We are very successful at A level and the vast majority of our students go on to university, other higher education institutes or a high level/degree level apprenticeship.

• Every year, we send students to Oxbridge universities.
• We always have many successful applicants for Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science.
• We have a high success rate in entry to highly selective universities.
• We offer extensive and very experienced support for university entrance.
• We strongly support the increasing number of students wishing to apply for a high or degree level apprenticeship.
• We are big enough to ensure a wide curriculum and offer the opportunity to make new friends.
• We are small enough to know you very well and take good care of you.
• Our teachers are very well qualified and experienced and they are easily available to talk to you when you need support.
• We will set you ambitious targets and support you to achieve them.
• You will be based in a purpose-built Post-16 building adjacent to the main school.

 Care, Guidance and Support

TUTOR

Students are allotted a Personal Development tutor, who they will usually stay with for the duration of their Sixth Form career. Tutors carefully monitor how students settle whilst keeping a benevolent eye on their attendance, effort and achievement.

 

ACADEMIC SKILLS PROGRAMME

We operate a hierarchical structure of intervention, beginning with subject teachers for academic issues. All students undertake the academic skills programme led by our Director of Standards at Post-16, Mrs Lynch. This programme ensures students’ progress is regularly reviewed. Students who may struggle to develop the relevant academic skills benefit from academic success coaching as well as one to one mentoring from Mrs Lynch.

 

POST-16 EXPERIENCE

Tiered support is available to all and students’ attendance. progress and wellbeing is regularly monitored by Mrs Woolley, our Director of Pastoral Standards at Post-16 and Mrs Hallam, our Post-16 Pastoral Assistant. Prompt intervention at an appropriate level is put in place for those students who need it. Mr Bowie, the Director of Post-16, is kept informed at all times, as are parents/carers so that they are aware how their child is progressing.

 

UNIVERSITY APPLICATION SUPPORT

The vast majority of our students will apply to university, so we are very careful to put together a relevant and supportive programme that will enable all students to meet the relevant UCAS deadlines. Throughout Year 12, students receive the following support: 

• Tutors encourage Year 12 students to attend preparatory events for university and this is monitored by their Personal Development tutors.
• Following our Oxbridge Information Evening, potential Oxbridge students are invited to attend our Oxbridge Application Group which meets monthly from January in Year 12.
• In June of Year 12, we hold a specific UCAS Information Evening where a local university will detail for parents and students the UCAS process with Mrs Lynch, who has overall responsibility for the UCAS Process outlining the school’s processes and deadlines.
• As part of the Personal Development programme, students are required to produce a draft of their Personal Statement on Unifrog which is then marked by Form Tutors.

In Year 13, the following support is available:

• Year 13 students continue to draft their personal statements with their tutors in small group interviews from the start of Year 13. Tutors also monitor student choices and aid students in selecting courses that are appropriate for them.
• The Sixth Form team monitor application progress closely and advise tutors on those students who are not making enough progress.
• All applications are checked and approved by Mrs Halliday and Mrs Miarkowski, our Post-16 Admin, Intervention & Careers Assistants.
• Mrs Lynch, the Director of Academic Standards at Post-16, checks all references again before they are sent off to UCAS.
• Potential Oxbridge students are offered mock interviews whilst potential Medics are offered a mock MMI event in November of Year 13.
• Further advice is given to students regarding making their firm and insurance choices in March of Year 13.