sixth form guide

Sixth Form Guide

Welcome tothe Sixth Form

Bishop’s Stortford College’s vision is for education to be an exciting,

uplifting and liberating experience, a process that unlocks a world

of opportunity and gives pupils a lifelong appetite for knowledge and

understanding, a curiosity about the world and a delight in it. It sets out to

balance the pursuit of academic excellence with wholehearted participation

in a stunning range of opportunities so that pupils become fulfilled,

creative, self-confident and caring young men and women, ready

to contribute positively to society and play a full part in it.

A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SIXTH FORM

The Bishop’s Stortford College Sixth Form is a tremendously busy, exciting and

purposeful environment. While gaining the best A level grades possible is very

important, we also want to inspire you to discover your potential in other

areas and give you the confidence to fulfil your aspirations.

You will certainly be challenged academically but also encouraged to strive

for excellence in sport, music, art and drama, as well as through the wealth of

other opportunities that is so characteristic of the College community.

We, your tutors, teachers and Houseparents, will guide and encourage you

to take on leadership roles, to enable you to become increasingly more

independent and to become an active member of the College and the wider

community. Diversity of talent and intellectual curiosity combined with

confidence and independence are the hallmarks of the Bishop’s Stortford

College Sixth Former. If you have a thirst for knowledge and an enthusiasm for

life, as well as a desire to push your limits, then you will feel at home here.

We want your experience with us to be a time that you look back on with

pride; pride in your individual and collective achievements. Most importantly

we want you to leave the College equipped, both academically and personally,

to embark on your future in a dynamic, caring and productive way.

Building Confidence for Life.

Newcomers to Bishop’s Stortford CollegeEach year we welcome many new students into our Sixth Form from other schools, both in the UK and overseas, and we are delighted that you are interested in joining us. Remember that every student entering our Sixth Form, whether a newcomer or not, is starting afresh; part of the excitement of Sixth Form life comes from this shared experience of new beginnings, fresh challenges and high expectations. By joining us, you will be contributing enormously to this excitement.

The Sixth Form at Bishop’s Stortford College is a place where you will very quickly feel at home, form life-long friendships and where your contribution to the Sixth Form community will be noticed and valued. Indeed, you will find that one of the major benefits of the Sixth Form at Bishop’s Stortford College is that you will be known and valued as an individual. And as an individual, you will be encouraged, supported, challenged and stretched in order to give you a sense of your own capabilities and the confidence to think independently.

Staying onMoving into the Sixth Form brings fresh opportunities and new challenges. You will still be very much part of the whole school but there are important differences that distinguish the Sixth Form community and, in many ways, make it feel like a new beginning. This Sixth Form Guide will give you a flavour of what you can expect to be different and give you an insight into the diversity of opportunity that is characteristic of the Sixth Form experience. The Subject Guide supplement provides advice on choosing your subjects with an overview of each subject we offer.

“The College is very welcoming, everyone is really willing to help. I was

nervous coming to the Induction Day but everyone was so friendly and

encouraged you to join in. At the evening barbeque, you were instantly

put at ease, I didn’t feel like the new person at all.”

VICKY, NEW JOINER

If you are new to Bishop’s Stortford College, do read this Sixth Form Guide alongside the main Prospectus and Current Information book and website to get a full picture of all that we offer.

BISHOP’S STORTFORD COLLEGE | SIXTH FORM GUIDE

LearningHigh expectations

In the Sixth Form, freedom and responsibility go hand in hand. In choosing to stay in full time education, it is assumed you will want to work hard. High standards of commitment are

expected, as are punctuality, courtesy and respect for the needs of others.

The Head of Sixth Form and the Sixth Form Management Team monitor the progress of every individual very closely, reinforcing success through the Merit and Commendation system, while also putting in place extra supporting mechanisms if necessary. The team consists of Mrs Linda Dickinson (Head of Sixth Form), Mr Alex Swart-Wilson (Assistant Head of Sixth Form, i/c Lower Sixth) and Mrs Jenny Marshall (Assistant Head of Sixth Form, Operations).

Approach to teaching and learning

The style of teaching in the Sixth Form at Bishop’s Stortford College is different. Working in small groups, you will be encouraged to read beyond the curriculum, to work and think

independently and be self disciplined in your study - essential skills for success at university and beyond. We recommend all Sixth Formers to take on some form of Independent Research Project during their time here.

Study skills training is provided through our tutorial system to help you adapt to the new way of working. Academic standards are high, as our consistently strong track record at A level indicates. The highly committed teaching staff are passionate about their subjects and will work hard with you to achieve the highest possible standards.

“The quality of teaching throughout the College is excellent. It

plays a vital role in enabling the pupils to achieve high standards in

their learning and meets the aims of the College to encourage and

challenge each pupil to fulfil his or her true potential.”

ISI INSPECTION REPORT

Support and guidance

The Sixth Form is a very fast moving and exciting experience. You may be feeling both enthusiastic and rather daunted at the prospect. This is quite natural and whilst we promote

greater independence, you are certainly not expected to achieve this unaided.

The Tutorial structure is absolutely central to the success of our Sixth Formers. Tutor groups are small, mixed and academically based – you will be working with others doing similar courses and your tutor will usually be a subject specialist (often a Head of Department) who is linked to your A level subject choices. With both Upper and Lower Sixth Formers in tutor groups, peer guidance is a central feature. Very close relationships are developed which allows informed and knowledgeable guidance and support to be offered to every individual’s academic progress.

The House system is the centrestone of the Senior School community at Bishop’s Stortford College and forms a major part of life for all year groups and also the teaching staff. The House will be a focal point of your time: it is where you keep all your belongings and spend most of your free time, where you will have your own space to relax or work, and is the basis of many fiercely fought competitions!

Your Tutor and your Housemaster or Housemistress will be the people who will get to know you best. Together they will oversee your progress from settling in on your first day as a new Sixth Former to collecting your Leavers’ Certificate on Speech Day as a confident adult ready to move on to an exciting future.

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University and careers guidance

The support given by our excellent Higher Education & Careers Department,

unrivalled by other schools, is at the heart of the very successful UCAS history of College Sixth Formers. With three dedicated members of staff and an extensive range of material, it is an invaluable resource for our students as they develop a clearer understanding of their futures.

Specialist advice is provided by:Higher Education & Careers staff - who encourage pupils to discuss their ideas, action plans, or queries at any time, and as often as they need to as well as ensuring a steady stream of information about all aspects of Careers, Higher Education and taster courses.

The Sixth Form Management Team, tutors and subject teachers – who are closely involved in preparing pupils for academic and personal success.

This principle is reinforced by the way in which the programme is organised:

● Advice and guidance is provided through presentations, tutorials and specific HE/UCAS events. Students are encouraged to take responsibility for their research and decisions.

● Information and guidance supports research into degree courses, universities and entry requirements.

● A weekly bulletin is published to alert students to opportunities such as subject and career taster courses, university open days, essay competitions, lectures etc.

● Specific advice is given regarding applications for Oxbridge, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Dentistry.

● Information and support is provided for those considering international university applications.

● Those choosing to enter employment or Further Education after A levels are provided with individual guidance which can include CV preparation and job applications.

“We believe one of the most important skills you can have is self

reliance. The combination of guidance, support, information and

encouragement for self management which underpins our work with

the Sixth Form will prepare you more fully for the transition from

school to the greater independence of University life or employment.”

DR GILL ALLCOCK (HEAD OF HE AND CAREERS)


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LivingThe Sixth Form Social Centre

Many of our Sixth Formers mention the social life as another major strength of

our Sixth Form. Whilst there are the organised events including the ultimate Leavers’ Ball, much of the socialising centres on the everyday, informal gatherings in the Sixth Form Social Centre and the Houses. Friendships are forged during the short, intense eighteen months of the Sixth Form experience that will last a lifetime.

The Sixth Form Social Centre is a quiet place for students to relax, chat and develop new friendships away from the hustle and bustle of other parts of the College campus. It is open during the day and until 7pm at night and is the venue for many of the Sixth Form social activities. It is very informal, with coffee and hot chocolate served at lunchtimes.

Belonging to a House

All Senior School students are assigned to one of the nine houses and this becomes

their home during their time here. Sixth Formers are encouraged to take on roles of responsibility in their House, such as organising teams for inter-house competitions or events for Charity Week. Lower Sixth Formers take part in our well-regarded Leadership Training Course. In the Upper Sixth Form, you will have the opportunity to motivate, persuade and lead others; most are selected to be School Prefects, House Monitors or Heads of House in their senior year.

Activities, clubs and societies

Academic study is, naturally, the priority, but we believe passionately in the value of an

all round education. To this end, you will find Sixth Form life at Bishop’s Stortford College packed with opportunities and our weekly timetable gives you the time and space to make the most of them.

The activities programme is a vital part of the education that we offer and a key part of the ways in which you will develop your skills, talents and self-confidence.

Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme (with many achieving Gold), Scuba Diving, History

Film Nights, Archery, Photography, Chess, Water Polo, Judo, Debating, Powerkiting, Robotics, Science Society, Literary Society, and many, many more …

The Arts

Access to the excellent facilities at the College encourages our students to

develop their creative and artistic skills to a high level. There are numerous plays and musical events in school as well as trips beyond the campus to the theatre, concerts and galleries. We take full advantage of our location between the two major cultural centres, London and Cambridge.

“Independent thinking and

creativity are evident across

the curriculum. Artistic,

dramatic and musical standards

are outstanding. Pupils are

accomplished in sport at

individual and team levels,

regularly winning county and

regional honours. They do well

in external music examinations

and in public speaking, and enjoy

great success in The Duke of

Edinburgh’s Award scheme.”


Sport

We take the enjoyment of sport very seriously! You will have the opportunity

to play sport on a regular basis, competitively or simply for pleasure. Every year we have players representing the school at county, regional and national level.

The Sixth Form day

The school week is designed to give you a healthy and enjoyable balance

between academic study, extra-curricular and recreational activities, and relaxation. Sixth Formers attend registration at 8.20am and the school day will generally finish between 5 – 6pm depending on which activities you are involved in.

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Enriching the curriculumOther opportunities, some of which are exclusive to Sixth Formers, include:

● Young Enterprise Scheme

● Modern Thought activity

● Weekly Upper Sixth Form lecture programme covering a wide variety of topics

● Interesting and varied PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) course

● Biology Dissection Group

● Pupils’ Political Thought Group

● Sixth Form Reading Group

● Ferguson Lecture series on contemporary issues

If you are new to Bishop’s Stortford College, do read the Senior School section of the Current Information book for more details of the wide range of opportunities available.

“The outstanding

extra-curricular

programme is

a strength of

the College.”


BoardingThe aim in our three boarding houses is simply to be the best “home away from home”, a place that you enjoy returning to, a place of companionship, laughter, support, advice and guidance.

We aim to be as flexible as possible within our available capacity. Whether a full, weekly or flexi boarder, you will be part of a strong yet diverse community in which you can become more independent and be given more responsibility. For those living locally, boarding allows you to make the most of all the opportunities open to you without losing time travelling. You can also take full advantage of the structured study environment and access to resources and advice which can be especially helpful as public examinations approach.


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Facilities and resourcesBishop’s Stortford College has a beautifully spacious campus with superb facilities for study, sport, music, drama and art.

A s a boarding and day school, students have the advantage of being able to use

many of the facilities in the evenings and at weekends. If you are new to the school, full details are given in the Current Information booklet. Here we have summarised the facilities for a few key areas of Sixth Form life.

Creative Arts

The College is fortunate to have excellent facilities for Art, Music and Theatre, and

there is a wealth of activity each week to be involved with, either as a participant or

audience member. The quality of achievement is high, with talented students working with expert staff to stretch their talents and creativity.

Sport

With extensive and well-maintained grounds,

enthusiastic sports men and women among the pupil body and coaches with a local, regional and national reputation, it is hardly surprising that sport is an area of high achievement here. College teams in

all sports regularly take part in major competitions, as well as touring the world to extend their sporting and cultural horizons. However, there is also ample opportunity for leisure sports, with good use being made of the spacious fields, well equipped sports hall, swimming pool, tennis courts and other sporting facilities spread throughout the campus. It is unusual to walk through the grounds without seeing small groups of students engaged in some kind of sport or “play” in their leisure time.

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Senior School library

The library is open from 8.30am until 5.00pm, 7.00pm – 9.30pm during the

week and at specific times over the weekend. Qualified librarians are in attendance full- time duringschool hours. An extensive range of resources is provided. It is the destination of choice for busy Sixth Formers managing coursework, routine work and last minute revision.

ICT provision

Our ICT resources are constantly being developed and we are committed to

ensuring that you have the best tools and advice you need to gather, process and present information effectively and efficiently including:

● College-wide network with broadband internet connection regularly upgraded to use the latest technology.

● Ready access to computers and a wide range of software in the four ICT laboratories and the Library.

● Scanners, digital cameras, laser printers (including colour), digital video camera and editing suite.

● Laptop computer wireless network providing internet access, printing resources and secure file storage to allow you to create your own working environment.


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Success for the FutureAcademic resultsBishop’s Stortford College has become established as one of the country’s top academic co-educational schools. Typical results at A level are between 50-60% A* and A grades, above 80% A* - B grades, and 100% pass rate.

The latest results by subject are published on the College website.

We have an excellent track record at A level and each year around 97% of

our Upper Sixth students proceed to university to study the degree of their choice. A number of students embark upon a gap year before taking up their university places.

In the past 3 years, 20 students have gained places at either Oxford or Cambridge to read subjects as diverse as Natural Science, History, Physics, Law, Modern Languages, Music, Economics and Mathematics. We also routinely have students who gain places at their chosen art or music college.

All students are encouraged to select the university that is most appropriate for them. The most popular destinations in recent years have been Bristol, Cambridge, Durham, Exeter, Leeds, Loughborough, Imperial College (London), Nottingham, Oxford, UCL and Warwick.

“The College has so many

strengths but I believe it is the

breadth, rather than the success

of any one part, that is its true

strength. You get so much more

than simply passing exams. There

is no other school in the area

where you are able to succeed at

any combination of academic,

sport, drama, music and many

other interest areas all at the

same time, giving you the widest

education possible and fulfilling

your potential.”PAUL, SIXTH FORM LEAVER

Entry procedures for newcomers to Bishop's Stortford CollegeStep 1: Initial enquiry and visitingYou will, of course, want to visit Bishop’s Stortford College and depending on your own preference and the time of year, you can either arrange an individual appointment or attend one of our Open Mornings usually held in the autumn term.

For details of the next Open Morning dates, please visit our website, or contact the Admissions Officer.

Step 2: ApplicationThe College Application Form (completed by parents) and the Sixth Form Entry Form (completed by parents and students) need to be submitted by the beginning of the November prior to entry.

Step 3: AssessmentYou will be invited to the College for an interview and entry testing. For most applicants this will be in the November of the year preceding entry. Alternative arrangements can be made for international applicants.

Step 4: Offer of a placePlaces will normally be offered by late December prior to entry and are usually conditional on GCSE grades (or equivalent) and a satisfactory school reference. A minimum of 7 B grades or 3 A and 2 B grades (or their equivalent) is usually required.

Step 5: Acceptance of placeAn Acceptance Form, which accompanies the offer letter, is then completed and returned to us, together with the Acceptance Fee.

Further details of our Sixth Form entry procedure and requirements together with details of our Scholarship and Financial Assistance Programme are available on our website.

Admissions Officer: 01279 838604 [email protected]

Maze Green Road, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 2PJ Tel: (01279) 838604 Fax: (01279) 836570Email: [email protected] www.bishopsstortfordcollege.org

For more information on our Sixth Form, visit: www.bishopsstortfordcollege.org

Charity No. 311057The information in this guide is correct at the time of publication. Changes may be made for educational or other reasons.

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