Welcome to Colonel Frank Seely School Sixth Form Built in 1957 in the centre of Calverton, Colonel Frank Seely School is mainly a single storey building with one two level block for Technology. We are a community school with an excellent reputation for care, guidance and support, strong relationships between students and staff, a vast range of enrichment and extension activities and a commitment to promoting the highest possible standard of achievement and excellence for all. We have a strong track record of students progressing on to University and other higher sector establishments and employment. SIXTH FORM PROSPECTUS 2014-2015 Acting Headteacher: Mr M A Kurylec Colonel Frank Seely School Flatts Lane, Calverton NOTTINGHAM NG14 6JZ A majority of our pupils stay on at Colonel Frank Seely for seven years, progressing from Year 7 to our successful Sixth Form at William Lee. A few join us from other schools to continue their education here with us in the Sixth Form. Our Sixth Form offers a wide range of courses to cater for many interests and ambitions. These include AS/A2 BTEC and Cambridge Technical qualifications as well as General Studies and the EPQ. Strong leadership and effective pastoral guidance support the high quality teaching and study facilities. Although over 50 years old, various recent renovations, additions and refurbishments means that we can offer outstanding facilities. Despite the age of the school, you may be surprised at the outstanding facilities on offer: Subject specialist suites of rooms/including Art and Design and Food Technology. Technology Workshops with CAD/CAM facilities, including a Vocational Construction Centre. Access to ICT in every classroom, with many interactive whiteboards and projectors, to bring teaching and learning into our pupils lives. Five dedicated ICT suites, plus dedicated ICT room for Technology, English, History, Science and Maths. Several Sixth Form study rooms all with ICT facilities for students. Seven recently refurbished Science Laboratories. A Drama Studio. School wide wireless and cabled networking Use of Calverton Leisure Centre facilities including swimming pool and fitness suite until 5.00pm Online payment system for parents to pay for school meals, visits, uniform and equipment. Sports Hall and Gym, Tennis Courts, floodlit Astroturf pitch, extensive sports pitches and open spaces for sport and lunchtime activity. A computer to pupil ratio of 1:2. Newly refurbished and well resourced Learning Resource Centre, with Careers Library and separate area for Sixth Form. Café dining facility and take away facilities with cashless system. Recently refurbished Reception for visitors, pupils and staff, with meeting and conference facilities to encourage community use. As a Sixth Former, you will find yourself with full access to all these facilities but we are lucky to also have a separate provision just for our Sixth Form with well resourced teaching, social and study areas for our students.
Why should I come to Colonel Frank Seely School? Continuity: The courses on offer follow on from the GCSEs, BTECs and other lines of learning that you will have already followed. Elsewhere you may need to fill in the gaps in your knowledge as colleges will have students who have followed many different syllabi. Some students who have returned to us from college say they also have trouble adjusting to the unfamiliar teaching styles there as well as having to cope with different expectations. Relationships: Teachers here know you, and understand you. They will know your strengths as well as the times when you might need extra help. They can use this knowledge to help you achieve your full potential. Teachers here who already know you and have a good working relationship with you will also give you that little push or persuasion if your performances fail to meet the challenging success targets we have set for you and you set for yourself. Group Size: Groups are small enough for you to receive individual care and attention, whilst being large enough to help to stimulate discussions and group activities. Group sizes vary to accommodate our pupil profile and intake. Environment: The William Lee setting provides a mature environment. The atmosphere is college-like, reflecting the trust we place in our students. Yet, being close to school opens up opportunities to get involved in a whole range of other activities with the other students in school. These opportunities really provide valuable additional experience which institutions of Higher Education are always looking for in a good student application. Results: Our students do well at realising their potential. Our success rates and retention rates are consistently high and improving. The vast majority of our students go on to study in Higher Education with many attending Russell Group Universities and achieving places on sought after courses in medicine, veterinary science and law. Courses: We try to be flexible enough to accommodate many different combinations of courses from a wide selection of subjects and lines of learning. We will do our upmost to provide you with the subject mix and combination which best serves both your abilities and aspirations for the future. How will I learn? Learning in the Sixth Form requires a more independent and more adult approach. The demands of work are different and you will now be far more responsible for your own learning and progress. You may be given several weeks to complete an assignment, so you will have to plan your time carefully. Some of the extra reading and research expected of you should be done in your Private Study periods. As a general rule you should spend two hours per subject per day working in addition to timetabled lessons. You will be encouraged to take a positive approach to time management and seek help when necessary. Some lessons may appear to be more informal, yet they will be more challenging and more discussion-based. You will be encouraged to express your opinions, and to justify them, and to show initiative. In addition to assessment through assignments and tests, your progress will be reviewed regularly with your teachers and your tutor. Together, problems can be discussed and targets for improvement and progress set, and subsequently reviewed. Punctual and excellent attendance at lessons is expected of all our students. Success in the Sixth Form is not achieved without consistent effort and hard work. We advise students to establish good working habits form the outset and use their study time in school wisely. Support is available to students with regard to the development of the requisite study skills needed for success. What are the Sixth Form Facilities? The Sixth Form at CFS is based in the William Lee Sixth Form Centre which is a separate learning centre adjacent to the main school building. The Centre boasts excellent facilities to support the learning of our Sixth Form students. The William Lee Centre has a separate meeting hall, where visiting speakers and whole Sixth Form meetings take place. Six purpose designed classrooms are bright, warm and comfortable places for our students to learn with interactive whiteboards and storage for resources. A 30 seat ICT suite is supported by a smaller 15 seat ICT room which are used for both ICT and Business Studies lessons. For private study there are three rooms, all with ICT facilities ideal quiet spaces where our students can carry out research and build on learning within set lesson times. A modern common room, designed by current Sixth Formers provides a social area, with vending for hot and cold drinks, and a small kitchen area for those students who wish to prepare their own lunch. In addition to the facilities in the William Lee Sixth Form Centre, teaching may also take place in the main school, especially for Science, Art, Technology and PE where laboratory or specialised work spaces are needed. The Library in Main School is also available to Sixth Form students, who have their own dedicated study room with ICT facilities. Colonel Frank Seely Sixth Formers are also welcome to use the school s catering facilities where healthy meals are reasonably priced. You may even become a member of staff as our Catering Service employs Sixth Formers as Lunchtime Supervisors or Student Mentors to help with our younger pupils. We also have excellent sports facilities for Sixth Form students, including the fitness suite and the synthetic pitch, which is often the scene of staff v Sixth Form events!!
How will I be supported? We are committed to the promotion of the highest possible standards of achievement and excellence for all young people whatever their ability, and we maintain high quality educational provision within a caring and supportive environment. We maintain traditional values and standards and we are committed to a partnership with parents and young people in order to develop quality, excellence and opportunity for all. Mr Fay, Head of Sixth Form and the team of tutors will support and guide you in making the most of the opportunities that exist in the Sixth Form. Your Tutor Your tutor is there to work with you in a partnership built on respect and trust, to give you help and guidance with your studies, career and any problems you might face. You will spend time with your tutor setting and reviewing targets that will help you progress throughout the Sixth Form. The Sixth Form Planner is a source of useful information and should help students to organise their workload. Attendance Good attendance is one of the keys to success and therefore student attendance is monitored carefully. Students will be required to attend all day, each day from 8.50am. Students should register in their tutorial room with their tutor each day. Students, or a parent, should phone Reception before 9:00am on the first morning of absence, giving a reason. Unauthorised absences will be followed up and students whose absence falls below 90% will be put on an attendance contract. Students should keep a record of their own attendance in their planners. Tutors/subject teachers should be informed in advance of unavoidable absences e.g. driving test. Where possible, medical appointments should not be made in lesson time. Every student matters to us. We will do our best to help all students to fulfil their potential. Students who are not maintaining high levels of attendance and/or producing the required standards will be offered support through a variety of strategies available to us. Should improvement not be seen alternative routes will have to be considered. How will I know what grades I am aiming for? During September of Year 12 all students take the ALIS tests. These tests together with KS4 performance provide us with an understanding of a student s potential and to set challenging but realistic target grades. These grades will be discussed thoroughly with tutors and individual subject staff. Career Advice Career advice and information are available from experienced staff and visiting speakers will provide additional perspectives on Higher Education and employment. We have strong links with both Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham and our students benefit from the Ambition Nottingham Scheme. Helping students to win places on the Higher Education courses of their choice is a high priority. We encourage students to attend a range of Open Days and arrange visits to the East Midlands Higher Education Fair and the Oxbridge Conference. We also keep students well informed about specific events relating to Higher Education opportunities. We pride ourselves on the high quality of our UCAS support programmes for students, the standard of which has been praised by UCAS themselves! How will my progress be monitored? Throughout the two years your progress will be measured against your target grade and reported. You will discuss these measures with your tutor, Head of Sixth Form and/or Assistant Head of Sixth Form to ensure that you are making good progress. It may be appropriate that extra support and guidance are needed and this will be provided in the most necessary and personalised form possible in order to achieve the best possible outcome. Additionally, students who are failing to meet target expectations will be monitored on an on-going basis and directed to supervised private study sessions until at least good progress are being achieved. How will my achievements be recognised? Students are awarded subject prizes and guidance prizes at the Annual Achievement Evening, usually in December, in recognition of their academic achievements or contribution to the school.
How will my parents be involved? Parents still play a very important part of your Sixth Form education. All parents of Year 12 students are invited to a Welcome Evening in September at the beginning of the academic year. This provides an opportunity for parents to find out how to support you through the transition from KS4 to KS5 study in its various forms. A Higher Education Information Evening for parents is held in June when many Year 12 students begin to prepare for application to university. This evening provides parents with information and advice to help them understand the UCAS (University Applications) process. As additional support to life beyond Year 13 in Higher Education, finance workshops are also offered during the Year 13 Parents Evening. A Parents Evening is held each year for Years 12 and 13. Parents are welcome to contact Mr Fay or Tutors at any time if there is anything they wish to discuss. Full reports are issued once a year together with interim reports spread over the two years. What subjects are on offer? We offer a diverse range of learning experiences, designed to equip our students with the qualifications, skills and confidence to progress successfully to university, further training or employment. Students are encouraged to work hard and become actively involved in Post- 16 life. We envisage that the majority of students will spend two years in Post-16 study. There are three main pathways for students to follow following courses which allow for progression into Universities, other Higher Educational establishments or entry into direct employment. We insist that all students returning to our Sixth Form have a minimum of five GCSE s including Maths and/or English Language. For AS/A2 courses, GCSE passes are required and subjects will have specific grade criteria (see additional subject sheets for details). It is possible to study a fully traditional AS/A2 route or to combine these with a more vocational course or to study a series of vocational courses. This flexibility allows students to opt for courses most appropriate to their learning styles and career aspirations. Our option structure is influenced on what students are telling us they would like to study as far as possible. However, it is not always feasible to achieve this and courses on occasion may not be offered because of low numbers opting. The following is a list of subjects we are usually able to offer: What will I wear? There is no set uniform in the Sixth Form. However, we ask that you dress sensibly and in keeping with being in an educational establishment with pupils attending between the ages of 11-16. AS/A2 Level Vocational Biology Business Business ICT Chemistry Applied Biology English Language Sport English Literature French Geography History Mathematics and Further Maths Resit GCSE Media Studies Mathematics Music English Language Physics Psychology Spanish Opportunities for Extension Studies EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) General Studies AS (offered through CPSHE) Red Cross Certificate
How do I choose the right course? We offer a mixed diet at Colonel Frank Seely School. Some students will follow four A Level subjects, some a mixture of vocational and traditional subjects. Some students may also wish to pursue a purely vocational learning pathway. When making your choice, please bear in mind the following: What you are good at: this is important in ensuring the highest possible grade at the end of the course. What you enjoy: motivation and genuine interest in a subject are crucial to success. Your career: the combination you choose must keep career and higher education course options open. With a greater number of subjects to be chosen in Year 12 many of the traditional divisions between Arts and Sciences are breaking down e.g. Engineers also have to be communicators. For access to many university courses and specific jobs, a breadth of experience is often seen as an advantage. It is not always necessary to follow a specific course before entering Higher Education e.g. you do not need Law A Level to study for a Law Degree. During the consultation process, Mr Fay (Head of Sixth Form) will be available to give you advice as appropriate. What do I need to do to get on a particular course? Entry to Sixth Form courses is dependent upon the appropriateness of your proposed programme to your personal abilities, interests and possible Higher Education and career ambitions. A firm commitment to work to the best of your ability and to follow all course requirements is also expected. Each subject has its own entry requirements which can be seen on the separate subject information sheets. In what other ways will I be able to get involved? There is more to being a successful Post-16 student than just academic work. During your time in the Sixth Form you will continue to develop as you become clearer about your aspirations and who you are. We believe that it is important for students to have the opportunity to get involved in a wide range of activities. Our students contributions to Colonel Frank Seely School are very varied and greatly valued. The Sixth Form Student Voice committees provides an opportunity for all students to have their say and contribute to the effective organisation of the Sixth Form. Each year, students are chosen to be Prefects. From these, the Head Boy, Head Girl and their Deputies are elected by their fellow students. The Prefects help with events throughout the school. The Head Boy and Head Girl act as senior representatives at major school functions. During the past year, Sixth Form students have been involved in the following activities: Lessons from Auschwitz Project Field trips / outdoor pursuits Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme Sixth Form Council Raising money for various charities / helping with the Shoebox Appeal Social Evenings Trip to London Amnesty International Society EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting) Management Games Sports Leaders Award Year 13 Leavers Dinner The Red Cross Project Helping with Year 7 activities Visit to East Midlands HE Fair Oxbridge shadowing scheme Participation in Headstart courses Blood Donor Sessions Participation in Nottingham University summer schools / Advantage Nottingham Debating Society Sixth Form Ball Art Trips / Theatre visits Subject specific conferences Helping with PE (lessons and teams), Learning Support and in local infant / junior schools Sports fixtures; football, hockey, netball, mixed hockey, basketball Music Concerts Literacy Volunteers Year 12 academic mentors
How do I apply to the Colonel Frank Seely Sixth Form? Sixth Form Application Forms will be distributed via tutors. In order that your option choices can be given full consideration, please hand in your completed form to Mr Fay by the published date. Early in the spring term you will be invited to discuss your application. If we agree that the Sixth Form is a suitable choice for you, you will then receive a letter from the Deputy Headteacher offering you a place in the Sixth Form, subject to meeting both the general entry criteria, and the specific subject criteria for each of the courses you have applied for. You will also be invited to the Induction Day towards the end of the summer term. There will also be opportunities to speak to subject teachers and Sixth Form students during CPSHE. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask Mr Fay or any of our subject staff across the school. Thank you for taking the time to read this Prospectus and I hope it gives you a flavour of the teaching and learning environment in the Sixth Form at Colonel Frank Seely School. If you would like to discuss the Sixth Form please contact Mr S Fay (Head of Sixth Form) on Tel: 0115 965 2495 to arrange a convenient date and time. Whilst we will do our upmost to offer the full complement of subjects, it may not always be possible to do so. Combinations of subjects chosen will be within the constraints of our option structure which is designed around student need as far as possible. These decisions are made solely by the school.