Sixth Form Prospectus
The support with my university application has been excellent. From the beginning of Year 12, I was told to engage myself in lots of supercurricular activities, which was easy as the school offers so many opportunities. All this meant that by the end of Year 12, I had plenty to write about in my personal statement. I started my application knowing a lot about the process itself, which made it much less daunting.
Welcome
to Ashcroft Technology Academy Sixth Form
The Sixth Form at Ashcroft Technology Academy has a strong academic ethos and offers an environment in which students are supported to achieve the very highest levels of academic achievement. Following their Sixth Form studies, our students typically progress to Russell Group universities, studying a range of academic courses. Our students are well prepared to meet the challenges that these courses present as a result of the knowledge and skills they develop during their time in the Sixth Form.
The Academy has an established reputation for excellence in teaching, learning and results and we are proud of the achievements our students make each year. We have inspiring resources for your continuing studies, high-quality, researchled teaching, and we offer a broad curriculum with an extensive range of courses.
an environment that stands comparison with the best the independent sector can offer, and more. We offer a broad range of subjects at A level and the International Baccalaureate gives us further depth and diversity of study opportunities to distinguish you for university entry and support you throughout your adult life.
The successes our students achieve have been recognised both locally and nationally. We are especially pleased to have won the Wandsworth Pupil Achievement Award for highest A level results in Wandsworth borough every year since 2013. We have also been recognised at a national level with an award for the excellent progress our Sixth Form students make (the Learning Plus UK student progress award). These awards are testament to this being a Sixth Form where the combination of hard work and outstanding teaching allows students to reach their full potential.
In the Sixth Form, you will develop your academic independence and take responsibility for your own learning; however our teachers, tutors and Sixth Form Management Team are outstanding and always willing to help, support and advise. We also recognise the importance of learning beyond the classroom and so you will find a superb range of super-curricular and extra-curricular activities available for you to participate in and enjoy during your time in the Sixth Form.
The investment in our facilities provides us with
We look forward to welcoming you to the Sixth Form at Ashcroft Technology Academy and working with you in pursuit of your ambitions.
For me, one of the best things about joining the Sixth Form has been the change of environment. I’ve enjoyed coming to school every day and it’s just gone by so quickly. I like how interactive the lessons are and the discussions we have in lessons, it feels very open because everyone is able to put their ideas forward.
Results
& Achievements
The results our students achieve in their three A-Levels place the Academy in the top 5% of schools nationally. In London, these results place the Academy within the top 16 schools. Our students perform exceptionally as a result of their hard work, excellent teaching and the support and facilities available to them in the Academy.
In addition to our expert teaching staff, the support students receive from our Sixth Form pastoral team is second-to-none. Members of the team supervise the Study Centre, which is open to students before, during and after the school day, ensuring students have access to a university-style work space along with access to academic guidance and mentoring.
The Sixth Form was a nice change from Year 11. Yes it was challenging because the content we were learning was harder than GCSEs but this year I felt more supported; teachers have been very helpful both during and outside of lessons. The support with my application to Cambridge allowed me to fully understand and feel confident about every step in the process.
Minnie Greaves
Zakaria Moustiri
Natural Sciences
Engineering
University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
Alexander Ruff
Muyiwa Aiyenuro
Mathematics
Engineering
University of Oxford
University of Cambridge
Adam Turner
Matthew Lucas
Biology
Physics
University of Oxford
University of Oxford
Rebecca Davis
Barbara Francik
History
Biology
University of Cambridge
University of Oxford
Shaharyar Iqbal
Emily Yelverton
Mathematics
English
University of Oxford
University of Cambridge
Max Gibbins
Freya Lewis
Natural Sciences
History
University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
Daniel Oluboyede
Jaziba Ahmed
Medicine
Medicine
University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
Emma Burley
Jay Ayliffe
History
History and Politics
University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
Marcus Ahmad
Aya Husseini
Mathematics
Natural Sciences
University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
Melissa Agoro
Sara Renmiu
Chemical Engineering
Psychology
University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
Alice Blackburne-Maze
Fazeela Ismael
Geography
Law
University of Durham
University of Nottingham
Alice Center History University of Manchester
Gabriel Durand Music University of Nottingham
Arjona Hoxha Law University of Durham
Julie Dao Biomedical Sciences Queen Mary’s, University of London
Aryean Hossain Biomedical Engineering King’s College, University of London
Helen Webley-Brown Political Science Washington University in St Louis, USA
Shahzad Hashmi Medicine Imperial College, University of London
Natasha Tahir Mechanical Engineering University College London
Dominik Do Minh
Shahmin Miah
Architecture
Medicine
The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL
Imperial College, University of London
Temur Pasha Medicine Imperial College, University of London
Helena Costa Biology
Kimberley Carstens Economics University of Durham
Saffa Abdi Geography
Imperial College, University of London
University College London
Jessie Xie
Mohadeseh Abdullahi
Statistics, Economics & Finance
Geography & Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science
The London School of Economics and Political Science
Schery Hashmi Medicine Imperial College, University of London
Oliver Evans Physics University of Bristol
Life
Beyond the Sixth Form
Our students tell us that their reason for choosing to study at Ashcroft was that they knew we would give them the best possible preparation for life after Sixth Form. Students studying in our Sixth Form typically wish to progress to the universities of Oxford or Cambridge, Russell Group universities, or to other competitive university courses. Through clear guidance and detailed support, we have enabled over twenty students to progress to Oxbridge in recent years. Typically, over half of our students progress to Russell Group universities or to study medicine, engineering or architecture at well regarded universities.
Our focus is enabling students to achieve their ambition and they are supported in doing so throughout their time in Sixth Form - from their very first day. Our close relationships with universities, detailed knowledge of the application process and the types of institutions of which our students wish to study at mean that our students are able to prepare highly competitive applications for university courses. Students receive timetabled Higher Education Guidance lessons alongside personal advice from both our pastoral and academic staff. Alongside this, our careers officer assists students in making the most of the work experience, mentoring and summer school programmes available to them. We are delighted that so many former Ashcroft Technology Academy students have been accepted to study at Oxford and Cambridge universities. We offer a tailored programme of support which gives our students the knowledge, understanding and confidence required to secure a place at either institution. Guidance for Oxbridge applicants is delivered throughout Year 12 and when students enter Year 13 there are weekly sessions between September and December to support students through every step of the application process. With so many teaching staff and former students who have attended Oxford or
Cambridge, we are able to provide personal support to each student. This programme also includes visits to Oxbridge and visits to the Academy by Oxbridge admissions tutors, support with admissions tests and thorough preparation for the interview process. Our teachers provide specialist support to students who are applying to study courses related to their curriculum area. This ranges from regular meetings to review and improve personal statements, discussions of recent academic papers, through to clubs and societies such as the Ashcroft Medical Society. This approach fosters in students a deeper understanding of their subjects beyond the confines of exam specifications. Enabling our students to acquire a broad understanding of their subject has proved invaluable in terms of university applications and interviews, aiding them in the pursuit of their ambitions. Each year, we welcome a new and ambitious group of Year 12 students into the Sixth Form. They each arrive with their own unique aspirations and therefore the way we support students is tailored to each individual. What is common amongst all students, however, is their openness to embrace the enthusiasm and expertise that our teaching staff offer.
The head student application process enabled me to develop my interview skills. I then applied everything that the academy had taught me during that process in a medicine interview mock organised by Chelsea & Westminster Hospital and my performance was a lot stronger as a result.
Beyond
the Classroom
The Sixth Form experience at Ashcroft Technology Academy is enriched by a wide range of super-curricular and extra-curricular activities.
Our teaching staff lead an interesting and varied programme of super-curricular (that is, subject related) activities. This includes working with well-regarded universities to host lectures from academics at the Academy, attending events and conferences in London and beyond and engaging with the most up to date literature and thinking in each subject. Our subject societies regularly give students the opportunity to participate in events such as Science Week or alumni talks. There are regular trips to London’s world-leading theatrical productions and art galleries, and students compete, and succeed, in national arts competitions such as ARTiculate. Our links to industry are strong and constantly growing, with students able to secure work experience, visits and mentoring at legal and financial firms in the city. We also offer a number of scholarships worth up to £500 for students to develop knowledge and skills relating to their degree course. The scholarship is used by students to complete a qualification, attend events or to become a member of an academic organisation linked to the subject area they wish to study at university. The rigorous application process for these scholarships is designed to help students develop and showcase their communication skills. For many of our Oxbridge alumni, their scholarship interview during Year
12 was the first stage in their university interview preparation. Students have said that they found the scholarship interview process to be an invaluable experience. There is also a range of opportunities for students to develop their leadership and communication skills during their time in Sixth Form. Positions of responsibility include our Head Student Team, House Captains and peer-mentors. Extra-curricular activities are a significant part of student life in the Sixth Form. This is underpinned by our highly competitive house system and indeed the Sixth Form inter-house events are some of the most popular and hard-fought competitions across the Academy. Early highlights in the calendar include inter-house dodgeball and the Great Ashcroft Bake Off, which take place during the first half-term of the year. It is unusual to find a student who has not participated in one of these competitions and more often we find our students have been involved in both. Our popular series of Friday afternoon events and competitions is complemented by an array of external opportunities open to students. In recent years, this has included visits to Poland, Morocco, Iceland, Paris and Kenya, for example. We also offer specialist PE facilities, which include a fitness suite with resistance and aerobic machines, freestanding weights and a full size flood-lit astroturf pitch.
Our
Curriculum Offer
A-Level courses A-Levels provide students with the knowledge and skills required to successfully progress onto academic degree courses. At Ashcroft Technology Academy, we offer a broad range of subjects, from the traditional to the more contemporary. For degree courses such as medicine, density and engineering, students are required by university entrance requirements to study a combination of A-Level courses from a set range of subjects. For others, we are able to use our knowledge of the UCAS process to guide students through the process of choosing their subject combination. Students study three subjects at A-Level during both Year 12 and Year 13. We also offer the opportunity for all students to complete an Extended Project Qualification during their time at the Sixth Form.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is a broad two-year academic curriculum that encompasses a full range of subject areas, personal development and critical thinking. The breadth of the curriculum offers students the opportunity to develop a broad range of interests and skills, with a focus on becoming confident, well-rounded thinkers who are well prepared to make a positive contribution
to our world. Alongside their chosen subjects, students complete the Core Programme, which includes personal and creative develop, critical thinking, and an independent research project (similar to an undergraduate dissertation.) This prepares our IB Diploma students exceptionally well for the demands of independent study and life at university, and as such it is no surprise that the vast majority progress to elite Russell Group universities (including Oxbridge) or prestigious universities in Europe or the United States. Studying the IB offers students an exceptional opportunity to participate in an intensely rewarding educational experience. We are proud of our superb results, which reflect the ongoing commitment of both our IB teachers and students. More than this though, we have sought to create a highly supportive and stimulating environment at the Academy that nurtures a genuinely global perspective. Our Academy truly embraces the international nature of the IB. From the very first day, our students become part of a far-reaching global network. Our current IB cohort contains nationals from over 25 different countries and we have students travelling from as far afield as Colombia and Egypt to study the IB at the Academy. Our ethos, whether within IB lessons or as part of our Creativity, Activity and Service programme, is to develop within our students a deeper understanding of the issues facing our society and provide them with the knowledge and skills that will equip them to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.
Pastoral
Personalised support Personalised Support
During your time in Sixth Form, you will make important decisions regarding higher education and your future career path.
Our dedicated team of tutors and Sixth Form staff will support and guide you through this process every step of the way. Our Careers Officer provides students with detailed guidance about the industries they are interested in working within and our Higher Education Guidance
lessons allows students to understand how they can successfully progress through qualification and application processes. Our pastoral support extends further, with financial support for those who need it and specialist wellbeing support available to all students.
Key Dates for your Diary APPLICATION DEADLINE Monday 04 January 2021 Interviews, where appropriate, will start on receipt of your application. Applications received after this date will still be considered. VISIT THE SIXTH FORM Our open events provide opportunities to learn more about our programmes of study, to explore our unrivalled facilities and to speak with subject specialists and current students. Please register your interest in our upcoming Open Events via our website.
If you have missed our Open Events but would like to see more of the Sixth Form, please do contact us at: sixthforminfo@ashcroftacademy.org.uk. OPENING EVENING FOR SEPTEMBER 2021 INTAKE Wednesday 07 October 2020 18:00 – 19:00 INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE OPEN FORUM Wednesday 18 November 2020 18:00 – 19:00
I’ve had a tremendous time in Sixth Form, with the people I’ve met and how far we’ve all come, I look back and feel really happy. It’s been daunting at times, but there’s always super support and everybody has worked so hard.
Sixth Form Prospectus 100 West Hill, London, SW15 2UT T: 020 8877 0357 | F: 020 8877 0617 | E: sixthforminfo@ashcroftacademy.org.uk W: www.atacademy.org.uk Tube station - East Putney on the District Line Main line station - Putney Bus - Numbers 14, 37, 85, 87, 93, 170, 270 and 337
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