St Michaels Catholic High School Sixth Form We hope you enjoyed our - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

St Michael’s Catholic High School Sixth Form

We hope you enjoyed our student guide to the Sixth Form. We will be around to answer any questions after the presentation.

St Michael’s Catholic High School Sixth Form

Welcome From The Sixth Form Team

Headteacher / Line Manager of Sixth Form Mr Conway Assistant Headteacher / Director of Sixth Form Miss Parrott Sixth Form Support Officer Mrs Inglis Specialist Sixth Form Tutor Team Mrs Bevis, Ms Doherty, Mrs Jones, Mr Larner, Mr O’Callaghan, Mrs Power, Mrs Roe, Miss Roze, Mrs Seifert, Miss Turner

WHY ST MICHAEL’S?

THE EDUCATION OF THE WHOLE PERSON IN A RELIGIOUS CONTEXT

• Ofsted 2014: “The leadership and management of the sixth form is
• utstanding.”
• Ofsted 2014: “An increasing number gain entry to Russell Group universities.”
• Ofsted 2014: “Level 3 results are well above the national average. “
• Ofsted 2014: “Sixth form students make a significant contribution to school life

and set a good example to younger students. They have high aspirations.”

• Ofsted 2014: “The quality of teaching and learning is outstanding. Students

develop the good study skills required at university.”

• Diocese inspection 2013: “..very clear, caring and considerate leadership of the

Headteacher serves to inspire others”

• Diocese inspection 2013: “.. Purposeful learning environment around the

school.”

ST MICHAEL’S SIXTH FORM FACTS

• 80% of A LEVEL grades are A*-C - above National average
• A continuing trend of high numbers of A*-A passes – just under 20%
• f our grades were A*-A in 2017.
• 2012 – 2017 : Overwhelming majority of Y13 students continue to

gain entrance to their first / second choice university. Over 90% of

• ur students progress to university.
• In 2017 over 3/4 of our Btec grades were Distinction / Distinction*.
• Majority of our A Level subject results are above National averages

– over 60% of subjects taught here are 15% above National average WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE ST MICHAEL’S – let’s start with our academic results

• Not just raw results, our students actually

make more progress than expected

• You can compare progress made in other

local Sixth Forms

• FACT: our students make more progress than

those in other local Sixth Forms.

WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE ST MICHAEL’S – our students make more progress!

THE VAST MAJORITY IN YEAR 11, AND THE PROSPECTIVE NEW STUDENTS, SHOULD SEE ST MICHAEL’S AS THE NATURAL PROGRESSION. IF …

• You are willing to commit to working hard – inside and outside of lesson
• You have bought into our ethos so far throughout Year 7-11 and willing to

continue to embrace this going forward

• You have made positive contributions to our school community
• You have an excellent attendance record
• You consistently score 2.25 or less in PARS effort score – positive attitude to

learning

WHY ST MICHAEL’S?

• Subject Contact evening 29 November – advice
• Grade Indicator exams are IMPORTANT – are you approaching them

in the right way?

• Sixth Form Interviews early 2018 – discuss subjects open to you based
• n your GI results.
• GCSE exams – will you respond to advice from teachers to improve?
• GCSE results – advice post results available, what do your results mean

you can study? Difficult conversations. Be aware of what APS / grade you need for what you want to do.

• GCSE results are the ONLY examination results universities will see –

literally doors will be closed to you based on how you perform in Year 11

Importance of Year 11

My advice:

ONLY ONE CHANCE TO GET THIS RIGHT – DON’T WASTE IT!!

Importance of Year 11

WHY ST MICHAEL’S?

CURRICULUM REFORM THE NATIONAL PICTURE

A LEVEL REFORMS – what it means for

• ur students
• As of September 2016 students have been opting for 2 year

courses – A Level or Btec.

• All students entering Sixth Form must have 5 passes grade 4 or

above including Maths and English Language at grade 5 for A Level and at 4 for Btec courses.

• PLUS meet the subject specific entrance criteria for their 3 chosen

subjects.

A LEVEL REFORMS – what it means for

• ur students
• September 2017 - vast majority of students will start with 3

subjects

• Students with an Average Point Score above 7 can opt to study

4 subjects

• Students must have an Average Point Score of 5 to start one A

Level course, of 5.5 to start two A Level courses, or 6 to start 3 A Level courses – as well as meeting the subject specific criteria.

OUR SIXTH FORM CURRICULUM OFFER

• To return to Sixth Form students must

meet the criteria for 3 subjects

Then they will be able to access a curriculum which

• ffers:
• Breadth and Balance
• Diversity and Flexibility
• Progression for All

CORE CURRICULUM

• Religious Education
• Sixth Form Games

(For the majority of students)

PROPOSED ROUTES OF STUDY

• A Levels – terminal exams after two years of study
• BTEC Level 3 qualifications – each worth one A Level

(Continuous assessment and externally examined units)

• Students secure places in Year 13 based on their Year

12 Btec external examination results and Year 12 UCAS indicator exams – huge importance of getting Year 12 right. Predicted grades for university based on Year 12.

THE NEW REFORMED A LEVELS – the story so far

• Linear exam (100% of grade) at end of Year 13 – no longer able to

bank points at the end of Year 12

• Increased subject content and increased level of difficulty
• Students will continue to sit internal exams in Year 12

WHY?

• Support university applications – universities continue to support

formal exams in Year 12

• Secure predicted grades

A LEVELS

• 2 year courses
• REFORMED -

100% of grade comes from Y13 exams

• 2016 onwards 3

subjects will normally be chosen

• Minimum entrance requirement:

5 x Grade 4 at GCSE including Maths and English Language at GRADE 5 + Minimum Average Point Score of 5 for one A Level + Minimum Average Point Score of 5.5 for two A Levels + Minimum Average Point Score of 6 for three A Levels + MINIMUM Grade in the specified subject.

• Effort score of less than 2.25

AFTER 2 Years in Sixth Form -

• Progression to university or employment

Vocational Courses in Sixth Form

• 2 year course - worth equivalent of 1 A Level –

same UCAS points

A Level Btec A* Dist * A Dist C Merit

Vocational Courses in Sixth Form

• Business/ Applied Law/ Sport / IT and Finance / Applied Science /

Digital Media

• Can be combined with A Level programme of study – increasingly

common

• To start courses 5 x Grade 4 at GCSE including Maths and

English Language at grade 4and meet each subject specific requirement

• Offers progression to university degree in related areas or

employment

• MYTH – Btecs prevent you from applying to good universities

PROGRESSION ROUTES – all students can access universities / apprenticeships

5 GCSEs grade 4 or above inc Maths and English Language grade 4 AND meeting the entrance criteria for 3 subjects 5 GCSEs grade 4 or above inc Maths and English Language grade 5 , an Average Point Score over 5 / 5.5 / 6. Mainly 6’s and Minimum Grade required in subject to be studied

BTEC 2 Years A Level 2 Years ‘Merit / Distinction’

Universities / employment

Good Passes = Access to Universities / employment Entry Requirements

Possible to combine A Levels and Btec courses

WHY ST MICHAEL’S?

APPROPRIATE SUBJECT CHOICES – CHOOSE CAREFULLY Why choose a subject?

• Because you are good at it
• Because you have researched what it is about and are interested
• Because it will help you to achieve what you want to in terms of future plans –

job / university / apprenticeship

• Considered style of assessment – Btec, reformed A Levels, reformed A Levels with

coursework

• NOT because your friends have chosen it / your parents want you to do the

subject

• KEY IS RESEARCH, ASK QUESTIONS, SEEK GUIDANCE TO MAKE WISE CHOICES

Let’s hear what the most important people have to say – the students

• David Aniebonam Head Boy

Transition Y11-Y12

• Tara Pelley Head Girl

Opportunities, support on offer and equipping you for life after Y13

• Eva Woods Y12 and Caitlin O’Reilly Y13

Why they came back in Y12 and didn’t opt for other Sixth Forms

STUDENT VIEWS

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES – OUR EXPECTATIONS

• Catholic Community
• School Community – role model
• Positive attitude to learning – work ethic
• High expectations – Sixth Form Contract
• Sixth Form Dress Code – renegotiated via student

voice June 2017

• Full Attendance – min 90% exam entrance
• Use of Private Study Time
• Course Review – how to improve and support

strategies

• Meeting Deadlines

AMAZING PASTORAL LIFE

• 2 Stage Induction (June 2018, September 2018)
• Academic Mentoring (Mentoring for Y13 to at least meet

Minimum Target Grades)

• Community placements
• Prefect and Senior Prefect opportunities
• “Buddying” Y7 students
• Peer mentoring – academic and social needs
• Environmental Council
• Visiting speakers – wide range of current affair topics
• University visits
• Apprenticeship links
• Interview advice – jobs, apprenticeships, university
• Involvement in whole school life – wide range of opportunities

Our USP – PASTORAL CARE AND SUPPORT WE OFFER

• Two advice and guidance interviews prior to starting Sixth Form –

Post GI results, September 2018

• Availability for drop-in advice throughout Year 11
• Sixth Form students visit form time in Year 11
• Post results advice service for GCSE and A Level students – written

documents and staff available in school

• Induction - July 2018 (including taster lessons)
• High quality, experienced and trained Sixth Form tutors
• Visiting speakers – wide range throughout Sixth Form
• Unifrog – log skills and research
• UCAS support – personal statement, sign up
• Apprenticeship links
• Interview advice – jobs, apprenticeships, university
• Academic Mentoring

APPLICATION TIMELINE

• Step one - Read the prospectus, research courses and ask questions
• November / December 2017

PARS and Subject Contact Evening Grade Indicator exams Complete application form (Don’t submit subject choices) Return to Miss Parrott via the school office by Friday 8 December

• January/ February 2018

Grade Indicator exam results APR Day – discuss realistic choices with Form Tutor Drop in choices Surgery with Miss Parrott Interviews with Sixth Form team / Senior team week commencing 29th January Return preferences form after the interview to school office by Friday 9 February (Applications received after the deadlines may not be considered) (We will request references for all external applicants – deadline for application 12 January)

APPLICATION TIMELINE

February 2018 – March 2018 Preferences process Unconditional offers – based on Grade Indicator results Provisional places offered

• subject to meeting our entrance requirements and subject grades

All places provisional until after Course Review 1 27 JUNE 2017 Induction part one and issue summer tasks– compulsory, this in the offer letter 23 August 2018 GCSE Results Easier if you are here for results day! Avoid taking holidays on GCSE results day –alleviate stress by being here. Post results student advice days - very successful initiative More information to follow for dates for 2018 September 2018 Sixth Form Choices Fayre – enrolment and course choice and guidance interviews