All Hallows 6th Form Handbook - 2023-2024

All Hallows Catholic College

Sixth Form Handbook Academic Year 2023-2024

A place where you succeed...

A small sample of our Sixth Form student des na ons over the past couple of years.

Cambridge University - History, York University - Philosophy, Lancaster University - Physics, Oxford University - History, Liverpool John Moores University - Dance Prac ces, No ngham University - Medical Engineering, Appren ceship - Barclays, Oxford University—Physics, Sheffield University - Biology, Leeds University - Children's Nursing, Newcastle University Biomedical Sciences, Sheffield University - Law & Criminology, Leeds Metropolitan University - Events Management, Leeds University - Philosophy, Ethics and Religion, Fashion Retail Academy, London - Fashion Buying and Range Planning, Leeds Metropolitan University - Sport & Exercise Science, Newcastle University - Civil Engineering, Manchester University - Midwifery, Sheffield University - Mathema cs, Sheffield Hallam University Adult Nursing, Sheffield University - Medicine, York University - Psychology, Harts Accountants Appren ceship Leeds University - Zoology, Liverpool University - Medicine, Manchester University - Physics with Astrophysics, Sheffield Hallam University - Psychology, Sheffield University - English Language & Literature, Staffordshire University - Music Technology with Management, No ngham University - Hispanic Studies, Oxford University—Law with German Law, University of Chester - Policing & Criminal Inves ga on, Sheffield University - Sociology, Leeds College of Music - Music Produc on, Aberdeen University - Geography, Leeds University - Linguis c & Phone cs, Durham University Literature & History, Liverpool University - Radiotherapy, Astra Zeneca—Manufacturing appren ceship University of Central Lancashire - Illustra on, No ngham Trent University Media, Leeds University - Psychology, Durham University - Mathema cs, Manchester Metropolitan University - Art, Staffordshire University - Policing & Criminal Inves ga on, Edge Hill University - Compu ng, Bath University - Management, Derby University Interna onal Fashion , York University - Mathema cs, Leeds University - Mathema cs & Music, Sheffield Hallam University - Educa on Studies with Psychology & Counselling, Cardiff University - German & English Literature, Durham University - Physics, Liverpool Hope University - Educa on, Cambridge University - Geography, Leeds Metropolitan University - Psychology, Salford University - Counselling & Psychotherapy, Appren ceship— CBL, Armed Forces, St Mary’s University - Theatre & Performance, Liverpool University— Psychology, Leeds Becke University - Accoun ng, Sheffield Hallam University - Science with Educa on, Appren ceship—AJ Bell, Oxford University—Experimental Psychology.

‘Our son was lucky enough to attend to All Hallows Sixth Form we are particularly grateful for all that you did for him whilst he was there, encouraging the study habits and independence he needed to succeed at 02 university’ Parent

Contents 03 Sixth Form Curriculum 04 Final Op ons Grid

19 Top Tips for Sixth Form Students

05 College / Student Agreement

21 16—19 Bursary Fund

06 Student / College Agreement

23 Term Dates

07 General Rules

24 College Map

08 Monitoring Procedure

25 Contact Informa on

09 Sixth Form Code of Dress

26 Policies

11 College Day

27 Biometrics

12 Tutor Groups and Pastoral Staff

28 Privacy No ce

13 Directed Study Time

29 Governors and Trustees

14 Target Se ng

30 Safeguarding

15 I.C.T. User Agreement

Enclosed Link: Signature Page/GDPR/ Permissions

17 Enrichment

Welcome to All Hallows Catholic College Congratula ons on securing a place to study in a Sixth Form which is recognised among the top performing Sixth Forms in the North West.

We believe that each student is an individual, is excep onal and needs to be valued. High quality teaching and learning, coupled with excep onal pastoral support, provides the inspira on and mo va on for every young person to realise their aspira ons and ‘SHINE’. Our students truly fulfil their poten al with us, progressing onto pres gious universi es, appren ceships and rewarding careers. Our aim is to provide students with the very best possible educa on, to help them develop new interests and to use whatever talents they have in the service of the College and the wider community.

A team of highly qualified and experienced staff, commi ed to the values of the Sixth Form, offer excellent tui on within a curriculum which is extensive, courses which are demanding and a learning atmosphere which is exci ng. This coupled with the curricular enrichment programme and opportuni es for personal, spiritual and moral development ensures you will experience an educa on which truly prepares you for life beyond All Hallows.

I wish you con nued success in your studies and look forward to working with you on the next stage of your learning journey.

03

Sixth Form Curriculum Congratula ons on securing a place at All Hallows Catholic College Sixth Form. We are delighted that you will be studying here and look forward to being able to support you on the next stage of your learning journey.

All Hallows Catholic College offers a broad curriculum at Key Stage 5, incorpora ng A-levels, BTECs and Diplomas. Your programme of study will be personalised and will depend on your individual needs and interests. As a student you will be given advice and guidance on which is the most appropriate course for you, taking into considera on the GCSE’s you are likely to achieve. Students are able to combine A-level and Voca onal qualifica ons. This provides the flexibility for students to adapt their course to suit their future career plans and aspira ons, whether that is: university, appren ceships or employment.

Advanced level study is designed to challenge you academically and help you to become a more independent learner, in readiness for the life-long learning challenges presented by modern society. Due to the academic rigour, entry on to these courses requires a minimum of 5 grade 9 to 4’s at GCSE including Maths and/or English minimum grade 4. Please refer to our PROSPECTUS for subject specific grade requirements.

Year 12 students will choose to study 3 A level subjects over a 2 year period. Individual subject advice is given to students dependent on the GCSE results achieved.

Students who have not achieved a minimum grade 4 in Maths and English on entry to the Sixth Form will con nue to study these subjects as part of their programme of learning.

Students who achieved grade 4 may choose to repeat the examina on.

In addi on to your chosen subjects, all students follow a Core R.E. programme, have the opportunity to engage in sport, volunteer work and a variety of extra-curricular opportuni es throughout the year. Some students will undergo ‘selec on’ for the Macclesfield Football Academy. All students complete one week Work Experience in June.

As part of our Aspire supercurricluar program to stretch our most able students, they may also choose to complete the Extended Project Qualifica on (E.P.Q), MOOCs or Language Accredita on for Business. Throughout the Sixth Form you will have many opportuni es to develop leadership skills.

Not only was I taught by teachers who were passionate about their subjects but the Sixth Form also provided opportunities to support my moral, social and cultural development. Being a member of the student leadership team gave me the opportunity to make a difference.’ Student ‘

04 ...Sixth Form Curriculum

03

The Final Op ons Grid Op on A Mathema cs

Op on B Criminology Applied A Level

Op on C

Op on D

Biology

Chemistry

Psychology

English Literature

Sociology

Theology Religion, Philosophy, & Ethics

Business Studies Extended Cer ficate

Economics

English Language

Sport Extended Cer ficate

History

Biology

Geography

Physics

Health & Social Care Extended Cer ficate

English Language

Compu ng

Art (Fine)

Further Mathema cs

Art (3D Design/ Tex les)

Music

Mathema cs

IT Extended Cer ficate

Criminology Applied A Level

Spanish

Chemistry Psychology GCSE Maths

GCSE Eng- Core RE lish

EPQ

Language Accredita on for Business

Macclesfield Football Academy

05 ...The Final Op ons Grid September 2023

04

College / Student Agreement Sixth Form studies are both demanding in terms of your me and academically challenging.

Student success depends on a number of factors and with this in mind we have developed a College/Student agreement which sets out our mutual expecta ons. All students are required to sign the agreement on entry to the Sixth Form.

The College will: ·

Value each individual.

·

Encourage students to set for themselves the highest possible standards of achievement in everything that they do. To value academic excellence and to develop a love of learning whilst at College and in prepara on for further and higher educa on or employment.

·

Provide high quality, specialist teaching.

·

Provide informa on, advice and support to students to help meet their educa onal and employment needs.

·

Provide a range of extra-curricular opportuni es and experiences within the Sixth Form and outside College that will enrich the curriculum.

·

Encourage students to make maximum use of their me and develop their me management skills.

·

Monitor and review student performance regularly and set academic targets.

·

Develop a close and mutually suppor ve partnership with parents in the educa onal and personal development of our young people.

Signed: Date : September 2023

06 ...College / Student Agreement

05

Student / College Agreement As a student I will: ·

Respect all members of the College community and posi vely contribute to the College ethos.

·

A end College between 8.50 and 3.15 daily – students who are late twice within a week will be placed in a punctuality deten on the following week.

·

‘Sign In’ at the a endance office if I am unavoidably late to College.

·

‘Sign Out’ with permission from a member of the Sixth Form leadership team, if I need to leave College throughout the day, and provide proof of appointments in advance.

·

Maintain good a endance, the target is 97%.

·

Wear the code of dress as issued and displayed on the College Website.

·

Work to the best of my ability at all mes.

·

Behave in an adult and mature way and be a role model for younger students.

·

Be respec ul of other members of the College and community.

·

Ensure that all work is completed and handed in on me and reflects my target grade.

·

Meet targets set.

·

A end and be punctual for all metabled lessons, form period, directed study periods, assemblies and other collec ve acts of worship. [Any absence must be accounted for].

·

Comply with any extra-curricular demands necessary to the course of study, e.g. a end field studies and engage in Enrichment days/PSHCE/RSE/HE/Appren ceship /Work Experience programme.

·

Meet examina on board requirements.

·

Achieve a sa sfactory* standard in Key Assessments and Examina ons (*Target grade) Entry for final examina on is dependent on students demonstra ng an ability to achieve a successful outcome. Progression from Year 12 to 13 is dependent upon your ability to meet your end of course Target grades.

·

Not engage in outside ac vi es to the detriment of my studies, including excessive paid employment. Students must not exceed 8 hours employment/week.

·

Refrain from an -social or illegal behaviour.

·

Refrain from smoking / vaping in College or near the College grounds.

·

Use College equipment and facili es appropriately. Use of College ICT equipment is dependent on students signing the ‘Acceptable Use Policy’.

·

Where student behaviour, a endance, punctuality or academic performance does not meet the necessary standard, a student’s independent study me will be supervised in the Sixth Form Study Room, and may be extended beyond the college day for up to 1 hour and un l the required standards are reached.

07

Signed: ………………………….. Date: ………….

...Student / College Agreement

06

General Rules

Holidays Students should not take holidays in term me. Holidays during term me will not be authorised and may lead to a student being withdrawn from examina ons.

Being absent from College If you are going to be absent from College, you must call the office in the morning to inform us that you will not be in.

All absences from College must be covered by a le er or phone call from a parent or guardian upon your return. Any student who accumulates 7 or more days (14 sessions) during an academic year will be asked to provide a medical le er.

Wherever possible appointments, such as doctors and dental, should be made out of College hours.

Leaving the College premises Students should not leave the College premises between lessons. Students are allowed to leave the College site during lunch break. Students have permission to leave College at the end of period 4 if they do not have metabled lessons or a Personal Study period. Students will be given leave for a Driving Test, but driving lessons must not be taken during lesson or study periods.

Valuables and security Please do not bring valuable uninsured items into College. The College cannot be held responsible if they are lost, stolen or damaged.

Bursary Students in receipt of a Bursary should note that it can be withdrawn or reduced for failing to meet these condi ons.

08 ...General Rules

07

The Monitoring Procedure

To enable students to fulfil our high standards of conduct and academic performance, All Hallows Sixth Form operates a comprehensive monitoring procedure to support our students during their me in the Sixth Form. The standards are all outlined in the Student / College Agreement (see page 6).

Poor work performance due to a lack of effort can result in a student receiving a ‘warning’.

Poor performance may arise from inferior quality work i.e. work which does not reflect your personal target grades, failure to meet deadlines or a lack of a endance.

When a student breaches our college agreement, (for example, repeatedly hands in work which does not reflect their ability, misses pre-determined deadline, absents themselves from lessons without a valid reason or fails to conform to the College code of dress) the subject teacher or tutor will issue a Conduct Referral (CR). This will then be ac oned by the Head or Deputy Head of Sixth Form. Parents/Carers have access to this informa on through the ‘parental gateway’. Where students do not complete work, they will be referred to our study room during their independent study me by an Academic Referral.

Students are allowed to receive three warnings and the procedure is outlined below: 1st Occasion – Form tutor issues formal verbal warning and contact's home (3 CRs).

2nd Occasion – Verbal warning issued by Head / Deputy Head of Sixth Form; parents will be required to a end a virtual mee ng to discuss the issues (6 CRs).

3rd Occasion – Wri en warning issued by Head / Deputy Head of Sixth Form; parents / carers will be required to a end a face-to-face mee ng and an individual ac on plan agreed.

Students will meet with Head / Deputy Head of Sixth Form (9CRs) 4th Occasion – Mee ng for the student and parent / carer, with the Principal and Head of Sixth Form to discuss alterna ve provision (12 CRs).

The above procedure refers only to academic performance, a endance, and code of dress.

Incidents rela ng to unacceptable conduct and other acts of a more serious nature will be dealt with following the College’s normal procedure for dealing with such incidents. Ac on that may be taken on such occasions is at the discre on of the Principal which may result in a fixed term or permanent exclusion.

09 ...The Monitoring Procedure

08

Sixth Form Code of Dress

At All Hallows Catholic College VI Form we expect students to dress in a way that reflects our shared values and ethos. As such students in VI Form will be required to select from the following items in which to dress when a ending Sixth Form.

Standard items – applies to all students ·

Tailored suit jacket with tailored trousers or knee length tailored skirt. Items must be in line with professional dress (i.e. plain or subtle pa ern)

·

Smart blouse or shirt and e (either must be collared, no polo shirts, t-shirts, crop tops, sleeveless tops, vest tops or bodysuits)

·

Formal shoes (no Doc Marten boots, no trainers, no sandals, shoes should have a heel of no more than two inches)

Op onal items ·

V neck jumper / waistcoat over shirt and e / blouse (only to be worn with standard items above). (No crew neck jumpers / sweatshirts)

10 ...Sixth Form Code of Dress

09

Accessories Jewellery is permi ed in the Sixth Form . No facial piercing or nose studs are allowed. No more than two earrings in each ear are permi ed and no plugs or bars allowed.

The display of ta oos are not permi ed and should be covered.

Baseball caps are not permi ed and hats should not be worn in College.

Mobile phones should not be visible or used outside of the Sixth Form Centre.

Bags Bags can be any choice and any colour but should be suitable for carrying files and books.

Hair Hair should reflect a conven onal style in keeping with the business image, no unnatural hair colour, shaven or carved styles.

All Hallows College proudly adopts the Halo Hair Code ensuring that no Black student should have to change their natural, protec ve hairstyle.

Equipment Students will be provided with subject specific exercise books or online resources. These must be well presented, available in each lesson and handed in for marking or inspec on when requested.

Students who fail to conform to the code outlined may be denied access to lessons for the day and will be required to work in the Sixth Form Study Room. Students who repeatedly fail to adopt the dress code will be asked to remain at home un l a parental mee ng can be arranged with the Head or Deputy Head of Sixth Form.

Should there be any dispute the final decision on acceptable dress code will lie with the Head of Sixth Form.

11 ...Sixth Form Code of Dress

10

College Day

Monday - Friday Form me Assembly Day Monday Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Break Lesson 3 Lesson 4 Lunch Lesson 5

Time

Dura on (minutes)

08:55-09:15

20

09:15-10:15

60

10:15-11:15

60

11:15 -11:35

20

11:35-12:35

60

12:35-13:35

60

13:35-14:10

35

14:10-15:10

60

Students need to be on the campus by 8.40am at the latest.

Lessons are metabled for 1 hour.

Printouts of metables with subjects and rooms are issued in September.

A full choice of food and snacks are available in the Sixth Form Centre during both breaks.

Students may choose to leave the campus at Lunch (please see Page 7)

12 ...College Day

11

Tutor Groups and Key Pastoral Staff

Key Pastoral Staff

Head of Sixth Form Mr D Howells d.howells@allhallows.org.uk

Deputy Head of Sixth Form Mr T Parke t.parke@allhallows.org.uk

Sixth Form Academic Mentor Mrs H Gibbons h.gibbons@allhallows.org.uk

You will be placed in a mixed Year 12 & 13 Tutor Group. There are ten Tutor Groups in the Sixth Form. Each group is named a er a well-known Catholic Chris an who, as a witness to the Gospel, encourages us in our faith.

Your Tutor’s role is to support you at College as both a Pastoral and Academic Mentor.

You are posi vely encouraged to talk to your Tutor, Academic Mentor or Head/Deputy Head of Sixth Form about any concerns you have.

13 ...Tutor Groups and Key Pastoral Staff

12

Directed Study Time In addi on to your subject taught me, your metable will indicate specific hours of ‘Directed Study’ me per week. This me should be used to help you manage your studies but does not replace the need for work to be completed as Homework.

Your a endance is required at ALL ‘Directed Study’ sessions in accordance with the room allocated on your personal metable.

A register will be taken during each session and any unauthorised absence will result in further ‘Directed Study’ being supervised in the Sixth Form study room.

It is your responsibility to make sure you arrive with work to complete.

You must nominate me for each of your subjects. Students studying the following subjects; Art, Music Technology; ICT; Business Studies or Product Design should nominate one lesson per week in agreement with the subject leader to work in a subject specific room. You will be required to register in your ‘Directed Study’ room first.

Your ‘Directed Study’ room is a quiet working environment, please avoid talking. Personal music players should not be used during ‘Directed Study’ sessions.

Students should use the 5 hours in… booklet to complete work in personalised study.

Homework will be set by all subject teachers on a weekly basis. Students should be expected to spend 10—12 hours on homework each week.

‘Sixth Form Students have excellent attitudes to learning and make a significant contribution to the life of the College through a range of mentoring and support they give other students as well as their work in the community.’

Denominational inspection

14 ...Directed Study Time

13

Target Se ng Within the first 2 weeks of Year 12 you will be issued with your A Level/BTEC Target Grades.

Target grades are set based on your academic performance at GCSE. These will be used to help to measure your progress towards your final grades at the end of Year 13. This table shows how your grades at GCSE translate.

Average GCSE Grade

Minimum Target Grades

7.75

A*

7

A

5.2

B

3

C

The work you complete in class and at home will receive either an A Level or BTEC/Diploma grade.

A Level Grades/ BTEC Grades A Level UCAS pts

BTEC UCAS pts

A* 60 A 50

Dis nc on * 50

B 40

Dis nc on 35

C 30

Merit 25

D 20

Pass 15

E 10 U

U

15 ...Target Se ng

14

Informa on and Communica on Technology Before being issued with a user name and password all of our students are required to read and sign the College 'Acceptable Usage Policy' College ICT equipment should only be used for educational purposes directly linked with curriculum courses and other College approved activities, e.g. careers advice or higher education choices.

All users of College ICT equipment, both students and staff, must agree by signing the Acceptable Usage Policy. This is standard practice in any organisation where ICT is used.

Why is there a policy?

Any large computer network is a highly complex system requiring a considerable amount of maintenance. The points below are designed to ensure that the network is always available and working. Users must accept that a network with hundreds of client computers has to have more restrictions than a home computer.

Expectations of users 1. All users of the network (whether using desktop computers, MACs, laptops, iPads or any other College mobile device) are expected to use common sense, to follow the more general College rules and to obey the laws of the United Kingdom.

2. You are responsible for your individual account and must never allow anyone else to use it.

You should never divulge your password to another person. Students will be asked to change their password regularly.

3. You must not download or save large files unless absolutely necessary as this restricts others' use of the network.

4. You should check your e-mail frequently and delete unwanted messages promptly.

Privacy You should expect only limited privacy in the contents of your personal files and e-mail on the College network. As a general rule, keep nothing on the system you would feel uncomfortable justifying in front of any College staff member, your parents or other authority.

All network activity is monitored and logged.

All Internet traffic is monitored and logged.

E-Safety protection software exists on a number of levels to prevent access to inappropriate material Teachers can access your network home area in the same way that they can view your exercise books and files.

16 ...Informa on and Communica on Technology

15

Sixth Form IT Privileges Sixth Form students may use personal mobile devices such as iPads, tablets, laptops and netbooks in the College. Sixth Form may also request the unblocking of a website once it has been verified as a suitable educa onal resource by their teacher.

Specific Unauthorised Activities You must not make deliberate attempts to disrupt the computer system or destroy data.

You should not attempt to go beyond your authorised access. This includes: attempting to log in through another person's account or sending e-mail while masquerading as another person.

You must not use any facility to participate in any form of cyber-bullying. You must not engage in personal, prejudicial or discriminatory attacks. You should respect the privacy of any message sent to you and not re-send it to others without permission.

The use of social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram, snapchat, TikTok,Twitter and YouTube is not permitted.

The use of chat rooms such as MSN, Facebook Messenger etc. is not permitted.

You must not use indecent, obscene, offensive or threatening language.

You must not post anything on the Internet which identifies the College with unacceptable opinions or activities, or which would bring the College into disrepute. This includes using computer facilities outside College to publish such opinions.

You must not attempt to access material that is profane or obscene, that advocates illegal acts, violence or discrimination towards other people. If you mistakenly access inappropriate material, you should tell a teacher immediately. This will protect you against the accusation that you have intentionally accessed this material.

You must not plagiarise works that you find on the Internet. Plagiarism is taking the ideas or writings of others and presenting them as if they were your own.

You must respect copyright. You must not use the Internet to download illegal software, pirated music or images.

Sanctions for Students All network activity is logged. Depending on the severity of the offence, one or more of the following sanctions maybe applied if a student is found to have broken any of the above rules: A formal warning Suspension of e-mail/internet access Suspension of computer system account Suspension from use of the College computer rooms Formal College detentions Fixed term suspension or permanent exclusion from College.

All students must read the full policy displayed on our college website before signing the Acceptable Use Policy Statement.

17 ...Informa on and Communica on Technology

16

Enrichment

Wednesday Enrichment Students are allocated ‘Enrichment’ me on Wednesday a ernoons.

During enrichment me students may choose to engage in: ·

Spor ng ac vity as a private member at a gym or on a casual basis at Macclesfield Leisure Centre, e.g. swimming.

·

Arrange regular non-paid work experience to help further their skills. For example, as a classroom support assistant at one of our feeder primary schools, at a local nursing home or charity shop.

·

Engage in a skills based ac vity eg Learning to drive, First Aid, DofE etc.

·

Complete a MOOC

Or ·

Engage in the Be More volunteer programme or community project, either in our own College or the local community. For example, working on our own College Farm, volunteering as part of the R.V.S., the Na onal Ci zens Service (NCS) or a social enterprise project.

Students will be required to commit to a project for a term and over the year should complete a minimum of 20 hours community or voluntary work as part of your Core RE programme on Catholic Social Enterprise.

As this is an opportunity to develop skills that will enable students to compete in the current climate for university or employment, it is important that students both engage in a variety of ac vi es and not simply use the me for college work.

Where parents can help organise such opportuni es or provide opportuni es for other members of the Sixth Form we would really appreciate it.

It is essen al to point out that these projects will not be supervised by members of our College staff and it is therefore important that students organise their ac vity properly and par cipate responsibly e.g. that they have been fully inducted as part of their gym membership or can swim unaided if par cipa ng. It is also important that students are reliable and do not let down organisa ons that agree to support them.

Students will par cipate in the metabled Core R.E. programme run by the College each alternate Wednesday. Again some of the ac vi es may require students to leave the College premises unsupervised.

18 ...Enrichment

17

Prior to students star ng the enrichment programme all students must: 1.

Advise Head or Deputy Head of Sixth Form of the programme they intend to par cipate in with proof e.g. photocopy of gym membership or in the case of the work experience or community work – contact details of the person with whom this has been organised.

2.

Complete the Consent Form at the back of this informa on booklet.

Please note that this privilege may be withdrawn from any student who abuses this opportunity or fails to make the required progress in their college studies.

19 ...Enrichment

18

Top Tips for Sixth Form Students 1. Keep Organised The key to being a successful student is being organised. Some people are naturally good at staying organised and do not even need a diary or a planner to keep at the top of their game.

Most of us, however, do need to keep some kind of notes on what it is that we are and should be working on. We will provide you with a student planner specifically for your Sixth Form studies - that way you can note down all of your classes, all of your assignments, or any other memos, and keep them in a single place. You will always know where to go whenever you are looking for any of your deadlines or exam dates.

It is also useful to separate all your subjects from one another. You will be provided with subject specific exercise books which should be available in all lessons. It would be a good idea to purchase an A4 file to store your extra reading materials, that way it is easy to access any informa on you might possibly need during or a er your classes to complete assignments. It is also useful in the long-run, when you are preparing for exams - you will want to have all of your related informa on as close together as possible.

All of your work should be backed up on the College system. Losing your work , can cause you unnecessary stress o en resul ng in hours of work being lost.

2. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Ques ons

It is very helpful to ask ques ons whenever you are stuck on anything. Are you struggling with your assignment? Go ahead and ask your friends about it, they might have very helpful ps on how to carry on with it. Or you can ask your teachers, they are very helpful and will appreciate it if you are interested in their subject enough to try to make your assignments perfect. Remember, there is no such thing as a bad ques on! And successful A Level students ask a lot of ques ons!

3. Pick Your Subjects Wisely When it comes to BTEC/A Levels, it is really important to pick your subjects wisely. Not only because certain universi es have subject specific requirements. It is also important because your success is in large part determined by how good you are in your subjects and by how much you actually enjoy them. It is important that you pick subjects that you enjoy, because that way you will actually feel happy when you are working on your subject specific work, and you will also feel a lot more mo vated in your work. If your chosen university subject has in its requirements a subject that you inherently do not enjoy or are not excited about, you might want to reconsider your university degree choice. This is because your chosen degree is likely to build upon the material in your A Level subjects, and if you do not enjoy those subjects, it is unlikely that you will not enjoy the degree you have chosen.

20 ...Top Tips for Sixth Form Students

19

4. Understand Your Strengths and Weaknesses Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Maybe you are very good at waking up early and revising but you are not so good at staying up at night? Or exactly the other way around? You need to understand yourself and your body in order to be a successful student. You need to know what studying methods are working for you - this will be very individual and it will take a lot of trial and error on your part. Take any feedback you get from your tutors and your friends construc vely and work on internalising new ways of working. It is really important to make use of your strengths and try to work on improving your weaknesses and turning them into strengths!

5. Work on Your Exam Technique Ul mately, the most important measure to being a successful A Level student is doing well in exams - this is mostly what you will be graded on and one of the most important factors in being admi ed to university. A very important thing is to become familiar with what your exams look like - get your hands on as many past papers as you can and analyse what the ques ons are like.

You will do a lot of past paper work in your class with your teachers before your exams, but it is good to get a head start on this and start working on your exam technique as soon as possible.

Try asking some of the older students for exam technique ps, they o en have crea ve ideas.

6. Make sure your work is your own No ma er how temp ng it is to submit work which is copied from another source or to use chat GPT this is not your work and does not a reflec on of your ability.

21 ...Top Tips for Sixth Form Students

20

16 to 19 BURSARY FUND 16 to 19 BURSARY FUND - FACTSHEET The 16 to 19 Bursary is available for young people who need some financial support to help them stay in educa on or training a er 16. They can apply to All Hallows for the 16-19 Bursary Fund. Any payments will be linked to minimum standards of a endance, behaviour and progress, in line with government guidelines.

WILL I BE ELIGIBLE FOR A BURSARY? YOU MUST BE AGED 16, 17 or 18 on 31st AUGUST 2023 to apply The following students may be eligible for bursary funding Students in care/care leavers Students receiving financial support in their own name Students receiving Universal Credit and Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence payments in their own right.

Discre onary Bursary Students who were previously eligible for free school meals Students whose household income falls below £26,000 Students who may face other barriers to educa on such as their family situa on The All Hallows Bursary is intended to help towards things such as

WHAT IS IT FOR? Books and equipment for your course Business dress Transport Costs Educa onal trips and visits Interviews and open days Work experience Emergency Accommoda on and meals

22 ...16 to 19 Bursary Fund

21

HOW DO I APPLY? Applica on forms are available from the Finance office and the Sixth Form Office. Return the completed form to the Finance Office by 30th September .

For further informa on see www.gov.uk/1619-bursary-fund

OTHER INFORMATION Bursary payments will be made on a monthly basis direct to the student’s bank account.

Payments to support addi onal expenses will be made once approval is made.

Payment is dependent on full a endance, and will be reduced by 20% per week for each day or part day absence. All planned absence must be pre approved. Should student

behaviour, a tude or a ainment fall below what is deemed appropriate, payment may be reduced or withdrawn.

Behaviour is measured against the sixth form published behaviour monitoring policy.

Progress is measured at the end of each assessment window against a student’s target grades.

23 ...16 to 19 Bursary Fund

22

Term Dates 2023-2024

Term Dates Term

College Opens to Students

College Closes to Students

Michaelmas

Tues 5 September 2023 (Years 7 & 12 only)

Fri 20 October 2023

Wed 6 September 2023 (All students in) Christmas

Tues 31 October 2023

Fri 22 December 2023

Epiphany

Mon 8 January 2024

Fri 16 February 2024

Easter

Mon 26 February 2024

Thurs 28 March 2024

Whitsun

Mon 15 April 2024

Fri 24 May 2024

Trinity

Mon 3 June 2024

Fri 19 July 2024

Inset Days 2023/2024

Mon 4 September 2023

Mon 22 July 2024

Mon 30 October 2023

Fri 28 June

2024

Tues 23 July 2024

Parents and carers should check our website for other key dates throughout the year. We ask that parents and carers do not take students out of College for holidays during termme.

SUCH ABSENCES WILL NOT BE AUTHORISED.

24 ...Term Dates

23

College Map

25 ...College Map

24

Contact and Useful Informa on All Hallows Catholic College Brooklands Avenue Macclesfield Cheshire SK11 8LB

Parental Gateway Login Username:…………………………..

Password:…………………………… h ps://portal.allhallows.org.uk

Telephone: 01625 426138 General E-mail: admin@allhallows.org.uk Website: www.allhallows.org.uk# 26 ...Contact/Useful Informa on

25

Policies The following policies are available on the College website www.allhallows.org.uk and are recommended reading: A endance, Behaviour, Homework, Uniform, An Bullying, Rela onship and Sex Educa on, Charging and Remissions, Special Needs, Medicine Advice and Complaints.

In the Event of Emergency Closure EXTREME WEATHER (Snow I Ice)

These are the procedures we have in place for extreme weather condi ons. The Principal takes advice from the Director of Opera ons and then makes the decision as to whether or not a closure if necessary. Every effort will be made to make a decision as early as possible.

A decision to CLOSE will be announced on: All Hallows Website And as soon as it is prac cal by: Text message Twi er

If no announcement is made, then the College is OPEN Please do not a empt to telephone the College as this will block the telephone lines which will be used for emergencies.

If the College remains open, your child will need to make every a empt to get to their usual bus stop on me. If the bus fails to turn up, your child should return home a er 30 minutes wai ng me.

In the event of heavy snowfall during the College day, any decision to close early will be announced using the means above. Students are not allowed to use mobile ‘phones whilst in College and we request that you do not rely on individual messages that come to you from any source other than the official announcements. If the College closes during the normal College day, parents will also be informed by text-message.

If it is necessary to close the College for more than one day, parents will be informed, again, through the College website, text message and our Twi er.

Obviously the College will remain open unless the weather condi ons present an obvious danger to safety.

In periods of adverse weather we ask parents to use their judgement as to the weather condi ons where you live and the distance of travel when deciding if their child a ends college each day. If you make the decision to not send your child to College when we are open and buses and cars are s ll running from your area, the absence may be unauthorised.

Please call college to explain your circumstances, if you will be keeping your child at home, to assist us in ensuring registers are coded correctly.

27 ...Policies & In the Event of Emergency Closure

26

Biometrics Across the College Lunch arrangements We are proud to say that All Hallows Catholic College is cashless! We have teamed up with Innovate, our catering partners and ParentPay, to create a cashless restaurant.

Students and staff use either their biometric print or a 6-digit PIN number to purchase meals in the café or pay using contactless methods or bank card.. This is convenient, safe and fast, helping us to make sure that all students can make the most of their breaks, instead of spending me queuing.

Parents/Carers will top up their child’s ParentPay account through the ParentPay website. The system is very user friendly and payments sent online are received in College instantly. We also use the ParentPay website for trip payments (see next page).

Students can purchase a meal which suits their individual requirements. Por ons are individually priced.

Students may bring a packed lunch and dining facili es are made available for them.

Biometrics — Prin ng & Cashless Payments The College uses biometrics for its ‘Follow Me Prin ng’ system and for cashless payments in the College Shop and Restaurant.

Each child will be registered with your consent. If you do not consent to your child’s biometric data being taken, they will be issued with a PIN which they can use to pay.

The system uses an image of the fingerprint to create a mathema cal algorithm and then discards the fingerprint. Only the numbers remain and these cannot be reinterpreted back into the fingerprint.

Students can also make contactless payments Follow Me Prin ng Students and staff use their biometric print or PIN number to collect their prin ng from any of the printers located around the College. It is linked to their computer account and allows them to print anywhere and at any me in the College. We use this system to help monitor and reduce waste prin ng in the College.

Free College Meals If your child is en tled to a free meal, their en tlement will automa cally transfer to this College. Their ParentPay account will be topped up automa cally each day with the FSM en tlement - £2.45 at present.

Using biometrics and PINs means that there is greater anonymity for free school meal students as there are no tokens to collect and they ‘pay’ for their meals in exactly the same way as everybody else.

28 ...Governors ...Cashless Catering and Trustees and Parent Pay

27 27

There is a direct link to apply for free meals on the College website. Go to Parent Informa on > College Meals > Free School Meals.

How do I get set up for payment?

If you have not received your log in details please contact the Finance Office. We advise that you log on and ac vate your account, so you are comfortable with the system before your child starts school.

Once logged on, you will see a FAQ sheet. If you have any further queries, please call us at any me – staff will be in College over the holidays.

Please note that your child’s account will need to be topped up before they can spend money in the College restaurant.

Trips We also use Parent Pay for trip payments. We ask all parents to log on to their ParentPay account, where they can select the trip they want and pay with credit or debit card. The facility is very similar to online shopping – you add the trip to your basket and simply checkout. ParentPay does not hold any bank details.

Online payments are much more convenient and can be done 24/7.

PayPoint If you are unable to pay online, we can offer a PayPoint facility, where the Finance team can print off a trip le er including a barcode to be taken to your local PayPoint shop. Please bear in mind that PayPoint transac ons can take up to 48 hours to show on our system.

A PayPoint card can also be provided for meals as a more permanent measure. Your first PayPoint card is free, but any replacements will come at a charge of £3.00. By logging onto your ParentPay account, you will be able to see a history of all payments, including any made using the PayPoint facility.

Privacy No ce Our Privacy No ce can be viewed by going to the following link: www.allhallows.org.uk

28 28

29 ...Privacy No ...Cashless Catering ce and Parent Pay

Governors and Trustees Chair of Governors Mrs C Watson

Community Governors Dr D Roberts

Vice-Chair of Governors Mrs A Caine

Staff Governors Dr G Keogh Mr T Beesley

Founda on Governors Mrs A Caine Miss L Alber Mrs C Watson Mrs A Jamieson Ms C Pickles

Parent Governors Mrs H Rawlinson Mrs S Ainscough

Principal and Governor Mr T Beesley Founda on Governors are nominated by Diocese of Shrewsbury Colleges Commission. Parent Governors are elected by ballot and should a vacancy occur parents will be informed.

Trustees: Rt Rev. Mark Davies Bishop of Shrewsbury Diocese of Shrewsbury Colleges Commission Curial Offices, 2 Park Road South, Prenton, Wirral, CH43 4UX

30 ...Privacy No ce

29

Safeguarding Statement All Hallows Catholic College is commi ed to safeguarding and promo ng the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We are fully commi ed to ensuring that consistent effec ve safeguarding procedures are in place to support families, children and staff at school. All concerns are passed through the members of staff who are trained as “Designated Safeguarding Lead” in College. All posts are offered subject to agreeing to sign the Catholic Educa on Service contract of employment and sa sfactory DBS checks.

Cause for concern All staff are asked to report any causes for concern to the Designated Safeguarding Lead using CPOMS. Any concerns will be shared with parents/carers as early as possible, as more o en than not there are extremely reasonable explana ons for the concern. Concerns may range from children being visibly upset to persistent lateness to children “disclosing” concerns.

The Safeguarding Lead is: Assistant Principal—Mr M Blades (SLT Lead) Family Support Worker—Mrs C Clements With deputy safeguarding leads as follows: Deputy Principal Mrs M Garvey

Year Learning Leaders The Safeguarding Governor is: Dr D Roberts Our Safeguarding and Child Protec on policies are available on the College website.

AS A NECESSARY PART OF ENROLMENT STUDENTS AND PARENTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THIS CONSENT FORM If your form is missing, please contact the College 31 ...Safeguarding Statement

30

Welcome to our wonderful Church College, where you will be encouraged to ‘Aspire not to have more, but to be more’.

All Hallows Catholic College Brooklands Avenue Macclesfield Cheshire SK11 8LB

WWW.ALLHALLOWS.ORG.UK

32