SixthForm Handbook
2024/2025
Welcome
EveryonewilltellyouthattheSixth Formisthebestpartofanyschool It isatthispointthatyoustarttothink aboutthetransitiontolifebeyond schoolandstarttofocusinon developingtheskillsthatwillhelp youonthatjourney
TheRMSSixthFormisuniqueinthatwerecognisetheimportanceofhelpingyou achievethebestresultsyoucan,butalsofundamentallybelieveineducationbeing somuchmorethanthat OurRMSEdgeprogrammeenablesyoutodeveloparange ofskills,aptitudesandinterestsbeyondthecurriculum,whicharesoimportant whenthinkingaboutwritinguniversity,apprenticeshipandjobapplications Over thecourseofthenexttwoyears,throwyourselfintoeverythingandanything,and youneverknowwhereitmaytakeyou.
Iamverymuchlookingforwardtotakingyouonthisjourneyoverthenexttwo yearsandhelpingyoudiscoveryourpassionsandinterestsinordertoworkout whatthenextstageofyourlifeholdsforyou.Eachyearstudentstakedifferent pathwaystotheyearbeforeandseeknewopportunitiesthataredevelopingallthe time;don’tfeelyouhavetofollowconventionalpathways
Youarealsonowatthetopoftheschoolandthereforeweexpectyoutobestrong, positiverolemodelstotherestoftheRMScommunity Ofcoursethismeans exceptionalbehaviour,dressandattitude,butitalsomeansbeinginvolvedin decisionmakingabouttheschoolandshowingleadershipwithinyoursubjects,cocurricularandbeyond.
ThroughoutyourSixthFormjourneythereareanumberofstaffwhowillbethereto support,cajole,encourageandengageyou.Workwiththem,workhard,bekindand enjoythesenexttwoyears...timereallydoesfly!
MrsClareFreeman HeadofSixthForm
StaffRolesand Responsibilities
TheSixthFormTeam
MrsClareFreeman,HeadofHindHouse
MissJennieSimmonite,DeputyHeadofHindHouse
MrsFionaJones,DirectorofBoarding andConnaughtHouseHousemistress
MissLizPickford,HeadofCareers
MsPetraKlement,SixthFormAdministrator
FormTutors
Doudna Goodall
Hawkins
Hopper
Kahlo Lange
MacArthur
Nooyi
Oakley
Seacole
Socrates
Turing
MrsZsofiaSears
MissRhiannonMayon-White
MsClaireAdby
MrsChristineDoherty
DrChrisFellows
MrMattWilliams
MrDanFitzgibbons
MrsDeniseMcHale
MrsJessPatel
MissKatieDuce
MissKatieGough
MrColinWordsworth
MrMattBarr
MrsJosieYelland
UsefulContactInfo,SeniorStaff
MrKevinCarson,Headteacher
MsSophiaHardy,DeputyHead(Academic)
MsAlisonDavies,DeputyHead(Pastoral)
MrDesmondCox,DeputyHead(Co-Curricular)
cfreeman@rmsforgirlscom jsimmonite@rmsforgirlscom
fjones@rmsforgirlscom
epickford@rmsforgirlscom
sixthform@rmsforgirlscom
zsears@rmsforgirlscom
rmayonwhite@rmsforgirlscom
cadby@rmsforgirlscom cdoherty@rmsforgirlscom cfellows@rmsforgirlscom mwilliams@rmsforgirls.com dfitzgibbons@rmsforgirlscom opardoe@rmsforgirlscom jpatel@rmsforgirlscom kduce@rmsforgirlscom kgouogh@rmsforgirlscom
cwordsworth@rmsforgirlscom
mbarr@rmsforgirlscom jyelland@rmsforgirls.com
kcarson@rmsforgirlscom
shardy@rmsforgirlscom
adavies@rmsforgirls.com dcox@rmsforgirlscom
DailyRoutines
Timingsoftheday
08:25 08:40 09:55 10:15 11:35 12:50 14:00 14:45
Registration(seedetailsbelow)
Periods1and2
Break
Periods3and4
Periods5and6
Lunch/Activities/Pastoral
Tutortime
Periods7and8
Studyperiods
OncestudentshavesettledintoSixthFormlife,wefeeltheyarematureenoughtomake decisionsaboutwheretheybestworkintheirstudyperiods Assuchthefollowingis permitted:
Year12MichaelmasTerm
FromJanuaryofYear12
Ifyouhaveastudyperiodintheafternoon,youarefree toleaveschoolafterpastoraltimeat14:45.
Ifyouhaveastudyperiodintheafternoon,youarefree toleaveschoolafterpastoraltimeat14:45.
Ifyouhaveastudyperiodduringperiods1and2then youarepermittedtocomeintoschoolforyourfirst lessonoftheday
Youarepermittedtoleavetheschoolcampusat lunchtime.
Weregularlycheckonstudents’academicprogress Whereastudentisdeemednotto beworkingeffectively,theaboveprivilegeswillberemovedandthestudentmaybe requiredtoworkinsupervisedstudyduringstudyperiods.
Lunchtime
ThereisawidevarietyoffoodavailableintheschoolDiningHall SixthFormershave theprivilegeofgoingtolunchearlyfrom12:30iftheyarefree.Otherwisetheyshouldgo tolunchat12:50andhavepriorityoverthequeueuntil1:00,afterwhichtimetheywill needtojointhequeue.
Studentsarepermittedtoleaveschoolatlunchtime(fromterm2ofYr12)bysigningin andoutatReception.ItisessentialtheyreturnforPastoralTimeandareintheirforms for14:00.
Ifyoudonottosignin/outorarrivelateafterlunch,thenyouwillbegivenawarning andthengatedfortwoweeks
Absences
KnownabsencesshouldberequestedusingtheformonMSPandfilledinatleast24 hoursinadvance Ifastudentisunwellthenparentsshouldemail absence@rmsforgirls.comby08:30thatmorning.
PastoralTime
FromJanuaryofYear12thereisnoformalmorningregistration.However, Tutorswillusethistimeforone-to-onemeetings Therefore,please ensureyoumakeyourselfavailableattherequiredtime.Youshould meetyourTutoratleasttwiceeveryhalftermforone-to-one mentoringandcoaching
TheafternoonTutorTimewillfocusaroundskillsdevelopment andformbondingactivitiesaswellasdevelopingyourability todiscussyourinterestsandacademicstudieseffectively through‘coffee&chat’
Assemblies
Overthecourseofthetermtherewillbeamixtureof assemblies.ThesemayincludeSixthForm,Yeargroups, WholeSchool,SeniorandSixth Theaimistobringthe schoolcommunitytogetherandfocusonoursharedvaluesas wellastofocusonyeargroupspecificdiscussion.
LifeSkills/Futures
TheSixthFormLifeskillsprogrammehasadedicatedtimewithinthetimetableinYear 12.ItisafundamentalpartofpreparingforlifebeyondRMS.Theaimistotacklekey topicssuchascancelcultureandthepoliticalsystem,aswellas‘Futures’development.
Lectures
ThesehappenweeklyforeitherthewholeofSixthFormorforspecificgroupsof students OftentheyarerelatedtoLifeSkillstopicssuchasBreastCancerAwarenessor arelinkedtocareers.
Schoolhouses
EachstudentisamemberofacompetitiveSchoolHouse.Thereareopportunitiesinthe SixthFormtobecomeHeadofHouseattheendofYear12;thereisacompetitive processforelectingthesestudents.
Weeklyschedule
Whilstwehaveageneralplan,weareflexibletoenablespeakersanddifferentstaffto beinvolved.Thereforeitisessentialthatstudentsreadtheweeklybulletinwhichissent outinadvanceoftheweekandhasthescheduleonit Thisisalsopinnedtothenotice boardoutsideMrsFreeman’soffice.Pleaseseethetableoverleaf.
Monday Mentoring Senior/SixthFormAssembly Senior/SixthFormAssembly
Tuesday Mentoring Meetings; Boardroom/PupilVoice/Coffee andChat Mentoring Meetings; PLT/PupilVoice/UCAS/ CoffeeandChat Mentoring
Wednesday Mentoring Formbondingactivities Mentoring Formbondingactivities Mentoring
Thursday Mentoring Week1:HouseAssembly Week2:YearAssembly Week1:HouseAssembly Week2:YearAssembly
Friday Mentoring Training(optional); WellbeingChampions/ Safeguarding/Leadership /MOOC’s PrefectstoSeniorSchoolforms /UCAS Mentoring
DrivinginSixthForm
Drivinglessonsarenotpermittedduringtheschoolday.However,ifyouhaveastudy periodatthestartorendoftheday,youarepermittedtousethattimebeforeyouarrive orafteryouleaveschool.Youmayalsomakeuseofthelunchhourifyouwish,aslong asypureturnintimeforregistrationat2:00.
Onceyouhavepassedyourtestandwishtodrivetoandfromschool,thereisaform whichmustbecompletedandthenprintedandsignedbyboththestudentandaparent andbereturnedtoMsKlementwhowillorganiseaschoolparkingpassforyou.
Responsibilities
Asayoungdriveryouareinexperiencedandthereforeitisessentialthatyoureadand followtherulesofdrivingyourcartoandfromschoolandinthecarpark.Therearea lotofpeopleonsiteandinthecarpark,includingveryyoungchildren Youare responsibleatalltimesfordrivingsafely,withinthelawandtherulesofRMS.Inthe, hopefully,unlikelyeventthatyoucauseanaccident,youarefullyresponsibleinthe eyesofthelawforyouractions.
Securingyourcarisyourresponsibility Anydamagedonetoortheftofyourcarorthe contentswithinitarewhollyyourresponsibility.Theschoolbearsnoresponsibilityfor this.
DrivingatRMS
Youmustkeeptothespeedlimitof10mphatalltimes
Youmustparkinmarkedbaysonly
Youmustberespectfultoandawareofotherusersofthecarpark
Pedestrianshaverightofway
Beforereversingyoumustbefullysuretherearenopedestrians(includingyoung childrenwhoyoumaynotbeabletoseeimmediately)behindyou
Studentsarenotallowedtodriveontotheschoolgroundsunlessunderthespecific guidanceofamemberofstaff
Pleaserespecttherightsofwayinthecarparkandturnleftonexitingthesite
Drivingotherstudentstoandfromschool
Asinexperienceddriverswerecommendthatyoudonotdriveotherstudentstoand fromschool.However,werecognisethatthisisadecisionforyourparentsandthe parentsofyourpassengers Thereforeifanotherstudentistravellinginyourcartheydo soonlywiththepermissionofyourparentsandtheirparents.
Positionsof Responsibility
Prefects
AllstudentshavetheopportunitytoapplytobeaPrefectintheHilaryTermof Year12 TheprocessisrigoroustodetermineboththePrefectsandtheHeadPupil Team.EachPrefectwillhaveaspecificareaofresponsibilityandmemberofstaff tosupportthem MissSimmoniteoverseesthePrefectbodyandprocess
SubjectAmbassadors
StudentswillbeinvitedbyHeadsofDepartmentatthestartofYear12tosupport subjects areas in many different ways, such as supporting Cadogan or Lower schoollessons,mentoringyoungerstudentsororganisingdisplays.
Volunteering
Manystuden House and R suchasread
CareersSupport
ThroughoutSixthForm,MissPickfordwillliaisewithallstudents,arrangingone-to-one meetings,runningregulardrop-insessions,andvariouscareersrelatedevents,toensurethey arefullysupportedintheirpost-18decisionmakingprocess,whicheverroutetheychooseto follow,bethatuniversity,apprenticeshipsorgapyears.
FulluseismadeoftheUnifrogplatformandMissPickfordwillprovideup-to-dateinformation onanyspecificsectorsthatstudentswishtoexploreinmoredepth.MissPickfordalso coordinatestheLEADEmployabilitycoursewhichrunsthroughoutYear12,withregular workshopsfromsectorspecialists,ensuringstudentsarepreparedfortherecruitment processforbothuniversityandemployment.
EachweekthereisacareersbulletinpublishedonaFridaywhichhaslotsofopportunitiesfor students.
TheExtendedProjectQualification
ThisisanopportunityopentoallstudentswhoaredoingwellacrosstheirSixthForm subjects.AllstudentswilllearnthestudyskillsofanEPQinthefirsthalftermofYear 12 Theycanthenchoosewhetherornottocompleteaproject Theprojectissubmitted intheOctoberofYear13.Studentsmustnotunderestimatetheamountoftime, independentworkanddedicationcompletinganEPQwilltake.ThisisoverseenbyMrs Doherty
Communication
EachweekaHindHousepublishesabulletinthroughSchoolPostonaFridayat16:00.In thisyouwillfindinformationandadvertisementsforanythingthatmightbeofinterest toSixthFormstudents,suchasjobvacancies,workexperienceopportunities,public lecturesanduniversitytasterdays
Security
ThereisalargesupplyoflockersinHindHouse.Akeyforoneofthesecanbeobtained fromMrsHamoudi Anylostkeyswillbechargedat£5andputontheschoolbill Personalitemsofvalueshouldbekeptintheselockersastheschooldoesnottake responsibilityforanyitemsthatgomissing.
MedicalMatters
Ifyoufeelunwellduringtheschoolday,youshouldgouptothe MedicalCentrewheretheywillassessyou.Theywillcontact parentsiftheyfeelyoushouldgohome.Studentsmustnot signthemselvesoutiftheyfeelunwell.
Ifyouhaveanymedicalneeds,youcancontactSister Burrowsonmedical@rmsforgirls.com
Ifyouwouldliketomeetwithourin-schoolcounsellors, pleasecontactthecounsellorsdirect(seepostersaround school)orMsDaviesadavies@rmsforgirlscom
SchoolUniform
TheSixthFormdresscodereflectsthefactthatstudentsareinaplaceofworkand shouldlooksmart,butalsorecognisesthattheyareoldenoughtohaveearnedthe privilegetomakeindividualchoices StudentsarerequiredtowearaSixthFormsuit,as perthelistbelow.However,unliketheSeniorSchool,jewellery,piercings,nailvarnish, makeupandcolouredhairarepermitted
Schooluniformshouldbepurchasedonlinefromoursuppliers,SchoolBlazer
Item Required item?
Mustbe purchasedfrom SchoolBlazer?
SixthFormsuitskirt; decentlengthORSixth Formsuittrouser;full length Yes Yes
SixthFormsuitjacket Yes Yes
Canbepurchasedfrom SchoolBlazerorother retailer?
Alternativesuit trousersarepermitted butmustbedarkblue tomatchtheSixth Formjacketandfull length
Shirt;anyplaincolour withcollar Yes Yes
Jumper;anyplaincolour, knitted No Yes
Tights/Socks;Dark colouredtights.When theweatherishot studentscanweardark anklesocks Yes Yes
Shoes:Blacksmartshoes -notrainertypeshoe Yes
Facilitiesin theSixth Form
Studyareas
Commonroom:Socialspace
Roofroom:Workingareaforgroups
Studyrooms:Workingareaforgroups orindividuals
TheHive(SixthFormCafe)
HindHouseisspreadacrosstwobuildings. H01-H19canbefoundintheoriginalHind Houseontheright,andH31&H32,aswell asthecafe(TheHive),theSixthForm Boardroom,theWellbeingroomandthe Futures’Zonecanbefoundinthebuilding ontheleft,knownastheWeybridge Centre.
HindHousegarden
ResourceCentre:Silentworkarea supervisedbythelibrarian
ThisisbasedintheBusiness&EnterpriseCentreandisopenbetween8:00amand 14:00 Itoperatesacashlessserviceanditemsaresoldatcostprice TheHivesells ‘ChangePlease’coffeeaswellasavarietyofotherhotandcolddrinks,hotandcold foodandsnacks.
StudentsareallprovidedwiththeirownRMSliddedcupwhichtheyshouldwritetheir nameon AnyhotdrinkstakenfromthecafeMUSTbeinaliddedcup Ifastudenthas losthersanddoesnothaveoneshecanbuyanotherfor£5fromthecafe.
Kitchen
ThereisakitchenadjacenttotheCommonRoomwithaboilingwaterpoint,fridge, dishwasher,toasterandmicrowave Duetoallergylaws,studentsareNOTpermittedto placetheirownfoodinthefridge.Suppliesofcoffee,tea,milkandsugararreadily availableandbiscuitsarealsoprovided Ifanysuppliesrunout,pleasemakeMs Klementawaresowecanordermore.Allusedcrockeryandutensilsshouldbeplacedin thedishwasher.Ifyouaretakinghotdrinkstostudyareas,youmustusealiddedcup.
Discipline
Rewards(Alphas)continuetobegiveninSixthForm Attheendofeachtermwerunan Alphalottery,withthethreewinningstudentsreceivinganAmazonvoucherof£10,£20 or£50.Sanctions(Gammas)continuetobegiven.Ifastudentstartsaccumulating Gammasthenherprivilegeswillberemoveddependingonwhattheyareissuedfor
TheYearataGlance
Year12
Settlingstage
3or4Subjects
September-Octoberhalfterm
SportandWellbeing
LifeSkills
Lectures
Developmentalstage
Candropto3ALevels
SportandWellbeing
RMSChoices
November-Christmasholidays
EPQ
Careersguidance begins Lectures
LifeSkills
Growthstage
3subjects(or4ifwish)
SportandWellbeing
RMSChoices
Lectures
January-Summerholidays
LEAD
EPQ
Futures’Day-May (UCASbegins)
LifeSkills
KeyDatesfor2024/25
Year12TransitionDay
Year12Parents&Student ‘MakingtheMostofYr12’
Year12Parents’Evening(inperson)
Year12Parents’Evening(inperson)
Year12InternalExams
Year12Futures’Day
Year13MockExams
Year13Parents’Evening
Year13
Narrowingstage
3Subjects(or4ifwish)
SportandWellbeing
Lectures
UCASpreparation
3Subjects(or4ifwish)
SportandWellbeing Lectures
Focusedstage
3subjects(or4ifwish)
SportandWellbeing
Leavingschooltransition event
Tuesday4thSeptember2024
Tuesday4thSeptember2024
Wednesday9thOctober2024
Thursday22ndMay2025
w/c23rdApril2025(2weeks)
Wednesday21stMay2025
w/c20thJanuary2025(2weeks)
Wednesday12thFebruary2025
WhenYouTurn18!
Whilstsomethingssuchasdrinkingalcoholmaynowbelegallypermitted,youarestilla pupilatRMSandthereforearerequiredtocontinuetofollowtherulesandpoliciesassetout bytheschool.Turning18meansthatintheeyesofthelawyouareanadultandthereforein theunlikelyeventtherewasacriminalinvestigation,youwouldbetreatedasanadultbythe policeratherthanachild.Youneedtobearallofthisinmindwhenlivingandworkingwith studentswhoarestill‘children’intheeyesofthelaw.
Allstudents,atthestartofSixthFormwillberequiredtocompleteaformregardinglegal andschoolresponsibilitieswhentheyturn18andwillberemindedofthis Forboarders, whenyouturn18,youwillalsohaveaconversationwiththeHeadofConnaughttodiscuss yournewresponsibilitiesasanadult.TheHeadofConnaughtisalsoyournamedcontact personshouldyouwishtodiscussanythingadultrelated Forallpupils,withinschool,the HeadofSixthFormalsofulfillsthisrole.
Student-ledClubs
@rmsforgirls
@rmsforgirlsrickmansworth
linkedin.com/school/rmsforgirls
@rmssixthform