WELCOME TO THE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE

1. WELCOME TO THE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE OPEN EVENING OCTOBER 2009

2. Purpose of the Evening • To find out more about this sixth form college, its specialist facilities, ethos and atmosphere • To meet and talk to the College teaching staff and students • To have your questions answered • To find out more about the programmes and courses to help you make an informed choice • To help you make up your mind if this is the right place for you to continue your studies post 16

3. The Sixth Form College • Opened in 1987 - well established • Specialist sixth form college - full-time 16 to 18 year old students • Excellent accommodation and facilities specifically designed for sixth form study - excellent additional building opened in 2007

4. The Sixth Form College • Just under 3000 full time 16 – 18 year old students • Average academic class size - 17 AS Level/GCSE classes - generally within 16-20 range A Level/IB classes - generally 13-19

5. Care and concern for the individual student Strong pastoral support High quality of academic teaching High levels of achievement - absolute and ‘value-added’ Breadth of opportunity High expectations of students Flexible curriculum to meet the needs of the individual A lively and thriving student community Characteristic Qualities of the College

6. WELCOME TO THE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE OPEN EVENING OCTOBER 2009

7. Outstanding Opportunities Students choose an individual programme of study that meets their needs from: • AS/A Level Programme • Choice from over 60 AS/A Levels – some specialist choices introduced for Year 2 • A few AS/A Level subjects will also now have an ‘extension strategy’ opportunity available for further study in one subject which is taken at Pre-U level • IB Diploma Programme • GCSEs: Advanced Foundation Programme

8. Outstanding Opportunities Nearly 100 Additional Studies courses including: • Many Music, Drama and Dance opportunities • Wide range of sports - competitive and recreational levels • Community Sports Leaders’ Award • Pre-Clinical Programme • Pre –Teaching • Media opportunities including Radio Journalism, Magazine and Sports Reporting

9. Outstanding Opportunities • Options for AS/A Level students include: AS/A Level Critical Thinking Pre-U qualification in some subjects (including Global Perspectives/Individual Research [GPR] to achieve overall Pre-U Diploma) Extended Project Qualification (‘half an A Level’) (including possible AQA Baccalaureate) An ICT short course qualification (Level 3) Extended Project (including possible AQA Baccalaureate) Extended Project (including possible AQA Baccalaureate) A Level General Studies (an option for Year 2) NB *5th option possibilities – Visual Presentation in briefing packs distributed tonight, and in Prospectus

10. The 5th Academic Choice for AS Level

11. The College Tutorial Programme • Clubs • Societies • Field Trips • Expeditions

12. Curriculum 2000 – AS/A Levels • A Levels (2 years) are generally now divided into 4 units (6 in a few subjects e.g., Sciences, Maths) comprising: AS LEVEL - Year 1 2 (or 3) units - ‘core’ content and  A2 LEVEL – Year 2 AS Level units plus 2 (or 3) further A2 units – A2 modules have more emphasis on Higher level skills

13. Curriculum 2000 – AS A2 Levels • Flexibility after one year of study • A* grade at A2 Level is now available. Requires 80%-plus average marks at AS Level and then 90% plus average in the 2 (or 3) A2 Level modules

14. International Baccalaureate Diploma 2 Year Programme – all exams at end of Year 2 6 ‘Subjects’ - drawn from 5 or 6 curriculum ‘families’: Maths English Sciences Humanities / Social Sciences Modern Foreign Language 1 (or 0) ‘Elective’ : Art or Drama or Music (or a second Science or Humanity or MFL or computing) 3 Higher Level and 3 Standard Level (or 4 Higher and 2 Standard)

15. International Baccalaureate Diploma • The other 3 compulsory elements are: • Theory of Knowledge (TOK) • Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) • Extended Essay (EE) • Please attend one of the IB talks in room 306/7 at 6:45, 7:30 and 8:15 if you wish to find out more

16. Entry Criteria • 5 AS A strong GCSE profile mostly at A* - B • 4 AS plus a non-AS academic course or a skills based AS Level e.g. Critical Thinking or Citizenship At least a good spread of GCSE grades and 7A*- C including English Language • 3 AS plus 2 non AS academic courses A minimum of 5 C grades including English Language or Mathematics • IB Same entry criteria as for 4 or 5 AS including B or above 3 from Science, English, Mathematics, MFL. • AFP A minimum of 1C and 4D grades

17. Expectation of Students • Very high standards: • Motivation and commitment to study • Co-operation • Maturity • A young adult environment • Making the most of each student’s potential

18. WELCOME TO THE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE OPEN EVENING OCTOBER 2009

19. How does one judge the success of a post-16 institution? Criteria should include: • Academic achievement/examination results including ‘value-added’ achievement • Retention rate • Wider achievements • Student destinations • The quality of relationships

20. How does one judge the success of a post-16 institution? • Levels of student satisfaction and contentment • Parent and community perceptions • Links with the community • Development of skills and preparation for higher education, employment and adult life • External Ofsted inspections and other assessments • Demand for places

21. Academic Achievement • Top of the Government’s published Advanced Level (AS/A and IB) performance tables for colleges in Essex and Suffolk in each of the last 14 years • In ‘value-added’ achievement terms examination results have, consistently, significantly exceeded national ‘norms’ – i.e ‘positive value-added’. Value-added scores are positive in all ranges of GCSE achievement at age 16 including academic ‘top-end’ students.

22. Academic Achievement • Average university entrance and Government Performance Table ‘points’ nearly 17% above the national average for all schools and colleges • University entrance point and Government ‘Performance Table score for the top 100 achievers equivalent to AAAA at A Level • Over 900 students progress to higher education each year.

23. External Assessment • Excellent Ofsted Inspection Reports in 1997, 2002 and 2007. November 2007 Report allocated College ‘Outstanding’ grades in each of the 11 Ofsted Inspection categories and overall ‘Outstanding’ status (see College website for Inspection Report) • College one of the first Sixth Form Colleges to be awarded Beacon status in 2002 – and maintains this status • Queen’s Award for Higher and Further Education awarded in 2000

24. College Admissions First Priority: • STUDENTS ATTENDING THE FOLLOWING SCHOOLS: Alderman Blaxill* St Benedict’s College The Gilberd* St Helena* Honywood Sir Charles Lucas* Manningtree* . Stanway* Philip Morant* Thomas, Lord Audley* • AND STUDENTS WHO: live in the catchment area of the asterisked (*) schools regardless of which school they have attended up to 16 years of age

25. College Admissions First Priority also for: • Students attending any Secondary school located in the Borough of Colchester (includes selective and independent schools such as CCHS, CRGS, Colchester High, St Mary’s) • Students who have a permanent parental residence which is closer to the Colchester Borough boundary than the nearest other Sixth Form provider of A Level/IB

26. College Admissions First Priority also for: • STUDENTS WHO ATTEND THE FOLLOWING 11-16 SCHOOLS outside the Colchester Borough boundary: East Bergholt High Alec Hunter Hadleigh High Notley High Holbrook High Tabor High Stoke College Ramsey Amberfield

27. College Admissions • For those who are not in the ‘First Priority’ categories, for September 2010 entry we would expect to be able to offer places to around 50% of students who apply by the 31 January deadline • Priority: Strong course reason, i.e. courses which cannot be studied more locally and where the College has places

28. College Admissions • A number of AS Level courses may not be available to applicants who are not in the first category of Admissions. Which courses this will apply to will not be clear until March 2010 but AS Photography will almost certainly be one. • Essential that all applications are received by 31 January 2010 • Substantive information around this, and indeed more general information, can be obtained from the website. www.colchsfc.ac.uk

29. http://www.colchsfc.ac.uk

30. College Website – Documents

31. College Website – more documents

32. Using the Open Evenings effectively Advice is available for both specific and general queries: • On the Concourse Travel Financial Support (including information on Educational Maintenance Allowance Scheme) Admissions Curriculum (including Extended Project Qualifications and Pre-U) General Guidance • In Room 121 (1st Floor, Library corridor) Careers and Higher Education Guidance

33. Using the Open Evenings effectively • Prospectus collection – from the Concourse, Midsite Reception • Applications – on-line facility opens on Friday 23 October. Alternatively, paper application forms can be requested from the College Admissions Office • Both Refectories (Ground Floor Main Building and Ground Floor Mid Site Building) open from 6.30 to 8.30pm

34. WELCOME TO THE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE OPEN EVENING OCTOBER 2009