Transcript WELCOME TO THE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE

WELCOME TO
THE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE
OPEN EVENING
OCTOBER 2009
Purpose of the Evening

To find out more about this sixth form college,
its specialist facilities, ethos and atmosphere
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To meet and talk to the College teaching staff
and students
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To have your questions answered

To find out more about the programmes
and courses to help you make an informed choice

To help you make up your mind if this is the
right place for you to continue your studies post 16
The Sixth Form College
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Opened in 1987 - well established
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Specialist sixth form college
- full-time 16 to 18 year old students
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Excellent accommodation and facilities
specifically designed for sixth form study excellent additional building opened in 2007
The Sixth Form College
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Just under 3000 full time 16 – 18 year old students

Average academic class size - 17
AS Level/GCSE classes
- generally within 16-20 range
A Level/IB classes
- generally 13-19
Characteristic Qualities
of the College
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Care and concern for the
individual student
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Breadth of opportunity
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High expectations of
students
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Flexible curriculum to
meet the needs of the
individual
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A lively and thriving
student community
Strong pastoral support

High quality of academic
teaching

High levels of achievement
- absolute and ‘value-added’
WELCOME TO
THE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE
OPEN EVENING
OCTOBER 2009
Outstanding Opportunities
Students choose an individual programme of study that
meets their needs from:
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AS/A Level Programme
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Choice from over 60 AS/A Levels – some specialist
choices introduced for Year 2

A few AS/A Level subjects will also now have an
‘extension strategy’ opportunity available for further study
in one subject which is taken at Pre-U level
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IB Diploma Programme
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GCSEs: Advanced Foundation Programme
Outstanding Opportunities
Nearly 100 Additional Studies courses including:

Many Music, Drama and Dance opportunities
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Wide range of sports - competitive and recreational levels
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Community Sports Leaders’ Award
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Pre-Clinical Programme
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Pre –Teaching
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Media opportunities including Radio Journalism, Magazine
and Sports Reporting
Outstanding Opportunities

Options for AS/A Level students include:
AS/A Level Critical Thinking
Pre-U qualification in some subjects
(including Global Perspectives/Individual Research [GPR]
to achieve overall Pre-U Diploma)
Extended Project Qualification (‘half an A Level’)
(including possible AQA Baccalaureate)
An ICT short course qualification (Level 3)
Extended Project (including possible AQA Baccalaureate)
Extended Project (including possible AQA Baccalaureate)
A Level General Studies (an option for Year 2)
NB *5th option possibilities – Visual Presentation in briefing packs distributed tonight,
and in Prospectus
The 5th Academic Choice for AS Level
The College Tutorial Programme
Clubs
 Societies
 Field Trips
 Expeditions
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Curriculum 2000 – AS/A Levels
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A Levels (2 years) are generally now divided into 4 units
(6 in a few subjects e.g., Sciences, Maths) comprising:
 AS LEVEL - Year 1
2 (or 3) units - ‘core’ content
and
 A2 LEVEL – Year 2
AS Level units plus 2 (or 3) further A2 units
– A2 modules have more emphasis on Higher level skills
Curriculum 2000 – AS A2 Levels
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Flexibility after one year of study
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A* grade at A2 Level is now available.
Requires 80%-plus average marks at AS Level
and then 90% plus average in the 2 (or 3) A2 Level modules
International
Baccalaureate Diploma

2 Year Programme – all exams at end of Year 2
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6 ‘Subjects’ - drawn from 5 or 6 curriculum ‘families’:
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•
•
•
•
Maths
English
Sciences
Humanities / Social Sciences
Modern Foreign Language
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1 (or 0) ‘Elective’ : Art or Drama or Music (or a second
Science or Humanity or MFL or computing)
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3 Higher Level and 3 Standard Level
(or 4 Higher and 2 Standard)
International
Baccalaureate Diploma
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The other 3 compulsory elements are:
•
Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
•
Creativity, Action, Service (CAS)
•
Extended Essay (EE)
Please attend one of the IB talks in room 306/7
at 6:45, 7:30 and 8:15 if you wish to find out more
Entry Criteria
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5 AS
A strong GCSE profile mostly at A* - B
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4
AS plus a non-AS academic course or a skills based AS Level
e.g. Critical Thinking or Citizenship
At least a good spread of GCSE grades and 7A*- C
including English Language
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3
AS plus 2 non AS academic courses
A minimum of 5 C grades
including English Language or Mathematics
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IB
Same entry criteria as for 4 or 5 AS
including B or above 3 from Science, English,
Mathematics, MFL.
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AFP A minimum of 1C and 4D grades
Expectation of Students
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Very high standards:
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Motivation and commitment to study
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Co-operation
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Maturity
A young adult environment
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Making the most of each student’s potential
WELCOME TO
THE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE
OPEN EVENING
OCTOBER 2009
How does one judge the
success of a post-16 institution?
Criteria should include:

Academic achievement/examination results
including ‘value-added’ achievement
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Retention rate
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Wider achievements
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Student destinations
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The quality of relationships
How does one judge the success of
a post-16 institution?
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Levels of student satisfaction and contentment
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Parent and community perceptions
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Links with the community
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Development of skills and preparation for
higher education, employment and adult life
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External Ofsted inspections and other assessments
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Demand for places
Academic Achievement
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Top of the Government’s published Advanced Level
(AS/A and IB) performance tables for colleges in
Essex and Suffolk in each of the last 14 years
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In ‘value-added’ achievement terms examination
results have, consistently, significantly exceeded
national ‘norms’ – i.e ‘positive value-added’. Valueadded scores are positive in all ranges of GCSE
achievement at age 16 including academic ‘top-end’
students.
Academic Achievement
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Average university entrance and Government
Performance Table ‘points’ nearly 17% above the
national average for all schools and colleges
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University
entrance
point
and
Government
‘Performance Table score for the top 100 achievers
equivalent to AAAA at A Level
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Over 900 students progress to higher education each
year.
External Assessment
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Excellent Ofsted Inspection Reports in 1997, 2002
and 2007. November 2007 Report allocated College
‘Outstanding’ grades in each of the 11 Ofsted
Inspection categories and overall ‘Outstanding’ status
(see College website for Inspection Report)
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College one of the first Sixth Form Colleges to be
awarded Beacon status in 2002 – and maintains this
status
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Queen’s Award for Higher and Further Education
awarded in 2000
College Admissions
First Priority:
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STUDENTS ATTENDING THE FOLLOWING SCHOOLS:
Alderman Blaxill*
The Gilberd*
Honywood
Manningtree*
Philip Morant*

.
St Benedict’s College
St Helena*
Sir Charles Lucas*
Stanway*
Thomas, Lord Audley*
AND STUDENTS WHO:
live in the catchment area of the asterisked (*) schools regardless
of which school they have attended up to 16 years of age
College Admissions
First Priority also for:

Students attending any Secondary school located in
the Borough of Colchester
(includes selective and independent schools
such as CCHS, CRGS, Colchester High, St Mary’s)
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Students who have a permanent parental residence
which is closer to the Colchester Borough boundary
than the nearest other Sixth Form provider of A Level/IB
College Admissions
First Priority also for:
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STUDENTS WHO ATTEND THE FOLLOWING
11-16 SCHOOLS outside the Colchester Borough boundary:
East Bergholt High
Hadleigh High
Holbrook High
Stoke College
Ramsey
Amberfield
Alec Hunter
Notley High
Tabor High
College Admissions
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For those who are not in the ‘First Priority’ categories, for
September 2010 entry we would expect to be able to offer
places to around 50% of students who apply by the 31
January deadline
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Priority:
Strong course reason, i.e. courses which cannot be
studied more locally and where the College has places
College Admissions
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A number of AS Level courses may not be
available to applicants who are not in the first
category of Admissions. Which courses this will
apply to will not be clear until March 2010 but AS
Photography will almost certainly be one.
Essential that all applications are received by 31
January 2010
Substantive information around this, and indeed
more general information, can be obtained from
the website. www.colchsfc.ac.uk
http://www.colchsfc.ac.uk
College Website – Documents
College Website – more documents
Using the Open Evenings
effectively
Advice is available for both specific and general queries:

On the Concourse
Travel
Financial Support (including information on
Educational Maintenance Allowance Scheme)
Admissions
Curriculum
(including Extended Project Qualifications and Pre-U)
General Guidance
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In Room 121 (1st Floor, Library corridor)
Careers and Higher Education Guidance
Using the Open Evenings
effectively
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Prospectus collection – from the Concourse, Midsite
Reception
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Applications – on-line facility opens on Friday 23 October.
Alternatively, paper application forms can be requested from
the College Admissions Office
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Both Refectories (Ground Floor Main Building and Ground
Floor Mid Site Building) open from 6.30 to 8.30pm
WELCOME TO
THE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE
OPEN EVENING
OCTOBER 2009