The Cherwell School. Sixth Form

Transcription

1 The Cherwell School A Centre of Opportunity Sixth Form Essential Information for Applicants September 2014

2 CONTACTS School Address The Cherwell School North Site Marston Ferry Road Oxford OX2 7EE Telephone Number Fax Number: School s Address office.cherwell@cherwell.oxon.sch.uk Mr James Headteacher head@cherwell.oxon.sch.uk Mr Lawfull Head of Sixth Form clawfull@cherwell.oxon.sch.uk Dr Ryan Deputy Head of Sixth Form kryan@cherwell.oxon.sch.uk Mrs Surrage Sixth Form Administrator tsurrage@cherwell.oxon.sch.uk

3 Key Dates for Applicants Thursday 9 January: The Cherwell School Sixth Form Open Evening, pm All students intending to join the Sixth Form from September 2014 should attend this evening. It is an opportunity to talk to staff about the different subjects that are on offer. A representative from Brookes University and a careers adviser will be here to provide advice relevant to careers and degree courses. Tuesday 14 January (1.30pm), Wednesday 22 January (1.30pm) Friday 31 January (9.00am): Tours of the school For students, parents and carers who would like to look around the school. Please Mrs Surrage to let her know which date you would like to attend. Monday 3 February: Deadline for applications. All Application forms for 2014 entry must be handed in by this date. Internal candidates should hand their application form to their Form Tutor. External candidates should send their form to Mrs Surrage, Sixth Form Administrator, at the address given in the contact information. The form can be submitted earlier than this date if you so wish. Please note that offers will be made according to the Admission Policy. Failure to meet the deadline may jeopardise an offer of a place in the Sixth Form. Tuesday 24 June to Thursday 26 June: The Cherwell Sixth Form Induction Course. This course is essential for students who have been offered a place in the Sixth Form. It will enable students to meet their new form group and experience lessons in the subjects they have chosen to study. Students will be introduced to the realities of changing from GCSE courses to AS Levels. All prospective sixth formers are expected to attend this course. If for any reason this is impossible, please put this in writing to Mrs Surrage. Should a student fail to attend this course, the school reserves the right to withdraw the offer of a place in the sixth form. Thursday 21 August: GCSE Results Available. The Cherwell School results are available from the school between 9.00am and 12 noon. Friday 22 August: GCSE Clinic 9.00 am until noon If a student s GCSE results are not as predicted and necessitate a change in the choice of courses, it is essential that he/she attend the clinic. Students, parents and carers will be able to discuss options with members of the School Leadership Team and the Careers Advisor in the sixth form common room. Students, ideally with parents and carers, must attend the GCSE clinic if required, and students are informed of this on results day; not doing so, may lead to the withdrawal of the offer of a place in the Sixth Form. Sixth Form Enrolment Morning: 1 September 2014 (This is a staggered enrolment and timing will be given during Sixth Form Induction) All students joining The Cherwell Sixth Form must register for their chosen courses. This will take place before the official start of term. Students will have an opportunity to discuss options with their form tutor, faculty leaders or the School Leadership Team. Unfortunately, due to time constraints these meetings will be brief and staff will not be able to meet parents or carers. Further details regarding this and the start of term will be given during the Sixth Form Induction Course.

4 Sixth Form The school aims, which can be found in the prospectus, underpin our commitment to provide opportunities for all our students to succeed and be well prepared for the future. Our curriculum is designed to equip students with a range of experiences and skills, in addition to qualifications, to allow progression to higher education, training or employment. It is important that students, parents and carers understand the structure of the qualifications and UCAS tariff in order to make the right choices. AS and A levels A levels are composed of between four and six modules, half of which are normally completed in Year 12 to make an AS level, and two of which are completed in Year 13 to complete the full A level. AS levels are worth 50% of a final A level and are worth UCAS points. They are examined in May/June of Year 12 and may contain coursework elements. At The Cherwell we certificate all AS levels, which means that students achieve an AS grade and a qualification at the end of Year 12. To then achieve a full A level, students need to complete the remaining modules (A2). These begin in the June after the AS exams in Year 12 and are examined in the May/June of Year 13; again there may be coursework elements. The examinations and coursework completed in Year 13 comprise the final 50% of the full A level and are worth UCAS points. Complementary Studies This is a programme of talks and information regarding students higher education/career choices and other matters relevant to their Year 12 experience. At Cherwell we offer a package that we believe maximises the students opportunities, choices and success. Sixth Form Programme In Year 12, students take: 4 AS levels which is 36 periods per fortnight Complementary studies (compulsory) Registration, including assembly on a Friday Opportunities to participate in mentoring, peer listening, leadership opportunities and a variety of extra-curricular activities In Year 13, students take: 3 A2 courses which is 24 periods per fortnight (some students continue with four A2 courses) Directed Study (compulsory), 4 period per fortnight Registration, including assembly on a Thursday Opportunities to participate in mentoring, peer listening, leadership opportunities and a variety range of extra-curricular activities

5 Courses offered for September 2014 Institutions The Cherwell School Oxford City Learning partnership Subjects Art & Design Geography Biology German Business Studies Government and Politics Chemistry Health and Social Care Citizenship History Computing Mathematics Dance Media Studies Design Technology: Product Design Music Drama and Theatre Studies Physical Education Economics Photography Engineering Physics English Literature Psychology French Religious Studies (Philosophy and Ethics) Further Mathematics Sociology Oxford Advanced Preparatory Music Course Spanish Students may be able to access other subjects being offered through Oxford City Learning at other institutions. This will be dependent on subject combinations and availability of places at partner institutions and will be managed on an individual basis as required. Please indicate the subject you would like to study in the space provided on the application form Please note that whilst we hope to run all these courses, the final subject offer will depend on student uptake and staffing levels

6 How to Apply Entry Requirements Students taking four AS subjects require 344 GCSE points in their highest 8 GCSEs (this equates to an average of 4Bs and 4Cs or an average of 43 points). Students must have C grades or above in both GCSE English Language and GCSE Mathematics. GCSE Grade Points Awarded A* 58 A 52 B 46 C 40 D 34 E 28 F 22 G 16 U 0 How to make subject choices Students should use the options grid which shows the subjects available in each combine, as well as the information in the subject details booklet to make their subject choices. Please consider the following when making your choices: Columns A,B,C,D and E represent timetable slots. All subjects listed in each column take place at the same time as each other. Students should choose four subjects from the five columns. To create as much choice as possible, some subjects are available in more than one column. Mathematics for Science has to be taken by students wishing to take science who are not intending to study Mathematics at A level. Students should indicate the subjects they wish to take in the Sixth Form and particular attention should be paid to the Year 12 options grid. All application information can be found in this booklet and the course details booklet. All students wishing to attend The Cherwell Sixth Form must complete and return an application form by Monday 3 February Students who are entitled to extra time in exams, have Educational Psychologist assessments, or have special educational needs should indicate this on their application form. This will not affect their application but will help us to provide for their needs should they be offered a place. All parents and carers and students should note the key dates when making an application.

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8 Year 12 Options Grid September 2014 A B C D E Biology Biology Art & Design Business Studies Art & Design Chemistry Chemistry Biology Chemistry Biology Design Technology: Business Studies Computing Chemistry Computing Product Design English Literature Drama and Theatre Studies Citizenship Drama and Theatre Studies Chemistry Further Mathematics English Literature Dance English Literature Economics THE CHERWELL SCHOOL YEAR 12 History French Economics French Engineering Mathematics Geography English Literature Further Mathematics English Literature Media Studies History History Geography German Physics Mathematics Mathematics Government & Politics Health and Social Care Music Photography Mathematics Mathematics Maths for Science (compulsory if taking a science) Physical Education Psychology Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics) Physics Spanish Physics Media Studies Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics) Sociology Sociology Physics Psychology Oxford Advanced Preparatory Music Course (see details in subject details booklet). If you would like to choose this option please indicate this on the application form together with your three choices of AS levels of which one must be A level music Oxford City Learning Students may be able to access other subjects being offered through Oxford City Learning at other institutions. This will be dependent on subject combinations and availability of places at partner institutions and this will be managed on an individual basis as required. Please indicate the subject you would like to study in the space provided on the application form.

9 Academic Achievement Examination Results Our recent public examination results exemplify our high standards as we continue to be one of the top comprehensive school Sixth Form in Oxfordshire and nationally; over the past few years our A* and A*-A grade percentages have placed us in the top 10 comprehensive schools in the country. A Level results 2013 AS Level results 2013 A*: 13% A - B 45% A*- A: 36% A - E 90% A*- B: 61% A*- E: 99% In addition: 4 students achieved 4A* 14 students achieved 3A* 42 students (over 18% of the year group) achieved 3 or more A*/A 114 (over 50% of the year group) achieved 1 A*/A 14 Oxbridge candidates took up their university place. 3 Medicine candidates took up their university place Student Destinations 2013 Generally the majority of students leaving The Cherwell Sixth Form enter higher education, although some students will defer their entry to allow for a gap year. A smaller number of students enter the workplace University Entrance Oxford Cambridge Other Russell Group Other Universities 2013 Leavers University Gap Year Employment Apprenticeship Art Foundation/College Other

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11 Both my son and daughter thoroughly enjoyed being at The Cherwell Sixth Form and have many fond memories of their time there. They came with old friends but made many new ones. They found the work stimulating and benefitted from being in a challenging environment where they were always encouraged to succeed. Both left to join the university of their choice. I am confident that my third child will be just as happy when she joins next year. (Parent)

12 Destinations Oxford Cambridge Other Russell Group Other Universities Total % 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Other Universities Other Russell Group Oxford Cambridge Art Employment Foundation/ University Gap Year Apprenticeship College Other Total University Gap Year Employment Apprenticeship Art Foundation/College 2013 Other 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%