welcome to the sixth form college open evening october 2009
TRANSCRIPT
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
To meet and talk to the College teaching staff and students
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
Opened in 1987 - well established
Specialist sixth form college - full-time 16 to 18 year old students
Excellent accommodation and facilities specifically designed for sixth form study - excellent additional building opened in 2007
The Sixth Form College
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
Care and concern for the individual student
Strong pastoral support
High quality of academic teaching
High levels of achievement - absolute and ‘value-added’
Breadth of opportunity
High expectations of students
Flexible curriculum to meet the needs of the individual
A lively and thriving student community
WELCOME TO THE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE
OPEN EVENING
OCTOBER 2009
Outstanding Opportunities
AS/A Level Programme
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
IB Diploma Programme
GCSEs: Advanced Foundation Programme
Students choose an individual programme of study that meets their needs from:
Outstanding Opportunities
Nearly 100 Additional Studies courses including:
Many Music, Drama and Dance opportunities
Wide range of sports - competitive and recreational levels
Community Sports Leaders’ Award
Pre-Clinical Programme
Pre –Teaching
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
Curriculum 2000 – AS/A Levels
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
Flexibility after one year of study
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
6 ‘Subjects’ - drawn from 5 or 6 curriculum ‘families’:• Maths• English• Sciences• Humanities / Social Sciences• Modern Foreign Language
1 (or 0) ‘Elective’ : Art or Drama or Music (or a second Science or Humanity or MFL or computing)
3 Higher Level and 3 Standard Level (or 4 Higher and 2 Standard)
International Baccalaureate Diploma
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
5 AS A strong GCSE profile mostly at A* - B
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
3 AS plus 2 non AS academic coursesA minimum of 5 C grades including English Language or Mathematics
IB Same entry criteria as for 4 or 5 AS including B or above 3 from Science, English,
Mathematics, MFL.
AFP A minimum of 1C and 4D grades
Expectation of Students
Very high standards:
• Motivation and commitment to study
• Co-operation
• Maturity
A young adult environment
• 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
Retention rate
Wider achievements
Student destinations
The quality of relationships
How does one judge the success of a post-16 institution?
Levels of student satisfaction and contentment
Parent and community perceptions
Links with the community
Development of skills and preparation for higher education, employment and adult life
External Ofsted inspections and other assessments
Demand for places
Academic Achievement
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
In ‘value-added’ achievement terms examination results have, consistently, significantly exceeded national ‘norms’ – i.e ‘positive value-added’. Value-added scores are positive in all ranges of GCSE achievement at age 16 including academic ‘top-end’ students.
Academic Achievement
Average university entrance and Government Performance Table ‘points’ nearly 17% above the national average for all schools and colleges
University entrance point and Government ‘Performance Table score for the top 100 achievers equivalent to AAAA at A Level
Over 900 students progress to higher education each year.
External Assessment
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)
College one of the first Sixth Form Colleges to be awarded Beacon status in 2002 – and maintains this status
Queen’s Award for Higher and Further Education awarded in 2000
College Admissions
First Priority: STUDENTS ATTENDING THE FOLLOWING SCHOOLS:
Alderman Blaxill* St Benedict’s CollegeThe Gilberd* St Helena* Honywood Sir Charles Lucas*Manningtree* . Stanway*Philip Morant* 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)
Students who have a permanent parental residencewhich is closer to the Colchester Borough boundary than the nearest other Sixth Form provider of A
Level/IB
College Admissions
First Priority also for:
STUDENTS WHO ATTEND THE FOLLOWING 11-16 SCHOOLS outside the Colchester Borough boundary:
East Bergholt High Alec HunterHadleigh High Notley HighHolbrook High Tabor HighStoke CollegeRamseyAmberfield
College Admissions
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
Priority: Strong course reason, i.e. courses which cannot be
studied more locally and where the College has places
College Admissions
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
College Website – Documents
College Website – more documents
Using the Open Evenings effectively
Advice is available for both specific and general queries: On the Concourse
TravelFinancial Support (including information on Educational Maintenance Allowance Scheme)AdmissionsCurriculum (including Extended Project Qualifications and Pre-U)General Guidance
In Room 121 (1st Floor, Library corridor)
Careers and Higher Education Guidance
Using the Open Evenings effectively
Prospectus collection – from the Concourse, Midsite Reception
Applications – on-line facility opens on Friday 23 October. Alternatively, paper application forms can be requested from the College Admissions Office
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