Queens’ School Sixth Form

Sixth Form Open Evening19th October 2015 7pm

Main Objectives

• What will the new A Level Reforms mean for your son/daughter ?

• What curriculum will Queens’ school offer based on these reforms?

• What other support do we offer as a Sixth Form which makes Queens’ the best place to continue your post 16 education?

A Level Reform – what is happening to A Levels ?

Old A Levels• Students studied four then

dropped one at the end of year 12.

• They were achieved in two stages – AS level exams taken in year 12 to achieve AS qualifications. These were then added to A2 exam scores in year 13 for the subjects being continued.

• A Levels were therefore made up of two sets of exams.

• This allowed for the opportunity to resit year 12 exams if they did not go so well.

New A Levels

These are linear courses meaning that ALL exams are taken at the end of the two year course with no exams

taken in year 12

The only subjects who are still on the old A Level are Maths and

Poltics

Implications of A Level Reform for schools

• Given that the goal is 3 A Levels there seems little point in starting 4 only to drop one after year 12 in which you cannot achieve a qualification.

• Hence the most likely model will offer will be a 3 A Level course from the beginning.

• With students only doing 3 subjects, this will mean less students in certain subjects as students have less choices.

• This will impact smaller schools where they may not be enough students to run certain subjects. Hence the breadth of subjects on offer may be more limited.

• There will be no chance to resit exams.

• More emphasis on GCSE results

What will we offer at Queens’?

• A package of 3 A Levels

• Or a vocational course made up of BTEC courses (Business, Science or Sport)

• All the subjects listed in the Options Booklet

• As a large school we are confident that we can provide a significant ‘range of subjects’

• Other elective studies to supplement A Level studies such as EPQ which carries UCAS points.

• We may increase the number of hours per subject to 5 hours a week per subject instead of 4.

Packages we will offer

Extras:

–Sports Academy for talented sports students alongside a normal curriculum (Sports Academy Open Evening to be held in early December )

–Careers (Business) Academy for selected students

The Options Booklet

• Please note that as many of the courses are new, many departments are unable to provide full details of their course at this stage so the course descriptions in the Options Booklet are not complete.

• There are no specific details yet of the subject entry requirements until further consultation has taken place.

Ways of choosing a package of

subjects

–subjects you enjoy

–subjects you are good at (entry requirements)

–future university & career ideas?

–a realistic package of subjects

Entry criteria…• APS of 40 or above

• C or above in English and Maths

• Meeting individual subject entry grades:

(not decided yet but until there is further consultation)

Probable requirements will be :

• Heads of Department make the final decision, they will use their discretion

• Final details of exact entry requirements will published in January when students begin their post 16 interviews with senior staff.

Subject GCSE Grades

Maths and Single Science A

Most Humanities B

BTEC and vocational courses C

Why Sixth Form at Queens’?

Academic Support

• A supportive and challenging environment

• Dedicated Sixth Form facilities

• Excellent exam results

• Excellent teaching

Ways of meeting our aims:

-Compulsory private study periods (no ‘free’ periods)

- Attendance / punctuality monitoring- Supported study

- Form tutor mentoring

- Progress tracking and intervention

-Home Study – year 13

University Applications

• Year 12:

- UCAS Higher Education Convention – March 2016

- Higher Education module in PSE – summer term

- 2 university visits allowed during term time in Year 13

- Oxbridge / Medicine – prospective students (many A/A*s at GCSE, predicted 3 As at A Level): programme organised by Mr Rooney including mock interviews, visits, subject based enrichment opportunities and talks by current students

The UCAS process

Student Achievement 2015

2012 2013 2014 2015

No of students

188 198 201 205

A - B 40.3% 39.3% 40% 44%

A - E 91.2% 91.1% 90.6% 92%

2012 2013 2014 2015

No of students

171 141 171 177

A - B 51 % 60% 53% 55%

A - E 99.4% 99.5% 99.8% 99%

Student Achievement 2015

University:- Over 140 students went on to university last year

- Many at ‘red-brick/Russell Group’ universities including Cambridge

- 176 applicants so far this year including 6 Oxbridge

What we offer outside of the classroom (extra-curricular)

A few examples:

– Focus Newspaper

– 6th Form run debates and assemblies

– 6th form post holders – Head Students

– Educational travel: Russia, Auschwitz, Prague, Slapton, Devon

– Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme

– CSLA Sports Leadership training

– Gap year opportunities

– 6th Form committee / Student Voice

– World challenge

– Inter-house sport

– Sports Academy

– Business Academy

– CCF

What we offer outside of the classroom (pastoral)

– Careers advice

– Specialist form tutor team

– PSE programme and 6th form games

– Buddies, Prefects, Paired Reading; Classroom helpers, Peer Mentoring

– Charity work

What happens next?-Speak to the HoD’s of departments and the

students themselves this evening

-An initial note of interest (forms in pack) (Friday 27th

November)

-An interview at school concerning courses

(February)

-Application form including subject choices (March)

-Letter of provisional acceptance (April/May)

-Induction days (Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th July

2016)

-GCSE results day (August)

-Enrolment at start of term (September)

Mrs Antcliffe (Head of Sixth): 01923 478 206 or antclika@@queens.herts.sch.uk

Mr Rooney (Deputy Head of Sixth): 01923 478 217

Mr Smith (Deputy Head of Sixth): 01923 478 217

Thank you for listening