Life in the Sixth Form

Sixth Form Values & Expectations 

As well as the school values of Respect, Justice and Service, the sixth form prides itself in ensuring the following values are upheld.  

Kindness: look to support and help others, show empathy and consider how someone else might be feeling  

Gratitude: demonstrate an attitude of thankfulness towards your peers, staff, family and the wider community.  

Scholarship: using study to enhance your understanding and ability to perform, analyse, argue and invent.  

Code of Conduct: at Sixth Form we give you values to live up to rather than rules to follow. As a member of sixth form, we expect you to support our values and vision by living up to our principles: 

We work hard 

We work together  

We are open, honest and kind 

We respect each other and our school 

We contribute to the our community  

We are leaders and show positivity to others 

                                                        Learning at KS5

The jump from GCSE to A level is the biggest academic jump you will ever make. It is critical that you enter the sixth form with your eyes wide open and realise that most of the work you will do in sixth form has to be done outside of your taught lessons. You must be doing the homework set for you and at least 5 hour per week per subject outside of school. You will need to plan your study periods and free periods to make sure you are using your time wisely. It is critical that you use your Science for Learning enrichment sessions and your revision revolution booklets to explore how to learn at sixth form effectively. We will do everything we can to support you in this jump however it is critical that you help yourself too.  

Here is some advice from the outgoing year 13s to you are enter year 12 & year 13:  

Attendance and Punctuality at Sixth form 

All students should aim for 100% full attendance. It is factually proven that attendance below 95% significantly reduces the likelihood that a student will achieve targets for which they are more than capable of. By not being in front of their teachers' students will not get quality learning and have to rely upon uploaded resources and textbooks which do not give the same quality of input that a teacher can. If we notice that your absence falls below 95% we will send a level 1 letter home, if it does not increase in the next half term and level 2 concern letter will be sent home. If we do not see an increase at this point we will request a parent meeting and you will be placed on an attendance card if your attendance is below 90%.  

Punctuality is also critical to success. It demonstrates good time management skills and shows self discipline. Students must ensure that:  

· They are at the appropriate classroom no later than 9.10, 11.10 or 1.40pm - i.e. the start time of each lesson. 

· Students must arrive to school by 8.45 each morning.  

To monitor punctuality, we have a system called Friday catch up. We recognise that things happen, and lateness can occur. Students are allowed two incidents of lateness in a week. If they receive more than two incidents of lateness they will be given a Friday catch up detention. This will involve students giving back time to the school community, cleaning the sixth form common room from 3.20-4pm.  

Absences and protocol on return to school  

If you are not in school, you must have a justifiable reason, and your parent/ carer should telephone the school before 8.40am on the day of your absence. If you are absent, you must contact the teachers whose lessons you have / will miss and ensure that you complete any work missed. It is your responsibility to catch up on missed work.  

Leave of absence requests 

To request a leave of absence you need to collect a ‘leave of absence’ form from reception, the common room or outside the sixth form study room and the form should be returned at least one week before the date of absence. Sixth Formers will be given up to two leave of absence requests to visit universities. The form must include evidence of the event. This will need to be handed in to HOY who will then sign and give to the Head Teacher for approval.  

Students who have a medical appointment do not need to complete a leave of absence but must let our attendance office know via the school office and send evidence of this appointment.