PUBLISHED 03 July 2020
Mr Maund's End of Term Letter, July 2020
Sixth Form Dress Code
Our Sixth Form students are both academically and professionally ambitious. Hence, our Sixth Form dress code reflects the principles of “dress for the job you want”. Professional business attire is our expectation because we want students to dress for their future success today. More details can be found on our Sixth Form pages.
Year 12 Induction Day
We are planning to welcome our new Year 12 students on Friday 4th September at 9.00am. The morning will allow students to be formally introduced to, and spend time with, the Sixth Form pastoral team. A range of talks and activities will also form part of the morning, which is scheduled to end at 12pm.
Sixth Form Tutors
Form tutors continue to be the first point of contact to parents and once groups have been formalised, tutors will be in touch before the beginning of the Autumn Term. Below is our Sixth Form weekly morning schedule:
Monday: Sixth Form Meeting
Tuesday: Coffee Morning
Wednesday: Form Tutor Meeting
Thursday: ---
Friday: Whole School Assembly
Sixth Form students are not required to attend an afternoon registration. Instead, form tutors will be available for pastoral support, if needed. As well as a form tutor, students will also be allocated an academic tutor who will support students in their academic goals for the year.
Wednesday Afternoons
Wednesday afternoons will continue to provide students with the opportunity to take part in a broad range of sporting and physical health activities. The benefits of staying active, for both physical and mental health, is well known and the sports department will continue to provide a wide range of activities for all students. Students who hold sports scholarships and those who are members of sports teams within school are expected to participate fully in the Wednesday afternoon sports programme.
For all other Sixth Form students it is optional; they will have the opportunity to train on or off campus, or to use this time for volunteering, catching up with staff or private study.
Sixth Form Induction Month
I am sure our students will be eager to return to Sixth Form in September and to physical academic sessions. Whilst we have maintained a thorough programme of remote learning, it will be crucial that in the first month of term we support students in the skills needed to succeed in their Sixth Form studies. With that in mind, all private study periods will take place on campus for September and our enrichment sessions will focus on key study skills such as time management, organisation and self-reflection. From October (depending on effort grades), students will be offered greater flexibility and a portion of their private study periods can be completed at home. This will continue for the remainder of the academic year should good effort grades in all subjects be maintained. Students will continue to have the option to spend lunchtime off campus from September.
Dates for your Diary
Wednesday 9th September, 7.00pm - Year 13 Induction Evening
The purpose of the evening is to provide guidance to both parents and students regarding the demands of the final year of Sixth Form, any new information regarding the sitting of A levels in Summer 2021, an overview of the UCAS application process, as well as advice on applying for degree apprenticeships.
Week commencing Monday 14th September – Year 13 Exam Week
The purpose of the examinations is to formally assess the learning which has taken place during Year 12. It is also worth noting that all departments report that they are either ahead or where they would normally expect to be at this stage of the A level course respectively, thanks to the robust programme of remote learning they have experienced since March and the students’ own engagement during this time. The results of these examinations will help staff determine a student’s UCAS predicted grades. Subject staff have provided subject specific guidance on the work they would like students to complete over the summer break, contained in the Revision Guide.
Tuesday 15th September, 7.00pm - Year 12 Induction Evening
The purpose of the evening is to highlight to students the opportunities available at Sixth Form and for parents of Year 12 students to meet our specialist team of Sixth Form staff.
Thursday 8 th October, 5.30pm - Year 13 Review Evening
The evening will take the format of individual appointments with subject teachers. Its purpose is to give students and parents an overall assessment of progress, performance in the September examinations, and to discuss UCAS predicted grades.
I would like to take this opportunity to say I have been incredibly impressed with the way our students have conducted themselves and maintained focus during this unpredictable period. Initiative, flexibility and productivity are 21st Century skills we promote with our students and these have been on display without fail during lockdown. I am fully confident that the challenges we have all faced have only made our students stronger and will give them the edge in their future examinations.
Mr Maund, Head of Sixth Form