Prospectus 6th Form

Holy Family Catholic High School & Sixth Form Centre

Prospectus 2020-2021

Welcome to Sixth Form

Forward by Mr Symes— Headteacher Dear Parents and Students “From our students, we expect hard work, commitment and complete dedication to all aspects of Sixth Form life at Holy Family.

In return, you can expect high quality teaching and a caring and supportive environment where you will be challenged and encouraged to achieve your best in all that you do. Good luck!”

Yours sincerely,

Mr M Symes Headteacher Holy Family Catholic High School Visit the school’s website at:

We are extremely proud of our Sixth Form and the contribution that our Sixth Formers make to the life of the school, their achievements, the example that they set to younger students in the school and the wide variety of charity and community projects they undertake.

There are many courses to study in our Sixth Form including A-Levels, applied qualifications and resit GCSEs. Holy Family has a long established tradition of Sixth Form provision dedicated to ensuring that all our young people move on to enjoy happy and successful lives.

We are consistently one of the most successful Sixth Forms in Sefton in terms of our academic performance and the destinations of our students, and we will do all we can to ensure that this continues.

We pride ourselves on our excellent programme of support, advice and guidance offered to all students to help steer them through the many choices and opportunities they will have now, and in the future. We are determined to offer a quality experience for all students underpinned by best practice in teaching, monitoring and care, support and guidance.

We aim to provide an excellent transition from the experience of

compulsory education to the demands of higher education, training and employment. There are plenty of people on hand to support you in making the right decision for your future.

Following on from the Sixth Form Open Evening in January, every year 11 student will be interviewed, guided and supported in order to identify the best next step. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or issues you would like to discuss further.

May I take this opportunity to wish all year 11 students every success in their examinations later this year and we look forward to following their continuing success in our Sixth Form.

General features of the

Sixth Form Our Aim 

To provide the best quality education and support to ensure our Sixth Formers have the best life chances possible.

Enrichment

Dress Code BOYS

Expectations

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We ask that all Sixth Form students:  Approach their studies in a mature, responsible way, as befits the school's most senior students;  Take pride in their appearance and act in a manner that sets an example to the rest of the school  Underpin their studies with independent learning

Support & Guidance  

We support our students in a variety of ways according to their needs.

We have a modern Sixth Form block, a common room for the students and a dedicated room where students can undertake supervised private study.  Progress is monitored and reported every term.  All students have access to a dedicated team of staff who support students in a variety of areas; from securing training/work placements, help with study and revision skills, UCAS advice and emotional and wellbeing issues.

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Volunteering Scheme Student Leadership Team Access to Higher Education visits and workshops Trips, visits and holidays Duke Of Edinburgh Award Scheme Work Placements Next Step and Careers programme RE programme Wellbeing programme

plain white/black shirt/polo with collar black tie (optional) plain black trousers – no jeans / denim smart black shoes GIRLS

Equality & Diversity

appropriate office style blouse / top

A fundamental objective of the Sixth Form is to provide an education that prepares students for life in a multi-cultural society. We are committed to maintaining a community where the rights of individuals are respected.

black trousers or skirt no jeans / denim / trainers

Why Our Sixth Form?       

Excellent results Supportive and caring environment Strong links with universities and employers Fantastic pastoral and careers support Great enrichment opportunities Dedicated Sixth Form areas Personalised learning programmes

Year 12 Student Views’...

“Making the decision to stay at Holy Family Sixth Form was simple – I knew that I was going to need plenty of help and support from my teachers if I was going to achieve my very best at A Level and I knew I simply wouldn’t get that sort of attention anywhere else.”

Ex-Year 13 Students Views’...

“French and Spanish are taught extremely well at Holy Family and I have found my first semester at University easy because of this.”

“I had a lot of information about University choices, which helped me make the right decisions, and I am really enjoying studying Politics at Durham.”

“I felt like Sixth Form allowed me to grow up and if I made mistakes then there were people who would help me get sorted out. My transition to University was made easier by the support I had in 6th Form.”

Why Study here?

Our Sixth Form has a lot to offer Sixth Form students.

Subjects in the Sixth Form are arranged in five option groups and students usually study three subjects, in exceptional circumstances students can study four.

There are also many opportunities to take part in activities other than pure academic study and all students are encouraged to take advantage of these.

“Sixth Form is excellent! There is a lot of help available and the time teachers give up to help students is exceptional. There is a lot of choice so you can do what you want and be yourself.”

Many students take part in the paired reading scheme where they meet regularly with a younger pupil to support their literacy skills, or act as Bully Busters to younger students.

Some of our Sixth Formers help in homes for the elderly or for disabled people. Others support in local Primary Schools or in after school clubs.

Year 13 Students Views’...

“Sixth Form is hard work and I found the step up from GCSE difficult. There is a lot of support and after I got my mock results in March I realised how much work was needed and this resulted in me achieving my target grades in the summer exams.”

We welcome students taking the initiative in other community projects. We have a range of visiting speakers throughout the year, during our enrichment days and also during assemblies. Regular visits include the Driving Standards Agency and various representatives from Higher Education.

“The decision to go to our Sixth Form and continue my education, in the form of A-levels, was a choice made easy by the assistance offered by the teachers of the school in making my decisions in what A-Levels I would go on to do after GCSE. From the advice I received, my choices led onward to achieving the grades I would need to reach a good university, a goal in which the school.”

“The difference here is that you are not just a face in the crowd, here you stand out in the crowd and can face the future with confidence.”

"I would recommend Holy Family Catholic High School to anyone considering starting their A-Levels. You will not find the level of support from another 6th form or college that I've been offered at my time in the school."

‘Sixth Form has enabled me to achieve good results which will be a stepping stone to university in September. The Sixth Form team have offered me total support to help me achieve my goals.”

“The teacher pupil relationships in our sixth form is really good and it is good to have our own space in the common room.”

Students also have the opportunity to take part in externally recognised schemes such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award at Bronze, Silver or Gold levels. Sixth Formers also run several fundraising activities throughout the year and there is an active Sixth Form Student Leadership Team.

Sixth Form studies demand that students take a much greater responsibility for their own learning. The support offered to Holy Family Sixth Formers is designed to guide them through these important years by increasing their skills and confidence in preparation for university and subsequent employment. From initial interviews in Year 11, to target setting, monitoring, tracking and reporting, there is a wide range of people working as a team to make sure that each and every student reaches their potential, whatever that may be.

So why here?

Good Exam Results Over the years our school has built up a reputation for academic excellence. Students have left our school to follow University courses in almost everything from Medicine to Engineering and from Modern Languages to International Economics. We also have a strong tradition of Oxbridge entry. As can be seen from the individual departments' results there have been high grades across the board and anyone beginning a course in Sixth Form can be confident that if they put in the effort then the best will be brought out of them.

Familiarity and Continuity Staying at Holy Family Sixth Form means there is no need for a settling in/familiarisation period. In many cases students are with teachers they have had before or who at least they know. This works both ways as teachers know the students’ capabilities and can ensure that they maximise their potential. Even before the start of a Sixth Form course teachers here generally know what to expect from students and both can start with confidence. This can also be of benefit when it comes to University applications and filling in the UCAS form to apply to University, as staff can estimate accurately what a student is likely to achieve and reflect this in the grade and reference needed to obtain offers for Higher Education. In the vast majority of cases, our students get their first choice University place and continuity is a major factor in this. You will find that teachers are always willing to take time to help someone who may be having difficulties with certain aspects of their work.

Atmosphere There is a good working atmosphere in the Sixth Form. Students tend to realise why they are here and this, coupled with regular monitoring and the mentoring process, ensures that they do spend their time productively. The quiet study areas allow students to get on with work in calm surroundings and avail themselves of the computers if they wish.

Accommodation The Sixth Form Centre at Holy Family includes a large common room and a study room set aside for private study. Lessons are taught in the subject areas around the school.

Target Setting, Monitoring and Reporting Targets in 6th Form are based on the students’ GCSE results and are the minimum target grades that students are expected to achieve. These are only predictions and not a guarantee of what the student will get. Students will receive a monitoring report every term which will show how they are progressing relative to their target grades. Students who are not meeting the required standards will be monitored closely and provided with help and support. We hope parents will be fully involved in this process.

Mentoring & Support Our mentoring system is designed to support and challenge and discuss progress and

any other issues that they or you may feel are a barrier to their progression. Your Form Tutor, Progress Leader and the whole Sixth Form team are there to support you. You may also receive additional support from our Academic Coach or Careers Advisor.

If students are not working hard enough to meet their target grades, they are quickly approached about the matter. If there is no immediate improvement then parents are contacted to discuss the best way of solving the problem. This informal system is supported by our termly monitoring system which provides information on progress and opportunities to discuss strategies for improving results.

Attendance Obviously we expect Sixth Form students to behave with a certain maturity, so discipline as such is not really necessary. However, a close check is kept on attendance both in general and at lessons. Students who are absent are expected to bring a letter of explanation from their parents. If we detect a pattern of absences we will contact the parents to ask for clarification. If it is discovered that a student is missing certain lessons without a valid reason, parents will be contacted immediately. Most students have some time when they have no lessons time-tabled and they are allowed to study at home. This generally enables them to get more work done away from the distraction of friends in school and should not be treated as free time. However, if we discover that someone is not working hard enough or is persistently late, then we may ask them to stay in school during their study time so they can be more closely monitored.

Progress Evening There is a Progress Evening every year for both year 12 and 13. This gives students, parents and teachers the opportunity to sit down together to discuss progress.

Catholic Ethos The Catholic nature of the Sixth Form underpins the entire philosophy of the approach to students and staff. We encourage each of students to be treated as an individual and as staff we strive for our pastoral care to embody the life of Christ. Our Sixth Form students have always shown a willingness to become involved in the various charity appeals in which the school participates. Our students are encouraged to use their many gifts and talents for the benefit of the local community and those less fortunate than themselves.

As well as raising money and giving of their time freely, many of our Sixth Form students are involved in a wide range of voluntary work in their local communities. We consider these dimensions of Sixth Form life to be extremely important and valuable. They are a major factor in the continuing spiritual development of our young people and we greatly appreciate the contributions they make to the spirit of our school. We celebrate the students’ time in Sixth Form with a Leavers’ Mass for year 13.

Students from Other Schools If you are considering joining us from another school you will be made to feel very welcome by both staff and present students. Please talk to staff at the Open Evening. If you wish to discuss your choice of subjects in more detail or visit the Sixth Form during the day then please contact school and we will arrange this for you.

Courses Sixth Form courses are at a level of study that is higher than the work undertaken in year 11 and prepare students for entry to university.

Students, in most cases pick three subjects, in exceptional circumstances four may be taken. Success in year 12 is essential for entry into year 13 as is a good record of behaviour and attendance.

The entry requirements for a Sixth Form programme of study is a minimum Five 9-4 grades. You will usually be expected to have a grade 6 in the subjects that you choose and some subjects have specific entry requirements. These will be outlined on Open Evening and in your guidance interviews. Students will also be expected to have a good record of behaviour and attendance. Any student who has not achieved a good pass grade in either GCSE Mathematics or English will need to follow resit programme in these subjects.

A Levels are graded from A – E. Vocational courses are graded Pass, Merit, Distinction and Distinction Star. These grades are assigned points

by UCAS and frequently universities will express their offer in terms of points rather than grades. This will all be explained during the course of the two years. 

A-Level Biology

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A-Level Chemistry

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Applied A-Level Criminology

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A-Level English Literature

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A-Level Media Studies

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A-Level History

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A-Level Mathematics

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A-Level Physics

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A-Level Spanish

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L3 Medical Science

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L3 Applied Business

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L3 Applied ICT

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L3 Applied Sports Studies

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A-Level PE

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L3 Applied Travel & Tourism

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OCR Introductory Diploma Health & Social

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A-Level Art (To be studied at St Michaels High School)

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Extended Project Qualification

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GCSE English (If Grade 4 is not achieved)

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GCSE Mathematics (If Grade 4 is not achieved)

Entry Requirements

Patterns of Study All students at Sixth Form will be entitled to a broad and balanced curriculum. The breadth will be achieved through Religious Education, Careers Guidance, Community Service and General Studies.

What will this mean to you?

In year 12, students will follow 3 Advanced Level courses whether they be applied, academic subjects or a combination of both. Only in exceptional circumstances will you be able to study 4 A Levels.

Every student who has not achieved a grade 4 in their English and Maths GCSE will be expected to retake these qualifications and these will be timetabled lessons.

A Levels are graded from A – E. These grades are assigned points

by UCAS and universities will express their offer in terms of points or grades. This will all be explained during the course of the two years.

Learning Time One point to bear in mind before embarking on any course is the amount of time you need to commit to it. An Advanced level course requires a minimum of 10 hours a week learning time. Five hours of this is teacher directed in a classroom or laboratory. The remainder is essential study time if a student is to complete a course successfully.

• A level study – at least five GCSEs at grade 5 and above. It is also desirable that you have achieved at least a grade 6 in the A level subject you wish to study (some may require a grade 7). You will need at least a grade 5 in your English and Maths GCSE to study a full A level programme.

• Combined Pathway (combination of A level and Level 3 BTECs) – at least five GCSEs at grade 5 and above. It is also desirable that you have achieved at least a grade 6 in the A level subject you wish to study (some may require a grade 7) and a grade 4 or at least a pass at Level 2 in the applied course you wish to study (if you studied it for GCSE).

• Applied Pathway (Applied Level 3 courses) – at least five GCSEs at grade 4 and above.

“The sixth form curriculum offers students a broad range of academic and applied vocational choices. Students speak warmly of the wide range of opportunities open to them.

There is a good personal development programme which prepares sixth-formers well for life in modern Britain.”

Ofsted

improvements and alterations.

This system has proved to be very successful.

Preparing for

Higher Education The majority of our students go on to Higher Education and a lot of time is spent ensuring that they receive good advice about what courses are available. We ensure that each student is seen individually by one or more members of staff before decisions are made about course applications.

The process begins in year 12 with organised visits to Universities and a general talk to both students and their parents about Higher Education. This is followed by a day in school when University Schools’ Liaison Officers are invited to talk to students and answer questions about the admissions procedure and life at University or College. Advice is given about writing personal statements and completing the UCAS process. All students attend the Higher Education Fair at Liverpool University.

At the end of year 12 all subject teachers complete a reference form for each student including estimated grades. In determining these grades subject teachers try to be realistic, taking into account the capability and aptitude of the student, whilst at the same time trying to provide an assessment of the highest grade that the student could achieve in order to

provide the best possible chance of gaining a place on the chosen course. However, no student is ever given a high estimate if it is felt they have no chance of achieving that grade.

The next stage is a consultation to discuss the advisability and suitability of the course chosen and to be given general advice as to where the course could lead.

Students are encouraged to talk to other members of staff about this and get as much advice as possible on the courses which interest them. We try to tell them of the experiences of former pupils on similar courses and in similar institutions, in order to give them as broad a picture as possible.

Once the students are satisfied with their chosen courses and institutions they complete their application (UCAS) on line. At all stages the application is discussed with the IAG tutor or form tutor who may suggest

In order to ensure that the student has made the right choice of institution and indeed to enable them to decide for themselves they are allowed to attend three open days at Universities.

Students considering applying to Oxford or Cambridge are guided through the process by Mrs. Critchley. In recent years several students have gained places at their chosen Oxbridge college.

Former students have also gained undergraduate & postgraduate scholarships and prizes from their respective departments and colleges.

Important Notice Those who are thinking of a career in primary school teaching will have to include in their application a National Curriculum subject relevant to primary schools. Account should be taken of this when choosing A level options. These usually include: Art, Maths, English, Music, Geography, PE, History, RE, IT, Science, French (only available in a small number of universities) The range is available at most but not all universities. Check carefully by consulting the Compendium, prospectuses etc. or ask your Careers Adviser.

For students who do not wish to pursue a Higher Education course, interviews will be arranged with the Connexions Adviser at appropriate points.

Careers, Education and Guidance Guidance is provided by a team of tutors, led by Mrs. Critchley (Assistant Head of Sixth Form).

In addition, the Information, Advice and Guidance Tutor works with every Sixth Form student helping them with UCAS forms, employment opportunities and choices in preparation for the next stage of their lives. Our specialist Careers Adviser provides additional support for those considering a non-university pathway.

Careers Education and Guidance is a vital part of the educational process by which young people from the earliest years, develop their abilities to make realistic and informed decisions about their future. At Sixth Form we do this by helping students to: 

Form definite career references by researching

a wide range of career options. 

Acquire the skills of self presentation, self-appraisal and personal planning (for the completion of applications to higher education, further education and employment).

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Assume the responsibility for making those decisions which will affect their future educational career.

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Appreciate that decisions may need to be changed if circumstances or preferences change.

In particular our students are involved in the following activities: 

Attending Higher Education and University Open Days.

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Vocational Counselling with Careers Adviser.

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Seminars with University Schools’ Liaison Officers prior to considering their UCAS application.

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UCAS application on line.

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Reviewing University admissions criteria profiles

The study room contains up-to-date information on all types of professional careers and a copy of all University prospectuses. The Virtual Careers programme on the school net provides further information alongside the UCAS Directory and access to the World Wide Web.