Frensham Heights Information Booklet - Sixth Form

A PROGRESSIVE DAY & BOARDING SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS FROM THE AGE OF 3 TO 18

SIXTH FORM

YEARS 12 & 13

SCHOOL DAY

Our students in Years 12 and 13 have active, varied days making full use of all the facilities on our extensive site. During free periods and breaks, they can often be found at Roberts House - our hub for day and boarding Sixth Form students.

We don’t have a uniform, we just ask our students to dress for purpose. Students are free to express their individuality through their clothes as long as it doesn’t interfere with their school day or offend anyone. Most Sixth Form students wear hoodies and jeans, others with a love for fashion express themselves more boldly. We don’t have a brand culture, just casual, comfortable clothes.

Our week runs from Monday to Friday with no lessons on Saturdays. Our extracurricular clubs run at lunchtime and after school. Here’s our basic day:

8.30am - Classes start

10.25am - 10.50am - Break

12.45pm - Lunch

2.00 - 2.15pm Tutor time / 1-1 meetings

4.10pm - School finishes

4.30pm - Clubs/Fixtures begin

LUNCH We have a long lunch break allowing for plenty of time to take part in extracurricular clubs, get some extra tutor support, relax in Roberts House or take a walk in the woods or into Rowledge.

AFTER SCHOOL Our extracurricular clubs run from 4.30pm to 5.30pm. Students can stay on at Roberts House until 6.30pm and are also welcome to sign-up to stay for supper. All day students must leave the campus by 7pm unless other arrangements have been made.

TEACHING & LEARNING

Frensham Sixth Form is a really unique place. It offers the freedom and responsibility of a Sixth Form setting with the vibrancy and opportunities of a whole school community. These are the years when students are on the brink of adulthood, readying for their first big step into independence, whatever that might be. A-Levels mean that during these years our teaching and learning is more curriculum-led, but our classes are very small and teachers are able to offer bespoke teaching to the class in front of them, continuously engaging with their students’ personal passions and interests. Rather than focusing purely on exam results, our aim is to give our students the knowledge and the thinking skills - creativity, problem solving, flexibility, resilience - to take on whatever may turn up in the exams, but also in life beyond. The strong relationships and outstanding pastoral care at Frensham can really give students the confidence to be themselves, take things in their stride and go beyond their own expectations.

TUTOR GROUPS

Students are split into tutor groups with their tutor taking a pastoral role, gently supporting and getting to know each of the students in their care. Tutor groups will normally stay the same for Years 12 and 13 and maximum size is 12 with 8 tutor groups per year. Tutors hold frequent one to one meetings with students to help support them with both their studies and their wellbeing.

LEARNING SPACE

Sixth Form students don’t have set classrooms. Roberts House is their hub. Boarders have their rooms here and day students have studies. Common rooms can be accessed for free periods and are used for Sixth Form notices and sometimes for classes. Most academic classrooms are found in Flottage and the Science Building. Students will also be using the Sports and Dance Halls, Theatre and Drama Studios, IT Suites, Art & Design Centre, Language Classrooms, Music School, Ballroom, Front Lawn, Sports Fields and woodland areas.

CURRICULUM

Currently we offer nearly 30 different A-Level course options. Students can request alternative subjects and if interest is high, the school will look at ways to make it happen.

Guidance is offered to all students regarding their Sixth Form choices from Year 10 and throughout Year 11. This is facilitated through parent and student information evenings, parents’ evenings, one to one interviews, Sixth Form taster events and sample A-Level lessons.

Most students take three A-Levels, and our most able may elect to study four by prior arrangement. Each subject is allocated five 55 minute periods each week. In addition, some students also study for the Extended Project Qualification which is taken in one year, from January in Year 12 to January in Year 13.

All students are required to take part in The Edge, Frensham’s tailored Sixth Form enrichment programme that teaches skills alongside knowledge. Students select their own programme of study and undertake a minimum of one session per week during the first two terms of Year 12.

CURRENT A LEVEL/ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

• 3D Design/Product Design

• Biology

• Business

• Chemistry

• Computer Science

• Dance (BTEC)

• Drama

• Economics

• English Literature

• Esports (BTEC)

• Film Studies

• Fine Art

• Geography

• Graphic Communication

• History

• Mathematics

• Further Mathematics

• Mathematical Studies

• Modern Languages

• Music

• Music (BTEC)

• Music Technology

• PE

• Photography

• Physics

• Politics

• Psychology

• Religious Studies

• Sociology

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Students must have achieved, or be likely to achieve, at least six GCSE passes at grades 9 – 4, with, where relevant, a grade 6 in the subjects they want to study at A-Level. Students who want to study Mathematics at A-Level should preferably have achieved, or be likely to achieve a grade 7 in Mathematics GCSE. Please see the current A-Level course booklet for more details on requirements.

SCHOLARSHIPS

As with most things, we do our scholarships a bit differently. They are non-monetary and scholars are expected to contribute and participate fully in the life of the school and beyond, involving themselves in all activities related to their scholarship as well as supporting other students. Sixth Form candidates can apply for scholarships – in the areas of Academic, Creative Arts, Performing Arts and Sport – during their entrance assessment process.

MORNING TALK

Morning Talk has been happening at Frensham since the school was founded. It is a time for Years 7 to 13 to come together in the Aldridge Theatre to explore and discuss a new topic. This can stem from a visiting speaker or from a member of our community who has something to share. Topics can range from climate change to elections to homelessness. Previous speakers have included Nelson Mandela’s bodyguard and a Holocaust survivor.

EXPANDING HORIZONS

Expanding Horizons is a compulsory subject for all Sixth Formers. It’s a dynamic subject that gives students the opportunity to learn about and discuss what is happening in the world today, from global issues to those closer to home. This course has been created and is delivered by the Philosophy, Religion and Ethics Department with the specific aim to encourage students to think critically about society, to reflect on their own views, and to challenge each other. Ultimately, we aim to equip students with the skills and knowledge that they will need to play a full and active part in society.

Our Sixth Form offers the best of both worlds with the independence and freedom of a Sixth Form college mixed with the facilities and more diverse extracurricular opportunities of a wider school community. It is a great stepping stone and we really pride ourselves on supporting students with the self-confidence they need to take on their next steps in life.

THE EDGE

In addition to the traditional A-Level subjects, we also offer a selection of courses which provide students the chance to expand their practical skill sets – from leadership to commercial awareness; from creativity to team work - skills employers are seeking.

There are a wide range of courses available such as Cooking, Enterprise, Construction and Theatre Lighting and each course is one period a week and lasts five or ten weeks. There are 4 five week blocks ending at Easter. At the end of each course, the experience can be logged on Unifrog - a one stop shop website for careers guidance helping students have a real edge when it comes to entering employment and higher education.

CAREERS

Higher and Careers Education is an important part of the curriculum at Frensham Heights. Young people are entering a working world that, with advances in technology and automation, is changing exponentially. Careers information, advice and guidance are designed to equip our students with the tools needed to thrive in this changing world; to help them make the most appropriate choices during their education and beyond into their working lives. We offer a 12 week Career Education programme and work with Unifrog, EC Careers and the Education Development Trust to ensure that specialist support is available to students and parents, all in conjunction with day to day support from the school Head of Careers. Unifrog is an online platform where students can write their CVs and Personal Statements and record their key skills. Teachers can also give their students feedback, and write references.

EXTRA- CURRICULAR

We believe just as much learning happens outside the classroom as within and this applies to Sixth Formers as well so we offer an extensive array of extracurricular activities to complement our day to day timetable. The clubs run at lunchtime and after school and they vary every term, but always include a good variety of creative, physical, social and inventive activities.

TRIPS

We offer a wide variety of optional trips throughout the school year. These are normally mixed year groups and are led by Frensham teachers. Trips range from activity-focused – skiing, surfing, mountain biking – to cultural and educational.

ROBERTS HOUSE

Roberts House is our Sixth Form hub and offers our boarders a home away from home and our day students a quiet place to work during study periods. It is also a lively social hub where all students quickly get to know each other - resulting in a warm, closely knit community. There are shared study areas and kitchens and a large communal living room which hosts many social evenings.

For boarders and day students alike, there is always a friendly face here even on the most challenging day. Emotionally and academically, these can be really stressful years as A-Level results can often, however unfairly, determine a student’s future. The strong relationships and outstanding pastoral care at Frensham can really give students the confidence to be themselves, take things in their stride and go beyond their own expectations. It is truly a bespoke education within a supportive environment.

“I LOVE FRENSHAM FOR THE INDEPENDANCE YOU ARE GIVEN. THE FREEDOM YOU ARE GIVEN. THE RESPONSIBILITY YOU ARE GIVEN. YOU LEARN A LOT THAT WILL HELP YOU AFTER SCHOOL. IT’S REALLY UNIQUE.”

Sam, Old Frenshamian

COMMUNITY

DISCIPLINE

Ours is an ethos founded on mutual respect, tolerance and kindness. With our small class sizes and close relationships between students and teachers, bullying and other behavioural issues are rare and tend to be handled before they can become a problem. If problems do arise, they are handled through calm discussion with each student being given the chance to listen, talk and learn. These discussions will begin with the student’s tutor and escalate upwards if necessary. All discussions are clearly communicated to and discussed with parents. We have boundaries, but not rules for rules sake allowing students to question, develop selfawareness, awareness of others and take responsibility for their actions. Although we recognise that everyone makes mistakes, we have a very firm stance on alcohol and drug use – this is part of our school rules which are agreed by all students and are available on our website.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT

For Year 12, we have parents’ evenings in the Spring and Summer terms and grade cards are sent out twice a term. For Year 13, we have parents’ evenings in the Autumn and Spring terms and grade cards are sent out in the Autumn and Spring terms. There is also a Parents’ Info evening at the beginning of the Autumn term.Parents are also always welcome to catch–up with teachers at any time via email or by scheduling a meeting. We know our school thrives on having a strong relationship with each of our families, working together and communicating within the school environment and at home.There are also many events during the year when the school community comes together – stage productions, rock and pop gigs, dance concerts, art exhibitions, music recitals, Founders’ Day and bonfire night to name a few.

HEALTH

NUTRITION

Students can pick up a snack in the lunch hall at break and after school. A buffet style lunch is provided in the lunch hall where we all eat together as a community. Everyone has different preferences and our catering team provides a wide range of options to cater to all tastes and allergies and to help develop healthy eating habits. Students serve themselves and can sit where they choose.

HEALTH CENTRE

We have an onsite Health Centre, staffed by qualified nurses. If a teacher is concerned about a student’s health, they will send them to the Health Centre to be assessed by the nurse who will contact parents if they are concerned or if the student needs to be taken home.

PE KIT

Regardless of what they are studying, all Sixth Formers participate in a games afternoon every week. They don’t need a PE kit for this however there are several clubs and team sports which are better suited to a PE kit which can be purchased through Schoolblazer.

KEY SENIOR SCHOOL CONTACTS:

Head of Sixth Form: Hannah Manton hello@frensham.org

Visit our website or call 01252 792561 to arrange a tour. Frensham Heights Rd, Rowledge, Farnham GU10 4EA.

WWW.FRENSHAM.ORG