ESTABLISHED 1597 SIXTH FORM KING ALFRED S ACADEMY SIXTH FORM KING ALFRED S ACADEMY

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1 ESTABLISHED 1597 SIXTH FORM KING ALFRED S ACADEMY

2 THE PROGRESS STUDENTS MAKE IS OUTSTANDING Ofsted

3 HEADTEACHER S WELCOME Welcome to King Alfred s Sixth Form Whether you are currently studying at King Alfred s or are a student at another school, making the right decision about where you should embark upon the next stage of your learning will play an important part in determining your future success. The aim of this prospectus is to provide the information you need to make the right decision for you. King Alfred s, which became an Academy in August 2011, has a well-established and exceptional Sixth Form that has been serving our community for many years. It offers a warm, friendly and inclusive environment whilst being a challenging and exciting place for young people to study and further their ambitions, whether these involve moving onto a higher level apprenticeship or studying Medicine at Cambridge. In February 2011 we were graded as Outstanding by Ofsted which placed us in the top 10% of schools nationally. Examination results continue to be excellent and regularly place us amongst the top-performing State Sixth Forms in Oxfordshire; the grades our students achieve often surpass those of many local independent establishments. King Alfred s students leave well-equipped for the future, either to pursue chosen degree courses or to enter the world of employment, with first-rate qualifications and skills to contribute successfully within society. With approximately 350 students on roll, we run a wide range of courses covering AS, A2 and BTEC qualifications and, therefore, often welcome a large number of students from other schools, including many from the independent sector. Beyond academic success however, King Alfred s Sixth Form offers an enrichment programme nationally recognised as superb and with an ethos that empowers and challenges students to do their best and seize every opportunity to expand their horizons in order to help open the doors to the UK s best universities. We run a vast range of foreign visits, and an extensive Leadership Programme. We are also able to support talented sportsmen and sportswomen with both academic and sporting commitments through our specialist KATS (King Alfred s Talented in Sport) Programme. Our continued success, however, is centred on outstanding teaching and learning and the excellent relationships that exist between students and staff. We appreciate that moving on to Sixth Form is a very important decision, so we recommend that you spend as much time as you can becoming as fully informed as possible, discussing it with your family and seeking the advice of your teachers. Whatever decisions you make about the subjects you wish to study at A Level, I wish you the very best for your future. Jo Halliday - BSc Hons, Dip M. NPQH Headteacher

4 A WELCOME FROM THE HEAD OF I am delighted that you are considering joining King Alfred s Sixth Form and can assure you of a very positive student experience as we help you make the most of your time with us and encourage you to achieve to your fullest potential. Pastoral support is a significant strength of our Sixth Form that promotes inclusive care for all our students and is tailored to the needs of every individual. At King Alfred s we have a strong commitment to developing positive attitudes in our students, ensuring that their Sixth Form experience will provide an effective bridge between school and university or employment. A full-time Student Manager acts as a key point of contact between students, staff and families, and works closely with Tutors. All Sixth Form students spend 25 minutes with their Tutor every morning, and these sessions provide support with the challenges of independent study, one-toone coaching, guidance regarding careers and university applications and the opportunity to discuss current affairs. Additionally, we have a dedicated counselling service for Sixth Form students and a team of mentors from the local community who meet regularly with students who feel they would benefit from this kind of support. One-to-one mentoring by teaching staff also takes place through our Highly Able Programme and support of Extended Projects. In short, we offer the environment and support that will help students achieve their best, enhance their development as a person and enrich their experience as a Sixth Form student. When their Sixth Form experience is over and they leave us, we take the greatest of pleasure in watching them move on to the next stage of their lives as happy, confident young adults. Tim Lawrence Head of Sixth Form

5 CURRICULUM Our Sixth Form benefits from being of a size that, while it is small enough for us to really get to know our students, it is large enough for us to offer a broad and flexible Key Stage 5 curriculum. This includes the more traditional A level subjects alongside a number of others that many school Sixth Forms are not able to offer, in addition to Level 3 BTEC courses which are becoming an increasingly popular vocational route into university courses and employment. Students have the option to study a combination of A level and BTEC courses alongside timetabled work experience to offer a relevant Study Programme specifically tailored to individual needs. We understand the importance of providing you with the right information, advice and guidance and offer interviews with expert staff to help students decide on the most suitable courses. Ultimately, these will depend on career and university aspirations as well as attainment at GCSE and the skills a student possesses. It is important that students and parents investigate different course options thoroughly and keep an open mind. We aim to be flexible and to accommodate each applicant as far as possible, and we are keen to engage with parents over decisions regarding students timetables. Please do ask for the detailed course information which our staff can provide and discuss any queries you may have with us.

6 TEACHING AND LEARNING Success in the Sixth Form depends on students taking responsibility for their own learning and developing into effective independent learners. While you will benefit from challenging and stimulating lessons in an environment that sets high targets and celebrates success, you will also be supported to make the transition to self-directed learning. In and out of lessons, we believe that Sixth Form students should be active and reflective learners and our teaching and tutoring both aim to promote this. Tutors will regularly review your progress with you and help you to set your own targets in order to improve your performance. Key to this is the ability to reflect honestly on your own strengths and areas for development and we will support you with this through our assembly and tutorial programme. We will ensure that our teaching is consistently challenging and interesting and, in turn, we expect a high level of engagement and commitment from you. A visit from the Earl and Countess of Wessex. April 2014

7 ENRICHMENT PROGRAMME All Sixth Form students are encouraged to participate in our outstanding enrichment programme offering a diverse range of activities with which to get involved. Your participation will help you get to know other students whilst you enjoy yourself and develop important life skills. There are also opportunities to contribute to the wider life of the academy, for example through working as a Peer Mentor for Year 7 students, or maths tutoring in local primary schools. Opportunities such as these help with providing valuable content for university applications or your CV. King Alfred s Sixth Form runs a well-established Duke of Edinburgh Scheme and there is also support for students wishing to work towards an EPQ (Extended Project Qualification). With plenty of opportunities to participate in Music and Drama Productions and Sport at all levels, the variety of enrichment opportunities on offer cannot be over-stated.

8 SCHEME FOR HIGHLY ABLE STUDENTS The Highly Able Programme exists alongside the extensive enrichment programme offered to all students at King Alfred s to provide additional support for our most academically able students in recognition of their specific needs. We aim to offer a breadth of cultural experience and knowledge, equipping students with the ability to challenge perceptions of themselves and the world they live in, and imbuing them with the knowledge, confidence and ambition to make the most of the opportunities open to them, both locally and further afield. Sixth Form students on this programme are allocated a staff member or external volunteer mentor with closely matched subject or career interests and they then mentor Year 7 students in turn. Students are also encouraged to attend lectures and participate in extension visits whilst keeping a reflective journal. SUPPORT WITH CAREERS AND UNIVERSITY APPLICATIONS We are conscious of the needs of all our students in terms of timely advice and guidance regarding their futures. We liaise closely with local universities and employers, assist Sixth Form students in their search for work experience and offer Study Programmes involving regular work experience where appropriate. Students receive structured support with the writing of CVs, letters of application and UCAS Personal Statements. Students likely to be interviewed by universities receive support in preparing for these, and our reference writing system ensures that all relevant staff have input into a reference which is edited by an expert referee. Outcomes for our students in terms of university and job applications (including applications to Oxbridge, Russell Group universities and for Medicine and Veterinary Science) are excellent as a result.

9 OUR EXPECTATIONS Good attendance, along with prompt arrival at lessons, are vital to your future success and will be monitored. You will have made a positive choice to continue your studies into Sixth Form and studying at this level requires focus, organisation and higher study skills. We support students with the transition to independent learning by expecting Year 12 students to spend study periods in school so we can monitor and support their work. Students who meet their targets for academic progress are granted more freedom in their use of study periods. With the greater freedom and independence that Sixth Form study brings, comes higher expectations regarding responsibility and maturity. Whilst the teacher/student relationship may be more relaxed we all respect each other s Rights and Responsibilities and we expect students to conduct themselves sensibly and courteously.

10 OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS King Alfred s values its important relationship with parents and carers. We undertake to keep parents fully briefed about your curriculum and progress. Parent Consultation Evenings provide opportunities for 3-way discussions between parents, student and teachers and we issue a brief report termly to keep parents informed as to your current attainment levels and target grades. In addition to this, we hold Year 12 Information Evenings and UCAS Information Evenings early on in the academic year. The aim is to keep parents and carers as fully informed as possible in order that they can provide informed support during your Sixth Form journey.

11 ESTABLISHED 1597 WHEN THEIR EXPERIENCE IS OVER AND THEY LEAVE US, WE TAKE THE GREATEST OF PLEASURE IN WATCHING THEM MOVE ON TO THE NEXT STAGE OF THEIR LIVES AS HAPPY, CONFIDENT YOUNG ADULTS. Tim Lawrence Head of Sixth Form SIXTH FORM KING ALFRED S ACADEMY Portway Wantage OX12 9BY Telephone: enquiries@kaacademy.org Web: