain a higher module grade. This is an Advanced Subsidiary (AS) or AVCE 3 Units Award.
At 18+ Three further modules are taken in each subject and the candidate must already have been successful at the 3 AS/AVCE modules (or be retaking currently and be successful). A certificate is issued for each module and together with the 3 AS modules a full A’ level (= A2 Single Award.) certificate will be issued at Grade A – E. Each module will have a UCAS value of 20 points if passed at the highest grade.
“AE” (Advanced Extension exams) which allow higher level study are offered in a number of subjects.
THE CURRICULUM
We shall offer five option blocks and students will choose one from each block (5 subjects) or one from four of the blocks (4 subjects). Many subjects will appear in more than one block and most combinations of subjects will be possible. In the few cases where clashes do occur students will be advised to choose the three subjects which they hope to take to A2 as their priority, the AS subjects are then added. Students are encouraged to choose a contrasting subject. In addition to the Option Blocks we shall provide the enhancement courses, PE, Careers, tuition in Key Skills etc.
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