Curriculum
Lower Sixth Options
In the Lower Sixth students normally choose four subjects, all AS Levels or a mixture of AS Levels, BTEC and Applied Awards. At the end of the year, following assessment at AS Level these can be reduced to three subjects, which by the end of the Upper Sixth; will lead to full A Level or Applied Awards. These choices are made during Year 11 or during the admissions process for students entering our Sixth Form from other schools. Every potential member of the sixth form receives a copy of the Sixth Form Options booklet.
It is important, however, that every student is suitably challenged with some students taking up to five full A Level or Applied Awards. Others may take a total of 2 A Levels over two years and three one year AS Level courses. One size does not fit all and there is an appropriate combination of courses for every individual.
Sixth Form Options 2010-2011 (1821kb)
Enrichment Opportunities
Alongside the academic curriculum, we offer enrichment opportunities which will challenge Sixth Formers to develop aspects of their character that are not catered for within standard academic education. Opportunities include:
•Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award
•Overseas expeditions
•Teaching Assistant in the Junior School
•Talent Shows & Drama Productions
•Debating competitions
•University Lecture Programme
•Politics Conferences
•Community Sports Leader Awards
•Football Coaching Course
•Basic Food Hygiene Certificate
•External Speakers
Tracking Student Progress
In the Sixth Form, a great deal of emphasis is placed upon independent study and the Learning Resource Centre plays an important role in this. This helps students prepare for Higher Education and beyond when support structures are removed and unsupervised research becomes more important.
At the start of the Lower Sixth year all students are given a target grade formulated through a nationally recognised process called ALIS. This is an accurate way of predicting what a student could be expected to achieve given their previous performance and general educational awareness.
Student effort, attendance and performance are tracked daily through information slips passed between teacher and tutor and are formally assessed every three weeks. The key focus is on getting the student into a suitable working pattern that facilitates their progress and enhances their ability to manage their workload and interests. Communication between teachers and parents and vice-versa is welcomed at every stage, either informally or by way of meetings and reports.
