St Michael’s Catholic High School Sixth Form

1. St Michael’s Catholic High School Sixth Form We hope you enjoyed our student film on Sixth Form. Please also speak to our students who are here this evening.

2. St Michael’s Catholic High School Sixth Form Welcome From The Sixth Form Team Headteacher / Line Manager of Sixth Form Mr Conway Assistant Headteacher / Director of Sixth Form Miss Parrott Sixth Form Support Officer Mrs Inglis Specialist Sixth Form Tutor Team Mrs Bevis, Mrs Deweltz, Ms Doherty, Mrs Jones, Miss Mearns, Mrs Roe, Miss Roze, Mrs Seifert, Miss Turner

3. WHY ST MICHAEL’S? THE EDUCATION OF THE WHOLE PERSON IN A RELIGIOUS CONTEXT

4. ST MICHAEL’S SIXTH FORM FACTS • Ofsted 2014: “The leadership and management of the sixth form is outstanding.” • Ofsted 2014: “An increasing number gain entry to Russell Group universities.” • Ofsted 2014: “Level 3 results are well above the national average. “ • Ofsted 2014: “Sixth form students make a significant contribution to school life and set a good example to younger students.They have high aspirations.” • Ofsted 2014: “The quality of teaching and learning is outstanding. Students develop the good study skills required at university.” • Diocese inspection 2013: “..very clear, caring and considerate leadership of the Headteacher serves to inspire others” • Diocese inspection 2013: “.. Purposeful learning environment around the school.”

5. WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE ST MICHAEL’S – let’s start with our academic results • Just under 80% of A LEVEL grades are A*-C - in line with National average • A continuing trend of high numbers of A*-A passes – just under 25% of our grades were A*-A in 2018. • 2012 – 2018 : Overwhelming majority of Y13 students continue to gain entrance to their first / second choice university. Over 90% of our students progress to university. • In 2018 just under 90% of our Btec grades were Distinction / Distinction*. • Majority of our A Level subject results are above National averages

6. WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE ST MICHAEL’S – our students make more progress! • Not just raw results, our students actually make more progress than expected • You can compare progress made in other local Sixth Forms • FACT: our students make more progress than those in other local Sixth Forms.

7. WHY ST MICHAEL’S? • THE VAST MAJORITY IN YEAR 11, AND THE PROSPECTIVE NEW STUDENTS, SHOULD SEE ST MICHAEL’S AS THE NATURAL PROGRESSION. • IF … • You are willing to commit to working hard – inside and outside of lesson • You have bought into our ethos so far throughout Year 7-11 and willing to continue to embrace this going forward • You have made positive contributions to our school community • You have an excellent attendance record • You consistently score 2.25 or less in PARS effort score – positive attitude to learning

8. Importance of Year 11 • Subject Contact evening 28 November – advice • Grade Indicator exams are IMPORTANT – are you approaching them in the right way? • Sixth Form Interviews early 2019 – discuss subjects open to you based on your GI results. • GCSE exams – will you respond to advice from teachers to improve? • GCSE results – advice post results available, what do your results mean you can study? Difficult conversations. Be aware of what APS / grade you need for what you want to do. • GCSE results are the ONLY examination results universities will see – literally doors will be closed to you based on how you perform in Year 11

9. Importance of Year 11 • My advice: • ONLY ONE CHANCE TO GET THIS RIGHT – DON’T WASTE IT!! FACT -GCSE’s can stop you getting where you want to go

10. WHY ST MICHAEL’S? CURRICULUM REFORM THE NATIONAL PICTURE

11. A LEVEL REFORMS – what it means for our students • As of September 2016 students have been opting for 2 year courses – A Level or Btec. • All students entering Sixth Form must have 5 passes grade 4 or above including Maths and English Language at grade 5 for A Level and at 4 for Bteccourses. • PLUS meet the subject specific entrance criteria for their 3 chosen subjects.

12. A LEVEL REFORMS – what it means for our students • September 2017 - vast majority of students will start with 3 subjects • Students with an Average Point Score above 7 can opt to study 4 subjects • Students must have an Average Point Score of 5 to start one A Level course, of 5.5 to start two A Level courses, or 6 to start 3 A Level courses – as well as meeting the subject specific criteria.

13. OUR SIXTH FORM CURRICULUM OFFER • To return to Sixth Form students must meet the criteria for 3 subjects Then they will be able to access a curriculum which offers: • Breadth and Balance • Diversity and Flexibility • Progression for All

14. CORE CURRICULUM • CoRE • Sixth Form Games • (For the majority of students)

15. PROPOSED ROUTES OF STUDY • A Levels – terminal exams after two years of study • Vocational Level 3 qualifications – each worth one A Level • (Continuous assessment and externally examined units) • Students secure places in Year 13 based on their Year 12 Btec external examination results and Year 12 UCAS indicator exams – huge importance of getting Year 12 right. Predicted grades for university based on Year 12.

16. THE NEW REFORMED A LEVELS – the story so far • Linear exam (100% of grade) at end of Year 13 – no longer able to bank points at the end of Year 12 • Increased subject content and increased level of difficulty • Students will continue to sit internal exams in Year 12 WHY? • Support university applications – universities continue to support formal exams in Year 12 • Secure predicted grades

17. Vocational Courses in Sixth Form • 2 year course - worth equivalent of 1 A Level – same UCAS points

18. Vocational Courses in Sixth Form (Provisional) • Business/ Applied Law/ Sport / ICT / Health and Social Care / Digital Media / Criminology / Performing Arts • Can be combined with A Level programme of study – increasingly common • To start courses 5 x Grade 4 at GCSE including Maths and English Language at grade 4and meet each subject specific requirement • Offers progression to university degree in related areas or employment • MYTH – Btecs prevent you from applying to good universities

19. PROGRESSION ROUTES – all students can access universities / apprenticeships 5 GCSEs grade 4 or above inc Maths and English Language grade 4 AND meeting the entrance criteria for 3 subjects 5 GCSEs grade 4 or above inc Maths and English Language grade 5 , an Average Point Score over 5 / 5.5 / 6. Mainly 6’s and Minimum Grade required in subject to be studied Entry Requirements Possible to combine A Levels and vocational courses A Level 2 Years BTEC 2 Years Good Passes = Access to Universities / employment ‘Merit / Distinction*’ Universities / employment

20. WHY ST MICHAEL’S? APPROPRIATE SUBJECT CHOICES – CHOOSE CAREFULLY Why choose a subject? • Because you are good at it • Because you have researched what it is about and are interested • Because it will help you to achieve what you want to in terms of future plans – job / university / apprenticeship • Considered style of assessment – Vocational - combination, reformed A Levels, reformed A Levels with coursework • NOT because your friends have chosen it / your parents want you to do the subject • KEY IS RESEARCH, ASK QUESTIONS, SEEK GUIDANCE TO MAKE WISE CHOICES

21. STUDENT VIEWS • Let’s hear what the most important people have to say – the students • Eva Woods and Shae Sherry Head Student and Year 12 Prefect • Transition Y11-Y12 • Giorgia Ferro Head Student • Opportunities, support on offer and equipping you for life after Y13 • Dean Lobo Y12 Prefect and Francesca Napolitano Y12 Prefect • Why they came back in Y12 and didn’t opt for other Sixth Forms

22. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES – OUR EXPECTATIONS • Catholic Community • School Community – role model • Positive attitude to learning – work ethic • High expectations – Sixth Form Contract • Sixth Form Dress Code – renegotiated via student voice June 2017 • Full Attendance – min 90% exam entrance • Use of Private Study Time • Course Review – how to improve and support strategies • Meeting Deadlines

23. AMAZING PASTORAL LIFE • 2 Stage Induction (June 2019, September 2019) • Academic Mentoring (Mentoring for Y13 to at least meet Minimum Target Grades) • Community placements • Prefect and Senior Prefect opportunities • “Buddying” Y7 students • Peer mentoring – academic and social needs • Environmental Council • Visiting speakers – wide range of current affair topics • University visits • Apprenticeship links • Interview advice – jobs, apprenticeships, university • Involvement in whole school life – wide range of opportunities

24. Our USP – PASTORAL CARE AND SUPPORT WE OFFER • Two advice and guidance interviews prior to starting Sixth Form – Post GI results, September 2019 • Availability for drop-in advice throughout Year 11 • Sixth Form students visit form time in Year 11 • Post results advice service for GCSE and A Level students – written documents and staff available in school • Induction - July 2019 (including taster lessons) • High quality, experienced and trained Sixth Form tutors • Visiting speakers – wide range throughout Sixth Form • Unifrog – log skills and research • UCAS support – personal statement, sign up • Apprenticeship links • Interview advice – jobs, apprenticeships, university • Academic Mentoring

25. APPLICATION TIMELINE • Step one - Read the prospectus, research courses and ask questions • November / December 2018 • PARS and Subject Contact Evening • Grade Indicator exams • Complete application form • (Don’t submit subject choices) • Return to Miss Parrott via the school office by Friday 7 December • January/ February 2019 • Grade Indicator exam results • APR Day – discuss realistic choices with Form Tutor • Drop in choices Surgery with Miss Parrott • Interviews with Sixth Form team / Senior team week commencing 28 January • Return preferences form after the interview to school office by Friday 8 February • (Applications received after the deadlines may not be considered) • (We will request references for all external applicants – deadline for application 12 January)

26. APPLICATION TIMELINE February 2019 – March 2019 Preferences process Unconditional offers – based on Grade Indicator results Provisional places offered - subject to meeting our entrance requirements and subject grades All places provisional until after Course Review 1 26 JUNE 2019 Induction part one and issue summer tasks– compulsory, this in the offer letter 22 August 2019 GCSE Results Easier if you are here for results day! Avoid taking holidays on GCSE results day –alleviate stress by being here. Post results student advice days - very successful initiative More information to follow for dates for 2019 September 2019 Sixth Form Choices Fayre – enrolment and course choice and guidance interviews