1. Information and Guidance Evening
Thornleigh Sixth Form
Year 12
Information and Guidance Evening
Welcome to Thornleigh
Alison
Intro myself, head of RE for 10 years
Ged and Sam-Student progress coordinator

2. Welcome Further Education A level reform/UCAS points Support
College day, subjects and tutorial programme
Attendance & Punctuality
Target setting
Assessment
Independent Learning
Opportunities available in 6th form
Bursary Fund
Talk tonight about:
What FE is like here
The college day and tutorial period
Our expectations
How we set academic targets
What we expect in terms of independent study
Enrichment opportunities open to students
Funding you may be entitled to

3. Enrolment
For some students this is the start of a process that began way back last October, June enrolment etc
A key message that I have shared with all students is how this college can be transformational
Highest AS results last year
Advertisements-3 pathways-Work, apprenticships or University
We have faith in the future of the young people who put their faith in us and we are rightly proud of our Catholic ethos and the role the college plays in the opportunities we open up to all young people in the area.
I shared these results…a set of A’s and a set of distinctly average grades. These were my GCSE starting points.
Why? If you start to set a goal about your future destination, you can achieve anything that you aspire to.
My director of 6th form said I wouldn’t amount to much, that was all the motivation I needed to pursue his job 20 years later.
And I will come back to goal setting later

4. Further Education
First time that full time education is not compulsory.
Thornleigh offers the following courses:
Foundation Studies
GCSEs
Level 3 BTEC (equivalent to A level)
A Levels
A Levels are graded from A*-E. A C grade is not seen as a “Pass” in the same way as it is at GCSE.
Students must have L3 qualifications to progress to university (Higher Education).
This is a choice that your child has made. Some students made other choices and we have parents sat here of students who have experienced life elsewhere and have joined us this week.
We offer 4 types of courses:
Foundation studies for our level one students that allows them to access college courses next year.
GCSE for students who need to re-sit English or Maths
Level 3 BTEC qualifications are equivalent to A Levels and offer us a flexible curriculum that is accessible and engages all students
A level courses
Pass is E plus
Level 3 qualifications lead to university.
3 level 3 courses for most, 4 for others.
This year we have sent students to top universities with a combination of Btec and A level qualifications

5. Study either as an AS or Full A level
A Level reform
Year 12
Year 13
AS Maths
A2 Maths
50 % of an A Level or a stand alone AS. Worth UCAS points
50% to top-up a full A Level that topped up UCAS points
Students could drop a subject here and keep the AS qualification/points
New specifications
Study either as an AS or Full A level
1 year course
Cannot be topped up to a full A level
Worth UCAS points
Two year course with some slightly different topics to AS
2 year course
A level reform for some subjects
A levels have been de-coupled so that the first year of a course is now not a qualification that is topped up in year 13.
2 year courses for A level and AS’s stand alone.
Most collegse are sticking with enetring students for both the AS and A2 so they will have summer exams but the results that they achieve will not be carried on into year 13. The full A level will be determined by exams in the summer of 2017.
Why? Key indicator of performance.
Students will still have a choice to keep an AS qualification/points

6. UCAS points
UCAS points have changed from previous years so if you have children here before, beware

7. Courses with a new specification this year
English Language & Literature
English Language
English Literature
Photography
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
History
Economics
Business Studies
Psychology
Sociology
Graphics
Art

8. Support for Students Year 12 Group Tutors 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4
Mr Jason Ashton
12.2
Ms Nuala McKenna
12.3
Ms Philippa Wiseman
12.4
Ms Rachel Wilson
12.5
Ms Judith Darby
12.6
Mr Locke
12.7
Mr Todd Gregson
12.8
Ms Keogh/Mr Carey
Mr Tonino Passarello- Director of Sixth Form
Mr Ged Gleeson - Deputy Director
Ms Sam Leaf - Learning & Progress
Form tutor is the first port of call
Contact details are listed if you require support
Academic mentoring, tutorial programme and PIXL Edge
To any of the above use the address:
(First

9. The College Day 8.00 Centre Open. For Independent Study.
Registration and Tutorial Time
12:45 Lunch
13:30 Afternoon sessions
15:10 Day ends
We are a full time college
We need your support with double free periods in the morning and afternoon
Free time is spent in the LRC or in a designated classroom. Why? Check out our results

10. The College Day
Hopefully students have made the right choice of subjects. Many students find aspects of their course difficult at some time and this is natural. We do not encourage students to swap subjects, if there is a major issue they need to speak to a member of the Sixth Form Leadership Team ASAP.
Each student has four subjects timetabled- file required for each subject
Students are allocated study time
Every Year 12 student will also be timetabled for a tutorial session
Some changes this week but we wont make changes after Friday and we wont change form groups.

11. The “SMART” ID badge
All students must wear their ID badge at all times.
Used to register students on to, and off, site.
Used for printing and photocopying.
Used for Cashless catering.
Some students will receive tomorrow
Also houses our cashless canteen facility so its worth keeping it topped up
Students without an ID badge risk being sent home for it.

12. Tutorial Programme
All Year 12 students will follow a structured tutorial programme
A rolling programme across the timetable
University lecture style delivery along with group sessions
This course allows students to support their learning and prepare for their future
Spend time as a community together as well as valuable time with their group tutor
Opportunity to research and prepare for exams, interviews, university life, apprenticeships, jobs and much more
Year 12 tutorial will house a mixture of:
Growth mind-set training-Aspirational goal setting, focus on future ambitions.
We also study a period of RE with an ethics dimension in two slots per half-term.
More importantly, this where we will house Pixl Edge.

13. PIXL Edge Year 12 tutorial will house a mixture of:
Growth mind-set training-Aspirational goal setting, focus on future ambitions.
We also study a period of RE with an ethics dimesion in two slots per half-term.
More importantly, this where we will house Pixl Edge.
Programme that students follow, update and provide evidence of using various different skills both in and out of school.
Housed online, produces an accredited certificate of achievement that will boost applications, portfolios and enhance University applications.
Aim to give students the edge over their competition

14. Attendance & Punctuality
Good attendance and punctuality are crucial to success.
A student’s place at Thornleigh Sixth Form is at risk if their attendance drops below 95%.
Attendance is always included in references.
It is the students responsibility to inform the College of absences by telephone to the Sixth Form reception on the first morning of absence and before 9.30am.
95% is our rigid benchmark and so we will ring home if students are falling below this.
We want to make sure all primary contact numbers are correct and we will be testing these in the next few weeks
Text details are always handy so we can keep you up to date

15. Attendance & Punctuality
All students must swipe in and out using their ID badge whenever they arrive on/leave the site.
More than five days or repeated absences should be covered by a doctor’s note.
Students absence will be traced and monitored after the first day by Mr Gleeson
We will text parents if students attendance/punctuality drops
Self-explanatory

16. Attendance & Punctuality
In order to maintain a good record of attendance:
Medical appointments should be made out of College hours.
Interviews, especially for part-time jobs, should be made out of college hours.
Holidays should not be arranged during term time. Term dates are printed in the student diary. We do not authorise any absence for holidays for Post-16 students.
Driving lessons must be booked for after college
Self-explanatory

17. Student targets
All students will be given a target grade for all their subjects.
The target is calculated on how they have performed in all GCSE subjects and an assessment which took place yesterday.
The target grade will appear on all reports that we send home.
Students will receive target grades at the end of next week.
Target grades are ready and will be reported and added to Sims next week. Based on their average point score.
Targets should be a minimum aim

18. Assessment & Tracking
Students will be formally assessed on a regular basis with a moderated assessment grade being provided every half-term.
The first tracking data will be influenced by the transfer tests students completed yesterday and will be based on skills and needs.
Weekly marking will be present in files and formal assessments of learning are expected every 2 weeks.
Weekly marked work/homework
2-3 week formal assessment, moderated to provide an half-termly attainment grade that is reported home.
PPE’s are our mocks, key indicators. 7th Dec and 14th March
Pre-Public Exam dates here:
W/C 7th December W/C 14th March

19. Show my homework Show my homework Recorded by teachers
Monitored by tutors and SLT
Accessible on any mobile device or PC.
Students and teachers have an overview of a timeline so that homework deadlines are clear
Student/parent access sheet on departure

20. Show my homework Homework monitoring system
Set by teachers, monitored by tutors and LT
Student can see their timeline on mobile devices
Parents can also see what homework has been set
Access details will be given at the end
Self-explanatory

21. Independent Learning
Students are now much more responsible for their own learning and independent study plays a large part if they are to be successful.
As a general rule independent work should be 5 hours per week for each AS level in addition to any homework.
Students should use periods when they have no timetabled lesson for independent work, we encourage them to study in the LRC the Sixth Form is open 8.00am until 5.30pm every day and students are encouraged to make use of the facilities for independent work.
Students can also use MOODLE to supplement their learning. 
If every study period is used wisely, the amount of independent learning and managemnet of tiem should be less stressful.
5 hours per week for each subject. 15 – 20 hours per week in study for top grades
We are a campus so facilities available until 5:30pm.

22. Getting a head start
Students should already be doing the following for all of their courses:
Have one folder for each subject with PLCs in the front.
Finding out the exam board and downloading the specification.
Purchasing a textbook/revision guide.
Begin learning about different topics using websites such as Khan Academy.
Commit some time to Online courses (MOOCS) and develop your Pixl Edge portfolio of evidence.
Researching potential careers and university courses at ucas.com.
Students can’t say that they have nothing to do

23. Post-16 Bursary Fund Level 1
The school is required to pay £1200 over the course of the year to:
Young people in care.
Care leavers living independently after Local Authority Care.
Young people in receipt of income support.
Disabled young people in receipt of Employment Support Allowance who also receive a Disability Living Allowance.
Entitled to.
Form given, do you need another one

24. Post-16 Bursary Fund
Level 2 A smaller bursary is available to students who are currently in receipt of free school meals (FSM). Receipt of this weekly payment is determined by attendance, behaviour and academic performance.
Read

25. What’s new this year Tanzania NUS extra Work experience Custom kit
Mission Week Tuesday: 20th October 2015
Themed sessions
Student Committee
Free time support is needed
Tanzania
NUS extra
UCAS applications
Custom kit
Mission Week Tuesday: 20th October 2015
Themed sessions
Student Committee
Free time support is needed

26. Contacting us
If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact one of the Sixth Form Team or visit our website where many questions can be answered
Via Phone : Thornleigh Sixth Form
Via
Via Website :
Anything you need? Ask
Mr Passarello Director of Sixth Form
Mr Gleeson Deputy Director
Miss Leaf Learning and Progress