What If I Find Sixth Form Difficult?
Your Form Tutor, with the knowledge, skills and experience of providing advice and guidance for young people, will often be your first line of support. If you are finding the subjects difficult then your Form Tutor will explore with you and your teachers what support might help, or help to review your courses with you. The Sixth Form Heads of Year are also an important source of support.
Will I Be Able to Change Subjects Once I Start?
Yes. We ask students to remain in subjects for the first week to ensure you give them a chance before providing a three week zone in September where we allow students to change subjects. This is dependent upon there being places available in the subjects you would like to change to, and you must have the right subject specific entry requirements. Finally, we arrange for you to sit in on a lesson just to ensure you know what the new subject entails.
How Many Subjects Will I Study?
If studying A-levels, you will study three A-levels unless agreed at enrolment that you may study four.
If studying applied qualifications you can choose to study different combinations such as:
• BTEC/CTEC Extended Diploma = (three A-level equivalent).
• BTEC/CTEC Diploma = (two A-level equivalent).
• BTEC/CTEC Extended Certificate = (one A-level equivalent).
• UAL Awarding Body Diploma = (one A-level equivalent).
• UAL Awarding Body Extended Diploma = (three A-level equivalent).
• WJEC Diploma = (one A-level equivalent).
• V Level = (one A-level equivalent).
• T Level = (three A-level equivalent).
Your applied programme must add up to the equivalent of three A-levels. It is also possible to study a mixture of applied courses and A-level courses but we will give further advice at enrolment. Colleges and schools within the Trust offer a varying range of A-level and applied qualifications and these are detailed in the prospectus.
If you have not achieved Level 4 in GCSE Mathematics then you will be enrolled into a GCSE resit course alongside your other three courses.
Alongside their courses, students will be enrolled into our weekly Future Ready programme and some independent study periods may also be timetabled.
What Is The Difference Between A-levels and Applied General Qualifications?
All our courses are level 3 courses, which means they are A-levels or A-level equivalents, and all of them support progression to university.
A-levels are predominantly assessed by exams. Although some A-levels have some coursework, this is usually a relatively small element of the assessment.
In contrast, in Applied qualifications (BTEC, UAL Awarding Body, WJEC, V level) coursework usually makes up a more substantial part of the qualification, alongside mandatory exams or controlled assessments. Students studying T-Level courses will also undertake a significant amount of work placement as a formal part of the qualification.
This means that if you are better suited to a combination of coursework and exams rather than solely exams, applied courses could be a good option for you.
How Will Sixth Form Help Me Choose my Subjects?
Because this is as important to us as it is to you, we provide as much quality advice and guidance as possible before enrolling onto your chosen subjects. This process is made up of four stages.
- Firstly, our sixth form open evening is centred around subject choices. Both our staff and current students are available to give advice and answer questions, whether you would like a member of staff’s perspective or the view of our current students.
- You will then be invited to an interview with our experienced interviewers where subject choices and career ambitions will be discussed.
- You will then be invited to attend our Offer Holder Day once you have left school in July.
- Finally, at enrolment, you will have an interview which again will focus on your subject choices, but this time will take into account the GCSEs you have achieved.
When Does the Sixth Form Day Start and Finish?
Lessons start at 8.50am and finish at 2.55pm on most days. However, your day will depend on your timetable.
Your timetable is likely to consist of lessons for your courses, your Future Ready sessions, and in some cases may include some timetabled study periods. Additionally, you will have a timetabled morning guidance session with your Form Tutor several days a week. You will also have a number of fully independent study periods – in most cases you can choose whether to remain on site for these.
For example, if your first timetabled activity of the day is period 2, then you will not be expected to be in school until then, unless you decide to come in voluntarily, provided you don’t have a morning guidance session that day.
Students may sometimes be asked to attend Period 6 lessons at the end of the school day.
