WELCOME TO SWPS SIXTH FORM
Welcome to the Sixth Form at SWPS. This next stage of your education is not only about academic growth, but also about gaining independence, developing new skills, and discovering your passions.
We expect high standards — but equally, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
This handbook will help guide you through the practicalities so you can get the most out of your Sixth Form experience.
IMPORTANT CONTACT DETAILS
Tutor Group
Head of Year 12
Name
Ms E White EWhite@swps.org.uk
12LA Mrs L Arden LArden@swps.org.uk
12ERO Miss L Rogers LRogers@swps.org.uk
12SAB Mrs S Abbes-Muslia SAbbes-Muslia@swps.org.uk
12ZMO Mr Z Moss ZMoss@swps.org.uk
Head of Year 13
Mrs L Lewis LLewis@swps.org.uk
13AA Dr A Ashraf AAshraf@swps.org.uk
13DHU Mr D Hubbard DHubbard@swps.org.uk
13BM Mrs B Middleton BMiddleton@swps.org.uk
13NM Dr N Mercer NMercer@swps.org.uk
Your tutor should always be the first point of contact for any enquiry. If having spoken with your tutor you require more information or wish to discuss matters further, please contact the relevant Heads of Year. Alternatively, please direct your enquiries to the relevant members of staff as follows:
Mr M Dodd, Director of Sixth Form
Email: MDodd@swps.org.uk
Mrs D Payne, Sixth Form administration
Email: DPayne@swps.org.uk
Mrs L Haley, Head of Careers
Email: LHaley@swps.org.uk
Mrs G Loates, Exams Officer
Email: GLoates@swps.org.uk
Dr G Limburn-Peterson, Competitive and Overseas University Co-ordinator and Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary (MDV)
Email: GLimburn@swps.org.uk
Mr P Forrest-Biggs, Academic
Deputy Head
Email: PForrest-Biggs@swps.org.uk
Mrs H O’Connor, Pastoral Deputy Head
Email: HOConnor@swps.org.uk
To ensure the right support is provided as efficiently as possible, please begin by contacting your tutor in the first instance. If further clarification is needed, Heads of Year are available to help. Ms Picton (Head) is kept informed of important matters and will always redirect any enquiries to the appropriate person if they have not yet been consulted.
USEFUL LOCATIONS
Maps of the school ground are available on Firefly at: https://swps.fireflycloud.net/calendar-and-planner-information/maps-of-the-school
Some specific locations that it may be helpful to know are:
• Director of Sixth Form – Mr Dodd’s Office
This is found at the top of the back stairs entry to the Sixth Form Centre.
• Heads of Year 12 & 13 – Ms White & Mrs Lewis’s Office
Ms White & Mrs Lewis can be found in the office off the Sixth Form Centre next to the silent study suite.
• Exams Officer - Mrs Loates’s Office
This is situated on the first floor of the sixth form block, next to the Careers Centre.
• The Careers Centre
This is on the first floor of the sixth form block and is numbered Room 251, an IT suite.
• Marketing, Communications & Admissions
If you are called upon to guide a tour of the school for a prospective family, you should report to the Head of Admissions’ office. This can be found opposite rooms 102 & 103 on the English corridor.
Sixth Formers can go in for lunch between 12.00 and 12.35, if they do not have a lesson during period 6, or at 12.35 with the rest of the School. Sixth formers can eat in the Atrium or the Dining Room.
The Sixth Form Centre is available after school until 5.30pm Monday to Thursday, 4.30pm Friday. After this, you should go to the library if you wish to remain onsite for longer..
After school co-curricular practices and activities Monday to Thursday will normally finish by 4.50 pm to allow students to catch school coaches at 5.00 pm
Sixth Form Pass
As Sixth Formers, you are trusted as young adults. One of the perks of and signs of this trust is the issuing of a Sixth Form Pass at the beginning of the Spring Term of Year 12. This pass allows you to leave the school building during non-lesson periods, after signing out at Reception. This pass is a privilege and may be withdrawn at any time if it is abused, or as a sanction for poor behaviour.
Signing In & Out
If you need to sign out during the school day, this should be done by signing out in reception. You may be asked to present your Sixth Form Pass when exiting the school, so ensure you have it with you when leaving and re-entering the school during the school day.
Code of Conduct
The School’s Code of Conduct, based around respect for yourself, for others and the environment continues to apply in the Sixth Form as we are all an integral part of a wider community, both in and out of school.
Chewing gum is not permitted on-site and it goes without saying that alcohol, cigarettes, vaping paraphernalia or any illegal substances are never to be brought onsite. Students found with these substances and products will be subject to the full Discipline and Exclusions Policy.
Use of the Sixth Form Centre
The Sixth Form Centre (6FC) is first and foremost a Common Room for the use of Sixth Form students and as such represents a considerable privilege not available to other students in the school. However, you should remember that the Centre is sometimes used for other purposes e.g., evening meetings, occasional staff meetings, and co-curricular functions, so it is essential that it is always treated with respect and left neat and tidy. You are all responsible for its general upkeep:
• Do not leave personal belongings, and certainly not valuable items, lying around
• You will be allocated a locker at the beginning of Year 12 – you must use a padlock and keep it locked at all times
• There should be no graffiti or stickers on lockers
• Do not take indoor furniture onto the balcony.
• Perishable food should not be left in lockers.
• The kitchen area, cupboards and all kitchen appliances should be kept clean.
• All dirty dishes/cutlery should be loaded into the dishwasher.
• All leftover food should be disposed of or stored properly.
• Music should not be played during lesson time and during public examination periods.
Lunch
If you choose to have a school lunch, you’ll be given a lunch pass. School lunches must be eaten in the Dining Hall or Atrium. You’re welcome to use the Sixth Form Centre kitchenette to prepare your own lunch. A microwave, toaster, kettles, fridge, plates, and cutlery are available but you’ll need to bring your own mug. Please remember these facilities are shared, so you must tidy up after yourself and place any used crockery and
cutlery in the dishwasher. You may leave the school site during lunch, but you must sign out and sign back in when you return. Please note: no food is allowed in the Silent Study Room.
Dress Code
Sixth Formers may choose their own style of dress, provided this is appropriate for an educational and work establishment, sets a good example, and does not cause embarrassment/offence to yourself or other members of the school community and visitors.
Styles that are not appropriate and should not be worn are as follows:
• No strapless tops.
• No see-through tops.
• No cropped tops which expose the midriff.
• No underwear or undergarments should be visible.
• No mini-skirts.
• No ‘short’ shorts/skorts.
• No excessively ripped jeans which allow undergarments to be visible.
• No extreme piercings including stretchers and eye-brow piercings.
• No flip flops.
• Hair must be a natural colour
If your outfit falls outside the dress code, you may be asked to borrow a spare top or trousers for the day.
On formal occasions such as Open Days/Evenings, Presentation Evenings, and other similar events, business dress is required. Please note that jeans are not permitted as part of business dress.
Mobile phones
Mobile phones may be used in the Sixth Form Centre, but nowhere else unless a member or staff has given you permission. You are advised to keep mobile phones (switched off) and all other valuables on your person or locked in your locker, at all times.
Sixth Form Devices, IT Provision & Email
All Sixth Form students are required to have a tablet or laptop, which can be connected to the school Wi-Fi. There are also desktop computers available in the Sixth Form Centre and beside the Silent Study Room. You’re also welcome to work in the Library and at other workstations around the school.
You should check your school email account regularly, as important information is shared electronically. It is your responsibility to ensure your inbox does not reach full capacity once it does, you won’t be able to receive new emails.
To manage your mailbox, please delete old emails periodically. This must be done on a computer, not a phone.
Student Cars
Students’ cars must not be brought on to the school premises at any time, nor should they be parked in the Recreation Ground next door. When parking near school, please be considerate to local residents and park with care.
Registration
• Morning: 08.20 in your form room
• Afternoon: 3.25pm (Mon-Thurs), 2.50pm (Fri)
Arriving late? If you arrive after 8.20am but before 8.40am, go to your form room, where you will be registered as ‘late’. If you arrive after 8.40am you must sign in at Reception and explain why you are late.
For Health and Safety reasons it is essential that you follow these instructions, otherwise you could be putting yourself and others at risk in case of an emergency. Failure to follow this process may mean you're marked as absent, which triggers a notification home and could result in the removal of your Sixth Form Pass. It’s important we know who is on site at all times so that we can keep everyone safe.
One of the purposes of Sixth Form is to prepare you for life after school. Full attendance is therefore required if you are to study effectively and be prepared for university and the working world. Absences appear on your report which is seen by the Director of Sixth Form, the Head and your parents. Furthermore, when employers ask schools for references, they often ask for total absences in your last two years.
Attending AM Registration is compulsory. Your progress and attendance are constantly reviewed by your Tutors and if there are concerns, your Sixth Form Pass will be withdrawn to give you the opportunity to keep on track academically.
Absence
If you are absent from school, your parent/guardian should contact the school absence line or email absence@swps.org.uk, each day you're away, unless your absence has been pre-agreed. If you know in advance that you will miss lessons, for whatever reason, you should inform your Tutor, Head of Year and all staff whose lessons you will miss. We will also require a note from home to explain why you will be absent. Valid reasons for missing lessons might include:
• University Interviews
• Medical Appointments
• Driving Tests (not driving lessons)
• Approved Work Experience
If unwell, speak to staff in the First Aid Room or Wellbeing Room. You must then sign out at Reception before leaving.
ACADEMIC LIFE
All Sixth Form students follow a “3 A Levels +” curriculum, designed to give you a broad, balanced, and personalised learning experience that prepares you for life beyond school.
You will study three A Levels, and alongside these, you’ll choose an additional activity or qualification to complement your academic programme. This “plus” element helps you develop wider skills, explore your interests, and stand out in future applications for university, apprenticeships, or employment.
Some of the options available include:
• A fourth A Level (e.g. Further Maths)
• Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
• Core Maths (Level 3 qualification)
• AS Level in Sociology
• A language qualification (e.g. GCSE Italian or Greek)
• ESB Grade 8 in Oracy
• Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award
• MOOCs or Open University short courses
• Peter Jones Tycoon Challenge
• A personalised activity for those with specialist commitments, such as elite sport or performing arts
Your “plus” option will be discussed with you at the start of Year 12 to ensure it aligns with your interests, aspirations, and existing commitments.
This flexible and tailored approach is one of the defining features of Sixth Form at SWPS helping you become not just A Level ready, but world ready.
Study Periods
All of you will have some study periods, during which you are expected to organise your own private study either in the Sixth Form Silent Study Room, the Library, Sixth Form IT room, or to work at your co-curricular activities. You should be using your study periods for studying and, as all the experts and resources you need are here, you should be doing this onsite.
Once you have earned your Sixth Form Pass, you can leave the premises, remembering to sign in and out at Reception. It is very important that you view the Sixth Form as a ‘steppingstone’ between the more regimented environment of the lower school and the independence of life at university and beyond. Learning to discipline yourself to meet deadlines and organise your private study, and to find the right balance between work, co-curricular commitments, and your social life, is a vital skill which you need to develop during your time in the Sixth Form.
Predicted Grades
Performance in Year 12 is key. Teachers set predicted grades in early autumn of Year 13 based on your progress and work to date. These grades shape your UCAS application, so the summer term and first weeks of autumn are crucial.
SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE
We know that Sixth Form can be an exciting but also demanding time. It's completely normal to feel under pressure at points, and there is always support available – whether that’s from your tutor, subject teachers, the Sixth Form team or the Wellbeing Room Please don’t hesitate to reach out – asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.
Your Tutor / Head of Year
For Year 12, new tutor groups are created, with around 12 students in each. Wherever possible, the same Form Tutor stays with you throughout your two years in the Sixth Form. Your Tutor can offer advice and support on academic, personal and careers matters and is responsible for your day-to-day progress and welfare. As the Sixth Form progresses, your Tutor will discuss your plans after leaving school, your choice of courses and employment routes, will advise on higher education applications, help with any difficulties, and review your progress generally. You will have regular one-to-one meetings with your Tutor throughout the Sixth Form. Your Tutor will maintain a record of these conversations to monitor your progress during the Sixth Form.
Monitoring your progress
In the same way as lower down the school, your academic progress is reviewed regularly with your teachers. You will then review your academic progress regularly with your Tutor in one-to-one meetings.
Internal exams for both Year 12 and Year 13 take place in the Spring Term and are a good judge of progress and a prompt to begin revision for the examinations in the summer.
Teachers update your Tutors and the Head of Year when you produce particularly good work, or when you are not keeping up to date. Various interventions can be put in place to help you with structuring your time and work if needed. Interventions can include ‘Supervised Study’, ‘Subject Reports’, the allocation of a coach or mentor (Year 13) and having your Sixth Form Pass withdrawn. Similarly, rewards are in place for those who shine in certain areas.
Reports are sent to your parents in Year 12 and in Year 13 and there will also be other grade-based reports sent home following internal assessments and exams. In addition to this, Parents' Evenings in Year 12 and Year 13 provide an excellent opportunity for you to discuss your progress with parents and teachers together.
The Sixth Form is a bridge between the lower school and university. You are becoming adults and it is important that you can make choices for yourselves, rather than feel like things are being done for you. As such, we focus on the positive not the punitive in the Sixth Form and reward you for making the right choices when it comes to your studies. Of course, there will be times when individuals require more support and structure and that will always be available for those who need it too.
Wellbeing room
The Wellbeing room offers a quiet space in school for students, including those in the Sixth Form, to take some ‘time out’ as / when required. Mrs Davis and Mrs Payne are both on hand to offer support and guidance during the day and we would encourage you to make the most of this facility if you need it during your time in Year 12 and 13.
Counselling
The school has both academic and support staff, including our external counsellors, with whom you can discuss issues or worries. If you have questions or concerns that you wish to discuss confidentially with someone outside of the school, please see Mrs Davis or Mrs Payne in the Wellbeing Room for a referral.
Please also remember that any consultation with your GP is confidential and that they can refer you to many excellent services that can support you both whilst you are part of the Sixth Form and beyond. A list of organisations that you might wish to contact in a difficult situation is on the back of each Sixth Form toilet door.
