1. Welcome to Malmesbury School Sixth Form
Sixth Form Evening
Welcome to Malmesbury School
Sixth Form

2. “To be a happy, caring and excellent community.”
Vision Statement
“To be a happy, caring and excellent community.”

3. “The sixth form is outstanding
“The sixth form is outstanding. Attainment is significantly above average and students make outstanding progress.”
“Robust assessment procedures ensure that any students identified as underachieving have swift intervention with individually tailored programmes that enable them to ‘catch up’ quickly and to make progress in line with their capability.”

4. The Sixth Form Team Tutors: Maggie Beggs Beth Calland
Debbie Corscadden
Sue Dolton
David Hunt
Elizabeth Main
Huw Rees
Sam Richardson
Dale Topson
Mr Andrew Backwell – Head of Sixth Form
Ms Elizabeth Main – Academic Leader (Yr12)
Ms Ziska Hanks – Academic Leader (Yr13)
Mrs Sarah Haines – Assistant Head KS5

5. What is different? Students make decisions that influence their future
Greater expectations on the student to develop own learning and show independence
Greater opportunities to get involved in school and local community

6. A Changing Landscape
This means that students are likely to be studying a mixture of legacy and new qualifications.
If students get the grades in their AS Levels they progress from Yr12 into Yr13
This year is the second phase of a 3 year move to new A Level qualifications.
A* grade available at A Level for a student with a 90% unit average score at A2 level
Most students focus on 3 A Levels in Yr13

7. The Linear AS and A Levels
Phase 1
Taught from Sept 2015
art and design
biology
business & economics
chemistry
English language
English literature
history
physics
psychology
sociology
Phase 2
Taught from Sept 2016
ancient languages
(Latin)
dance
drama and theatre
geography
modern foreign languages
(French, German, Spanish)
music
physical education
religious studies
Phase 3
Taught from Sept 2017
creative writing
design and technology
film studies
further mathematics
general studies
government and politics
ICT
mathematics
media studies
music technology

8. How are qualifications changing?
Legacy A Levels
New A Levels
Mixture of modular and linear courses.
AS Levels count towards the final A Level grade.
The content taught in Yr 12 is examined in the AS Level exams and the content taught in Yr 13 is examined in A2 exams.
UCAS points accrued at AS Level count towards university applications.
All A Level qualifications are linear.
AS Levels are decoupled from the A Level qualification – they are separate qualifications.
The course content of AS Levels is the same as the first year of the corresponding A Level. This means students will be examined at the end of Yr 13 on content learnt across the 2 years.
UCAS points accrued at A Level count towards university applications.

9. New UCAS tariff
In the new tariff an AS level is worth 40% of an A-level.

10. Expectations
Students attend all lessons – including Tutor Time, Year Assembly and ‘Extended Tutorial’.
Students attend House assemblies and support House activities
Students participate in the school advocacy scheme
If a student gets into difficulty with work they should seek immediate support from their teacher, tutor, Academic Leader or Head of Year

11. Subject lesson time: 4.5 hours a week
Study Time
Subject lesson time: 4.5 hours a week
Core programme: Tutor Time/1:1, Core Maths,
Sixth Form Advocacy Scheme, Additional study in Financial Capability and Latin is also available
Homework – 4/5 hours per subject per week

12. Role of Academic Leader
Academic Leader has an overview of:
Students’ target grades for each subject
Students’ current attainment in each subject
Students’ attendance
Students’ attitude and approach to their studies
Academic Leader liaises with:
6th Form Tutors
Subject Teachers
Head of 6th Form

13. Target Setting
We use a number of measures to set aspirational targets for students:
ALIS data
GCSE results
Past knowledge of student
Teacher’s professional judgement

14. Target Setting & ALIS Data
Student would be set a target of a B grade
Student would be set a target of a D grade
The ALIS data comes into school towards the start of October
Tutors will discuss students individual data in one on one sessions
Academic Leader uses this data as a benchmark for monitoring student attainment

15. Monitoring and Reporting
Students/Parents will receive a short (interim) report every Half Term (after this one). This gives a brief overview of current progress in relation to target grades and the Expected Grade at that time.
A Full Report will be available to parents on 4th May 2017
This will provide more detail regarding the student’s strengths and work targets. A Tutor Report is also included.
Year 12 Tutor Evening Thursday 17th November 2016
Year 12 Parent’s Evening Thursday 16th March 2017
Attendance Reports – passed onto tutors weekly
You can see attendance on Learning Gateway: beware IT problems & occasional missed register may take a couple of days to catch up

16. Intervention
If a student is not meeting expectations then the Head of 6th Form is informed
Discussions with students:
Time management
Revision strategies
Learning to learn
Study skills
The need to approach subject teachers for help
A letter is sent home to parents
Feedback given to tutors and subject teachers and closer monitoring of student

17. Intervention
In some cases a student continues to struggle to manage their time or to concentrate on getting work completed by the deadlines
They are then placed on a self study programme
Report to the study area in selected study periods
In classroom with subject teacher
These intervention methods are intended to ensure that students reach their full potential at AS
Any student who gets 2 U grades reported in a subject during the year will not be permitted to continue studying that subject
Any student who achieves a U grade at AS will not be permitted to continue to study that subject at A2

18. Parental Concerns
If you have any concerns about your child’s attainment or progress then there are several things that you can do:
Make an appointment at Parents’ Consultation Evening to see Mr Backwell, Ms Main, Mrs Haines, subject staff or tutors
Contact Mr Backwell, Ms Main or Mrs Haines directly
Contact your son’s/daughter’s tutor

19. Tutoring in KS5
Point of contact
Students
Staff
Parents

20. Tutorials & Individual Tutorials
Twice a month or as often as needed
Chance for students to express concerns or share success
File can be accessed at any time.
Tutorials:
Dedicated tutor time, 1hr every other week.
Follow a tutorial programme
Not optional

21. Yr 13: UCAS and careers Tutorials focus on Applications to University
Post 18 options
Speak to Jo Brown
Tutor will collate academic references and write a reference

22. Life After School Most Yr13 students apply to university
A small proportion defer entry or take a Gap Year
Some students study a foundation course (Art/Graphics)
Some leave to seek employment or start an Apprenticeship
UCAS Application
More detailed information about the application procedure
Higher Education Evening June 2017

23. Higher Education
Universities and colleges take most notice of the following parts of the application:
GCSE Grades
AS level examination grades and individual unit scores
The personal statement – help is provided in summer (Yr12) Autumn (Yr13)
School reference
It is important to settle quickly and develop positive work attitudes
Get to know teachers and tutors – they write the reference
Value all opportunities

24. Getting ahead Research is essential
Be more than the sum of your grades.
Grades are still the most important thing.
Log onto UCAS Website

25. Yr12 Calendar This Term: By the end of Yr12:
Induction Programme – A level mind set
Adjusting to change
Develop study skills/independence
Volunteering/Advocacy
Council Events
Career discussions with tutor/teacher/Ms Brown
University Research
By the end of Yr12:
Explore career options – build C.V.
HE/Uni. Visits/open days/talks
Prepare/sit AS levels
Work Shadowing
Register with UCAS
HE Evening