What are your choices at the end of year 11? Post 16 Options What are your choices at the end of year 11?

Your Options… Become Sixth Form Student Go to college At the end of year eleven you have various options to choose from. As you know, the school leaving age has been raised so you have to stay in some form of education or training. Here are your options; Become Sixth Form Student Go to college Get an apprenticeship

Becoming a Sixth Form Student We have a variety of courses to offer you at Thomas Becket. There are three different pathways you can take, depending on the grades you achieve at GCSE. Pathway 1: Choose 3 A Level subjects Pathway 2: Choose a combination of A Level subjects and BTECS Pathway 3: Choose 3 Single Award BTEC subjects or 1 Double (Equivalent to 2 A levels) plus 1 other subject or I Extended Award (Equivalent to 3 A levels.) ALL these pathways are LEVEL 3 courses, which means you need to achieve A*- D grades in your GCSEs or at least a 4/5 in the new system depending on your chosen subjects. In addition, ALL students will have to retake English and Maths GCSE in the Sixth Form ,if they do not achieve a grade 4+ in year 11

The Extended Project All Sixth Form students have the opportunity to complete an extended project. This qualification allows you to study a topic of your own choice and is coordinated by the RS faculty in General RS lessons . The benefits of this project are that you will gain a qualification in a topic you are interested in and if you wish to go to university, you will gain additional UCAS points which will strengthen your application. The project is a brilliant opportunity to showcase your research skills and is looked upon very favourably by university admissions tutors.

Leadership Courses At Thomas Becket we offer one accredited leadership course and two non-accredited courses The Higher Sports Leader course is accredited and gives UCAS points. Tonight there are Sixth Formers, who are currently completing this course available to talk to you. Some of our Sixth Formers choose to follow a Literacy or Numeracy course, where they help students in main school with their Maths and English. You can also choose an EAL Leadership course to help students improve their English skills. These courses demonstrate your leadership qualities and are fantastic for your C.V.s and UCAS applications, should you chose to apply to university.

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award This award has been running for five years with over seventy Thomas Becket students taking part. The Award has three levels – Bronze, Silver and Gold which are all offered to our students. As well as the very popular expedition section, where our students plan and prepare for a group walking and camping expedition, students become involved in undertaking voluntary work too. The Award is fun, progressive and demanding, enabling students to develop their initiative and maturity.

How will you make your decision? Tonight is part of an ongoing process of information, advice and guidance. To find out about the courses and which are right for you, you will need to; Talk to Mrs Chubb and relevant subject teachers Have a look at the Thomas Becket Sixth Form Options Guide on the school website so you can do some research . Then, if you have any questions you can ask them in January 2017 at the Post 16 Information Day or email Mrs Chubb to make an appointment before that date. Email me on ruthc@thomasbecket.org.uk You could also begin researching the subjects you are interested in, how they combine and what they could lead to in the future.

Applying to Thomas Becket On the 14th and 15th of January 2013 (depending on your band) you will be attending the Post 16 Choices Conference. During the conference there will be a variety of workshops; You will be able to discuss your future at Thomas Becket with Mrs Chubb and complete a Sixth Form application. This will lead to an interview in February/March where your course choices will be finalised. Your mock examination results will guide this discussion. Some students will talk to the Connexions officer about college applications or apprenticeships. Everybody will be given a session on writing a CV, applying to college or Sixth Form and interview techniques.

Life at Thomas Becket Sixth Form We have some students who are going to tell you about aspects of Sixth Form life that may be new to you: New subjects, for example Psychology, Football Academy and CACHE. Facilities & Resources Expectations Guidance, Monitoring and Intervention

Mock Exams We have made the decision to combine this evening with advice for your mock preparation. Obviously your mock exams are a very important indicator and will help you and staff make the right decisions about your future. Whilst the mock exam results are important, the final decisions about your future will be made when you receive your GCSE results in August 2017. Staff will be in school to give you any help and guidance you may require. Finally, we would like to welcome you into the Activities Hall where there are representatives from each department which offers a subject you can study in the Sixth Form. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions you may have either to the subject tutors or to myself in order to clarify any issues or concerns.