WELCOME TO THE SIXTH FORM - 2026
A GREAT TIME TO BE AT CLAREMONT… •
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Excellent examination results – 84% A*-B; 53% A*-A; 98% gaining places at their preferred universities Vibrant sixth form centre – study space, quiet working area and cafeteria
THE LEADERSHIP TEAM James Grabowski – Head of Sixth Form (jgrabowski@claremont.surrey.sch.uk) Rebecca Rixon – Head of Year 13 (rrixon@claremont.surrey.sch.uk)
School Captains Kieran R & Megan T Vice Captains: Amelia B & Annabelle W
SIXTH FORM TUTOR TEAM Ms Afsar Mr Rocca Mr Grace Ms Jackson Ms Ritchie Ms Leslie Mrs Cahillane Mr Pinks Mr Batterbee Mrs Cox Dr Way Mrs Michael
SF1 SF2 SF3 SF4 SF5 SF6 SF7 SF8 SF9 SF10 SF11 SF12
safsar@claremont.surrey.sch.uk nrocca@claremont.surrey.sch.uk agrace@claremont.surrey.sch.uk ajackson@claremont.surrey.sch.uk mritchie@claremont.surrey.sch.uk eleslie@claremont.surrey.sch.uk ccahillane@claremont.surrey.sch.uk apinks@claremont.surrey.sch.uk cbatterbee@claremont.surrey.sch.uk gcox@claremont.surrey.sch.uk lway@claremont.surrey.sch.uk rmichael@claremont.surrey.sch.uk
MAKING THE MOST OF OPPORTUNITIES Sports, fitness and outdoors clubs o Fine Art - life drawing classes o Languages, film and classics o Sixth form panto production o Chess and programming o STEP and MAT, EPQ support o University life skills o Economics o Video-making o Young Enterprise o School council o Journalism o Languages o Debating society o Medical society o Law society o Outreach o Duke of Edinburgh's Award o
THE SCHOOL WEEK 8.25 -8.45
Monday
Tuesday
Tutor time
Assembly / Inter tutor group competition
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
House assembly / Tutor House assembly / Tutor Whole school assembly in Sports Hall Group Group
8.50 -9.35
Period 1
Period 1
Period 1
Period 1
Period 1
9.40-10.25 10.25-10.50 10.50- 11.35
Period 2
Period 2
Period 2
Period 2
Period 2
BREAK
BREAK
BREAK
BREAK
BREAK
Period 3
Period 3
Period 3
Period 3
Period 3
11.40-12.25
Period 4
Period 4
Period 4
Period 4
Period 4
12.30-1.15 1.15-2.25 2.25-3.10
Period 5
Period 5
Period 5
Period 5
Period 5
Lunch/clubs Period 6
Lunch/clubs Period 6
Lunch/clubs Period 6
Lunch/clubs Period 6
Lunch/clubs Period 6
3.15 - 4.00
Period 7
Period 7
Period 7
Period 7
Period 7
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SIXTH FORM STUDENT •
School starts at 8.25am
• 3 or 4 A level choices – 6 or 7 periods per subject • Wednesday afternoon sport (team or individual) • Assemblies are compulsory – house, sixth form and whole school • Tutor time – year 12 and 13 combined, group activities and 1 to 1 tutorials • PSHE: once a week • Joyce Grenfell Programme – two lessons a week • Careers delivered via PSHE, tutor time and one to one appointments (bookable system) • Work experience – lower sixth – further information later in the year • Mentor programme – upper and lower sixth to support younger pupils • Subject drop ins – lunchtimes or after school
ABSENCES MUST BE REPORTED BY PARENTS/CARERS (PARENT PORTAL FORM / EMAIL OR CALL TO MAIN ABSENCE LINE)
WHY IS EXCELLENT ATTENDANCE IMPORTANT?
Excellent attendance and punctuality are essential for students’ success at school; establishing positive life habits that enable students to achieve their full potential. Research has found that students with 95% attendance will achieve a grade higher on average than a student with 85% attendance. If a student misses 10% of lessons, then a student can expect to drop a grade. Through attending regularly, students can: Engage in essential learning and other school social events. Build friendships and develop social groups. Develop life skills necessary for future success
Odette Sansom
STUDENT FUTURES Our supporting student futures programme helps guide students as they make choices about future careers and higher education. Sixth form is not just about examination outcomes, it is about preparation for the journey beyond. We make this an integral part of the Claremont sixth form experience.
FUTURES IN YEAR 12 • • • • • • • • • • •
Access to 1 to 1 bespoke careers advice through an appointment booking system Introduction to Unifrog and regular time to make use of the platform PSHE sessions focusing on next steps Psychometric testing via the Unifrog platform UCAS guidance on selecting universities and applying Careers/Higher Education Evening – 11 February UCAS talk from a visiting university speaker Visiting speakers and workshops Work experience University open days Introduction to Apprenticeships
FUTURES IN YEAR 13 • •
Access to 1 to 1 bespoke careers advice through an appointment booking system Guidance on university course/apprenticeship choice and the application process
• • • • •
UCAS and Personal statement support Art Foundation year and Conservatoire application support Overseas universities application support Oxbridge and Medicine application support Entry to all pre-admissions tests
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Interview support and interviews with external interviewers where appropriate
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Work closely with students and parents where there are any difficulties
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Full support to all students in August after the results are released and to any student applying post A level.
UNIFROG The Unifrog platform is designed to support learners in making the most informed decisions about their futures and has a range of tools. Each student has their own personal account that provides a wide range of information related to their interests and aspirations.
UNIFROG - TOOLS AVAILABLE
Unifrog
STUDENT FUTURES TEAM Mrs Wigley – Head of Student Futures lwigley@claremont.surrey.sch.uk •
Mrs Hawtin – Higher Education and Oxbridge Co-ordinator khawtin@claremont.surrey.sch.uk •
Mrs Rixon – Head of US and Overseas Universities rrixon@claremont.surrey.sch.uk •
•
Located in Hawker, top of the mansion near Newcastle.
THE JOYCE GRENFELL PROGRAMME IS DESIGNED TO: • • • •
Foster independent study, research and extended writing skills in preparation for university Gain additional qualifications outside of A level subject choices Allow students to gain extra points towards their overall UCAS score Support the expectation from universities that students can demonstrate independent thinking, intellectual curiosity and an interest in the subject that they wish to study.
THE JOYCE GRENFELL PROGRAMME: YEAR 12 CURRICULUM
The sixth form programme takes place during a double period (Monday p4&5) and offers a range of options including:
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Extended project qualification (EPQ)
•
English Speaking Board: advanced certificate
in spoken English (Level 3) •
Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL)
•
STEM gold crest award
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LAMDA / performing arts qualification
•
Sports coaching qualification
•
British Sign Language
WHAT'S COMING UP THIS TERM? Student Futures and Inspire Lectures Friday 25 Sept Tue 29 Sept Tue 13 October Thu 15 Nov
1.20 – 2.00pm
1.20 – 2.00pm 1.20 – 2.00 1.20 – 2.00
Careers talk - Jojo Tanner – The world of technology and AI
Drawing room
Inspire Lecture Life Sciences
Drawing room
Careers talk - Emma Fletcher - Octopus Energy
Great Room
Aspire Lecture - Volcanic Hazards
Drawing room
Thu 26 Nov
1.20 – 2.00
Careers talk - Mr Beresford - Working in aviation
Drawing room
Tue 1 Dec
1.20 – 2.00
Inspire Lecture Astronomy
Drawing room
Thu 3 Dec
1.20 – 2.00
Careers talk - Sunil Patel - Whisper TV
Drawing room
WHAT DO OUR YEAR 13 STUDENTS THINK? ‘I have always wanted to study law at university, so have taken advantage of the many academic enrichment opportunities that have been on offer. I have attended lunchtime/after school events and lectures, that have developed my interest and understanding, not to mention enhanced my UCAS application!’
‘I picked the advanced certificate in spoken English as my option for the JGP. I don’t find public speaking easy but decided to challenge myself with this option, as I felt the skills would be useful for the future. I am proud of the distinction I achieved.’
‘Undertaking the EPQ allowed me to develop key skills that I will build upon at university. For example, how to evaluate the reliability of of sources and how to reference accurately.’
The academic enrichment competition allowed me to explore an area of interest relating to my proposed area of study at university, and was something I mentioned on my UCAS application and at interview.’
KEY DATES 26/27 7 October – Academic reviews distributed 14 October – Meet the sixth form tutor evening 26 November – Parents’ evening (online) 30 November – Target Grades released 18 January – Academic reviews distributed 11 February – Careers evening 8 March – Academic reviews 19 to 30 April – Summer exams 7 May – Exam card 17 June – Parents’ evening (On site) 21 June – Provisional UCAS grades
WHAT IS INDEPENDENT STUDY? Any work that you do to improve your A Level results that is not set by your teachers. Students should be doing additional work in order to thrive in their sixth form academic careers.
This is what you are taught in lessons…
This is the work you need to do independently…
WHAT DOES INDEPENDENT STUDY LOOK LIKE? •
Activities include: Flash cards • Mind maps • Cornell Notes •
PARENTAL SUPPORT “80% of the difference in how well pupils do at school is dependent on what happens outside the school gates”
(Save the Children 2013)
HOW WILL INDEPENDENT STUDY AND ACADEMIC PROGRESS BE MONITORED? o
o o
Dedicated 'assessment roadmap' to exam success - parental feedback every half-term – three parents' evenings, six academic reviews (three of which include written feedback) and exam grade cards following every mock exam series Target grades in each subject that are aspirational but realistic For the first half term– all lower sixth must be on school site from 8.25am – 4pm until they have earnt a privilege pass – to ensure good study habits are embedded from the start.
ACADEMIC REVIEWS
ACADEMIC REVIEWS
PRIVILEGE PASS SYSTEM o
To reward those students who consistently ‘get it right’
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To encourage those students who have not yet developed the independence and work skills required to succeed in the sixth form.
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To drive up the quality of students’ attitude to learning, attendance, punctuality and adherence to dress code.
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Whether a student has a pass depends on:
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Performance in subjects, attitude to learning, attendance, punctuality, meeting deadlines and dress-code.
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Reviewed based on academic reviews and head of year discretion.
DRESS CODE o
o
o
The Sixth Form dress code reflects the values of our school. Sixth Form students act as role models for younger students and are ambassadors for the school. The school’s expectations are that students in the Year 12 and 13 understand that the Sixth Form is a serious learning environment and that they take a mature and responsible approach towards how they present themselves.
WHAT IF IT IS ALL GOING WRONG? How to change subjects? o
A subject drop form must be completed by student and parent THEN
o
signed by HODs of subject dropping AND the subjects they are continuing PLUS HOD of subject they wish to join if applicable.
o
Finally, it will need sign off from their tutor
o
No subject drops until after 28 September. ALL drops of 4th subject to be completed by half term or at the latest after November assessments.
Other help needed? o
Speak to the tutor, sixth form team, the IN team or care centre staff
o
Students can ask any of the above people for a referral to the school counsellor