Bishop Challoner School Sixth Form Booklet

Bishop Challoner School sixth form

A Catholic Independent Co-educational School

Join Us “The senior school’s great, but the sixth form is fantastic!” james

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oining the sixth form at Bishop Challoner brings with it a change of emphasis where students are given more freedom and independence. The high quality of teaching ensures that each pupil reaches their full potential through the academic rigour of the subjects. Those transferring from our year 11 naturally progress to A level study in an environment in which they are familiar and where the teachers know them best. For those pupils joining from other schools often they are looking for a change which could be a move away from a single sex establishment, looking for a coeducational environment or purely wanting the individual attention that the sixth form here provides with smaller class sizes.

The structure provides opportunity to build excellent relationships between the teacher and student.

“With my wide range of subjects, I am never lost for knowledge. With the constant challenges my teachers set, it drives me to do the best I can.” tom

Subjects Offered We want to inspire a love of learning at Bishop Challoner.

We offer a range of subjects to provide a good foundation for university and we are always keen to hear from prospective students who may wish to study a subject not presently offered. It might be that we can provide your choices if there is sufficient interest.

Entry Requirements Students are normally expected to have gained at least 5 A*- B GCSE grades including at least Grade B in the subjects that they wish to study at A-level. Candidates are expected to achieve grades A or A* in some subjects that they wish to study at A Level, for example in Mathematics.

A minimum of grade C at GCSE in both English Language and Mathematics is a requirement. Your school will also be asked for a reference, a recent report and your predicted GCSE grades. A Skype interview may be requested for overseas students.

Can I afford the fees?

Compared to other independent schools our fees are reasonable. However, some of our sixth formers benefit from bursaries and scholarships that help towards their fees and we recognise the talent of individuals, ensuring that they are challenged and nurtured in a caring environment. Not only do we offer academic scholarships but also Music, Art, Sport and Performing Arts scholarships. The application process can be found on our website and requires a letter of application to the Headteacher with interviews taking place in late November.

Fantastic Facilities

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he newly refurbished common room with brand new comfy seating including relaxing corner sofas and furnishings are modern and striking providing a stimulating environment.

Sixth formers have access to their own coffee making facilities and have individual pigeonholes. Students in year 12 and 13 are registered in the common room giving them an opportunity to get to know each other, socialise, mix and relax over a drink.

Sixth Form Centre

Common Room

“The sixth form has enabled me to feel relaxed and settle in quickly and I’m already growing in all aspects of life.”holly Students are given flip lessons to enable them to research around a subject and develop their thinking and independent research skills. They have the choice of researching in the Terry Robinson suite which is equipped with wireless network provision and allows students to access the internet for school related work via a set of laptops.

St. Catherine’s Cottage was opened in 2012 and has individual small tutorial rooms for sixth form use, a kitchen and computer suite upstairs. This allows the students some further measure of independence and privilege but at the same time they remain an important part of the whole school. Outside the cottage pupils have access to their own use of garden tables during the summer.

Terry Robinson Suite

“The sixth form is a friendly community and the common room is a great place to relax and socialise.”jamie

Celebrating Success “An inspiration to a generation.� hollie

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raduation is a day for celebration and the students get a well-deserved send off in late June. This is a time to celebrate and share the many achievements and to remind ourselves of the incredible journey that the students have taken, many of whom started their educational experience in our nursery. Also, to recognise their promising futures in Higher Education or employment.

Meet the Head Graduation Ceremony

Examination Performance In the summer of 2015 pupils achieved 100% pass rate at A Level and went on to a range of universities including Lancaster University to read Philosophy Politics and Economics, Brunel University to study Engineering, Swansea University to read History & Ancient History, Royal Holloway University to read English Literature, Coventry University to study Health and Life Science and Brighton University to study Environmental Science.

“Bishop Challoner sixth form is a positive, nurturing, friendly environment where all can achieve their goals.”stephen

Preparation for Higher Education Our priority for the sixth formers is to ensure that they are given the opportunity to grow and develop responsibility in preparation for life beyond the classroom. Students are prepared well for their future and given guidance on choosing the right university, assistance with UCAS and careers guidance.

The school motto, ‘Dare to do their best’ is embedded in the life of the sixth form.

There are opportunities to take on leadership roles including Head and Deputy Pupil, Charity and Chaplaincy Prefect, House Captains and mentoring of younger pupils in the school. The sixth formers develop excellent relationships with all areas of the school community and are superb role models.

Meeting our sixth formers is the best advert for life in the sixth form at Bishop Challoner. They are polite, respectful, confident and well-rounded individuals who leave year 13 with a good moral grounding and sense of community spirit.

Enrichment Opportunities A good set of A level grades are only part of the mix, and it is increasingly clear that to fully realise their potential, students need to develop skills such as leadership, communication and teamwork. Learning, therefore, must extend well beyond the walls of the classroom.

When the sixth formers join they take part in a team building activity in London. This ensures that our students bond as a year group and start a journey in self-development. Students will attend training courses touching on all areas of life skills, such as the CAFOD leadership program, road safety, career week, making successful presentations, succeeding at interview, and even etiquette. There is also a wide range of opportunities to get involved in community work and charities.

We also offer a range of sports including football, rugby tennis, lawn bowls and ten pin bowling; students also get to use a fully resourced gym, take fencing and ballroom dancing lessons.

Whatever you go on to do after sixth form, it is always good to have a point of difference on your CV or UCAS application, and this opportunity allows students to explore and develop outside the normal constraints of an academic environment.

Good Transport Links

Penge East A2

34

Foots Cray A222

Beckenham Junction

BROMLEY

A2 22

BROMLEY ROAD A222

Shortlands

Swanley

Bromley South

3

Petts Wood

A2 22

15

A2

Eden Park

A20

08

A212

Chislehurst A222

A2

A23

13

A2

North Cray

1

227 South Norwood A2

Sidcup A21

A2 0

Crystal Crystal Palace Palace

358

Coldblow

New Eltham

15

227

A20

3

ation ia St ictor To V

227

A214

Mottingham

A2212

16

West Norwood

Grove Park Park Grove

A2218

Sydenham

A2

Hither Green

A2 2

A2 2

ia to r Vic n To Statio

4 A20

A205

West Dulwich Streatham

A210

Eltham

Catford

St Mary Cray A2 1

Croydon

A232

West Wickham

2 A23

Orpington

358

A224

CROYDON

To

2

no

Farnborough

ion

tat

Green Street Green

sS

Addington

ak

A235

24

ve

02

A2

A2

Se

Beddington

M25

ORPINGTON

Sept. 2015

4

BY ROAD From the M25 the Beckenham/Bromley area is best approached from either junction 3 following the A20 towards central London and then the A222 to Beckenham/Bromley.

Alternatively take junction 4 from the M25 following the A21 to Bromley. From Bromley, follow the A222 Beckenham Lane past Shortlands Station, continue up the hill on Bromley Road and the school is a short distance on the left. Parking is available on the residential roads outside the school.

BY TRAIN The nearest railway station is Shortlands which is a 5 minute walk to the school. There are two routes from London to Shortlands: London Victoria to Orpington (stopping at key stations West Dulwich, Penge East, Beckenham Junction and Bromley South Stations) AND London Victoria to Sevenoaks (which stops at Swanley).

There are also trains from Catford and Denmark Hill stopping at Shortlands Station.

227 358

BY BUS 227 Crystal Palace to Bromley, stopping outside the school. 358 Orpington to Crystal Palace, stopping outside Shortlands Station.

M26

BY TRAM Trams run from Croydon To Beckenham Junction Station and then a short bus ride to the school

Contact Us We look forward to hearing from you. admissions@bishopchallonerschool.com to arrange a visit

228 BROMLEY ROAD • SHORTLANDS • KENT BR2 OBS Telephone 020 8460 3546 • Fax 020 8466 8885 Email office@bishopchallonerschool.com • Website www.bishopchallonerschool.com