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Contact Buttershaw Business & Enterprise College Reevy Road West Buttershaw Bradford BD6 3PX T: 01274 676285 E: admin@buttershaw.net

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Sixth Form Prospectus 2016-17

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INTRODUCTION Year 11 is an important year for you in many ways, not least in deciding what you will do to further your education and training next year. The decisions you make about your studies and your career become increasingly important as you get older. It is essential that you make an informed choice based on your ambitions and aspirations, as well as advice and information from others. The raising of the participation age means that you must stay in education or training until the end of Year 13. This booklet will inform you of the different options offered at BBEC Sixth Form. The number of subjects you take in Year 13 and beyond will be far fewer, so it is important that the choices you make are right for the career you wish to pursue. Our Sixth Form is a great place to study and every year we review the courses and subjects on offer as we strive to meet the needs of students in an ever-changing national landscape. During your interviews over the next few weeks, please ensure that you make us aware of the courses you would like to study. The continuity and support offered by the Sixth Form cannot be underestimated. Our curriculum is varied and contemporary, providing access not only to school based subjects, but also subjects with our partner providers, such as Career Ready and Junior Gems. Enrichment and enhancement courses are a real strength. Please read this booklet carefully and do not hesitate to ask questions. We recommend you gather as much information as possible over the next few weeks. For more information about our Post 16 offer, please visit www.ucasprogress.com and search for the school.

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BUTTERSHAW SIXTH FORM A superb range of courses with a renowned focus on employability skills, development and an excellent track record of facilitating university successes are complemented by excellent study facilities and opportunities for sixth formers to take a significant lead in supporting and helping younger students. Sixth form academic results have risen again this year and recently we have seen students progress onto a range of prestigious universities including Oxford, Durham, Leeds and York. The enrichment programmes, enhancement and tutorial provision support your main courses with a range of tuition and opportunities to strengthen your skills, knowledge and understanding. A full time Careers and Academic Mentor works with the Head of Sixth Form to ensure excellent advice and support is given to all, whilst the Sixth Form Study Supervisor oversees the silent and quiet study areas, ensuring that students are helped to study effectively. All sixth formers benefit from a laptop loan scheme. A coffee and refreshment station, together with a small common room, ensure that there is space and opportunity to relax. The uniform also recognises that the sixth form is a transitional period between school and college and work. We offer more freedom and privileges but also expect students to take more responsibility and to work hard.

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EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS An exciting and developing feature of the BBEC Sixth Form is the emphasis on employability skills. Increasingly, employers are making explicit their requirement for ‘soft’ skills, as well as numeracy, literacy and other qualifications. In the sixth form you will have the opportunity to follow a vocational course, undertake work experience and, perhaps, be trained in relevant skills by current business people. We offer two innovative employer led courses: Junior Gems and CE:ET, the Centre of Excellence in Environmental Technologies, with the latter offering skills pathways to higher education and a range of careers across the business and environmental technologies sectors. The CE:ET programme is truly innovative: a partnership between the University of Bradford, national profile employers and the school. The programme will be studied by all students studying two sciences or science and maths. It supports A Level study but also helps prepare students for exciting careers in science, engineering and manufacturing. The Junior Gems programme is a ground-breaking programme for young people in schools considering a career in housing. It is an opportunity to gain a professional qualification and valuable work experience at Incommunities housing association whilst providing an excellent addition to a UCAS form. It can be studied alongside other Level 3 courses. Buttershaw is also part of the national ‘Career Ready’ programme which offers students an insight into business, including valuable internships. All students have the offer of a work experience week, with particular school links to companies such as Yorkshire Water and Barclays, complemented by a range of other providers including the NHS. In addition, CE:ET students are provided with extended paid placements at apprenticeship rates through our partnership companies, including Associated Waste Management and NG Bailey. All students have the opportunity of applying for business skills mentoring.

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OTHER OPPORTUNITIES Enrichment Programme Every week you have a structured opportunity to broaden your core knowledge and skills. Topics covered include Careers, Ethics and Relationships. In addition, students will be expected to study a further course alongside their A levels. These ‘Block E’ courses include AS Critical Thinking and the Extended Project Qualification. Enhancement Programme Employers and University admissions tutors are looking for well-rounded individuals who participate in a range of activities. It might be advantageous to take part in our range of extra-curricular activities or applying for national schemes such as Debrett’s, TeachFirst Futures, AimHigher or the UNIQ Summer School. Challenge yourself by taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme or helping younger children within BBEC academies and other mentoring schemes such as Reading Matters and Numeracy Leaders. Stretch your mind with theatre trips and navigate your way around London visiting museums and galleries. Run your own company or volunteer within your school or local community to make a real difference to the lives of others. There is a whole host of activities on offer – get involved! There is an expectation that all students will participate in volunteering opportunities, some of which are accredited. Progression Module This course is for Level 3 students who are intending to apply to university in the future. You will complete units which will help you develop the skills that you need to present yourself well, whilst providing you with the opportunity to research the various pathways for your chosen career. Successful students are awarded 30 UCAS points that could help gain access to Leeds Metropolitan University, Huddersfield University, Leeds Trinity University College or Bradford College. Sixth Form Leadership Team Why not apply to be an Ambassador, School President or even Director and improve your interpersonal skills and organisational skills? You could be responsible for arranging events for both your peers and younger students within school. Learn public speaking skills and gain confidence whilst representing your school at presentation and parents’ evenings. There are opportunities to direct activities within the areas of study, charity, social events and even the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Ensure that you develop the skills that put you in front of the competition. As a President, Director or Ambassador, your CV will stand out from the crowd.

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THE PROCESS October: Initial interviews with senior staff take place in October November: Sixth Form Open Evening January: IAG focus during period 3 Applications open March: Interviews with sixth form staff Provisional offers of places in the sixth form Where to get help Making your choices is really important – what you study now might well influence your career. At Buttershaw we want you to feel fully supported in your choices and there are several places you can go if you need help:

We have a Connexions officer based in school. If you would like an appointment, ask your achievement tutor to book you in, or feel free to go along to her room on any Tuesday.

You will have an interview with the sixth form team. This is a good chance to discuss your choices and ask any questions. Parents are more than welcome to attend these interviews.

Speak to your teachers – they will be happy to discuss Post-16 courses and whether they are suitable for you.

Speak to your Achievement Leader – they have helped many students through this process in the past.

Speak to your parents – they will have a good idea about what you might be good at.

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THE COURSE CHOICE

All sixth form courses are at a Level 3. These are suitable for students who securely achieved Level 2 in Year 11: a minimum of 5A*-C including English and maths is required with, usually, a B in each subject you want to pursue. For the single subject Level 3 courses separate entry requirements apply.

1) Blocked courses

Block A Block B Block C Block D Block E (Enrichment)

Maths

Health & Social Care

Sport

English Literature

Personal Finance

Physics

Psychology

History

Sociology

Biology

ICT

Geography

Performing Arts

Chemistry

Business

RE

Music

Textiles

BTEC Science

CE:ET

Critical Thinking

Artefact (EPQ)

Performance (EPQ)

Project (EPQ)

Junior Gems

Each block has approximately 5 hours of lesson time. Most courses will use all of this time. You will need to choose a minimum of three subjects from blocks A to D and a course from block E. Students may be advised to take 4 subjects from Block A to D in Year 12 but the fourth subject will be chosen after GCSE results have been received.

2) Single subject courses If numbers allow, we are open to running single subject courses for candidates with the right skill set. The entrance requirements will be specific to the course, but it is likely that all candidates will require English and maths at GCSE C grades or above. Possible areas for this approach are performing arts and science. Please let us know at interview if you are interested.

Please note: All courses run only if they attract sufficient numbers of students. We will let you know about our decision on groups after the Sixth Form interviews. If groups are oversubscribed we will allocate according to suitability.

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HOW TO APPLY

All applications this year are through www.ucasprogress.com You will have the chance to access this during period 3, but you can also do this from home. Use the log in details provided by your Achievement Tutor to log in and follow the application procedure. Please speak to your Achievement Leader if you are having any problems getting logged in. For external students: You are encouraged to contact the Head of Sixth Form for an informal chat. You can do this by using the contact details on the back page of this prospectus.

DESTINATIONS These are just a few examples of where our students went when they left Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College:

University of York - Physics

University of Bradford

University of Salford - English and Creative Writing

University of Huddersfield - Criminology

University of Central Lancashire - Mental Health Nursing

University of Sheffield - History

Leeds Trinity University - Media

University of Hull - Chemistry

St. Andrew’s University – Psychology

University of Durham – Chemistry

University of Derby – Zoology

Northumbria University – Mental Health Nursing

Manchester Metropolitan University – Forensic Psychology

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