Year 12 Parents’ Information Evening September 15th 2016

Our Sixth Form Aims To ensure students maximise their potential To provide the best teaching possible To support students now and for their future To nurture and develop students within an inclusive Catholic community ‘Work hard, play hard, pray hard’

THE SCHOOL WEEK Two week timetable Three assemblies per week c.15 hours of subject lessons 1 hour of General R.E. Compulsory Games - Wednesday pm Floating tutor period

STUDY TIME Study periods in school Study areas in Sixth Form block Free classrooms in Sixth Form block New Study Centre with Learning Mentor ICT classrooms and Sports Science room Library

STUDY HABITS Quality and quantity !! 3 hours minimum per night… Quiet area at home Make use of Sixth Form Block (Study Club) Weekends are also vital Not too much paid employment Avoid distractions (Xbox, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram…)

The Major Obstacle ?

ESTABLISHING A ROUTINE Summer study booklet Know what is expected Adjust to new teaching methods Set high standards Be organised Complete necessary reading and research Use Campion Planner Record work and due date Plan what to do each night Meet deadlines Parent to sign weekly

KEYS TO SUCCESS Motivated Involved in class Seeks guidance Meets deadlines Reads widely Uses a broad range of resources Refers to specifications and mark schemes Works towards challenging targets

UNFULFILLED POTENTIAL On the wrong course! Not transitioning to independent study Lack of focus, application and pride in work Failure to meet deadlines Inadequate communication with teachers Poor punctuality and attendance

Expectations, opportunities and privileges Targets (MEGs and AGs) Achievement and Behaviour comments Uniform – role models Privileges Phones Signing out More flexible food service

Pastoral Care Pastoral team Bursaries – Mrs Dobbins Mr Dempsey, Head of Year 12 Form tutors (10 groups, c.20 students) Mrs Peters - Learning Mentor Miss Tennison - Pastoral Support Officer Mrs Kennett – Student Welfare Officer Other support services and staff Bursaries – Mrs Dobbins

Year 12 Assessment Calendar November 4th Academic Review 1 November 30th Main Parents’ Evening January 3rd Winter examinations February 6th School report issued March 14th Academic Review 2 Mid May/June Public/Mock examinations Mid June Begin Year 13 work. Start of UCAS process. August 17th Results published

Community Life OAPs’ Christmas party School trips Charity work Retreats Open Evening – 29th Sept. Careers Day– 7th July Subject prefects and prefects Peer mentors Supervision of discos School trips Sports teams Music Chaplaincy Stage crew

A Three Way Contract Campion Planner Prioritising Rising to demands of new study regime Communicating concerns - via parent portal Being supported and being supportive ‘Auctore Deo’ – ‘The Enterprise is of God’

Studying in the Sixth Form GCE Advanced Level Courses

A Levels Usually 3 subjects in Year 12 (Most have 2 modules per subject) Usually 3 subjects in Year 13 (Most have 2 further modules) A handful of exceptions to the above Opportunity to do Extended Project Qualif.

A Level reforms Since Sept 2015, over a three year period examinations are moving to a linear format (i.e. public exams at end of two years, not modular) AS and A2 exams are also in the process of being de-coupled so that each is taken independently of the other (i.e. they are separate qualifications)

New style? Old style? Art Biology Business Studies Chemistry Computer Science Economics English Literature History Physics Geography RE Music PE Maths Further Maths Classics Politics Design

Public examinations - ‘new style’ Summer session assessment only Pass grades from A* to E Assessment usually by written examination, except in subjects where other methods are appropriate (History, PE, Design or Computer Science)

Campion Assessment Half termly assessment / Tracker sheet Winter ‘in house’ examinations, straight after Christmas Summer ‘in house’ examinations for all ‘new style’ subjects, at approximately the same time as the public examinations for the remaining 5 ‘old style’ AS levels (late May / early June) Success in summer examinations (both public and ‘in house’) will determine students’ entry into Year 13.

GCSE vs A Levels Grade GCSE (%) A-Level (%) A* 78 90 A 63 75 B 48 66 C 35 55 D 20 47 E N/A 40

Getting to know the course Students must make themselves aware of: Examination Board (OCR, AQA, EDEXCEL) Download specification Scheme of Work / Programmes of Study Methods of Assessment: Exams / Practicals / Coursework Unit weightings

Managing learning Ownership of learning and results Targets Minimum Expected Grades - MEGs Aspirational Grades - AGs Communication with teachers Asking the right questions Using feedback (verbal and written) How can I improve ?

Year 12 Assessment Calendar November 4th Academic Review 1 November 30th Main Parents’ Evening January 3rd Winter examinations February 6th School report issued March 14th Academic Review 2 Mid May/June Public/Mock examinations Mid June Begin Year 13 work. Start of UCAS process. August 17th Results published