sixth form student handbook - north oxfordshire academy form... · 2016. 4. 28. · it is advisable...

Sixth Form Student Handbook2014/2015

2

Welcome to the Sixth Form Student HandbookThe Sixth Form represents an exciting opportunity for students at North Oxfordshire Academy and, in the wider North Oxfordshire area, to pursue qualifications, skills and life changing experiences.

A great deal of careful planning has gone into developing our inclusive Sixth Form. We are confident that everyone associated with the academy will be proud of the Sixth Form and that being a member of the Sixth Form will be an aspiration for all students.

Contact Us

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 01295 234233 (general) 01295 234236 (attendance)

mailto:[email protected]

3

“The Best In Everyone”

2014-2015

Our Core Purpose The fundamental

outcomes

which are not for

negotiation or

compromise

An enterprising future- Inspiring creativity, unlocking potential,

outperforming expectations

Our Values These express our core

purpose more explicitly

To direct everyday

decisions. They tie

directly

Into development

planning and self

evaluation

L Build LEARNING power to foster resilient, resourceful and reflective independent learners

E EXTEND leadership and development opportunities for staff and students

A Raise ACHIEVEMENT in line with the top 25% of schools nationally

R Build strong RELATIONSHIPS between students teachers and staff at the academy and

with parents and the wider community

N Use NEW TECHNOLOGIES and our specialism's to engage and inspire creativity

Our Vision Represents the

aspirations of the school.

Express a desirable

direction and destination,

looking confidently into

the future

The academy will inspire our students to become well balanced, enquiring and responsible citizens.

We will

build positive relationships, based on mutual respect and shared expectations

foster a cohesive community where staff, students, parents and the wider community work

together for the good of all.

through excellent teaching and a personalised curriculum develop resilient, independent

learners who are creative thinkers, self motivators, team workers and confident communicators.

work together to set challenging targets, encouraging our young people to aim high and

achieve high.

promote innovation and excellence using internationalism, new technologies and our

specialisms of Media Communication and Business Enterprise to deepen and enrich learning

Our Ethos The beliefs by which the

community lives on a

daily basis and the way in

which relationships are

built

A positive emotional climate- all are welcomed and valued

A relentless focus on high standards

Set no limits, accept no excuses

4

The Academy Leadership Team

.

A new Leadership Team leads North Oxfordshire Academy. The Leadership Team is responsible for a wide range of roles and initiatives, and these titles only give a broad outline of their new responsibilities.

Mrs S Billins Principal

Ms M Blake Vice Principal (Curriculum Achievement and Standards) Ms E Jacobs Vice Principal (Teaching and Learning)

Ms L Wilkinson Assistant Principal (KS3 progress and Achievement) Mr N Culley Assistant Principal (KS4 progress and Achievement) Mr C Burrows Assistant Principal (Student behaviour and Attendance) Mr A Leyburn Assistant Principal (Director of Sixth Form)Ms Rebecca Jones Assistant Principal (Inclusion)Mrs L Mills Assistant Principal (Training and Development)

5

The Sixth Form TeamDirector of Sixth Form: Mr A Leyburn

.

The key members of the Sixth Form team are:

• Sixth Form Welfare Manager: Ms H McKenna

• Attendance Officer Ms L Tilocca

• Year 13 Progress Coordinator: Ms A Neall

• Head of Year 12 Mr J Young

• Student Support Officer/ UCAS Coordinator Miss N Barnes

• Director of Football Academy: Mr R Brevett

• Youth Work Coordinator: Mr L Davis

• The Tutor Team: Four Year 12 tutor groups Three Year 13 tutor groups

Three Academic Mentors

6

Student Development Team

.

North Oxfordshire Academy has a clear structure to monitor the well being, progress and personal development of every student. We have a Student Development Team who monitor student attendance and engagement, and seek to offer a range of enrichment activities via our PEP and through our NOA Extra programme.

The academy is organised into five colleges, each with a College Leader and 12 College Tutors. There will be a programme of assemblies and tutorial times when students meet with their College Tutors to discuss a wide range of issues affecting their academic and personal progress. Guidance about careers choices and options will also be available at key times. There will be a programme of inter-college challenges and competitions throughout the year.

Student Development Team

Vice Principal/Curriculum & Standards: Ms M Blake

Vice Principal/Teaching & Learning: Ms E Jacobs

Assistant Principle/Student Development: Ms L Wilkinson

Director of Sixth Form: Mr A Leyburn

Welfare Manager: Ms H McKenna

Attendance Officer: Ms L Tilocca

Work Related Learning Coordinator: Mrs J Tulley

7

Start of TermSeptember 2014

.

• The new academic year starts for staff on Monday 1st September

• Both the Monday and Tuesday are training days for the staff, so the academy will be closed for students on these days.

• The first day of term for Year 12 students will be Wednesday 3rd September.

• Year 12 Students should arrive at 08.20am ready for assembly, which is at 08.30am.

• The day will end at 15.20pm as normal.

• The day will a programme of extended tutorial times and lessons starting from Period 2.

• For Year 13 Students, the first day of term will be Thursday 4th September. Students should arrive at the academy at 08.20 and go to the Sixth Form area for assembly.

8

Academy Term and Holiday Dates

.

Term 1 3rd September – 24th October 2014October Holiday 27th Oct 2014 – 31st October 2014

Term 2 3rd November – 18th December 2014Christmas Holiday 22nd Dec 2014 – 5th Jan 2015

Parent’s PM/AM: 18th & 19th December

Term 3 6th January – 13th February 2015February Holiday 18th Feb 2015 – 20st Feb 2015

Training Day: Mon 5th Jan 2015

Term 4 23rd February – 26th March 2015Easter Holiday 30th March 2015 – 13th April 2015

Parent’s PM/AM: 26th & 27th March

Term 5 14th April – 22nd May 2015Late Spring Holiday 25th May 2015 – 29th May 2015

Training Day: Mon 13th April

Term 6 1st June – 17th July 2015Summer Holiday 20th July – 2nd September 2015

Training Days: Fri 3rd July & Mon 20th JulyParent’s Evening: Thurs 9th July

Non PEP Thursdays (students leave NOA at 12pm): 9th October, 18th December, 26th March, 16th JulyParent evenings: 4:00pm – 7.30pm and parent mornings: 9am – 12 noon

9

Times of the Academy Day

.

08.20 - 08.30 Students arrive at school

08.30 - 09.50 Period 1

09.50 - 10.10 Break

10.10 - 11.30 Period 2

11.30 - 12.45 Period 3

12.45 - 13.35 Lunch (Restaurant for hot food)

13.35 - 14.00 Tutorial

14.00 - 15.20 Period 4 (including pm registration in class)

15.20* End of the day for students

*15:30 on Thursday due to PEP PRO

FRIDAY ONLY:

08.20 - 08.30 Students arrive at school

08.30 - 09.50 Period 1

09.50 - 10.10 Break

10.10 - 11.30 Period 2

11.30 - 12.45 Period 3

12:45 - 13.35 Lunch

13.35 - 14.50 Period 4 (including pm registration in class)

14:50 End of the day for students

Once students have been given their timetable, they should copy it into their planner, and keep it with them

at all times. It is advisable to keep a copy in the home where it can be easily seen.

10

.

New Inclusion

Suite

5 ICT and

Business

rooms

4 DT workshops and a

three Art and Design

Studios

7 Science Labs

Maths

Classrooms

The Theatre

The MAC

(Media Arts

Suite)

English & MFL

classrooms

Humanities

Classrooms

Music and Recording

Studios

Assembly Hall

New Sixth Form

(J Block) Sports Facilities Restaurant

Reception

Faculty Locations

Enquiring

Minds

Classrooms

11

Entering and Leaving the Academy

As of September 2014, all Sixth Form Students will be issued with an ID card and will be asked to present it on arrival to the academy. If students forget their card they will be asked to wait in reception until a member of the Sixth Form Team is available to sign them in.

There are many reasons for this change:• Sense of identity for the Sixth Formers.• Members of the public are not mistaken as Sixth Form Students.• Staff who do not normally work with Sixth Form will be able to see their name, college and chosen pathway of the student.

Another change to the way Sixth Form Students will enter the academy is that the school gates will now be locked at all times except during break and lunch times. The academy has installed an automatic entry gate to ensure that the academy is secure. Sixth formers will only be able to come and go during break and lunch times, or if they are entering or leaving the academy because of a Home Study Period.

12

Dress Code

.

We consider that the dress code is important for several reasons:• It provides students with a sense of identity.

• It enhances the appearance of students and therefore the reputation of the academy.

• It prepares students for future professional roles in society.

Students arriving at the academy wearing unsuitable dress will be sent home immediately to change.

Acceptable items of dress include:•All boys must wear a tie•Tailored Shirts, Blouses, or Tops with a Collar (Tops should not have logos, pictures or other markings but should either be plain or lightly patterned)•Smart Dress or Tailored Trousers•Skirts of knee length (with tights), or Tailored Trousers•Jumper or Cardigan•Jacket•Footwear should be smart and clean

•Non-acceptable items of dress include:•Shorts or Mini-skirts, revealing Tops•Jeans of any colour, any item of denim (including ‘denim look’)•Fleece Jogging Pants/Bottoms/Hoodies/Sportswear (unless Football Academy uniform)•Jeggings (Leggings of any kind are only acceptable under a knee length skirt)•Vest Tops, Sweatshirts, T-Shirts •Excessively High-Heels, Flip-Flops/sandals, Trainers, Vans (of any colour, including black), UggBoots•Hats of any kind•Clothing with any Large Logo’s, Pictures, etc.• Artificially coloured hair and facial piercings (not including ears) are also prohibited. Earrings should be small.

We take the dress code extremely seriously; breaking the dress code will result in disciplinary procedures, andpersistent behaviour of this nature will result in exclusion from the academy. (see C2L policy)

1313

Home Study Agreement 2014-15

Because most Sixth Form Students do not have a 20 lesson per week timetable, Home Study will be agreed by

the Head of Sixth Form or the Sixth Form Learning Manager only. The Home Study does not become operational

until this agreement form has been signed by the relevant parties and returned to the Sixth Form Learning

Manager.

Students requesting Home Study will need to meet the following criteria:

•Be up to date with each course of study an be achieving at or above target grade.

•When coming into the academy following a Home Study period, students will be expected to sign in at

reception, showing their ID card, 10 minutes before their lesson is due to start.

•All Sixth Form students are expected to attend the tutorial session at 13:35 am.

Students requesting Home Study will be monitored to see that it is being effectively used.

Home study agreements will be reviewed after each Sixth Form report. Any student who has fallen below their

target grade or who has otherwise shown a lack of commitment to learning may have their home study

agreement withdrawn and these sessions will replaced with Supervised Study Sessions.

I understand that my flexible timetable agreed through this Home Study agreement is a privilege and not a right

and that this privilege may be withdrawn if I do not keep to the terms of the agreement.

This Home Study is effective from:…………………………………………….

Signed by the student:……………………………………………………………

Signed by the parent/guardian:…………………………………………………

Signed on behalf of NOA Sixth Form:………………………………………….

14

The uniform consists of:• Blue Jogging/ Tracksuit Bottoms• Blue Shorts• Blue T-shirts• Blue Sweat Top• Blue Socks• Blue Waterproof Top

The Football Academy has a kit which is unique to NOA and establishes a strong sense of identity and pride to those in the team.

Bottoms, socks, T-shirt or Sweat top must be worn when in the academy. This is optional when playing football if you wish to keep your kit clean.

Football Academy must adhere to the standard uniform (blue) or alternatively dress as the rest of the Academy Sixth Form.

Mixing and matching of the kit with items not listed will not be accepted.

If a student receives three C2L entries for not adhering to the kit or dress code they will be banned from wearing the kit for 1 month and will be expected to follow the dress code as a non Football Academy Sixth former.

Football Academy Kit

* All tops have an embroidered Football Academy badge

.

15

Equipment

.

We ask for the support of parents in encouraging students to come to the academy fully equipped and ready to learn. We have high expectations of our students, and we are concerned that when students fail to bring the correct equipment to school, vital learning time is lost while teachers provide it. We expect our students to take responsibility for their learning, and we also realise that future employers would expect workers to arrive at the workplace with the correct equipment.

There will be consequences for students who regularly fail to come to the academy with the correct equipment.

Students should leave home each morning with the following equipment:

A Bag Vital to keep planner, books and other equipment safe.

Student These will be provided by the Sixth Form. Students are encouraged to use these Diary to manage their time effectively.

Equipment Students will need more than a pen. They will also need other equipment depending on their choice of subjects (e.g. pencil, ruler, calculator) and anything else needed for their courses. Students will be told about these requirements for each of their courses during the first week of term.

ID Badge Students must have their identification badge on them at all times when they are in the Academy.

16

Tutor groups

.

The Sixth Form has 4 tutor groups in Year 12 and 3 in Year 13. Students are allocated their group based on the courses they are studying. We feel that this allows sixth form staff to focus on the differing needs of students in both years.

Students follow a tutorial programme in both years of their study. The Year 12 programme focuses on study techniques, personal development and life skills, whereas in Year 13, students will work on university applications, career planning and preparation for a future beyond further education.

Each student has a Personal Tutor who focuses on student welfare and guidance, and there are 3 Academic Mentors to concentrate on each student’s progression towards their academic targets. For students, tutoring provides great leadership, citizenship and mentoring opportunities.

Tutor TeamYear 12 Tutors Year 13 Tutors

Iona Corbett Victoria Roach

Jennifer Fernbank Anna Willett

Kimberly Scott-Johnson Tim Yeomans

Ben Wilkinson Sixth Form Academic Mentors

Nicola Barnes

Beccy Everett

Ben Judson

17

Sixth Form Council

.

An integral part of The sixth form tutor system is the sixth form council. This is made up of 10 members: 8 students, each elected by their tutor group members, as well as the head boy and girl.

The council meets with head boy and head girl once a term to discuss student issues raised during tutorial sessions. The head boy/girl then feed back to the director of sixth form and the principal. These meetings form a central role in sixth form ethos that students and staff work together to produce an environment of cooperation and mutual respect.

The head boy and girl for 2014/15 will be appointed in September 2014. Their role involves working closely with The director of sixth form and other sixth form staff in a number of key areas across the sixth form. They are also asked to perform wider school duties from time to time such as representing the academy during events like open days, parents evenings and school trips.

1818

Business, Enterprise

& Career Development At North Oxfordshire Academy we are keen to ensure that all students have the necessary transferable skills for the ‘World of Work’, develop enterprise capability and have access to careers advice and development. This is achieved through enterprise activities in the curriculum, special events like business simulations and/or workshops, real commissioned business projects and mandatory work experience in year 12. In addition, we also ensure students have access to University visits (including Oxbridge if relevant), associated programmes and mentors as needed. We also have a Career Academy which offers our year 12 business students expertise, mentoring and a 4 week paid internships within a business.

Year 13 Media students were involved

in the NFU Mutual ‘Young Safer

Drivers’ Campaign. Seen here with

their CEO

James Davis with his Career Academy

Mentor Mark Smith (Yorkshire Bank)

1919

Rewards

At North Oxfordshire Academy we believe in encouraging and celebrating good work and behaviour through constant and consistent positive recognition.

This year we have tailored our reward system to suit our sixth form students and will be awarding the following:

• Each subject teacher will nominate a learner of the term for Year 12 and Year 13. Each student will receive a £10 voucher

• Each student who ends the academic year with 98%+ attendance will also receive a £10 voucher

• At the end of the year, there will be a draw for all students who have met the above criteria. Awinner will be picked from both Year 12 and Year 13 and each will win an iPad Air

20

Our Learning Platform

.

• North Oxfordshire Academy have set up a new VLE (Virtual Learning Environment) called My Big Campus that allows students to access curricular resources on the internet. All students are issued with usernames and passwords that enable them to send and receive homework, to set up blogs, to access subject information and/or schemes of work and to store their work in a personalised eportfolio. Teachers are using this creatively for interactive lessons and it is also used for distance learning for students who are unable to be in school.

• Students are able to design their own homepages, communicate with fellow students and teachers via secure messaging and access their assessment grades and advice on how to improve them. As the VLE develops it will allow increasingly interactive resources and include students’ text, audio, visual and film and animation work.

http://www.mybigcampus.co.uk/

http://www.mybigcampus.co.uk/

2121

.

16-19 Bursary Fund Application Guidance2014-2015

Students attending sixth form may be eligible for a bursary, dependent upon their individual and family circumstances and application forms can be obtained from the sixth form office. The following information is intended as a guide to which bursary may be the most appropriate to apply for and the application process.

Guaranteed Bursary - Criteria

The student should be either:• In Care• A Care Leaver• In receipt of Income Support (in their own name)• In receipt of Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance or Personal

Independence Payment.

Discretionary Bursary

This bursary is intended to assist with additional costs that may be incurred whilst a student is studying with us. These may be in the form of travel expenses, academic resources or specialist clothing, although this list is by no means exhaustive. Financial assistance through the bursary is targeted at three different students groups:

The amount of discretionary budget we have available is finite, therefore we cannot guarantee that we will be able to provide the financial support requested. For more information on the bursary see the academy website or contact Hayleigh Mckenna, the Sixth Form Welfare Manager.

22

2222

.

Home Learning

We believe that the development of independent learning skills allows our students to take more

ownership of their education. Promotion of these skills will help to prepare them for A level and

beyond and will also support them in their journey to success across the different subject areas.

Home Learning:

Allows students to prepare for their learning in class, or review topics already taught.

Develops students’ independent learning and literacy skills.

Provides opportunities for parents to engage with their child’s education.

Enables students to stretch themselves, extending their learning where possible.

Tips for Effective Home Learning:

Make sure you do your homework in a quiet, well-lit place. Avoid doing homework with the television

on or in places with other distractions.

Establish a set time each day for doing homework. Do not leave tasks until just before you go to bed.

Think about using a weekend morning or afternoon for working on big projects.

Show My Homework is the key feature of our home learning strategy – all tasks are available to view

on the Show My Homework calendar on our school website. No login is required to view details of the

work set, just click the ‘Home Learning’ section on our website toolbar menu. We encourage parents

to also access this page and work with us to ensure homework is handed in on time.

22

23

Exams

.

We believe that students benefit from regular feedback about the levels and grades they are

achieving at school. Each Faculty will be working to produce a set of Common Assessments that

they will use to monitor the progress each student makes throughout the year. We have also

agreed a programme of examinations for each student in the Academy. The dates are as follows:

Year 12 & 13 in-class Mock Exams

Nov 17th – Nov 21st 2014

Year 12 & 13 full Mock Exams

Feb 9th – Feb 13th 2015

Year 12 Final AS Exams

May 11th – June 16th 2015

Year 13 Final A2 Exams

June 3rd – June 24th 2015

Please note these are provisional timetables, students will be given copies of actual dates and locations as

soon as possible

24

‘Working At’ Grades & Levels

.

Sixth Form courses are among the most important qualifications that any student takes. It is vital that the school

and parents work in partnership to ensure that each student achieves the very best they are capable of in their

exam courses. We will keep parents informed of the progress that students are making, and in return, ask parents

to keep us informed of any concerns they may have about their child's progress and attitude towards their studies.

At North Oxfordshire Academy, we will assess student progress regularly, and teachers will then provide what is

known as a ‘Working At Grade’. This grade tells students and parents the grade a student is currently working at,

based on all the work (class work, homework, tests, coursework and so on) completed so far.

BTEC, OCR and Football Academy Working at Grades are as follows: Distinction*(=A*A*) ,

Distinction (=AA), Merit (=BB) Pass (-CC), Not Yet Pass (D grade and below)

AS/A Level Working at Grades are A*, A, B, C, D, E, U

Youth Work, Functional Skills and some other courses work on 2 grades only: Pass / Not Yet

Pass (NYP)

25

Reports

.

We will provide six Progress Checks to students and parents during the academic year. The first

Progress Check will be completed by staff and based on teaching between September and October

2014 – it will be posted home to parents during the October half-term and discussed with students

during tutorial just before the holiday.

The Progress Check covers the following:

Class work The students attitude and commitment to learning in class

Homework The students attitude and commitment to learning at home

Organisation Whether the student brings the correct equipment for learning

Behaviour Behaviour in lessons

Attainment The students current Working at Level or Working at Grade based on classwork,

assessments, tests, homework, coursework and exams

26

Parents’ Meetings

.

We believe that the partnership between school and home is a vital ingredient

in a student’s success at the Academy. We plan to offer two formal

opportunities for parents to come in to school to discuss students progress

and achievement. Parents are welcome to contact the school at any time to

discuss academic/personal issues and should ask to speak to an Academic

Mentor or the Sixth Form Learning Manager.

Parents Evenings/ Mornings

There will be a Parents Evening/ Morning which will take place twice a year,

over a two day period for students in the Sixth Form. This will be an

opportunity for parents to meet subject teachers individually to discuss

attitude, achievement and progress.

27

Holidays during Term Time

.

• Parents and students are requested not to book holidays during term time.

• Parents/students should only request a holiday in term time when there are exceptional

circumstances. We usually expect students to take holidays during normal school holidays. Where

holidays are taken during term time, students will be expected to attend a number of days catch-

up study during the next school break.

• Sixth Form Holiday Absence forms should be collected and returned to the Sixth Form Office

before a holiday is booked. The very latest for a Holiday Form to be handed in is 3 weeks before

departure.

• Requests for absence for holidays during term time will be considered by a panel consisting of the

Director of Sixth Form and the Sixth Form Learning Manager who oversees sixth form attendance.

• Requests for absence for holidays during term time will only be considered if there are exceptional

circumstances. Parents and students will be expected to explain these circumstances on the

absence request form. Issues such as parents’ employment conditions related to non-negotiable

holiday dates, the time of year and level of previous attendance will be taken into consideration.

• It is the students responsibility to make sure they are up to date with each of their subjects. They

must also speak to their teachers to either arrange work to take with them, or catch up when they

get back to ensure they do not fall behind.

• If the school refuses a holiday request, but the child is still taken on holiday, the absence will be

recorded as unauthorised and parents will receive a letter confirming this.

28

APPLICATION FOR HOLIDAY ABSENCE DURING TERM TIME

At North Oxfordshire Academy, we do not expect students to be absent from school for holidays during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. Pupils attend school for a maximum of 190 days each academic year (this leaves 175 non-school days for holidays to be taken). Full attendance is vital for educational progress. We expect students to attend school whenever possible. It is the students’ responsibility to speak to all teachers prior to a holiday to plan for time away from lessons. If the school refuses a holiday request, but the student is still on holiday, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised and a letter home will be sent to confirm this. Requests for absence for holidays during term time will only be considered if there are exceptional circumstances.

I understand that taking a holiday during term time could result in failure or a low mark.Student Signature: Parent/ Guardian Signature:…………………………………………………………………….. ……………………………………………………………………

Surname: First Name: D.O.B: Tutor:

Address: Post Code: Phone Number:

Please explain exceptional circumstances which mean you wish to take a holiday during term time:

Please explain the plan discussed with each of your teachers to catch up on missed work/lessons (all teachers must sign here to

show agreement):

Destination: Departure Date: Return Date: Length of absence:

29

Name

School/Department NOA Sixth Form

Tutor Group

Date of Absence

First notification (give date, time and method of

notification, along with name of person notified)

Other certification (for absences of more than three days

i.e. note from parent/guardian)

Reason for absence (Will this be an ongoing condition

or a one-off?).

Period of Absence:

Sixth Form Self-Certification/Return to Academy Form

Details of Sickness Absence:

I confirm that to the best of my knowledge the information provided on this form is accurate and up-to-date.Student Signature:…………………………………………………………………… Date: ……………………………………

Sixth Form Commitment to Learning Policy(C2L)

.

The Sixth Form has its own commitment to learning policy that builds on the expectations from the Behaviour for Learning Policy, that our students have experienced in Key stage 3 and 4. It is known as the Commitment to Learning Policy(C2L)

The code has the same principles; that learning behaviour is a choice and that there are clear consequences in place for poor choices of behaviour which affect learning and ethos. There are five categories to the policy:

1. The Academy Commitment to our Sixth Form Students2. The Student Commitment to Learning and Academic Progress 3. The Student Commitment to Behaviour4. Dealing with behaviour that gives Serious Cause for Concern.

The Sixth Form Commitment to Learning Policy will be regularly explained to students. It will be displayed in the common room, classrooms and corridors. Staff and students will have a shared understanding of the standard of behaviour and attitudes to learning expected in the academy’s Sixth Form.

30


.

The academy commitment to you:

1. We will provide guidance and support to ensure that you are able to make informed decisions about the best pathways and courses for your development in sixth form.

2. You will be placed in a college tutor group and will be available to discuss any concerns that you might have about your learning and progress.

3. You will have an Academic Mentor who will also be available to discuss any concerns around your academic progress and commitment to your courses.

4. For each course that you study, a module plan will be in place, with learning objectives and lesson overviews. There will also be a schedule of assignment, assessment and coursework deadlines will be drawn up and given to you. This will include an exam timetable for courses that are examined.

5. Sixth form lessons will be planned with clear learning objectives and activities which enable you to learn and progress in the lesson.

6. Your teachers will make their expectations about independent learning and homework clear.

7. When work is handed in on time, and deadlines are met, your teacher will mark your coursework, assignments, tests and/or exams and return them to you with advice on improvements within a fortnight.

8. We will provide a study support room and Study Support Officer to help you in your progression through sixth form.

31


Your commitment to the academy

Learning and Academic Progress

• Arrive on time to the academy every morning and arrive at your lessons on time.

• Attend your tutor session every day, as well as sixth form assemblies and other sixth form activities where required.

• Inform The Sixth Form Office about absence due to illness by 8.30am on the day of absence.

• Do not book medical or other appointments in school time . Where this is unavoidable, evidence of appointment must be produced 48 hours in advance.

• Bring appropriate equipment to all of your lessons (e.g. pens, paper, textbooks that you have been given, your course file).

• Work hard in your lessons – listen carefully to instructions given by your teacher, engage in the learning activities and complete your work to the best of your ability.

• Use your Student Diary effectively and meet all deadlines – including homework, coursework and unit assignments.

• Work hard to reach your end of year academic targets.

Sixth Form Commitment toLearning Policy (C2L)

32

Sixth Form Commitment to Learning Policy (C2L)

Consequences for poor commitment to learning and academic progressWe hope that you will engage fully in all of your courses in the Sixth Form. If you are having problems in class, with learning, with homework, with deadlines or with progress, your teacher will speak to you about his/her concerns, and agree targets to improve the situation. Once you have has this support from your teacher, if the problem is not solved, an Academic Cause for Concern will be entered.

The following concerns will lead to a discussion with your teacher. If there is no

improvement, an Academic Cause for Concern will be entered by your teacher:

• Poor attendance

• Poor application to learning

• Failure to meet a deadline / Failure to meet a second deadline

• Concern regarding progress towards academic targets

The following concerns will lead to an Extended Study session:

• Truancy - Your teacher will enter the truancy onto the C2L system. This will generate an alert to the Study Supervisor and you will have to attend a 1 hour ‘Extended Study Session’ (ESS) in your own time, within 5 days of the truancy. If you do not attend a ESS before 5 days are up, you will be put in the ‘Not in the Sixth Form’ list and a Parent Meeting will take place before you are allowed to return to the Academy.

• Lateness - If you are more than 5 minutes late for a lesson with no prior notification given, you will receive an automatic 30 minute ESS after school.

33


Academic Cause for Concern: The Six Stage Response

Stage 1Your teacher will discuss any academic concerns with you, and agree what action you need to take to address these concerns. Stage 2If there is no improvement, your teacher will log an ‘Academic Cause for Concern’ on your C4C page. This will lead to a meeting with your college tutor when the problem will be discussed and actions to improve the situation agreed. Your C4C page will be updated and your tutor will monitor your progress. Stage 3If you go on to receive 5 or more C4Cs in any one school term, you will be put on report to your Academic Mentor. You will have agreed targets and a date for review. Stage 4If you fail to make progress whilst on report to your Academic Mentor, your parents will be invited to a meeting with your Learning Manager, and you will go on Learning Manager’s Report with clear targets and deadlines. Stage 5If you fail to make progress whilst on report to the Learning Manager, you will be called to a meeting with the Director of Sixth Form and required to sign a Sixth Form Support Contract. Your parents will also sign the contract. Stage 6If you fail to make progress whilst on a Sixth Form Support Contract, you will have a Warning of Permanent Exclusion Meeting with the Principal or with a Governor. If there is no improvement following this meeting, you will

be asked to leave the Sixth Form.

34


Your commitment to the academy

Behaviour

• Conduct yourself sensibly and maturely at all times, and don’t engage in inappropriate physical contact.

• Only drink and eat in the Sixth Form Common Room or the Restaurant . Food bought in the canteen must not be taken elsewhere.

• Watch your language and don’t swear.

• Put all litter in a bin.

• Respect the sixth form common room and all other areas of the academy.

• Role model good behaviour for younger students.

• Follow instructions given by academy staff at all time and without complaint. (Serious defiance will be viewed as a Serious Incident – see next page)

Breaking the above rules will lead to a discussion with your tutor, followed by your

academic mentor if the behaviour persists, and may even result in your being placed on

an academic report or a parent meeting.

Student Commitment toLearning Policy (C2L)

35


Serious Incidents

.

The following behaviours are regarded as extremely serious.

• Verbal/Physical abuse towards a member of staff.

• Fighting, bullying/racist behaviour

• Deliberate vandalism or theft

• Bringing in dangerous items into the academy

• Possession of drugs/use of drugs (including alcohol)

• Smoking in the academy or in its immediate vicinity.

(Any of the above will result in immediate temporary exclusion from the Sixth Form pending further investigation and could lead to permanent exclusion.)

• Breaking the academy Sixth Form Dress Code.

(Incidents of this nature will result in a student being sent home immediately. Any student sent home three or more times in a term will be asked to attend a parent meeting.)

Additionally, the above behaviours could lead to any of the consequences below:Parent meeting with Director of Sixth Form and Principal, final warning and contract, community service or exclusion.

36

Study Support

The Sixth Form offers a wide range of opportunities to allow students to excel with their education and we have set up the following areas in our new Sixth Form block to assist students with making the most of their time:

• A dedicated, monitored study room with 12 computers. If we feel a student is falling behind, or they have truanted lessons, they will be booked into this room during their free periods to catch up on the work missed. A member of staff will be stationed in the room to oversee and offer advice/guidance.

• A new internet café area. We have 20 computers so any student can complete work at any time. Students who misuse this area (playing games, just surfing the internet etc.) will be asked to leave. Priority will be given to those who prove to use the area most effectively.

• A quiet work area. A classroom will be kept available every lesson to allow students to complete non-IT work such as essays or mock exams. If the room is available, students who need to do group work may also use this space.

• A Sixth Form library. This area will not only have text books for each subject, but all the University prospectuses so students can research in-depth to make the best choice for their future. This area is continually being developed and we hope to add module guides for each subject and some information on careers/apprenticeships in the near future. In the meantime, this information can be obtained from Jo Thorne (enterprise/work experience/careers) and subject teachers (module information).

Each student is required to have one study session allocated for each subject they take. So a student taking 3 subjects needs to sit 3 study sessions in a week. These will be added to the students timetable with the same expectations of any normal taught lesson. These study sessions allow students to maintain their workload by doing homework, finishing classwork/coursework and partaking in extra research around their subject. Students who fall behind will have extra study sessions added until they have caught up with the work.

37

UCAS

There are a high number of Year 13 students applying for University this year and for each one we need to check the entire form, confirm qualifications are correct and write then submit a reference. If the application form is left to the last minute or after the deadline we have set, we cannot guarantee it will be sent off in time. The application will still be sent but Universities do not have to consider any applications after the January deadline. Students will also need to regularly check their emails so we can pass on vital information such as whether we have had to send an application back to due to noticing any errors. We cannot change anything on the application form, just offer advice and proof read the personal statement. It is the students responsibility to make sure the information submitted is correct.

Our submission deadlines which will need to be adhere to, to guarantee the application is sent off in time are:

Friday 24th October 2014 - Any applications fully completed by this date will be prioritised and sent off first.

Wednesday 10th December 2014 – All applications need to be FULLY completed by this date so there is time to check the entire form, qualifications and add the reference in time for the January 15th

deadline.

Each student applying for University this year has been given a UCAS guide booklet which provides information and advice on how to fill out the UCAS form. If you have any questions or need another copy of the guide, please see Nicola Barnes in the Sixth Form.

We strongly encourage students to attend Open Days at Universities of interest, but they will need to get permission from the Director of Sixth Form/Sixth Form Learning Manager in advance.

38

Progression/Pathways

In order to assist students on which subjects they should study in Sixth Form, the accompanying table highlights which subjects are often required to study a certain subject at University. Please note: most institutions require a minimum of 5 GCSE’s including Mathematics and English.

39

University Course Required or Preferred subjects to

be taken in advance

Additional Information

Accountancy, Finance,

Business and Management

Mathematics and Economics are required

for many top universities. Business

Studies and Applied Business are

advantageous.

Since requirements vary

considerably depending on the

institution, interested candidates

should visit:

www.ucas.com/students/coursesea

rch

Architecture Mathematics usually specified, plus one

additional science (Physics preferred due

to its numerical nature).

A2 Level Art as advantage.

A portfolio of drawings and

sketches must be developed and is

required for interview.

Art-related Degrees Art A portfolio of artwork is required for

interview. Students intending to

study Art at university are

commonly required to study an Art

Foundation course first.

Biochemistry Chemistry and two from Biology, Physics

or Mathematics.

http://www.ucas.com/students/coursesearch

40

Progression/PathwaysUniversity Course Required or Preferred subjects to

be taken in advance


Biological Sciences Biology and Chemistry

Chemistry Chemistry and Mathematics to at least

AS.

A2 Level for Oxbridge and top

universities.

Computer Science Mathematics and Physics frequently

required.

ICT advantageous.

Dentistry Chemistry and Biology required to A2

Level. Some dental schools identify A2

Level Music and Art & Design as it is an

indication of manual dexterity.

Psychology also identified as

advantageous.

A candidate must complete 3-14 days

of work-shadowing experience

preferably within a general dental

practice setting.

Applicants will need to be able to

show evidence of manual dexterity,

good communication skills; the ability

to work in a team and as a leader,

self-motivation, empathy and respect

for others.

Drama English Literature, English Language and

Drama & Theatre Studies are

advantageous subjects.

English requested for combined

courses with English.

4141



be taken in advance


Economics Mathematics essential for top

universities, with Economics highly

advantageous.

Further Mathematics required for

certain top universities and

Oxbridge colleges.

Engineering Physics and Mathematics required, with

Chemistry also needed for Chemical

Engineering.

Due to the variety of engineering

courses students are encouraged

to visit


rch to find out the requirements for

specific courses.

English English

Geography (BA Hons) Geography

Geography (BSc) Geography and at least one science.

Mathematics is required at certain

institutions.

Some universities increasingly

prefer a Science background for

their BSc Geography course.

Students should refer to


rch for specific requirements.

History History is essential, Government &

Politics is advantageous.



42



be taken in advance


Journalism History and English Language provide

students with the skills needed for a

degree in Journalism, and therefore are

viewed favourably by many universities.

Due to the competitive nature of

Journalism courses, students are advised

to seek a period of work experience prior

to submitting their UCAS application in

order to provide evidence of a real passion

for the subject.

Law None specified – although subjects such

as History, English Language and

Government & Politics provide students

with some of the necessary skills

required to succeed in a Law degree.

Work experience is not essential but is

looked on favourably by the top

universities.

Mathematics Mathematics required. Further

Mathematics required for Oxbridge and

frequently preferred for other top

universities. Physics is advantageous.

Medicine Chemistry required to A2 Level. Biology

usually required to at least AS Level.

Some medical schools actively seek a

broader academic base with one non

science subject, with Modern Foreign

Languages highly appealing to many

institutions.

Students looking to study medicine need to

be aware that places on these courses are

highly competitive and students need to

have almost exclusively a mixture of A*

and A grades at GCSE. Students need to

obtain a period of medical related work

experience prior to their UCAS application.

This could be in a hospital or care home as

it indicates an interest in caring for others.

4343



be taken in advance


Modern Languages:

French

Spanish

French

Spanish

Degree courses are available in

single languages but more often as

joint honours or in a combination

with other disciplines.

Nursing Health & Social Care, Psychology,

Sociology and the Sciences are all

advantageous subjects.

Work experience is essential prior

to filling out the UCAS application

as it indicates an interest in caring

for others.

Optometry Two from Chemistry, Biology, Physics or

Mathematics.

Pharmacology Chemistry and two from Physics,

Mathematics or Biology.

Physics Physics and Mathematics are required. Further Mathematics at AS or A2 is

an advantage.

Physiotherapy Biology required.

Physical Education would be beneficial.

One further Science often preferred.

Politics None specific, but Economics and Politics

are helpful.

Students must have an up to date

understanding of the political

climate, which would need to be

evident in the personal statement.

44


University Course Required or Preferred subjects to be

taken in advance


Psychology Mathematics and one science (Biology

preferred) an advantage for top

universities.

Sports Science One science often preferred (usually

Biology).

Physical Education would be beneficial.

Teaching For primary teaching many institutions

require students to have studied at least

one national curriculum subject at A2

Level. Core National Curriculum subjects

are Maths, English and Science. Non-

core National Curriculum subjects are Art

& Design, ICT, Physical Education,

Religious Studies, Drama, Geography,

History, Design & Technology and Music.

For secondary teaching this is similar but

secondary teachers specialise in

particular subjects so L3 qualifications in

more than one subject on the National

Curriculum will increase the opportunity

for employment within this sector.

A minimum of 2 weeks work

experience is mandatory for entry

on to many Primary Education

programmes. There is no

requirements to carry out the work

experience all in one go; it can be

gained over time, i.e. half a day a

week.

45


University Course Required or Preferred subjects to be

taken in advance


Veterinary Science Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics/Physics is

required.

Candidates must indicate in their

personal statement that they have

had a minimum of two weeks (or

occasional days over a substantial

period) work or shadowing

experience with a vet and that they

are comfortable with large animals

(cows/horses). Broad experience of

and contact with a wide variety of

animals is viewed favourably.

Students must be aware that universities often change or make additions to entry requirements

on a yearly basis and they must carry out their own research regarding entry requirements for

the course(s) they are interested in studying post A Level.

sixth form student handbook - north oxfordshire academy form... · 2016. 4. 28. · it is advisable...

Documents