AN INTRODUCTION TO LONGDEAN SIXTH FORM

AN INTRODUCTION TO LONGDEAN SIXTH FORM There are a number of alternatives facing Year 11 pupils as they approach the end of compulsory education: Do you leave school to seek employment? Do you want training or a modern apprenticeship? Do you transfer to college? Do you continue your education in a Sixth Form such as ours, where a wide range of courses at different levels is offered? SIXTH FORM EDUCATION AT LONGDEAN SCHOOL One of the greatest changes you experience upon entering the Sixth Form is that you become a student: one who studies. We believe that, as you grow towards adulthood, an important task of the Sixth Form is to provide a bridge between the restrictions of adolescence and the responsibilities of being a mature young man or woman. This implies not only a willingness, interest and self-discipline regarding academic matters but also a commitment to the development of a thoughtful, enquiring and considerate attitude to personal and social responsibilities. The purpose of the Sixth Form is to provide opportunities which fulfil these dual responsibilities. We encourage students to participate in recreational and sporting activities, engage in Community Service either within school or in the wider community and to organize a wide range of social and academic activities. Many school clubs and sports teams welcome the support and leadership of the Sixth Form, and Sixth Formers play an important role in helping younger pupils adjust to secondary education and in offering assistance in lessons. In coming to a decision about whether or not to stay on into Longdean s Sixth Form you might wish to consider the following advantages: 1. Range of subjects We offer a very broad range of AS and A Level subjects including many which will be new to you such as Economics, Theatre Studies, and Psychology. Through our partnership schools we can offer access to other, including minority subjects such as Textiles, German, Law, Music Technology or Government & Politics. 2. Open Access We are NOT wholly selective by academic ability. We are proud of the fact that our Sixth Form can and does offer appropriate courses for a wide range of abilities. We take great care in matching students to appropriate courses where they can be successful. 3. Continuity of Staff You will probably already know the staff who will be teaching you. They know you not only from an academic point of view but as an individual. They are

well-equipped to help you and this may well be reflected in the progress you make and the academic results you attain. 4. Settling in You will know your teachers, your fellow students and the environment. There will, of course, be plenty of new experiences but you will not have to go through the worrying process of finding your feet in a new setting. You only have one or two years before the next phase of your life university or work and can ill afford to waste any time or energy. 5. Smaller classes Classes will normally consist of ten to twenty students; this will give you closer contact with your teachers and some opportunity for individual help when you have difficulties. In many subjects you will be taught by more than one teacher for different components of the course. 6. Track Record of Examination Success Longdean has an excellent record of success at all levels post-16. We generally expect about 80 students to gain access to degree courses, including the most competitive such as Oxford, Cambridge and the Russell Group. Given our access arrangements and the non-selective nature of our admissions, our position in the A-Level League Table is most impressive students who achieve an average points score of 52 or above at GCSE (i.e. A* or A grades) generally gain more than AAA grades at A Level. 7. Facilities The Sixth Form Common Room provides a well-used base for recreation, debate, discussion and group working. There are private study areas, toilets, a kitchen and a suite of computers dedicated for Sixth Form use. Miss Segalini, Ms Price and Mrs Doodson are based in the Sixth Form area to be accessible to students. 8. Pastoral Care You will have daily contact with your Form Tutor who is responsible for your personal wellbeing. In addition, the Director of Learning for post 16 (Miss Segalini), Sixth Form Pastoral Manager (Mrs Doodson) Sixth Form attendance manager (Ms Price) and the Assistant Head attached to Sixth Form (Mr Goatley) are responsible for monitoring your academic and social

progress. There is always someone available for advice on any issue, whether personal, study or career-related. Staff are present to assist you throughout the time you are in the Sixth Form, and the provision of Sixth Form Pastoral Care was rated Outstanding in the OFSTED Inspection in January 2010. Form Groups include both Year 12 and Year 13 students and students are attached to Lower School forms in their Houses to assist with mentoring activities. House Captains and Vice-Captains are elected from the Sixth Form. PHCSE is taught by the Sixth Form Tutor team exploring Sixth Form issues such as the UCAS (university) application process. 9. Social Life You will have the opportunity to play an important part in the social life of both the Sixth Form and the rest of the school, including traditions such as the Sixth Form Parties, Lower School Discos, Fund-Raising and Charity Events, K S 3 Sports Day, Christmas Panto and ultimately the Leavers Dinner. Student Voice is developing rapidly in the school and our Sixth Form have an important role to play. 10. Extra-Curricular Activities We are proud of our very broad range of extra-curricular opportunities including sport, music, drama, dance, visits, trips abroad, Young Enterprise etc. Access to these activities is open to all Sixth Formers. The bi-annual World Challenge trip is growing in popularity, so far destinations include India and Swaziland. Watch this space for the next adventure in summer 2014. 11. Responsibility You will be expected to exercise responsibility for the more junior members of the school. All Sixth Formers are Prefects and as such represent role-models for the rest of the school; we consider it a valuable component in your training. Most careers involve a degree of responsibility for others and the Sixth Form is a good preparation for this. In addition, you will be expected and helped to develop much greater independence and responsibility for your own learning, time-management and participation. 12. Cost You may be asked to buy some text-books and specialist equipment and to finance field-trips and school visits. Examination fees, other than re-sits, are paid for by the school. Sixth Formers pay a small annual subscription of 5 for the upkeep of shared facilities in the Common Room Approached with an open, positive and determined attitude, you will find the Sixth Form a very rich and rewarding experience.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SIXTH FORM WE HAVE THE HIGHEST EXPECTATIONS OF OUR STUDENTS AND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WILL HELP YOU TO UNDERSTAND THE ETHOS OF LONGDEAN SIXTH FORM As a Sixth Form student you will earn a new set of privileges but also shoulder new responsibilities. This is a valuable testing-ground for later life, where you can learn to balance the enjoyment of more freedom and privileges against the self-discipline needed to achieve your personal and academic goals. We, the staff, presume that you are here because you want to be and are therefore both willing and eager to put the fullest possible effort into your studies. As senior members of the school community we expect you to set the highest standards for the younger pupils to follow. Punctuality and Attendance Punctuality and regular attendance are attributes highly valued by both employers and institutions of higher education. We are always asked to comment on these when writing references for our students. It therefore makes good sense to cultivate good habits in Year 12. You are required to be present for registration at both 8.35 am and 2.10 pm (if you have no lesson period 5). Should there be a valid reason for your absence, your Form Tutor must be informed. Should you need to leave the school premises at any time during the school day you must first seek permission from Miss Segalini or Mrs Doodson and then sign out. You must also sign out and back in when going to lessons at Consortium Schools. We have an obligation to know where you are at all times and may need to contact you for a school-related matter or for personal reasons, so your co-operation in this is vital. You will be required to wear a school ID badge whenever you are at school. Medical and other legitimate absences should be covered by a telephone call to the school Attendance Officer and a letter from your parents as lower down the school. Independent Learning As Advanced students you should not expect to be spoon-fed. You will have to develop research skills and be ready to look beyond superficial answers. Your aim should be to acquire a mastery of your subjects by reading and a thoughtful approach to study. Analytical and critical powers will grow from the sound knowledge base you acquire, and this will benefit your final results and will be a good preparation for higher education. You will take part in an intensive Study Skills course in September before the commencement of formal lessons

Private Study and Homework Your free lessons are really opportunities for private study where you can write up notes, prepare essays, complete set work and read around your subject areas. Some of this time will be used for Community Service, both in school and the wider community, and some may be used for sport and recreation, but this is not time to waste and we expect to see students usefully engaged during these periods. The Common Room work areas, SSC and vacant classrooms may be used for this purpose. As a rough guide, you should invest about eighteen hours per week in private study, outside of lessons. Sixth Form work is much more complex than at GCSE, including greater depth and detail and requires a much more thoughtful approach. You will be allowed more time and will need to plan your work more carefully. Deadlines must be adhered to and work should always be of the quality expected. You will also have to learn a great deal of factual material. Students who work hard and consistently from the start are always the most successful, whatever their innate ability. Dress Your appearance and behaviour provide an example to the rest of the school and promote our image. The dress code is very simple basically a suit for both boys and girls with shoes and accessories to match. As a guide, remember that your appearance should be appropriate for a professional post or before a selection panel and this implies formal correctness. Whilst accepting a relaxation in rules, we ask that make-up and jewellery is modest and kept to a minimum. Facial piercing (other than earrings) is not permitted. Smoking Our school policy expressly forbids smoking on the premises. We also expect Sixth Formers not to smoke during the school day wherever they may be, including on the way to and from school. Sport PE lessons are time-tabled for the Sixth Form and there is access to the Sports Centre facilities. Sixth Form Committee The Committee exists to provide a regular and varied range of social activities for both Years 12 and 13. They are elected by members of the Sixth Form but they do need your suggestions and support. In the past they have organized parties, discos, visits, fundraising events, charity collections, revues, entertainment and have organized the Year Book and the Leavers Dinner as well as raising funds to purchase recreational facilities for the Common Room.

Extra-Curricular Activities These vary from year to year. In the past they have included the following: Young Enterprise Young Engineers Football Cricket Basketball Netball Skiing Music ensembles Choir Drama Group Christmas Pantomime Film Evenings Christian Union Trips Abroad Rock Groups Theatre/Opera visits Debating Student Mentoring Chess Bridge Dance Lighting & Sound Set Construction Fair Trade Green Peace World Challenge Guidance Interviews for Careers and Higher Education The Sixth Form includes students engaged in AS and A Levels, Diploma and BTEC courses and GCSEs. Needs will vary and a wide range of careers material for higher education and employment is available for reference in the SSC. You may discuss your plans with your Form Tutor, Miss Segalini, Mrs Kwok, Ms Price, Mr Goatley, Mrs Cooke, Mrs Robson (SSC Manager) and Connexions personnel at any time. The process of applying to university through UCAS starts with an meeting in May of Year 12, and is discussed thoroughly during PHSCE in the Spring and Summer Terms. Year 12 AS exam results will appear on your UCAS application and will clearly influence the predicted grades teachers give on the UCAS form. Applications should be completed no later than October half-term of Year 13. Interviews and Open Days usually take place between

September and February of year 13. Mock interviews may be arranged. Offers are received between October and March and, at present, must be accepted by mid-march of Year 13. Results are published in August of Year 13 and members of staff are available for support and guidance if there are any issues to resolve. SIXTH FORM LEADERSHIP TEAM Director of Learning, Post-16: Learning Mentor for Sixth Form: Attendance Officer Sixth Form: Assistant Head teacher (Sixth Form): Miss B Segalini Mrs K Kwok Mrs S Price Mr P Goatley SIXTH FORM ENTRY PROCEDURES Longdean s Sixth Form aims to provide a suitable and purposeful range of courses to meet individual needs. These range from academic A Level courses to more vocational programmes. The most basic entry requirement to our Sixth Form is a genuine commitment to study in the chosen course and acceptance of the regulations regarding organization and responsibility in the Sixth Form. Students are encouraged to study a wide range of subjects and to gain a wide range of skills, both in classrooms and through extra-curricular activities and such things as work experience. Advanced Subsidiary (AS) and Advanced Levels (A2) A Levels usually comprise four units of work, sometimes referred to as modules. These may include coursework or practical units. They are mainly examined in June of Year 12 and Year 13, though some modules may be taken in January of each year. It is possible, at present, to re-sit some modules. A Level courses are divided into two parts: AS and A2. Each part is usually made up of two units of work. AS and A2 parts count equally towards the final grade. As well as being the first part of the A Level, the AS is a qualification in its own right. Students normally take three or four AS Levels in Year 12 and continue with three at A Level in Year 13. The minimum entry qualification for degree courses at university is two A Level passes or the equivalent. BTEC National BTEC courses are more vocational in approach and are Level 3 courses (equivalent to one, two or three A Levels). They are more specialized and have three grades: Pass, Merit and Distinction. GCSE Retake English and Maths These are offered to students who achieved Grade D at these GCSEs in Year 11. These specialized courses give the opportunity for students to acquire these key qualifications.

Students must gain the equivalent of a C Grade in English and Maths to enter degree courses in any subject at university. Level 2 Foundation Course. This is suitable for students who achieve a minimum of 5 grade Es at GCSE. Currently, this course consists of a flexible programme of GCSEs with a core of ICT, Maths or Statistics, English Language or Literature, Citizenship, Humanities and Psychology. Students who complete the course successfully may achieve the required entry level qualifications to start Level 3 courses such as A Levels the following year. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Students applying to our Sixth Form will be expected to meet two conditions. The first is academic and concerns performance at GCSE. Details of which grades are required for the various programmes are given in the online Prospectus, but effectively: 4 or 5 AS Levels basically require 5+ A*- B grades including Maths and English. 3 AS Levels basically require 5+ A*- C grades including Maths and English. Level 2 Foundation Courses basically requires 5 A* - E grades. The second condition relates to behaviour and attitude to work. Much is expected in the way of self-discipline, motivation and ambition. Applicants must have demonstrated these qualities during their GCSE years to qualify for admission to our Sixth Form. Students do, of course, mature and grasp new opportunities, but we will not accept students back into our Sixth Form if they demonstrate poor attitude and behaviour in the final months of Year 11. All students are monitored closely during their first half-term to ensure that they are coping with the high expectations of work and behaviour. Some students will start the year on individual or subject-specific Contracts. During this period and subsequently, where a student is not meeting the required standards, it may be necessary to make adjustments in the individual s programme or, in rare cases, it may be necessary to ask a student to leave the Sixth Form. Progression from Year 12 to Year 13 is also subject to a minimum level of attainment generally at least a Grade D at AS to move on to A2, and meeting the entry requirements to progress from Foundation Course to AS Levels or other Level 3 equivalent courses. Students and parents are informed of progress formally by three Reports and a Parents Consultation Evening, and more informally at Academic Mentoring Evening and by contact from subject teachers, Form Tutors, Miss Segalini, Ms Price, Mrs Kwok or Mr Goatley if concerns arise over attendance, punctuality, behaviour or work. These contacts are, of course, always intended to support students if there are difficulties.