Key Dates for Sixth Form 2019

6th February 2019Mrs L Johnston

As the exam season draws ever closer there are lots of important dates to keep track of over the coming term…

Year 11 Key Dates:
Offer Letter

External Student/Parent presentation

Bridging Week

GCSE Results Day

Online confirmation of entry

Post 16 Induction

After Easter

5 July 2019 (afternoon)

8 – 12 July 2019

22 August 2019

22 – 30 August 2019

Week commencing  2 September

Year 12 Key Dates:
Year 12 Parents’ Evening

UCAS Exhibition Visit

UCAS Registration

Roll Over (Y13 begins)

Mock Exams

Work Experience

UCAS and Intervention

Year 13 lessons begin

4 April 2019  3:30-6:45pm

30 April 2019  11.30 to 13.30

Week commencing 3 June 2019

Week commencing 10 June 2019

Week commencing 8 July 2019

Week commencing 15 July 2019

Week commencing 15 July 2019

Week commencing 9 September

 

Year 13 Key Dates
A Level Photography & Art Exams

Year 13 Photo

Celebration Evening

Study Leave begin

Main Examinations begin

Year 13 Leavers’ Dinner

Results Day

 Week commencing 1 April 2019

26 April 2019

16 May 2019

17 May 2019

Week commencing 20 May 2019

5 July 2019

15 August 2019

Please contact the Sixth Form team if you have any queries about dates and events.  

Exam Protocols (Mock Exams)

30th January 2019Mrs L Johnston

Information for Sixth Form Students, Parents and Carers

Exam timetable

Once students have been issued with their candidate timetable they should read through this carefully to check that all entries have been made and are correct. If there are any problems, students should speak to their subject teacher as soon as possible.

On the day of the exam

Students should:

  • report to the venue printed on their exam timetable 15 minutes before the start of the exam.
  • be in full Sixth Form dress code
  • bring all required stationery in a transparent plastic bag or pencil case
  • wait quietly outside the venue until they are called into the exam room by the invigilator. Students will be called into the room in candidate number order.
  • follow the instructions of the invigilators at all times
  • be silent at all times when in the exam room. If students have a query they should raise their hand and wait for an invigilator to come over
  • ensure mobile phones and all internet enabled devices (including smart watches) are turned off and are in their bags
  • remove their wrist watch and place it on their desk

FAQs

What happens if a student has more than one exam at the same time?
All students with a clash will have a cover sheet on their exam timetable detailing the arrangements.

If an exam is delayed from a morning to an afternoon session the student will be supervised over lunchtime. They should bring some revision or reading material, their lunch and a drink, as they will not be allowed to leave the room and buy lunch in the school canteen. They will not be able to use a mobile phone or communicate with any other students.

Where are exams held?
The main locations for written papers are the Lower School Hall, rooms X1 and X2, and the Gym. Venues and seat numbers are printed on students timetables so that they know well in advance of an exam where they should go. Students sit in candidate number order, as required by examination boards.

What time do exams start and finish?
Exam start times and durations are printed on students’ exam timetables. Students should report to their venue 15 minutes before the advertised start times. The length of examination papers varies and on some occasions may finish after 3.25 pm. Students and parent/carers should be aware of this and make appropriate arrangements for getting home. Students will not be allowed out of an exam early for any reason.

What happens if a student cannot find his/her place in the exam room?
The student should wait at the side of the exam room until an invigilator is available to help.

What should students bring to the examinations?
Students should bring at least 2 black biros, 2 writing pencils, a ruler, coloured pencils, eraser, any mathematical equipment etc. in a transparent plastic bag or pencil case. Non-transparent pencil cases will not be permitted in the examination room.

For exams where a calculator is permitted, students are responsible for making sure that their calculator meets regulations. Calculators must not:
• be designed or adapted to offer any of these facilities: language translators; symbolic algebra manipulation; symbolic differentiation or integration; communication with other machines or the internet
• be borrowed from another candidate during an examination for any reason
• have retrievable information stored in them – this includes: databanks; dictionaries; mathematical formulas; text.

Students are responsible for ensuring that they bring everything they need to the exam.

What should students not bring with them?

  • Mobile phones, MP3/4 players, iwatches/smart watches and any internet enabled devices. Possession of such items could lead to disqualification from the exam even if they are turned off.
  • Tippex or correction pens. Students should cross through any work they do not wish to be marked.
  • Notes, textbooks etc.
  • Food or chewing gum

May students bring a drink?
Yes, however no more that 750 ml of still water may be brought in a screw top clear plastic bottle with all labels removed. No fizzy drinks, cans or pouches.

What standards of behaviour are expected during examinations?
All students are given a copy of a ‘notice to candidates’ produced by the examining bodies, which gives general guidelines for conduct, which must be observed. A copy is also available here: written exams

The school and the examination boards regard breaches of examination regulations very seriously. Parents / carers should please impress on your son/daughter the importance of good behaviour in an examination, as any activities that may disturb or upset other students will not be tolerated. The head of centre and exams officer have the power to remove disruptive students.

Students who try to communicate with other students inside the venue, or who create a disturbance in the examination room will be removed from the examination venue, and the circumstances will be reported to the examination board. This may result in the student not receiving a grade for the whole of that examination.

Furthermore students should not ‘doodle’ or write any additional/inappropriate comments on their exam paper. Exam papers that contain any ‘doodles’ or additional/inappropriate comments may not be marked by the exam board.

What if my son/daughter misses an exam?
Parents / carers may be asked to pay the entry fee where a student fails to attend an exam without good reason.

What do I do if my son/daughter is unwell at the time of one of the examinations?
Please telephone the school if your son/daughter will not be attending an examination or if he/she will be present but is unwell. It is often helpful for the invigilator to be aware that a candidate is not feeling well. For Sixth Form absence, please phone the Advanced Study Centre answer phone 01670 501520.

If the student will not be attending the exam they should go to the doctors, and get a letter to prove that they were unfit to sit the exam. If the student is unable, through illness, to sit a paper the board may, after examining the doctor’s letter and any evidence of performance on other papers, decide to award a grade. It is essential that you see your doctor on the day of the examination or previously. Retrospective information is not accepted by the examination boards and any doctors’ letters must be forwarded to the exams officer without delay, as there is a tight deadline.

If a student did sit an exam, but was unwell it is possible to request special consideration from the exam board on the grounds of illness. To do so we would need a letter from your doctor as evidence, this should be forwarded to the exams office as soon as possible after the exam.

What should I do if my son/daughter is going to be late?
A parent/carer, or the student themselves should phone the school immediately on realising that they may be late for an exam and ask for a message to be given to the exams officer. Parents/carers should take students mobile phone off them and ensure that they do not have any access to the internet or communicate with any other students sitting the exam. Parents/carers should supervise students until they report to a member of staff in the appropriate exam venue. Depending on the time the student arrives at the exam we may need a statement from the parent / carer to confirm that this procedure has been followed to send to the exam board.

Depending on how long the exam has been in progress, it may be possible for the student to be admitted. However, we are bound by examination board regulations on this matter. Normally students with a genuine reason and who are brought straight to the centre may be admitted within the first 30 minutes of the start time and will receive the full time allocation, after this time the board will decide whether to accept any paper sat.

Students who arrive after 10am for morning exams or 2:30pm for afternoon exams, or who arrive after the end of the exam will not be admitted.

What do students do if they finish early?
Students should use all of the available time on their exams and spend any time at the end carefully checking their answers. Students are not permitted to leave before the end of the exam. They must sit quietly at their desk so as not to disturb other candidates.

What do I need to do if a student has problems that may affect his/her examination performance? Any illness, or family circumstances, which may affect examination performance, arising shortly before or during the exams, should be notified as soon as possible to the exams officer so that an application for special consideration can be made to the exam boards.

 

Christmas Space

13th December 2018Mrs L Johnston
Dear Sixth Form,
In the midst of all that is going on – why not take a few moments to engage with something different?

In The Den, we’ve set up a ‘Christmas Space’ with creative activities for you to do (to take home and leave). And while you are making your woven/wire heart, origami bird, (see attached) or star…take some time to ponder..

What am I grateful for….?
Where do I need guidance…?
What are my hopes for the next year…?

The Den is open all day – please do use the Christmas Space to slow you down and to give your mind, body and soul the opportunity to focus on something different in your day.
I look forward to seeing what you make and hearing about what you ponder,
Beth

Hindsight…

13th December 2018Mrs L Johnston

As mentors, we often hear the same message echoing throughout Year 13… “I wish I had worked harder in Year 12,” or “I can’t apply for the course I want because my predicted grades are rubbish,” despite admitting that they did not work hard enough for their mocks. The pattern repeats itself year on year so I decided to try and break this cycle. I asked current Year 13 students: if they could go back in time a year, what would they do differently? Knowing what they now know, what advice would they give to their Year 12 selves? And, for the ones who had a successful Year 12, how did they do it?

As we look to recruiting our next group of Year 12 students and our current year group mature, here are some of their pearls of wisdom to help you to have a successful Year 12.

Use your frees to start working earlier. At the end of this year, the stuff you’ve learnt needs to be solid because it gets harder in year 13 and there really isn’t time to recap 1st year content.

Get your work done as soon as you get it, otherwise it piles up fast.

Workloads become much easier to manage if you look after yourself first.

If you’re taking any essay based subject, especially those you have to do a coursework for, do an EPQ it’s a good way to improve your writing and useful for learning skills needed for coursework e.g. referencing. I’ve increased my grades by a whole grade after completing my EPQ just because I can articulate my arguments better. Although be aware, it’s a lot of work completing an EPQ and try and get it done sooner rather than later (especially the candidate log).

It’s OK to struggle, A Levels are not supposed to be easy and there is nothing wrong with struggling at the start so long as you do the appropriate work and get the appropriate help when things get too much. Talk to people about what’s bothering you and at the same time listen to those who need your help. Sometimes just getting things out helps a lot.

Pre-read. No matter what subject or topic it is, pre-read it, and it will make the whole topic easier, as you will be able to understand it so much better and quicker.

Don’t be afraid to double up if you need to. There is absolutely no shame in doubling up, and it will definitely help you improve.

Don’t be discouraged at first if your grades are completely different to GCSE grades. Eventually it will click.

Past-paper questions!!

Keep notes tidy and organised so when you come to revise you don’t need to rewrite half a book of work!

Use the silent study areas as much as you can do, don’t risk losing them.

Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can start today.

I’d say that you don’t have to stick to a certain type of revision, instead try lots of different things out so you know what the best revision methods are for you in year 13. Organisation is great but it’s more important to keep things varied than to worry about sticking to the same thing!

It ALL matters.

Don’t put off work till the last minute, do it when you get it so you can do it the best you can – predicted UCAS grades are decided on early in the year in year 13 and they’re based on your marks and effort in year 12. Be organised through year 12 and you’ll have an easier time revising in year 13!!

 

Article compiled by Jess Mares, Year 13 Mentor.

Home Study

12th December 2018Mrs L Johnston

Home Study is the privilege afforded to Sixth Form students who demonstrate a mature and accomplished approach to their learning and maintain an attendance above 95% (or show consistent improvement when circumstances are beyond individuals’ control). Home Study allows greater freedom to students to tailor a bespoke Sixth Form experience, it also develops individuals ability to self-motivate and self-manage; skills crucial for success in employment and Higher Education.

Due to the changing nature and demands of A Level study, as a Sixth Form team we have listened to our Year 12 students and from January will allow students in Y12 Home Study – this is unprecedented in our Sixth Form. There is a Home Study agreement that must be signed by students and their parents/carers for Home Study to be granted.

Home Study is granted in the morning where there is a block of non-contact periods or after the last lesson of the day. Students are welcome to stay in school and study using the school facilities, but must ensure they have followed attendance protocols.

Home Study is a privileged and will be consistently reviewed to monitor the impact on individuals’ progress and year group attendance. With privileges come responsibilities and the expectation is that all students in Sixth Form will consistently model the high standards of dress, punctuality, attitude and behaviour that we expect.

Who Are You?

12th December 2018Mrs L Johnston

How often do we hear ourselves say things like: ‘I’m such an idiot’ ‘I’m so bad at that’ ‘I’m a total failure’?? If we start to believe these words, over time, our confidence to do anything can reach rock bottom – and that’s a horrible place to be.

Maya Angelou’s quote encourages us to not only seek success in things we do, but also to pay attention to who we are, what makes us tick, what we are passionate about, and how we engage in the world. And what if we made a point of affirming – even if just to ourselves – what we like about what we see?

What if we said things like ‘I’m really good at…’  ‘I engage in things really well when I…’ ‘I get really passionate about…’? ‘I relate really well to people through…’ Wouldn’t that start to change how we see ourselves?

We may just find that we come to love the quirky, unique, gifted people we are. And we may begin to walk towards the most wonderful, and perhaps most rare type of success in our culture today – loving yourself, so you can be yourself, wherever you find yourself!

If you’d like to chat about this, or would like extra support with what you are facing right now, get in touch: [email protected]

First Edition

7th December 2018Mrs L Johnston

A team of students worked together to get their vision of a school newspaper up and running. The self-starting group have shown great determination and resilience to get together the content for their first edition, even meeting with a marketing and branding expert for advice.

The editorial team includes all year groups, but is led by one of our Year 12 students. This go-getting attitude embodies the attitude of our Sixth Form. Getting the first edition together has been a real accomplishment and we look forward to their second edition scheduled for release in February.

The Red and Black Winter Edition

Fundraising in Memory of a Friend

23rd October 2018Mrs L Johnston

On Friday 19th October, Year 12 decided to take on staff in a charity football match, in memory of our amazing friend Emily Pattison.

We never thought the turn out would have been so good, we only expected a few from our year group and maybe a few in lower school to watch. The match was good-competitive, but ultimately our team of Year 12s won!

We had a bake sale and a crossbar challenge too, and there is a raffle organised for later this week.

So far, we managed to raise an amazing amount of £3,274. which is the most the school has ever fundraised from one single event. 

I am absolutely gobsmacked and overwhelmed that as a school we have been able to achieve something so amazing. Emily was a very special girl, who touched so many people’s lives and this really does just show.

On behalf of Emily’s friends, I would like to thank everyone who donated, contributed and raised this much money for the incredible charities of Scott House and The Sick Children’s Trust. It really is incredible.

Article Contributed by Jade in Year 12

The Red and Black

18th October 2018Mrs L Johnston
Students from each year have begun to work on a student run newspaper, The Red and Black, led by one of our Year 12 students. A collection of articles, columns and creations, written and produced by students, The Red and Black aims to highlight current issues, school life and to engage students, both in Lower School and Sixth Form, in our school’s community.
The team behind the newspaper span from Year 9 to Year 13, who all play individual roles in editing, creating and crafting The Red and Black.
An edition will be published termly, with the first edition aiming to be published in November,  being made available online to students. This will include a termly horoscope, an article about school fundraising, and student designed cover art!
To get involved or find out more contact Rosie B in Year 12.

Key Dates for 2018/19

17th October 2018Mrs L Johnston

Year 12 Key Dates:

Info Evening & Tutor Consultation 25 October

GCSE English and Maths Resits w/c 5 November

KEVI Inspires 22 November

Post 16 Info Evening 10 January

Senior Student Elections 15 February

Parents’ Evening 4 April

Exams Begin (BTEC/CamTech) 13 May

Progression Info Evening 4 July

Mock Exams w/c 8 July

Work Experience w/c 15 July

 

Key Dates Year 13:

UCAS Deadline 22 October

GCSE English & Maths Resit w/c 5 November

Parents Evening 15 November

KEVI Inspires 22 November

Post 16 Info Evening 10 January

Mock Exams w/c 25 February

Photo Day 26 April

A Level Exams Begin w/c 20 May

Celebration Evening 23 May

Results Day 15 August