presentation 5th june a day in the life v5

1www.icknield.oxon.sch.uk

The Sixth Form@ ICC

“A day in the life”


“I get in to school, head to the Sixth Form block, swipe through the door and get my Chromebook out of my locker. I’m looking forward to Geography first thing. I spent two hours reading about the geographical origins of HIV last night to prepare for my class, and found a great resource that I want to show my teacher and my classmates.

First, though, I need some extra breakfast. Toast and a cup of tea in our kitchen should do it …”

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=common+room+kitchen&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=yrqY63OeDowuQM&tbnid=zu0tWFeV_vpL2M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g255110-d1973303-i31532538-Seabeds-Paihia_Bay_of_Islands_Northland_Region_North_Island.html&ei=g2N8U4OVB6mg0QXSqoGgAw&bvm=bv.67229260,d.d2k&psig=AFQjCNGZq_Zmcx97K7ZM2NehXx8foIlJoA&ust=1400747239071054


• A different setting to the 11-16 school

• Certain privileges alongside some clear expectations

• Negotiating privileges and expectations over the next twelve months with our student leadership team, some of whom will be the first sixth form students at ICC.


“I am finding my Geography class fascinating. The approach seems slightly different in the Sixth Form. The class is much smaller; there are only twelve of us. We operate a ‘flipped classroom.’ Miss Hamilton provides us with some reading and resources, and expects us to find more beyond these. We have worked hard to develop our research skills. We have to come to class with the knowledge to contribute. Then, in class, we discuss and debate the issues we have come across. Miss asks us really tough questions that make us think; we have to be on our toes to make sure we are able to answer them – or how else will we put together the essay that will be set for homework? …”


• A clearly planned, thought-through sixth form pedagogy

• National A-Level reforms from 2015

• Planning year 2014-5 – quality assure curriculum based on principles above.


The majority of our teaching staff have worked in 11-18 institutions in recent times. In September 2014, we have recent experience of teaching the following A-Levels:

• Maths• Further Maths• English Literature• English Language /

Literature• English Langauge• History• Geography• Biology• Chemistry

• Physics• French• Spanish• Psychology• Philosophy & Ethics• PE• Music• Sociology• Media Studies• Critical Thinking

Whilst there will always be training needs, these needs aren’t significant.


“I decided to opt for English Literature, Geography, History and Philosophy & Ethics. My best three count in my UCAS application, but studying four subjects gives me a broader curriculum. I am also completing an Extended Project Qualification. Each week, I have eighteen lessons and seven study periods.

In Year Eleven, I was given lots of advice and guidance to help me to select my A-Level subjects. My final choices were based on my strengths as well as a knowledge of what the Russell Group universities are looking for.”


• The 24 UK universities in the Russell Group receive the largest research grants. They tend to be at the top of university ranking lists in the UK.

• There is huge competition to study at these universities.

• We will work with our students to provide a curriculum that maximises their chances.

• They identify a list of ‘facilitating subjects’, a Premier League of A-Levels if you like, that they want their undergraduates to have studied:

Maths Further Maths ChemistryPhysics English Literature BiologyHistory Geography MFLAncient Languages

• We will be able to offer all except for the last of these.


Our expected curriculum offer:

Maths French Physical Education

Further Maths Spanish Art

English Literature Biology Computing

English language Physics Music

Geography Chemistry Design Technology

History Philosophy & Ethics Economics / Business Studies

Psychology Sociology plus Extended Project Qualification for all


“I’ve got a study period now. I’ve got lots of reading to do for each of my subjects. I bought the core textbooks for each subject so I can make my own notes in them. I have worked really had to develop my independence since being in the sixth form. I’m going to work in the study room. Our Head of Sixth Form is based in our sixth form block too - it’s useful having such good access to them. I want to have a quick chat about some anxieties I have with regard to juggling my studies with my job waiting tables at the Fox & Hounds. Yesterday, I had a monitoring meeting with my mentor. We decided that I am mostly on track, but that I need to increase the proportion of my time I spend on reading extra sources in History.”


• Lending scheme

• Head of Sixth Form to be employed– pastoral role is very important in sixth form

• Mentoring programme (Leadership Team or possibly people from the community)


“Lunchtimes in the Sixth Form block are great. You always find a few people in the quiet study area, because we are all focused on getting those grades, but there is a really good social buzz too. We’ve got a darts board and a little snooker table and, now that the weather is getting better, our outdoor tables at the back are a godsend!”


• An early view of what a new Sixth Form block at Icknield might look like:

• Again, we will work with our current students over the coming months to design the new sixth form space.


“Straight after school, we have a planning session for our full World Challenge in The Granary in Watlington. Many of us are taking on the challenge after our final exams in July 2017. I went to Morrocco on a World Challenge when I was in Year 9, but this time, we have to plan it and run it ourselves. I am learning so much about organisation through doing this – my Mum tells me I’m going need these skills at university without her to tidy my room and do my washing!”

http://www.watlington.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/the-granary.jpg


We will establish a broad extra-curricular programme for our Sixth Form students. Early plans include:• Duke Of Edinburgh Gold Award• Full World Challenge• Local, National, International Charity• Amnesty/Fairtrade/MUNGA• Gym membership/swimming – Belfry, e.g.• Watlington Primary School/Nursery/Care Home – volunteer work• Charity Committee working on Local, National, International

Charities• Social/Events Committee• Public Speaking/Debating


“In the evening, there is a presentation and workshop with, Mike Nicholson, the Director of Undergraduate Admissions at the University of Oxford. He is working with me on my UCAS application. He is helping me to understand what the Russell Group Universities are looking for in their applications.”


• We need to provide more than academic teaching.

• We will provide other guidance, for example, an awareness of financial management, current affairs, careers guidance and citizenship.

• We plan to deliver this through a mixture of lessons, seminars, visiting speakers and tutorials.


Why open a sixth form at Icknield Community College

We are living in a time of a changing educational landscape. Some benefits of changing the age range of the school include:

• Raise levels of aspiration across the whole school.

• Provide a post-16 option with significantly shorter transport distances and costs.

• Provide continuity of education by removing one of the school transitions for students.


What will we do next?

• Exciting and rare situation in which we can create a sixth form from scratch.

• Continue to speak to other sixth form providers, admissions tutors and our current staff and students to finalise our approach.

• Open an informal consultation on Monday 9th June that will run for four weeks.

• Invite our governors to decide whether we proceed following this consultation.

• Run a second, formal, consultation in September.• Present our proposals to Oxfordshire politicians. They will decide

whether we can go ahead with our plans.• Run our Sixth Form Open Evening in November 2014.


What can you do to help?

• Speak to your children about the possibilities of post-16 study at Icknield Community College.

• Contribute to the public consultation. This can be done by emailing your views to [email protected] , leaving a comment on the comment cards at the front, writing a letter to Lisa Best at the school address or registering your opinions on the consultation web address which will be added to our website by Monday.

• Communicate with us at every opportunity with your views or questions about our proposals.

• My email address is [email protected] and my phone number is 01491 612691 ext 266.

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


Questions?

You will see at the front there are some cards for questions. Please leave your name and contact details and we will respond.

Please be aware that we may not have immediate answers to your questions. They may require research or discussion first.

presentation 5th june a day in the life v5

Education

form block

form students

form pedagogy national

geography class fascinating

level subjects

study periods

study room

broader curriculum