Why Sixth Form? A Short Guide Staff Miss Atkinson: Vice Principal - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Why Sixth Form?

A Short Guide

Staff

• Miss Atkinson: Vice Principal Teaching and Learning
• Mr Hare: Head of Sixth Form
• Mrs Evans: Careers & Guidance
• Miss Wightman: Head of Year 12
• Mr Montgomery Senior Teacher in charge of Timetable

Important Dates

• Student Options Introduction 19th January
• Parent Information Evening 19th January - 7pm
• Options Afternoon Wednesday 21st January 1.30 –

3.30 – parents are welcome

• Interview Request by 2nd February
• Parent/teacher meeting 4th February
• One to One interviews 26th & 27th Feb
• Decision making time 24th Jan – 1st March
• Option forms handed into your form tutor on or

before 2nd March– this deadline must be met

What do I know about Sixth Form?

• Post 16 Study
• Two year course
• Two types of A Level
• Mix and Match Choices
• Qualification for Higher
• r Further Education
• Access to a professional career

What are the advantages?

• Offers more time to decide what students want

to do in the long term!

• Offers a pathway to future studies and careers
• Allows students to pursue subjects that they

have enjoyed at GCSE or to pursue new interests

• Gives opportunities to acquire more life skills
• Develops confidence and independence

What is the alternative?

• Leave school at 16
• Enter the workforce
• Pursue Further Education (Belfast Metropolitan

College)

• Vocational route
• Apprenticeships

Why are A Levels a good idea?

• Opportunity to go to University or enter FE at a

higher level

• Gives an advantage in the market place for jobs
• Gives access to a better paid job
• Gives better career choices

Why are A Levels at Lagan a good idea?

• Teachers and students know each other
• Students are comfortable with their

environment

• Range of subjects offered
• Extremely high quality of teaching and learning
• Excellent results - consistently above NI average

for A* grades at A2 level in a number of subjects

• Top performing candidates in Northern Ireland

Enrichment

Students will have the opportunity to participate in a range of enrichment activities – these build up life skills and enrich the students Post 16 curriculum. Students can choose from:

• Young Enterprise
• Sentinus
• First Aid
• Sign Language
• Personal Safety
• Mandarin Chinese
• European Awareness
• Uni Survival

Extra Curricular

• Mediation
• Mentoring
• Wide range of sports : Football, Basketball,

Hockey, Netball

• Volunteering
• John Paul ll Award
• Prefect team
• World Challenge

A Level Choice

• Choice of 25
• 19 General A Levels:

History, Maths, Geography, RE

• 6 Applied A Levels:

Business Studies, Health & Social Care, Moving Image Arts

What are the main differences between General and Applied A Levels?

• Both types of A Level are equal in value
• General A Levels are more academic and

exam based

• Applied A Levels can be more practical in

nature and are assessed differently having a mixture of exams and assignments

Applied A Levels Single or Double Award

Double Award Applied A Levels are equal to 2 General A Levels and are counted as separate A Levels for University/UCAS purposes Applied A Levels have their own entry

• requirements. (Identified in Sixth Form options

booklet)

A Level Choice

Changes to some A Levels

• AS and A2 are no longer linked in England which

impacts on 2 subjects in Lagan

• Art & Design & Sociology become a full 2 year

course with no AS level exams. The full grade comes from exams at the end of Year 14.

• No AS grade gained

Year 13 Entry Requirements

To study 3 A Levels

• 5 Passes at GCSE A* - C, one of which must be

English Language, English Literature or Maths.

• To study 4 A Levels
• 7 Passes at GCSE A* - C, one of which must be

English Language, English Literature or Maths – minimum of 24 points from GCSE grades.

Year 13 Entry Requirements

• Students with the highest GCSE score – will be considered in

descending order - an applicant’s GCSE score being calculated on the basis of GCSE results as follows:

• A* - 4 points
• A – 3 points
• B – 2 points
• C – 1 point
• A Grade B in the subject to be

studied at A Level

Additional Criteria

• Good attendance record
• Good behaviour and attitude
• Good uniform
• Commitment shown to the College

Admissions

• Approximately 110 places
• Strong Competition
• Lagan College Students who meet the

requirements, will be given priority over students applying from other schools

How many A Levels may be taken?

• It is possible to take 4 A Levels, If students have

a minimum of 24 points from GCSE results

• Most students take 3 A Levels
• Students can mix and match General with

Applied A Levels

Can students take only 2 A Levels?

• It is not possible to study 2 A Levels unless

there are exceptional circumstances.

Career Profiles

• If I was interested in a career in Business but wanted to

travel, what should I study?

• Business Studies Double Award
• Spanish or French

Career Profile

• If I was interested in Journalism, what should I

study?

• You could study English Literature, Sociology and

History

• r

Politics, RE and Geography

What do I need to take for professions like….

• Medicine
• A Level Chemistry & Biology
• A Level Maths is very useful
• 4 AS subjects required

What do I need to take for professions like….

• Engineering
• A Level Maths is compulsory
• Chemistry or Physics or both

Primary School Teacher

• 3 Academic A Levels

Or

• Mixture of Academic with Applied A Levels

But not

• Simply Applied A Levels

Application Process?

• Options Forms given out
• Identify preferred choices from a list
• Rank order choices ( 1 -3)
• Include a Reserve choice

What happens in August?

• Students come to school to collect
• results.
• Those who meet the requirements

with no changes to subject choices will collect an acceptance pack.

• Those who meet the requirements

with changes to subject choices will have the opportunity to do this – timetable allowing

What happens in August?

• Students who do not meet all of the criteria, for

automatic acceptance, will be asked to attend a guidance interview before leaving the school.

• We aim to let all students know if they have been

given a place by the end of the results day.

• Representatives from the Careers Dept and Careers

Service will be in school to offer support and guidance.

• All students should have a “Plan B”

What if I really don’t know what I want to do as a career….

• Students should:
• Choose subjects that keep options open
• Choose subjects that they like
• Choose subjects that marry well together

What should I do now?

• Support the students in meeting the

demands of their GCSE courses

• Work with them to ensure they get the best

grades possible

• Encourage them to work hard
• Look at all alternatives offered for students

at Post 16.

Important Dates

• Student Options Introduction 19th January
• Parent Information Evening 19th January - 7pm
• Options Afternoon Wednesday 21st January 1.30 –

3.30 – parents are welcome

• Interview Request by 2nd February
• Parent/teacher meeting 4th February
• One to One interviews 26th & 27th Feb
• Decision making time 24th Jan – 1st March
• Option forms handed into your form tutor on or

before 2nd March– this deadline must be met