Parents’ Welcome Evening

At Ashton Sixth Form College… Our vision is… To be an outstanding college and pursue excellence Our mission and core values include… A focus upon learners To inspire learners, enrich lives and foster a love of learning

College success Another really good year at the college... Record numbers of students stayed on course and achieved – our highest ever!

Headline results – A Levels Our A Level pass rate is 99% and has improved this year Many students achieved high grades on A level programmes Over 70% of students achieved A*-C grades on A level programmes So.... high pass rates and high grades were achieved across A level programmes

Headline results - Vocational Excellent vocational results across all levels / programme areas The majority of students on our level 2 and level 3 vocational Diploma, Extended Diploma and Certificate programmes achieved Merit, Distinction or Distinction* grades So… high pass rates and high grades were achieved across all subjects

So we have a lot to celebrate! Our results are the best ever We had a very good Ofsted report – we are officially a good college with many outstanding features (and bucking a national trend of “down-grading”) We have beaten every single college in the country to become the BTEC College of the Year We have been awarded the Investors in People Gold Award for our people management and people development strategies – we invest in our staff so that both staff and students reap the benefits We have been chosen to be the northern link for Pembroke College, Oxford.

Monitoring progress We take your son/daughter’s GCSE grades and use them to predict what they should expect to achieve on completion of their course if they were the average student at the average college This will be their National Average Grade (NAG) and your son/daughter will be expected to perform to that grade as a minimum But we don’t think your son/daughter is the average student… and we’re not the average college!

Monitoring progress Your son/daughter’s target grade will be agreed with their teachers Nobody will have a target grade less than a D on A level These are set to provide stretch and challenge and ensure our students achieve the very best they possibly can

Subject Progress Reviews with teachers Monitoring interviews with Senior Tutor Target setting and monitoring Reports to parents containing academic and effort grades, attendance and punctuality Contact home by Senior Tutors where needed Parents’ Consultation Evening Monitoring progress

Aiming High We use an on-line tracking tool called ‘Pro-Monitor’ –mark book –attendance & punctuality –formal assessment grades –record of progress meetings and interviews with students –any concerns flagged –commendations Pro-Monitor is used by staff, students and parents Once per term, there will be a formal review period where students will be told, and discuss, their effort grades, attendance and progress grades and negotiate action plans. We want students to be pro-active in using the system and to take control of their learning and progress.

The Sixth Form experience…what’s it all about? Enjoy Achieve Enrich Aspire Progress Students don’t ‘fall into’ sixth form

How? Student Parents College 3 way partnership

For students Full attendance – to all lessons, tutorials, support sessions, ALS support (if appropriate). - Ensure absences are fully authorised before 8.50am - Produce appointment cards/hospital letters Keep part-time jobs to a maximum of 10 hours per week Complete all set homework - a minimum of 3 hours per subject per week (A-Level students) or 10 hours per week (vocational students) Early preparation for examinations Participate in the Enrichment programme Listen out for, take up all appropriate opportunities

For parents… Support and Encourage Check …. Nag Use college systems - authorise absences - Liaise with tutors/subject teachers where appropriate

For college…. Support at ASFC has been rated highly by OFSTED Personal, academic, careers and ALS support have been deemed highly effective Our role in relation to our ‘Learner’ adults

Progression to the next academic year At least 90% attendance Good effort grades & behavioural record Good workrate Attendance at, and preparation for, all exams Successful completion of all the year’s coursework Passing at least 3 AS’s (grade E or above – some require grade D) A recommendation from Heads of Department

Support At ASFC College Counselling Service Senior Tutors Ashton XL Careers Guidance Programme Well stocked Library/LRC Careers & Connexions advice Student Peer Mentor Service Supervised study Chaplaincy Aspiration schemes ALS

A Success Story … Jonathan GCSE Score: 7.7 (A / A*) Course: 5 A Levels Minimum Target Grade: AAAAA Attendance: 97% Grades: A A A*A* A* (Computing, General Studies, Maths and Further Maths, Physics) Destination: Mathematics at Cambridge University

A Success Story … Dinesh GCSE Score: 5.80 (A’s, B’s & C’s) Course: 3 A levels Minimum Target Grade: CCC Attendance: 98% Grades: BBC (Biology, Chemistry and ICT) Destination: Pharmacy at Liverpool John Moores University

A Success Story … Catherine GCSE Score: 4.6 (mainly Cs) Course: BTEC Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Minimum Target Grade: MMM Attendance: 96% A Level Grades: D* D* D* Destination: Performing Arts / Musical Theatre at University of Central Lancashire