biddenham sixth form brochure

BiddenhamI N T E R N A T I O N A L S C H O O L & S P E C I A L I S T S P O R T S C O L L E G E

Sixth form prospectus

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Contacts – Mrs Nicky Kemp Mr Joe Wilkinson Miss Claire Davies Mrs Pearl Clarke HeadofSixthForm AssistantHeadofSixthForm AssistantHeadofSixthForm SixthFormSecretary

A warm welcome to Biddenham Sixth Form!

Whether you are an existing student or new to the school,wewishyouaverywarmwelcome.

Weunderstandthatanychangecanbedaunting,butthemovefromcompulsoryeducationintotheSixthFormshouldbeareallyexcitingtime.

Wehaveproducedthisbrochuretotellyouaboutthecoursesavailable,theentryrequirementsandhowtoapply.Youwillreceiveadetailednewssheetwithyourofferofaplacehere,butifyouwouldlikemoreinformationortoarrangeavisit,pleasedonothesitatetocallus.

Welookforwardtomeetingyousoon.

MrsNJKempHeadofSixthForm


About Biddenham Sixth Form

With its rich cultural diversityanditsinclusive,friendlyatmosphere,BiddenhamSixthFormisatrulyexcitingplacetostudy.

Ourpolicyistoregardeverystudentasanindividual,tolistentoandactuponstudents’anxieties,concerns,opinionsandsuggestionsandtoprovideasafe,friendly,tolerantatmosphereinwhichtopreparefortheworldofworkorthedemandsofhighereducation.

Ifthissoundslikesomewhereyouwouldliketostudy,thenreadon.

“A multi-cultural school which helps individuals explore their true potential and sets students on the right path for the future.” Toqeer (Year 14)

Contacts – Mrs Nicky Kemp Mr Joe Wilkinson Miss Claire Davies Mrs Pearl Clarke HeadofSixthForm AssistantHeadofSixthForm AssistantHeadofSixthForm SixthFormSecretary


Our Offer to You

Biddenham Sixth Form will offer you;

• fullpastoralandacademiccareandsupport.

• abroadrangeofcoursesandopportunities,bothacademicandextracurricular.

• anopportunitytopursueyourinterestsingreaterdepth.

• caringrelationshipswithteachersandpeers.

• yourownCommonRoom,KitchenandQuietStudyarea.

• adresscoderatherthanauniform.

“It’s the people that make Biddenham Sixth Form so fabulous. Well, them and the coffee.” Clio (Year 12)


What We Ask of You

In return, we expect you to be:

• selfmotivatedandselfdirected,withaclearsenseoffocus.

• wellorganised.

• politeandthoughtfultostaffandtoeachother.

• anexcellentrolemodeltoouryoungerstudents.

• mindfulandrespectfultotheneedsandbeliefsofothers.

• awareofyourresponsibilitiestoyourselfandthosearoundyou.

• preparedtoadheretotheHome-SchoolLearningAgreementwhichyouandyourparents/carerswillbeaskedtosign.

“The independence is what I love most about Biddenham Sixth Form. We are in control of the progress we make which shapes our own futures.” Grace (Year 12)


Courses

WeofferfourtypesofcoursestostudentsjoiningourSixthForm,tocaterforalllevelsofprioracademicachievementandtypesoflearningstyle.

TheACCESS COURSEisaoneyearcourse,designedtopreparestudentsforstudyatASLevel.IfyoulackthequalificationstomoveontoASLevel,thiscourseoffersyouasecondchance.

TheAccessCourseoffersretakesinEnglish,MathsandScienceGCSE,achoiceofvocationalcoursesworth4GCSEsandachoiceofshortcoursesworth1GCSE.SuccessfulcompletionofthiscoursecouldmeanprogressiontoatwoyearALevelCourse,givingatotalofthreeyearsinSixthForm.

A minimum of three GCSE passes at grade D is required for entry onto this course.

TheAS COURSEinYear12leadstoA2inYear13andisthereforeatwoyearcourse.Studentsonthiscoursewillstudyfoursubjectsinyear12,typicallydroppingtothreesubjectsinYear13.ProgressionintoYear13isusuallydependentuponagoodpassgradeintheASexamsattheendofyear12.

Entry requirements for AS Level courses are at the discretion of Heads ofDepartment, but generally a minimum of a C grade at GCSE is required.

ASstudentswillalsostudyASCriticalThinkinginYear13andtheCertificateinSportsLeadership.

Entry onto a two year course requires a minimum of five GCSE passes at grade C, including either English or Maths or Level 2 ALAN tests in Literacy and Numeracy. Retakes maybe offered in either English or Maths GCSE, but not in both. Also note that students wishing to study Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Economics at AS Level will require at least grade C in Maths GCSE.


TheAQA BACCALAUREATE COURSEisatwoyearcourse,designedforhighlymotivatedstudents,givingthemanopportunitytosignificantlyimprovetheirfurtherlearning,educationandemploymentprospects.

InadditiontothedemandsoftheASCourse,includingASCriticalThinkingandtheCertificateofSportsLeadership,studentswillalsostudytheExtendedProjectanddo100extra-curricularhoursonapprovedactivitiesincludingworkexperience,voluntaryworkandchallengeactivities.

Entry onto the AQA Baccalaureate Course requires at least 5 GCSEs at grade C or above, including Maths and English.

Wealsointendtoofferthe2yeargloballyrecognisedandprestigiousINTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMAfromSeptember2009.

Thisisatwoyearcoursethatisdesignedforhighlymotivatedstudentswhowanttokeepanelementofbreadthintheirsubjectchoice,whilemaintainingacademicdepthandfocussingondevelopingthemselvesasinternationally-minded,holisticlearners.StudentsmustchooseonesubjectfromeachofthesixIBsubjectgroups:LanguageA:LanguageB;IndividualsandSocieties;ExperimentalSciences;MathsandComputerScience;TheArts/Elective.ThreesubjectswillbestudiedatHigherLevelandthreeatStandardLevel.AtthecoreoftheIBlietheTheoryofKnowledge,ExtendedEssayandCreativity,Action,Service(CAS)programmes.

Entry onto this IB Diploma, requires at least five GCSEs at grade C or above, including English, Maths and Science.

For more information, please contact Mr Rob Tomalin and www.ibo.org


Extra Curricular Activities

Biddenham International School provides opportunitiesandresourcesforextra-curricularactivities,andallstudentsintheSixthFormareexpectedtorespondfullytotheseopportunities,andenrichtheirexperienceoflifeintheSixthForm.

Inadditiontotheirchosenacademicandexaminedcourses,studentsareexpectedtoattendonelessonperfortnightofPersonalandSocialEducation(PSE),andoneperfortnightofCommunitySportsLeadershipAward(CSLA).InPSE,studentswillfollowaprogrammeofstudyaimedatgivingthemthestudyskills,knowledgeandattitudesneededtomakethetransitionfromschooltopost-18HigherEducationortheworkplace.ThiswillincludemakingtheirapplicationstoUniversityandpreparingaCV.

InCSLA,studentswillhavetheopportunitytogainarecognisedqualificationinLeadershipwhichishighlyregardedbyemployers,UniversitiesandGAPyearorganisers.ThefinalpartoftheawardistohelporganiseasportingeventforyoungerstudentsinaLowerorMiddleSchool.

“I couldn’t imagine being as happy and welcome at any other Sixth Form than Biddenham.” Eve (Year 13)


Wealsooffertimetabledopportunitiesforstudentstofollowatopicofinterestintheirindependentlearningperiods.Inpastyears,choiceshaveincludedMusicMaking,MusicTechnology,BroadcastJournalism,Biddenham’sPhysicalTheatreGroup,SpanishoraSportingActivity,butthesechoiceswillvaryfromyeartoyear.Thesecoursesareofferedoneperiodaweek,andarenotexamined.Clearlythough,thechoiceofactivitywillbelimitedbyindividualtimetables.

CertainstudentledactivitieshavebecomewellestablishedintheSixthForm,butthereisalwaysscopeforstudentstosetuptheirownclubsandsocieties.TheSixthFormhasitsownCouncilofelectedrepresentativesfromeachtutorgroup.TheymeetweeklytoplanactivitiesandreviewSixthFormlife.TheCouncilhaveorganisedIceSkatingTrips,Christmas,EidandDiwalipartiesandfundraisingeventsforcharitableappealssuchastheTsunamiandPakistanEarthquakeDisasterFund.TheyalsosponsorachildthroughActionAid.TwomembersofthisCouncilareelectedtorepresenttheSixthFormatthemonthlymeetingsoftheSchoolCouncil–thestudentvoiceinourschool.


Voluntary Involvement Scheme

Sixth Formers play a major roleinsupportingandmentoringyoungerstudentsintheschool,throughtheVoluntaryInvolvementScheme.TheymaychoosetohearaYear9studentreadonaregularbasis,orhelpastudentwithlanguageorlearningdifficultiesbysittingwiththeminclass.TheSixthFormVISalsohaslinkswithlocalMiddleSchools,andstudentsareofteninvitedtohelpstudentsonaregularbasis.

BiddenhamInternationalSchoolwasawardedSpecialistSportsCollegestatusinSeptember2003,andthisishavingamassiveimpactonSixthFormSport.Thereistheopportunitytoplaycompetitiveteamandindividualsportsrepresentingtheschoolinarangeoflocalandnationalcompetitions.Studentsareencouragedtotakepartinarecreationalclub–oftenrunbyexternalprofessionalcoachingstaff.Inrecentyearstherehasbeenarangeofsportingtripsandvisitsarranged,suchasourannualSkitrip,excursionstolocalandinternationalfixturesandmoreacademicvisitstosportingconferencesandexhibitions.

“An amazing atmosphere with everyone working towards the goals they’ve given themselves.” Chloe (Year 12)


SportS ACAdemy AwArdBiddenhamInternationalSchoollaunchedaSixthFormSportsAcademyinSeptember2007.PlacesintheacademyareofferedinCricket,Girls’FootballandRugbyUnion.TheAcademyhaslinkswithsomeoftheleadingclubsintheareaandstudentsareencouragedtointegrateintothoseteams.

Theschoolislookingtodevelopitsrangeofcompetitiveopportunitiesagainstotherschoolsandwillalsolooktoplayschoolsfromfurtherafield.ItishopedthatthroughthedevelopmentoftheAcademy,therewillbechancesforschoolteamstotakepartinoverseasfestivalsandsportstours.

IfyouareinterestedintheBiddenhamInternationalSchoolSportsAcademythenpleasecontactAlanBrownon07717442657/[email protected]

the duke of edinburgh’S AwArdTheDofEAwardcomesundertheremitoftheSpecialistSportsCollege.TheAwardhasthreelevels:Bronze,SilverandGold,andcanbetakenfromyear10onwards.Eachlevelcanbecompletedinoneyear,andthereforeitispossibletocompleteallthreelevelswhilstatBiddenham.Theawardcriteriaarefocusedonfourmainareasandstudentshavetocompleteaskillandaservicesectionwhichcanbechosenfromawiderangeofoptions.

young enterpriSeStudentsinYear12havetheopportunitytotakepartinYoungEnterprise.Thisallowsstudentstosetupandmanagetheirownbusiness,makingdecisionsinareallifecontextandtakingpartinTradeFairs,withtheguidanceofanexternalBusinessAdvisor.Allstudentsarewelcometotakepart–itdoesn’tmatterifyouarestudyingBusinessStudiesornot.


BiddenhamInternationalSchool&SpecialistSportsCollegeBiddenhamTurn,Bedford,MK404AZt01234342521•f01234334530

[email protected]


biddenham sixth form brochure

Documents

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form prospectusbiddenham

biddenhami n t e r n

toqeer year

clio year