Whilst one of the key roles of the Sixth Form is to support students in their pursuit for academic success, we also place an importance on developing our students as lifelong learners who possess the skills and characteristics required to be successful in higher education and employment. Part of this is ensuring the high expectations of dress, attendance and punctuality that would be anticipated in a workplace are met, as well as giving students opportunities to develop their learning habits and leadership skills.
Character
SET UP - RESPECTFUL - SAFE
The ethos of our school is that students are Setup, Respectful and Safe, therefore we expect all of our Sixth Form students to:
Setup
Attend school each day
Arrive at school and to lessons promptly
Bring the correct equipment to school everyday
Follow the dress code
Demonstrate a positive attitude to work
Follow an independent study timetable
Respectful
Be polite and respectful to everyone in the school community
Be a good ambassador in the local community
Safe
Behave appropriately in class, in the corridors and around the school
Report any concerns to staff to support us in solving the problem promptly
Developing an A level Mindset
The transition from GCSE to A level can be challenging for students, particularly in relation to the increased independence that students have over their learning. As such, we work with Year 12 students weekly in their first term to develop the characteristics and learning habits to be successful at A level and beyond using the principles of the VESPA mindset (Oakes and Griffin, 2016). Research shows that fostering these learning habits increases the chances of success, so we work with students to help them:
Know what they want to achieve (Vision)
Complete independent study (Effort)
Organise their learning resources and their time (Systems)
Practice and develop their skills (Practice)
Respond constructively to challenge (Attitude)
