Merchants' Academy Sixth Form Prospectus

MERCHANTS’ ACADEMY

SIXTH FORM

BE PROUD

Welcome

to Merchants’ Academy part of the Merchants’ Academy trust

From the Principal Our vision for our Sixth Form echoes the vision for the whole Academy. At Merchants’ Academy Sixth Form students will achieve more than they ever thought possible.

We work with our students to ensure they: • Achieve the very highest standards • Have exceptional opportunities • Receive outstanding care, guidance and support • Progress to the best universities and careers We have outstanding staff, superb buildings and high levels of resources. In addition, our sponsors, the Society of Merchant Venturers and the University of Bristol, provide opportunities and life chances that are unique and exceptional to our Sixth Form.

For you to thrive in the next part of your life after leaving Sixth Form you need: • The very best exam results to give you choice • Attitudes, qualities and skills to success and be happy whatever life challenges you with Therefore, we work with or Sixth Form students to give them experiences and opportunities no other Post-16 provider can give.

This prospectus can only give you a glimpse of what we offer. Please come and find out more and meet our Sixth Form students to hear what they have to say.

From the Director of Sixth Form I am delighted to welcome you and invite you to discover more about our Sixth Form at Merchants’ Academy.

I am exceptionally privileged to work with our students and alongside a truly exceptional team of experienced and dedicated staff.

We are proud to be an ambitious Academy and have high expectations for our students. We recognise the potential of each individual, deliver high quality teaching and, importantly, generate a culture that encourages independence and self-reliance.

We are proud to offer personalised support and a wealth of opportunities that ensure each student leaves us as an accomplished, skilled and successful learner, fully prepared for university, further training and employment.

We want all our students to thrive in their future choices.

Two years at Merchants’ Academy will transform your opportunities for the future, open doors to things that you could never have imagined and will help you achieve more than you ever thought possible.

I look forward to meeting you and receiving your completed application.

Dr Katey Dowdeswell, Assistant Vice Principal (Director of Sixth Form)

Best wishes Nick Short, Principal

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Why choose Merchants’ Academy?

More and more students from across Bristol are choosing to come to Merchants’ Academy for their Sixth Form studies. We have high aspirations for all our students, many of whom go onto top universities. Others are successful in securing hotly-contested high profile apprenticeships and employment.

The support of our sponsors, the University of Bristol and the Society of Merchant Venturers, means that we can offer unrivalled opportunities for our students right from the start. Our Sixth Form is the only one which the University of Bristol sponsors.

Sixth Form Induction Get off to a great start with a day learning about Sixth Form life and study, and benefit from an activities afternoon to meet new friends and staff. In our taster fortnight you can explore your subject choices, where they may lead you after Sixth Form and benefit from the support on offer from our Sponsors hosted at the University of Bristol and major employers around the city.

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Personalised Support Our new Sixth Form Centre has improved IT, study and social facilities. Students have access to tutoring and pastoral programmes tailored to their individual needs, and benefit from small class sizes.

Opportunities for Development Sixth Form students can participate in personal development programmes. They have full access to the extensive and unique Merchants’ Academy Co-curricular provision and are given the chance to take lead roles alongside staff.

Bursaries Eligible students receive a payment directly to support them through the duration of their studies. We supplement the Bursary with an allowance for clothes appropriate to our smart business environment in the Sixth Form which is also the standard of dress expected for work experience and interviews for university or employment.

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The Merchants’

Sixth Form Scholarship Programme We offer high achieving entrants at Sixth Form a scholarship that provides many benefits including bespoke support, mentoring, tutoring and guidance from academic mentors at the University of Bristol together with business mentors and career internships during the holidays.

In summary, all Scholars receive: • Priority access to University of Bristol programmes to develop potential, including Access to Bristol, Realising Opportunities and Pathways to Law • An academic mentor from the University of Bristol to support UCAS application and the interview process • Regular subject tutoring from an academic mentor • An ipad/tablet or laptop for independent study and research

• A business mentor arranged by members of the Society of Merchant Venturers • Unique work experience in leading business environments • Mock interview preparation and practice • Opportunities for career taster internships • Theatre trips, dinners and residential visits

Aspire to Higher Programme

The Aspire2Higher programme identifies students who wish to progress onto university or a higher apprenticeship and offers them additional support and activities to increase their attainment and employability.

The programme aims to enhance exposure to the business sectors and universities and provides students with additional guidance through calendared workshops specific to their chosen career pathway.

A summary of the benefits this programme offers are as follows: • Priority Access to University Open Day visits the Academy arranges • Mentoring workshops / careers guidance from Society of Merchant Venturers and other local businesses

• Unique work experience in leading business environments • Mock interview preparation and practice • Calendar of cultural experiences to develop key skills

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Preparing

for the Future Our full time, experienced independent Careers Adviser leads support for students on a full range of pathways, including further education and apprenticeships as well as higher education. Staff and current undergraduates from the University of Bristol give individual and group guidance including on the UCAS process. There is also significant exposure to a range of employers from staff at management level through to CEOs from some of Bristol’s top companies. These individuals will challenge and support our students so that they are prepared when they embark on the next stage of their development towards their chosen career path.

Exclusive Work Experience Our links with business and industry enable us to offer exclusive Sixth Form access to bespoke work experience programmes in some elite and prestigious national companies. Business mentors are provided by our sponsors, the Society of Merchant Venturers.

Higher Education Scholarships These are available on an annual basis to help pay university fees and accommodation.

Merchants’ Academy Sixth Form students also have exclusive places on the Access to Bristol programme.

And so much more…

Merchants’ Academy continues to work with our sponsors to add an increasing number and range of opportunities available only to our Sixth Form students.

“ The partnership with the University of Bristol is helping to raise sixth form students’ aspirations, enhancing students’ learning and guiding them towards future careers and lifelong learning.”

Ofsted

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Student Life This is what our students have to say about what it’s really like being a student at Merchants’ Academy Sixth Form

FACILITIES

THE COMMON ROOM

“THE FACILITIES ARE

“WE’RE BECOMING CLOSER AS A GROUP,

FANTASTIC. THE SHERWOOD

THE INDUCTION WEEKS HELPED WITH

CENTRE IS A BRILLIANT

THAT. IT’S GOOD TO HAVE OUR OWN SPACE

PLACE TO STUDY

WHERE NO ONE ELSE CAN COME.

AND WE HAVE SOME OF THE

OUR VIEWS ARE REALLY LISTENED TO

BEST SPORTS PITCHES.”

AND ACTED ON.”

SILENT STUDY AREA

NEW SUBJECTS

“SEEING OTHER PEOPLE

“THERE’S THE CHANCE TO

GETTING ON WITH THEIR WORK

STUDY THINGS YOU HAVE NOT

INFLUENCES YOU TO DO THE

DONE AT GCSE, SUCH AS

SAME. PEOPLE WANT TO DO

SOCIOLOGY. A LEVELS ARE

WELL HERE SO WORK HARD.”

TOUGH COMParED WITH GCSES BUT YOU GET A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM THE TEACHERS.”

ATMOSPHERE “THERE’S LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO BOUNCE IDEAS AROUND, HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND DEBATES. EVEN THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE LESS CONFIDENT WHEN THEY START SEEM TO BECOME MORE SO QUITE QUICKLY.”

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TIMETABLE

THE WORK

“THE DAY INCLUDES

“SIXTH FORM IS A BIG LEAP FROM GCSE.

NON-CONTACT PERIODS

EVERYONE TELLS YOU BUT

WHEN WE CAN DO

YOU DON’T REALISE WHAT THEY MEAN

PERSONAL STUDY, REVISION

UNTIL YOU GO THROUGH IT.

OR GROUP WORK TO

YOU HAVE TO BE ORGANISED BUT THE

PREPARE FOR LESSONS.”

TEACHERS GIVE US LOTS OF SUPPORT.”

DRESS CODE “NO MORE SCHOOL UNIFORM! THE SMART BUSINESS DRESS CODE MEANS THAT WE CAN WEAR OUR OWN CLOTHES YET LOOK SO MUCH OLDER AND SENIOR THAN THE REST OF THE ACADEMY. VISITORS AND THE STAFF TREAT US VERY DIFFERENTLY TOO AND SOMETIMES WE GET MISTAKEN BY THE YOUNGER STUDENTS AS STAFF – IT’S AMUSING BUT MAKES US REALISE THE RESPONSIBILITY WE HAVE TOO. THEY LOOK UP TO US.”

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Co-curricular AND

Enrichment Merchants’ Academy has an extensive co-curricular programme for all. The Sixth Form have the chance to take a lead role alongside staff members. There are activities to suit everyone, both within the Academy and further afield, from street dance to fashion, computer programming and board games to elite netball and rugby.

The Sixth Form Enrichment programme further adds a cultural and intellectual dimension with lectures and presentations from high-profile speakers, to debates and visits to the theatre, galleries and museums.

your Tutor As a Sixth Form student you meet daily with your tutor, who is part of a dedicated and experienced pastoral team.

Our aim is to develop your self-confidence, presentation and communication skills in preparation for university or employment and training.

The team work closely with external agencies where necessary to provide support to enable each individual to thrive. Tutors will work with you to overcome any obstacles to you achieving success.

“ The students are interesting and lovely to work with. They have opinions, a great sense of humour, and it is nice that they feel comfortable that they can share what they are feeling. They are very proud of the Academy and what they have achieved. They have a very good idea of where they are going and what they need to do to get there.”

Sixth Form Tutor

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What Makes

our Sixth Form Unique?

The Sixth Form at Merchants’ Academy is big enough to provide a wide range of courses for students but small enough to ensure that every individual’s needs are met.

The door of the Director of Sixth Form’s office is always open to anyone who needs information, advice and support. Staff and students appreciate the culture of openness, where everyone is free to speak and be heard.

Our Sixth Form Centre offers a group working area and silent study area so that all students are able to get on with their work when they are not in lessons. There is also a Common Room with tea, coffee ad toast-making facilities and catering at break and lunchtime. Sixth Form students and their elected Common Room Committee oversee the use of this space.

Leadership Whilst our Sixth Form has its own Centre, students are very much involved in Academy life. They are role models for younger students and have many opportunities to develop their leadership skills and contribute to the development of the Academy.

These include: • Volunteering • Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme • Young Enterprise • Combined Cadet Force • Mentoring and buddy programmes • Sports leadership and coaching qualifications • Senior Prefects

“ Students, including those in the sixth form, take great pride in their school and demonstrate that they have a very clear and moral sense of what is right and wrong.”

Ofsted

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An

International Dimension

In addition to the regular visits and residential field work within the United Kingdom related to the courses you study in the Sixth Form, we also try and provide opportunities to go on residential trips on a somewhat grander scale. These include science trips to Japan, which brings an elite group of students together from all over the UK and supports their further exploration of science

in Japan, trips to the Large Hadron Collider at CERN (Geneva), History trips to the battlefields of France and Belgium and Art tours to see the fantastic work of Gaudi in Barcelona are also on offer. Our ski trips and treks in various parts of the world from Italy and, planned for the near future, to Iceland, Morocco and Canada, are also highly valued by our students.

Senior

Student Leadership Team Our Head Students and their Deputies are democratically elected and lead the student body of the Academy including the Senior Prefects and Student Parliament. Representing the students of the Academy to staff and visitors, being directly involved in consultations and the employment of staff to the Academy, they are ambassadors for the Academy and take a lead role at open evenings and public events as well as supporting the Director of Sixth Form. The Senior Student

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Leadership team are recognised by our sponsors, the Society of Merchant Venturers, formally for their important leadership role by attending the annual Prefects’ Dinner, a black tie event hosted by the Master of the Society at Merchants Hall. They and any of their Senior Student Prefects are always happy to talk about Sixth Form life at Merchants’ Academy and host you for a tour of the Academy or to join them to see what lessons and life is like.

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Focus on

the Future Merchants’ Academy recognises that developing employability skills is as important for young people as educational attainment. This emphasis is especially strong in the Sixth Form.

Our highly experienced staff have a comprehensive understanding of the possibilities available after Post-16 education. The Academy has its own professional full time Careers Adviser who spends a lot of time conducting one-to-one guidance meetings which enables students time to talk through and identify their next steps, actions and research.

Our personalised approach will guide you to make the best choices so you continue to make progress after you leave Merchants’ Academy Sixth Form. We work with our sponsors and other external providers to continually evolve he programme so we can make sure Merchants’ Academy students are the first-choice candidates when applying for jobs or university.

100% of our former students have entered higher education, apprenticeships or employment with training after securing their Post-16 qualifications.

Careers Guidance

Our programme of support aimed at ensuring students achieve more than they ever thought possible includes:

• Interview techniques

“ Students are well prepared for the next stage of their education, training or employment.”

• Tailored high quality work experience

Ofsted

• Writing a winning CV • Completing a UCAS personal statement • Building an online employability profile

• Business networking opportunities

“ The University is very proud to be a sponsor of Merchants’ Academy. Its Sixth Form students have unrivalled access to the University of Bristol through a tailored programme of activities and support. They will receive a guaranteed offer from us if they apply and meet the terms.”

Lucy Collins, Head UK Student Recruitment, University of Bristol and Governor of Merchants’ Academy

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A bit more

about us Our Academy is part the Merchants’ Academy Trust (a Multi Academy Trust) which benefits from expertise in running different types of state funded schools.

Executive Principal: Dr Hilary Macaulay

Our Sponsors The work of Merchants’ Academy Trust is made possible through the outstanding support and expertise provide by the co-sponsors, the Society of Merchant Venturers and the University of Bristol and is brought to life by a team of excellent teachers and leaders. The sponsors are the key to success of Merchants’ Academy and are what makes the Academy unique, both locally and nationally. They are an essential part of the Academy vision, able to give our students exceptional chances, experiences and opportunities unavailable elsewhere.

The Society of Merchant Venturers plays a prominent role in the commercial life and institutions of Bristol.

From its origins in the fifteenth century, the Society has developed an involvement with a wide range of charitable activities especially in education.

The Merchant Venturers are the founders and principal sponsor of Merchants’ Academy and the Merchants’ Academy Trust. With the clear aim to make Merchants’ Academy one of the best schools in the country, the Society provides the Academy with financial guidance, governance and other opportunities, including support to equip students to meet the challenges of life beyond the classroom.

The University of Bristol ranks as one of the top 10 universities in the United Kingdom. It is actively involved in the development of the Academy curriculum and allows students to access its excellent academic facilities. The university also offers support in other areas such as mentoring and the provision of vocational work placements.

The university provides extensive support and opportunities for our Sixth Form including scholarships, preferential offers of grades to gain a place, with the additional possibility of bursaries to support degree studies.

Our students also have the opportunity to take part in joint activities with those from other schools run by the Society including Colston’s School and the CGS Trust.

“The essence of the mentoring programme is to enable scholars to benefit from the experience, contacts and (hopefully) wisdom of Governors. It is rewarding for a Governor Mentor to support an individual student with whatever is needed to reach his or her goals.”

Ross Ancell, Chair of Governors’ and member of the Society of Merchant Venturers

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MERCHANTS’ ACADEMY

SIXTH FORM Gatehouse Avenue, Withywood, Bristol, BS13 9AJ Tel: 0117 301 5000 Email: info@merchantsacademy.org

merchantsacademy.org