saltash.net - Community College

Sixth Form General Introduction
The Sixth Form at saltash.net community school attempts to meet the varying demands of young people who have wide-ranging interests, career plans and abilities. In order to do so there are several key features of Sixth Form education at the school. Included amongst them are the following:

• A genuine desire to help each individual student to progress. This is reflected in the
  time devoted to guidance from before the time of applying (in Year 11) through to the
  period following the publication of ‘A' level results.
• A caring but workmanlike atmosphere within which students are encouraged to be
  purposeful and to take responsibility for their own development, with the support of
  their teachers.
• Many opportunities are provided for students to develop their skills and abilities, both in
  and outside of the classroom.

Qualifications required to join the Sixth Form
Clearly, GCSE exam results will have a bearing upon your choice of subjects and, usually,
passes at grades A*-C in at least 5 GCSE subjects are needed to start an ‘A’ level course.
However, some flexibility does exist, dependent upon individual circumstances.
Nevertheless, exam results alone are not the only criteria. Equally important criteria are
that:

• You are genuinely committed to further study.
• You are likely to benefit from and succeed in the course you have agreed to follow.
• You must accept the responsibilities, as well as the privileges, associated with being a
  Sixth Form student at the school.

Courses available in the Sixth Form
The Sixth Form concentrates on offering ‘AS’ level and 'A' level courses, with some
vocational courses being offered in conjunction with other local schools and colleges, the
subjects available being described in detail later in this brochure. With this range of
subjects it is possible to enter any career or university course. Courses will be planned on
a two year basis (i.e. to A level) with the opportunity of gaining 'AS' level qualifications at
the end of Year 12. A flexible individual programme will be devised for each student to
meet national guidelines. However, we anticipate that the majority of students will follow
four AS level courses in Year 12 and they will carry three of these subjects onto A2 level in
Year 13. In addition, all students will follow General Studies at AS level over two years.
After careful consideration and consultation with members of staff you will make your
choice from the following ‘A’ and 'AS' levels:

The only GCSE courses on offer are one year courses in English and Maths; it is not possible to take both.

Approval has also recently been given for the 7 schools and colleges in South East Cornwall to jointly offer post-16 diploma qualifications at levels 1, 2 and 3 from September 2009. Full details are not available at the time of writing the prospectus but will be circulated to students when they are published later in the year.

N.B. Minimum class sizes/course viability
It is the hope and intention of the school to run all of the courses detailed in this prospectus. However, please note that all courses are offered subject to a minimum viable group size as determined by the school governing body. In the event of a course not being able to run, every effort will be made to keep students and parents fully informed of the situation.

Other timetable commitments
In addition to ‘A’ level courses you will be expected to participate in General Studies and in Careers Education. These two courses are designed to help you gain a preparation for adult life beyond school.

General Studies - This involves one lesson a week and the schedule is designed to give you a broader, more balanced education and the opportunity to pursue areas which you might otherwise have to ignore.

It is possible to gain an AS level qualification in General Studies and virtually all students choose to sit the exam, some using it to help them gain entry to university. The remainder discontinue the course after Christmas in Year 13.

Careers Education - This also involves one lesson a week, largely concentrated in the Spring and Summer Terms of Year 12 and the Autumn Term of Year 13. Some work will occur in groups and other work on a one-to-one basis but all is devoted towards planning for careers, Further and Higher Education.

Important aspects of the Careers programme include visits to universities, mock interviews and a week’s work shadowing placement which takes place towards the end of Year 12.

Voluntary Service
Increasingly, a large number of employers and university admission tutors will look at the extra-curricular activities that job/course applicants have pursued. Therefore, although not compulsory, we strongly advise all students to participate in at least one such activity. These activities include voluntary service which is popular with a large number of students.

These often take place within the school but may involve visits to local hospitals, schools and homes for senior citizens. A certificate is awarded to students who successfully participate in regular voluntary service. Other students can seek to gain the Community Sports Leadership Award which is a nationally recognised coaching qualification achieved through working with young students to develop their basic sporting skills.

Sixth Form Council
Students will have the opportunity of contributing to Sixth Form and whole school events through the Sixth Form Council. Each year, polls are held for students to elect Head Students and Tutor Group Representatives to the Sixth Form Council. The main function of the Council is to improve the quality of life within the Sixth Form. As part of this function it arranges events such as the annual Leavers’ Ball and other social activities.

Extra curricular events
There will be many opportunities to participate in a range of activities, all of which are enjoyable and are valuable to students at the time and when making applications for jobs and Higher Education.

Such opportunities have included:
• Work Experience in France and Germany
• Outdoor activities, including Ten Tors
• Young Enterprise
• Ski Holidays
• Surfing Holidays
• Sports Teams
• Business Tycoon Competition
• Drama Productions
• Industry Day
• Foreign Visits
• Young Consumer Competition
• Charity Fund-Raising
• World Challenge
• Driving Awareness Day

Financial Considerations – E.M.A.
Students from a low income family (under £30,000 at present) are eligible for EMA payments based on 100% weekly attendance at lessons; in order to qualify for the £100 bonus students are expected to have achieved an overall high level of attendance plus a ‘satisfactory’ for effort in each subject review. Application forms will be available after Easter from the Sixth Form Office.

PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As one of the senior members of the school you will receive a number of privileges. Nevertheless, having earned those privileges, you are expected not to abuse them. Moreover, you will be expected to accept the responsibilities that inevitably accompany privileges.

The Privileges
Briefly the three main privileges are as follows:

a. Dress Code
There is no Sixth Form uniform. However, the following guidelines should be followed:
• Dress should be clean and in a good state of repair.
• Dress should be suitable for activities of the school day – hats/caps should not be
worn. Shorts (including ¾ length trousers) may only be worn from Easter up until
October half-term. If shorts are worn they should be of respectable length and not
coloured brightly. Low cut, see-through and crop tops should not be worn.
• Clearly, if students are representing the school at an event, for example a parents’
evening, appropriate and smart dress should be worn.
• Jewellery regulations are similar to those of the rest of the school. However a
small nose stud may be worn; no other facial piercings are permitted.
• Again in line with whole school policy, hair should be of natural colour.

b. Facilities
Clearly you will have access to all those facilities available to pupils in Years 7 to 11. In
addition you will have use of the Day Room and of the Sixth Form Careers Library.
Additional I.T. facilities may also be booked during study lessons.

c. Attendance
In Year 12 and Year 13 you will be entitled to study at home during ‘free’ lessons,
provided your attendance at lessons and registration is satisfactory, and your attitude and
effort are positive.

The Responsibilities

a. Behaviour
You will be expected to sign and adhere to the ‘Sixth Form Code of Conduct’. Simply
summarised, the responsibilities are that, as a senior member of the school, you should
set a good example to others in terms of conduct and contribution to school life.

b. Workload
An Advanced Level course programme should not be undertaken lightly. If you are to
profit fully from your course you will have to work very hard both during and outside
lessons:

(1) As a general guide, for each ‘A’ and ‘AS’ Level subject you will need to spend
a least 5 hours a week OUTSIDE of class. Certain subjects give even more specific
guidelines in their description on the following pages.
(2) Do not allow your out of school commitments to affect the time you can devote to
your studies.
(3) Although socialising and earning money from a part-time job are exciting
opportunities, you must not allow them to affect your long-term goal of obtaining
a good job or university place through exam success.

Remember:
• Generally, graduates and people with ‘A’ levels will earn over £200,000 more than
those without such qualifications.
• Students with excessive work commitments (over 10 hours per week) do noticeably
worse in exams than those without such commitments.
• Get the balance right and your time in the Sixth Form will be incredibly rewarding
and enjoyable!

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