School life

The usual School day applies to Sixth Form students. However, as the school year progresses they are given more flexibility over their time in school. In Lower Sixth, students are expected to be in full time until the October half term and can be flexible from there after. All students are expected to be in School for Monday Assembly and for all Open Events.

8.30am - 8.35am:

8.35am - 8.50am

8.50am - 9.50am:

9.50am - 10.50am:

10.50am - 11.10am:

11.10am - 12.10pm:

Lunches

A school meal is provided for all pupils in the Refectory. Our caterer Holroyd Howe, commit to a Fresh Food Policy which means at least 90% of the dishes they serve must be prepared from fresh ingredients. Nutritional guidelines and sample menus are available on our website. No fizzy drinks are permitted. Please be aware that we are a nut-free school and no nut based snacks must be brought to school.

Mass and Assemblies

Regular Masses are held at the start and end of each term, on Holy Days of Obligation (if at all possible) and on other special occasions. The dates for these Masses can be found in the School Calendar. Attendance at School Mass is compulsory for all students including students in the Sixth Form.

Assemblies will take place every Monday as a whole school and when required as a year group.

Minibus Transport

We operate transport services to and from School for Basingstoke, Liphook/Petersfield, Farnham, Haslemere and Winchester areas. Details of the current routes and pick-up points are available from the School Office.

Medical Arrangements

If a student feels unwell during the day, they should report to the School Nurse (based in the Sixth Form building). Paracetamol may only be issued to a student if parents have given consent by signing the back of the data sheet when joining the School. If individuals are not well enough to remain in school they may go home after notifying the Director of Upper School and signing out. If hospital treatment is needed then parents will be contacted.

If your son or daughter has a life-threatening condition which would require a teacher to administer a particular drug (for example the Epipen for anaphylactic shock), please ensure the pupil medical data sheet contains this information and is updated appropriately.

Please complete and return the data sheet to keep our school records correct. Should there be any change in your family circumstances, or any problem that may affect your child, please let the School Office know in writing as soon as possible.

Personal study

Each A level is structured with 4 hours of teaching per week, with a 5th hour of guided learning negotiated by each staff member. This may be a formal lesson, an opportunity for directed study in the study room, or a tutorial session, or a combination of these approaches. In addition to these 5 hours of study, each student is expected to do 5 hours of independent study per subject per week. Many of our students choose to do this work in school making use of their study periods in their study rooms, the resources and facilities we offer.

ShowMyHomework is an online tool to help you keep track of your child’s homework. All homework will be published here. New starters will receive their login during their first week and this will remain with them throughout their Sixth Form years. You will be given a parent login PIN which is linked to your child’s homework calendar.

Work experience/Training/Open Days

To avoid students losing too many days from teaching, we would ask that work experience and training, not specifically arranged by Alton Sixth Form, to take place during the holidays. Attending University Open Days is useful if students have researched courses that may suit them. If possible at all, students are asked to attend such events at weekends or during holidays. Up to two open events during term time will be authorised, please speak to the Director of Upper School to arrange.

Personal Appearance

Although we would like Sixth Formers to feel they have a greater sense of freedom as young adults, all students are still expected to dress appropriately and in a manner conducive for a working and learning environment. Students should not wear:

» Vests, cropped or revealing tops

» Excessively short skirts or shorts mid-thigh

» Leggings worn on their own as trousers without a long top or suitable dress to cover

» Torn jeans

» Tracksuit or pyjama bottoms

» Scuffed or inappropriate footwear such as UGG boots, flip flops or sliders

Equipment

Students should have a laptop capable of supporting their A level studies. Most have a lightweight and easily portable device, and our IT department can advise on these if required. In addition, students need to equip themselves with the usual stationery basics. Departments are well-equipped with most of what students will need, but there is an expectation that specialist individual equipment may need to be purchased by students from time to time (e.g. art canvases, photographic film, etc. for individual projects). For PE, students should have trainers, leggings or shorts, a t-shirt and a hoodie or warm top. These are non-uniform items but should be appropriate for school activities.