Y12 Parents Meeting - Welcome Miss Parrott – Assistant Headteacher/ Director of Sixth Form

The Students – The most important people! Orlagh Doyle – Year 13 having achieved 4 grade A’s in Year 12 with some top tips for success Cameron Longer –Target grade of C at A Level, achieved A*, A*, A, B. How?

Sixth Form Team Director of Sixth Form - Miss Parrott Y12 Tutors –Mr Larner, Miss Roze, Miss Turner, Mrs Bevis & Mrs Roe and Mrs Seifert Sixth Form Support Officer– Mrs Inglis (based in the Aquinas Centre)

Attendance Attend am and pm registration – every day. Less than 90% can mean no progression to Y13 (genuine reasons – importance communication Form tutor) In school all day every day – Contact lessons and Study Time One session Home Study negotiated after first Course Review – excellent Course Reviews, all positives, excellent effort score, excellent attendance Attend at least 90% of all lessons to secure examination entrance Absences – covered by email / letter and call in advance to parent line

Sixth Form Subjects Normally - Three subjects chosen. (Be aware - increased rigour from the exam boards) A Levels 2015 - majority of subjects now reformed. Unreformed subjects – 50% of grade from Year 12 and 50% form Year 13 Btecs – 100% coursework Three choices – possible to combine AS and Btec 3 subjects continued in Y13 – must pass Y12 Btec – interviews July 2016 / grade D in AS subjects

ALPS Target Grades Subject teachers share these with students and measure all work against them These are shared with parents via Course Reviews – monitor progress They are Minimum Target Grade – based on average of all GCSE results achieved. Expectation is that they are exceeded – choosing subjects where students have achieved best results

Assessment / Monitoring PAMS are replaced with Course Reviews - Three per year (include effort score) Places subject to successful completion of summer work (due week commencing 19 September). Be aware some students will have to leave courses if work submitted is not satisfactory – non-negotiable Following Course Reviews - Intervention – Support Meetings / Next Steps Advice targets for all students for all subjects on the Course Reviews

A Level – Reformed Subjects (New from 2015) What does it mean for you? Linear exam (100% of grade) at end of Year 13 – “no banking of points” at the end of Year 12 HOWEVER - Students will sit internal UCAS indicator exams in Year 12 to be able to progress into Year 13. WHY? Support university applications Secure predicted grades Continue with existing successful model AND Preparing students early - increased familiarity with examinations

AS Level – Unreformed Subjects These are Maths, Further Maths, World Development and Media Studies STEP 1 - Students sit AS exams in Year 12 – worth 50% of final grade STEP 2 - Students sit A2 exams in Year 13 - worth 50% of final grade (RESITS AVAILABLE WHEN SITTING A LEVEL EXAMS – impact on workload / stress / time management. Get it right first time round) This could have impacted on your subject choice reformed V unreformed

Btec in Sixth Form 2 year course Worth equivalent of 1 A Level Business/ Travel & Tourism/ Sport Fitness/ IT / Science Continuous Assessment – NO EXAMS Can be combined with A Level programme of study

Exams in Year 12 External AS exams – unreformed subjects UCAS Indicator exams – summer term Btec interviews AIMS: Forecast predicted grades required for university application Secure place on course in Year 13 – have to pass Year 12 with minimum of a D to progress to Year 13

UCAS – how we apply for university Preparation starts Day One Y12 Y12 crucial – grades achieved in Year 12 impact where you can apply (this is where predicted grades come from) Students cannot achieve a grade D in Y12 and think they will be predicted a B for university application Ucas.com – research courses / universities – Dec 16 Speakers – throughout Y12 UCAS convention – Spring Y12 University visits – June 17 onwards Personal Statement writing guidance Y12 – June 17 Parents’ Guide to UCAS and student finance – VLE and evening Y12 References – positive contributions from Day One – numerous opportunities (Prefects, Community Placements, Volunteering)

Dress Code School – Place of work Dignity Respect Pride Dress Code – Form Tutor warning, Director of Sixth warning, sent home

Dress Code BOYS – September 2015 onwards MUST WEAR CAN WEAR MUST NEVER WEAR A tie A smart jumper / cardigan Jeans – including black jeans Smart shoes A suit jacket Skinny-fit trousers A smart shirt (not denim)   Trainers / plimsoles / “Vans” / “Converse” Smart dark coloured trousers / chinos Hoodies Piercings – inc ear-rings

Dress Code GIRLS – September 2015 onwards. MUST WEAR MUST NEVER WEAR A formal smart skirt / dress / trousers/ chinos (skirts must be knee length) Leggings / Jeggings A smart respectable top (not see through and shoulders must be covered) Jeans Smart shoes / smart boots (no UGGS, military style boots) Trainers / plimsoles / “Vans” / “Converse” Plain tights Hoodies   Shorts Body-con skirts

Aquinas Centre – Study Facility Dedicated Sixth Form building Study facility – calm, quiet, peaceful Purposeful working environment Laptops – significant investment – loan system Respect the environment – no eating, no litter, tidy work area No phones in the study room

Sixth Form School Day in Year 12 Students have 6 periods per subject Some subjects run a separate tutorial session in addition 1 period of General RE for all students 2 periods of Sixth Form games (majority of students) A session of community placement time (normally 3 periods) At least 4 periods of designated study time in a set classroom - further reading, research and revision Study time in the Aquinas Centre – until home study earnt

Sixth Form – role models Strive for excellence - Christ like in our actions Adults - respect Freedom V Responsibilty – right choices Dress, conduct – aware how impact on younger years Involvement in School Life Prefects, Senior Prefects, Sixth Form Council

Three of our our past students Student A – average GCSE grade just below a B left Sixth Form with Dist*, B, B – University of Loughborough (Mathematics and Management) Student B – average GCSE grade C left Sixth Form Dist*, Dist*, A – University of Hertfordshire (Primary Education) Student C – average GCSE grade B left Sixth Form with A, B, B – University of Nottingham (Geography) NO SECRET TO THEIR SUCCESS – OTHER THAN COMMITMENT & STRONG WORK ETHIC BUT, Year 12 students 2016 with same point score didn’t achieve minimum entrance requirements for Y13 – now had to leave Sixth Form (University – not the only option – employment / apprenticeships / college courses)

Tips for Success from Y13 Students Be aware Y12 is different Work hard from Day one Communicate concerns EARLY with subject teachers and Form Tutor – here to help Be responsible with the freedom Y12 brings – use free time wisely inc P5, don’t just sit in the lower dining room! Make positive contributions to the School and the Sixth Form – get involved! Check the Sixth Form blog – useful information, be aware of support / opportunities on offer!