ADMISSIONS POLICY
Intrductin Ashtn Sixth Frm Cllege currently has a student ppulatin f arund 2000 full time 16-18 students per year and als ffers a range f part time curses fr adult students (19+). A cre value f the Cllege is t always act in the best interest f the students a principle which underpins all ur Infrmatin, Advice and Guidance (IAG) and guides ur apprach t admissins. The purpse f this plicy is t ensure transparency, fairness and cnsistency in relatin t ur admissins prcedures and t prvide clarity fr ur stakehlders. Full time (16-18) students Our full time students are typically 16-18 year ld schl leavers wh must be under 19 years n 1 September f the year in which they first enrl. Students wh are yunger r lder than this are nly admitted as full time students in exceptinal circumstances. Full time students have access t a wide range f curses at Level 2 and Level 3 dependent upn their prir qualificatins and aptitude, interest and career plans. Part time (19+) students The Cllege als caters fr arund 1000 part-time adult students per year n curses frm Level 1 t Higher Educatin. Part-time curses fr adults are run n site frm late afternn r in the evenings r at cmmunity venues and ut at emplyer premises during the day. Fr admissins t Adult curses, please refer t ur Admissins Plicy Adults Educatin (19+). Our cmmitment The Admissins department is cmmitted t prviding a high quality service t all prspective students which includes: Prviding accurate and apprpriate advice and guidance abut ur prvisin and services thrugh the prspectus, curse leaflets, pen evenings, taster days and High Schl liaisn events. Prviding clear details abut entry criteria and applicatin prcedures fr admissin. Prviding an initial guidance interview and at least ne further pprtunity t visit the Cllege prir t enrlment. Ensuring all students are enrlled n apprpriate curses in light f their examinatin results and career plans and prviding impartial guidance where the student s first chice f curse may nt be apprpriate.
Admissins prcedures 1. Applicatins frm Year 11 students Thse wh are in Year 11 studying at a Tameside schl r schl utside f area can apply t the Cllege using an nline applicatin frm August nwards. Thse wh apply by the applicatin deadline are guaranteed an interview at the Cllege. Subject t verall capacity, the Cllege is likely t ffer places t all students wh make an applicatin by the deadline, attend and have a satisfactry interview and are n track t qualify fr the curse they intend t study. Back up curses are given fr all students ffered a place. Offers are made within tw weeks f the interview and are subject t GCSE Results. Any ffers made guarantee the student a place at the Cllege althugh the exact prgramme f study cannt be cnfirmed until enrlment nce GCSE results are knwn. The Cllege des nt ffer prvisin belw Level 2, s where a student has nt achieved the entry criteria fr a Level 2 prgramme, the Cllege wuld nt be able t hnur the ffer f a place. Apprpriate guidance wuld be given in this situatin. 2. Late applicatins Year 11 pupils studying at a Tameside schl r schl utside f area wh apply after the applicatin deadline will be placed n a waiting list. Late applicatins must be accmpanied by a cvering letter which states the reasn why the applicatin is late. Applicatins n the waiting list will nly be cnsidered if places becme available. If a place becmes available applicatins frm feeder Secndary Schls will be priritised fllwed by applicatins frm pupils in Year 11 frm schls ut f the area. 3. Applicatins frm students nt currently in Year 11 We ccasinally receive requests frm students wh already study at anther Sixth Frm Cllege/FE Cllege and wish t jin Ashtn Sixth Frm Cllege. These students fall in t 3 categries: i. Thse currently cmpleting an A1 year elsewhere wh wish t transfer t Ashtn Sixth Frm Cllege fr their A2 year at Ashtn Sixth Frm Cllege This arrangement will nly be allwed in exceptinal circumstances, but where such requests are made, the student must fill in an applicatin frm with a cvering letter. An ffer f a place will be subject t the nrmal admissins criteria fr Ashtn Sixth Frm Cllege and n receipt f a supprtive academic and pastral reference frm the ther institutin. Students shuld prvide the Cllege with details f the examinatin specificatins currently being taken, s that the Cllege can cnfirm that a transfer f examinatin bard (where applicable) is acceptable. ii. Thse studying at anther cllege wh wish t restart an A1 year at Ashtn Sixth Frm Cllege Applicatins frm students wh culd cntinue at their current institutin will nt nrmally be cnsidered. The Cllege will als nt nrmally be in a psitin t ffer places t students wh have left their current institutin befre cmpleting their curse f study and then reapply t Ashtn Sixth Frm Cllege. This arrangement will nly be allwed in exceptinal circumstances, where a satisfactry reference is received frm the ther institutin and gd
reasn is given fr a restart. Where such requests are made, the student must fill in an applicatin frm with a cvering letter and satisfy the fllwing criteria: Entry requirements met fr the curse applied fr A gd recrd f wrkrate and meeting f deadlines At least 90% attendance t all lessns, supprt sessins and tutrials. A gd recrd f behaviur, effrt and attitude. iii. Thse wishing t return t educatin after a shrt time away frm study Applicatins frm students in this categry will be cnsidered n an individual basis. Any ffer wuld be based upn a student s ability t succeed n their chsen prgramme and will depend upn individual circumstances, a supprtive reference and availability f places. Students wh wuld turn 19 years befre the start f the curse, shuld read ur Adult Educatin (19+) Admissins Plicy (fees sectin). iv. Students wh have been in the cuntry less than 3 years The Cllege strictly adheres t guidance frm the UKBA and the YPLA Funding dcumentatin. Applicatins will be cnsidered frm students currently residing in the UK but wh have been in the cuntry fr less than 3 years. The nrmal applicatin prcedure shuld be fllwed and the applicatin deadline met. Where a student s passprt is frm utside f the EU: A cpy f all dcumentatin must be made available t the Cllege including passprt, visa details, parents visa and passprt details (if student is a dependent) and examinatin certificates (where required). The visa shuld cver the full duratin f the curse. If the visa expires prir t the cmpletin f the curse then admissin will nt nrmally be cnsidered. If examinatins have been taken in anther cuntry then riginal certificates must be prvided and must meet the equivalency guidelines. Where the student des nt meet the criteria set ut by the YPLA funding eligibility guidance and the UKBA then fees will be charged fr tuitin/examinatin csts. Where a student has a valid EU passprt: A cpy f the passprt must be made available fr the Cllege t keep n file alngside any ther supprting dcumentatin. Original cpies f examinatin certificates must be prvided if taken in anther EU cuntry. The qualificatins must meet equivalency guidelines. Applicatins frm students frm verseas will nt nrmally be cnsidered unless the student is mving t Tameside prir t the start f the curse and has a visa which is valid fr the duratin f the curse. Students frm verseas may have t pay curse and tuitin/exam fees (see fee plicy). v. Prgressin frm Level 2 t Level 3 Ashtn Sixth Frm Cllege students fllwing a Level 2 prgramme, will be able t prgress t Level 3 if they meet the fllwing criteria: An applicatin frm has been submitted by the deadline t the Admissins department
The new curse is agreed by the student s Senir Tutr and Pastral Manager/Assistant Principal in cnsultatin with members f Quality Grup and Heads f Department. Pastral recrds indicate that the student meets cllege standards in terms f attendance, punctuality and behaviurs and that the student will be able t cpe with the demands f a Level 3 curse. The specific requirements as cmmunicated t Level 2 students are: A gd recrd f wrkrate and meeting f deadlines The achievement f at least a Merit grade in the Level 2 curse in rder t prgress t a Level 3 Extended Diplma At least 90% attendance t all lessns, supprt sessins and tutrials. A gd recrd f behaviur, effrt and attitude. Level 2 students will nt nrmally prgress n t AS Levels. Students expressing an interest in the AS pathway will be invited t discuss this prir t applicatin, with their Senir Tutr. Students will be fully supprted thrugh the applicatin prcess by their Senir Tutr. The range f curses n ffer will be discussed within grup tutrials and individual tutrial discussins. Level 2 students wh are nt ffered a place n a Level 3 curse will be fully guided and supprted in planning their next steps. vi. Prgressin frm A1 t A2 Prgressin in t the A2 year is nt autmatic. The Cllege has 4 general requirements. They are: That a student has at least 90% attendance verall, and in each subject/curse. Genuine and fully authrised absences shuld nt affect prgressin, but unauthrised absence may affect prgressin chances. That the Cllege is satisfied with the levels f effrt, cnduct and prgress shwn by a students during their A1 year. That students need t have attended, and prepared fr, all f their timetabled examinatins. AS students must achieve pass grades (A* - E) in at least three f their AS subjects. Mst students will pass at least fur AS subjects, s it must be stressed that fr A2 prgressin, three AS passes is an abslute minimum. Vcatinal students whse curses are entirely assessed by cursewrk must be fully up t date with all A1 cursewrk. A1 cursewrk must be f a satisfactry standard in rder t prgress in t the A2 year. Cases will be cnsidered n an individual basis. vii. Current Ashtn Sixth Frm Cllege students wh wish t change curse and reapply The Cllege will nt nrmally be in a psitin t ffer places t students wh leave the Cllege befre cmpleting their curse f study and then reapply. Exceptinal cases will be cnsidered and frmer students in this psitin shuld cntact the Cllege at an early stage befre fllwing the nrmal applicatin prcedure.
It is nt custmary t allw current students t repeat an A1 year at Ashtn Sixth Frm Cllege, either n the same curse r a different Level 3 curse. It is unlikely that students will be permitted t restart an A1 curse, unless there are exceptinal circumstances. Interview prcedure Ashtn Sixth Frm Cllege interviews take place n a first cme first serve basis during Octber January fr admissin the fllwing academic year. The main purpse f the interview is t prvide advice and guidance abut the curses applied fr and any alternatives that culd r shuld be cnsidered. Interviews als prvide an pprtunity fr applicants t find ut mre abut the Cllege. Infrmatin regarding learning difficulties, disabilities, scial, attendance r ther issues which may affect a student s prgress will be sught frm the previus schl f applicants via the ALS r Admissins Team, as well as being requested frm the student at the pint f applicatin and enrlment. The bjective is t discuss the needs f such students s that we can put int place a suitable package f supprt. Offers Offers will nrmally be made within 2 weeks f interview. Fr Level 2 students (studying at Ashtn Sixth Frm Cllege) decisins will be made during May nce the Cllege has assessed the student s suitability t prgress, taking in t accunt attendance, effrt, prgress and behaviur. Students fllwing a Level 2 prgramme are advised t make alternative applicatins as a back up ptin. Appeals Any applicants wh have been declined a place at Ashtn Sixth Frm Cllege have the right t appeal this decisin fllwing the prcedure belw: Enrlment A letter utlining the reasns fr the appeal shuld be sent int Cllege within 4 weeks f the decisin, fr all new applicants/applicatins t restart/level 2 t 3 applicatins. 1 week fr all A1-A2 prgressin students The letter shuld be addressed t the Admissins Department Appeals Panel. The Appeals Panel will cnsider the appeal, the utcme f which will be cmmunicated t the applicant within three weeks f receipt f the letter f appeal (within ne week fr appeals relating t A1-A2 prgressin). All student places are cnditinal n the grades received n GCSE Results day. Prf is required by each student that they satisfy the entry criteria. Students wh need t change their curse as a result f their GCSE grades will be advised abut alternative subjects/curses at this stage. Places n any curse changes are subject t availability. Full guidance will be given t students during the enrlment prcess. The Cllege s enrlment dnatin is 20. Enrlment dates are well publicised and cmmunicated t students at interview. Applicants are expected t be available t attend enrlment n the dates stated. If this is nt pssible, the applicant shuld cntact the Cllege at the earliest pprtunity t arrange an alternative enrlment time if a
place/curse chice is t be guaranteed. Any late enrlments shuld take place befre the start f term. Current entry requirements T study an AS prgramme the entry criteria is: 5 x grade C at GCSE ne f which must be English Language. (This des nt include GCSE equivalents, such as BTEC Diplmas) If ne f yur chsen AS subject has been studied at GCSE then a minimum f a grade C must have been achieved in that subject, fr example if yu have taken GCSE in Business Studies and wish t take AS Business, yu need t achieve at least a grade C at GCSE. Additinal subject specific entry requirements are listed in the table belw. Subject Accunting Applied Science (Medical) Art and Design Bilgy Business Chemistry Classics Cmputing Dance Drama Ecnmics English (all curses) Further Maths Gegraphy Histry ICT Maths Mdern Freign Language (MFL) Music P.E. Philsphy Physics Plitics Psychlgy Additinal Entry Criteria Grade B in GCSE Maths and ne ther grade B at GCSE. CC in GCSE Science r Applied Science Grade C in Maths Art and Design GCSE preferable but nt essential Separate sciences - Grade B in GCSE Bilgy r BB in Cre and Additinal (nt Applied) Science and if achieved BC t have individual IAG frm Bilgy team Separate Sciences grade B in Chemistry r BB in Cre and Additinal (nt Applied) Science. If achieved BC t have individual IAG frm Chemistry team Grade B in GCSE English r Histry Overall GCSE prfile f A/B Grade B in GCSE Maths Auditin Auditin Grade B in GCSE Maths Grade C in GCSE English Literature Grade A in higher tier GCSE Maths Grade B in Gegraphy preferred Average scre f 5.00 in GCSEs verall Grade B in higher tier Maths Grade B at GCSE chsen language (French, German r Spanish) GCSE Music/BTEC r grade 4 thery required Auditin Grade C in GCSE Science Mix f As, Bs and Cs at GCSE / 5.6 GCSE scre verall Separate sciences - grade B in GCSE Physics r BB in Cre and Additinal (nt Applied) Science and if achieved BC t have individual IAG frm Physics team Grade B in GCSE Maths Overall GCSE prfile f B/C B in either GCSE English r Maths r Science
T study a Level 3 Extended Diplma the entry criteria are: 4 x Grade C at GCSE (r at least a MERIT grade in a Level 2 qualificatin in the same subject) Additinal subject specific criteria are listed n the table belw. Curse Business Management Children and Yung Peple s wrkfrce Frensic Science Health & Scial Care ICT Practitiners IT (Advanced Diplma) Media Prductin Music Prductin NHS Multi Prfessinal Cadet Prgramme Perfrming Arts Public Services Public Services (Advanced Diplma) Sciety, Health & Develpment (Advanced Diplma) Sprt Additinal Vcatinal Criteria Grade D in English r Maths Grade C in English Grade C in Science and either Maths r English Grade C in English r Maths Grade C in Maths GCSE 5 grades C at GCSE including English and Maths Grade D in English r Maths Grade D in English r Maths A grade C in Science and English (Maths preferred but nt essential) Separate interview as nly 20 places available Grade D in English r Maths Grade D in English r Maths 5 grades C at GCSE including English and Maths 5 grades C at GCSE including English and Maths Grade D in English r Maths T study a Level 2 Diplma the entry criteria is: Minimum 3 x grade D at GCSE (including minimum E in Maths r English) Re-sit curses in Maths /English Language Students wh have nt achieved a GCSE Grade A-C in Maths r English Language will be expected t enrl upn an apprpriate Maths/Numeracy and English Literacy prgramme at level 2. The relevant department will make an assessment as t whether a GCSE re-sit is the best ptin fr that student, r if an alternative qualificatin wuld be mre apprpriate
Staff respnsibilities relating t admissins Senir Manager with respnsibility fr 16-18 admissins and returning students Lisa Richards Management f 16-18 (full time) admissins Sarah Kerrigan 16-18 (full time) Admissins and curse enquiries Alisn Bridge Phng Vy Lay Management f infrmatin regarding Additinal Learning Supprt needs frm prspective students Nigel Rennisn