Barton Court Post 16 Prospectus

Barton Court Grammar School An Academy of Excellence

Sixth Form Prospectus

“ Barton Court Grammar School is a forward thinking school that provides outstanding education.”

OFSTED

Welcome Dear Student,

hank you for taking the time to read our Sixth Form prospectus.

I know that you will be impressed by our outstanding results, our first class facilities and our impressive range of courses.

At the heart of our successful Sixth Form is our commitment to delivering excellence through support, inspiration and achievement. Personal excellence is ensured through an innovative curriculum, high expectations and the highest quality of teaching and learning based on an understanding of each student’s individual needs.

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In Barton Court Grammar School Sixth Form we want to develop your talents and interests, preparing you for life-long learning. We believe students achieve their best in a supportive and purposeful learning environment. You will be supported with regular tutorial interviews and specialist advice and guidance, and we have a dedicated Independent Sixth Form Learning Centre in which you can maximise the effectiveness of your studies. In Barton Court Grammar School Sixth Form you will choose between a wide range of Advanced Level courses and the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, a world class qualification. You will also have the opportunity to access Foundation Degree courses which will further personalise your learning. Beyond the curriculum you will develop new friendships, take on roles of responsibility and in a broad sense reflect upon what is important in life. Through this you will develop a mature sense of values. We believe yours is an exciting future, together we can work towards achieving your goals.

Ms K Cardus BSc, MA ED, NPQH – Headteacher

Mission

Statement

At Barton Court Grammar School students are supported, inspired and challenged to achieve their very best in all that they do in order to reach their full potential and academic excellence. Students develop into independent, confident, open-minded , life-long learners ready to take their place as leaders in the 21st Century. They will develop into well-balanced, articulate, principled and responsible global citizens, with cultural and international awareness, who positively contribute to our school and the wider community.

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Academic

Curriculum

broad and versatile curriculum ensures that your time studying allows you to develop not only academically, but also your life skills. Whatever your talents you can find the right course and subject combination to suit your aptitudes. There are two main academic pathways at Barton Court Grammar School either, The International Baccalaureate or the A Level route.

Whichever route you decide is most appropriate you can be confident that you will be supported to achieve your full potential. As well as all these opportunities Barton Court Grammar School has a dedicated academic team to support you through the Sixth Form as well as the Tutor System to nurture and guide you as you develop into the world class student you have the potential to be.

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The International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) is a symbol of academic excellence worldwide with more than 575,000 students in over 125 countries. The IB offers a comprehensive and balanced curriculum with rigorous assessment.

It is global in outlook – all subjects have an international perspective – and the qualification is renowned in Britain and throughout the world.

Barton Court Grammar School has offered the IB since 2007 and has an outstanding track record of success. Our average point score is 31.7; well above the worldwide average of 29. Our students have secured places at some of the world’s most prestigious universities including Oxford and Cambridge and the IB is accepted and preferred by the Ivy League universities in the United States of America.

A Level students can also choose from a wide variety of subjects and be confident in the consistent success A Level students achieve at Barton Court Grammar School. In recent years 64% of grades achieved by students were A*–B. Students will typically take 4 AS courses in Year 12 and 3 A2 courses in Year 13 depending on their individual needs. A Level students can also develop their research skills and demonstrate independent learning through the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and the AQA Baccalaureate Qualification. Students can also opt to take University Foundation Courses.

“ The school provides students with an outstanding curriculum that effectively meets their needs and aspirations.” OFSTED

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Life-Long Learning

n Barton Court Grammar School Sixth Form you will be encouraged to develop and express your own unique talents.

Students are encouraged to become resourceful and resilient learners who take responsibility for their own learning. At the heart of the school, underpinning all that we do, is the IB Learner profile which is the IB mission statement translated into a set of learning outcomes for the 21st Century.

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The IB Learner profile: inquirers open-minded knowledgeable caring thinker

risk-takers communicators balanced principled reflective

Students are encouraged to develop a passion for learning; are supported in developing their learning and thinking skills in order to become an independent learner, able to contribute to the life of the school and its wider community.

We want our Sixth Form students to stand out from the crowd in this competitive world and, as such, we actively encourage them to develop their independent and enquiring minds. An Independent Learning Centre enables students to think and work in quiet, calm and modern surroundings. Here, they can make extensive use of ICT facilities, including wireless technology for their own laptop.

We regard this provision as an essential bridge from the more structured environment of Year 11 to the ‘freedom’ of university life.

All students are encouraged to develop their own area of academic enquiry. A Level students choose to complete an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and all IB students complete an Extended Essay (EE). This provides students with the opportunity to focus on a specific aspect or theme of any area they are interested in and conduct their own enquiry into it. Students are supported through a project supervisor and develop the skills of independent study and work so essential for their next step in their academic or workplace career.

“ With the school’s introduction of the IB students are encouraged to be analytical, curious and independent learners.” OFSTED

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Developing Leadership Skills he skills of leadership are not skills you are necessarily born with, but rather skills you develop and hone through practice and time.

At Barton Court Grammar School we seek to give you many and varied opportunities to develop your leadership skills throughout your time in the Sixth Form. As a young adult you will be expected to be a responsible role model in the school setting the right example for others to follow. There are many formal positions of leadership within the Sixth Form, these include: the Prefect Structure, the Tutor system; the Student Voice and the leadership of clubs and societies. In addition to these whole school leadership roles, over half of Year 12 are involved in subject mentoring, providing support for younger students. Mentors report how fulfilling the role is and how, as well as helping the younger students, the mentors themselves also benefit from the opportunity to inspire interest in their subject. Therefore, whichever role you choose to play in the Sixth Form you can be confident that it will contribute to your development as a person and leave you better equipped to be successful in whatever you choose to do in the future.

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“ With atmo life in Gram

such a warm and vibrant sphere, it is very easy to enjoy the Sixth Form at Barton Court mar School.� Year 13 student

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“ The school is a happy and harmonious community where students are motivated achieve as well as possible and develop confident and successful young adults.�

Raising Aspirations & Delivering Excellence

s you will be aware the competition for university places has never been greater.

In addition, it is essential that students attend the university that is going to provide them with the greatest number of opportunities when they graduate.

Barton Court Grammar School, therefore, provides extensive support and guidance for students to help them secure the best university offers. Year 12 students have a UCAS day where they are guided through the application process. Every student receives an individual career guidance session with a qualified adviser.

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Form studies again have the support of a Careers Advisor and also benefit from our work shadowing programme which enables students to better understand the world of work and the type of employment they may be interested in. Whatever you choose to do at the end of your Sixth Form studies at Barton Court Grammar School you will be confident that you will have achieved your full academic potential and developed the personal skills necessary to be highly successful.

Students wishing to apply to Oxford or Cambridge are supported through a specific Oxbridge programme and those interested in Medicine, Veterinary Science or Dentistry benefit from a specific “Medics� programme. Students who wish to enter the world of work at the end of their Sixth

to into OFSTED

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Barton Court Grammar School An Academy of Excellence Longport, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1PH Tel: 01227 464600 Fax: 01227 781399 Email: office@bartoncourt.org www.bartoncourt.org