Year 12 Parents’ Information Evening Thursday 8th September 2016 Mr J. Preece Head of Sixth Form M R. Blackman Head of Year 12 Mrs J. Watson Careers Advisor

The Tutor Team • 12LB – Mr Branca • 12GW – Mr Wood • 12CF – Mrs Froud • 12KP – Miss Putley • 12VA – Ms Allan

Class of 2016

Exam success will come to those students who……

• Attend

all lessons •Communicate with staff •Work hard •Become independent learners

What is an independent learner? Someone who…

 Manages and plans their time  Thinks critically  Identifies strengths and weaknesses and acts on them  Is motivated intrinsically  Asks for help when needed  Acts on advice given by others  Sets ambitious targets

The Personal Achievement Tracker Tracking attainment Recording target grades Planning non-contact time Meeting coursework deadlines (where appropriate) • Setting targets following Assessment Week, Mock Examination Week and during mentoring sessions • Planning revision • • • •

Student workload • 8 hours per subject / fortnight taught • 6-8 hours per subject / fortnight homework (set)

and for students who really want success … • additional work/reading in own time to extend and consolidate learning.

What are A-levels? • Most students at Blenheim begin Year 12 choosing three subjects. • All students will also take the Extended Project (EPQ) or General Studies as well depending on GCSE performance. • All students will have the opportunity to take the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) later in the year following the Summer Exams. • Students can only carry on into Year 13 if they pass three subjects ( grades A-E)

What are A-levels? • From September 2015, a move to linear assessment at the end of the second year of study in some subjects. First assessment will be in June 2017. • AS qualification has been ‘de-coupled’ and will no longer count towards overall A-level. • Still graded at A*-E

What are A-levels? • • • • • • •

•

Art and Design Business Studies Economics English (Language & Literature, Literature) History Psychology Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) Sociology

• • • •

Drama Geography Physical Education Religious Studies

• • • • •

Film Studies Government & Politics Mathematics/Further Maths Product Design Textiles

What are A-levels? • A-levels which have not yet been reformed are made up of modules • In Year 12 students take AS exams • These make up 50% of the overall A-level grade • In Year 13 students take A2 exams – these are harder than AS, but are still worth 50% of the whole grade • A-levels are graded A*- E

Assessment

w/c 31st October w/c 14th November w/c 2nd January

Progress Review Initial Assessment Week Progress Review

Assessment w/c 16th January w/c 20th February 9th March w/c 24th April mid May/June w/c 17th July 17th August

Trial Exam Week Progress Review Parents Evening Progress Review Exams Progress Review Exam Results

16 – 19 Bursary Fund • The Blenheim High School Sixth Form Bursary Fund is designed to help and support any student who faces financial barriers to participation in education and training, such as costs of transport, food or equipment. • There are various levels of support available, please ask your son or daughter to see me for further information.

The Blenheim Graduation Certificate Mr Blackman Head of Year 12

The Purpose • How can we help students broaden their horizons? • How can our students gain an edge over others? • How can we involve the Sixth Form in the day to day running of Blenheim? • How can we make sure our students face a variety of challenges?

The Requirements • Community involvement • Work related learning • Demonstration of skills

• Academic success

Is the stress of A-Levels not enough? • Helps make UCAS statements and references stand out • Helps with job applications • Demonstrates skills to employers • Recognises the hours some students already spend helping others • Designed to run alongside the demands of A-Level • It can provide a way of managing stress

Getting students involved Opportunities within the Sixth Form Rag Week Whole school events Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award Heads of Faculty / Department will be offering opportunities to students • Can you help? • • • • •

Sixth Form Privileges • Currently able to leave the site at break time and will be able to sign out during non-contact time once we are happy with their transition. • Students have Non Contacts in timetable – half of these must be allocated to private study • Can earn the right for Home Study • Sixth Form-only LRC sessions • Students wear their own clothes • They have a study room and access to café facilities

Sixth Form Responsibilities • Attendance at both registrations and all lessons is compulsory • Students are responsible for their own learning and must use Non Contacts and/or Home Study for school work – these are not ‘free periods’. • Students must complete supervised study. • Students must sign out when they leave the site at any time

Sixth Form Responsibilities • Sixth Formers must be role models for the rest of the school and have a responsibility to contribute to the school and wider community • They must respect the dress code • They must respect the study area and the café • Mobile phones must not be used around the school

Monitoring and Sanctions • Commendations/Certificates/Letters home • Attendance rewards, ‘Superhero Assemblies’ and House Assemblies • School Newsletter • Missing lessons • Cause for concern form • Attendance – Target 97% • Truancy call

Monitoring and Sanctions Punctuality - Double registration Phone call/letter home/meeting with parents Monitoring by Tutor/Head of Year Report Supervised non-contact time After school supervised study sessions (3:304:30) • Removal of Home Study • Non entry to examinations • • • • •

The Home-School partnership : how you can help To reinforce our dress code Minimise time out of school Look at diaries/Show My Homework To inform us of any illness To ensure that your son/daughter carries out no more than 8 hours a week of paid work • Revision guides • To contact your Form Tutor with any concerns • • • • •

What is Show My Homework? "It's a simple online homework calendar showing homework information, deadlines and attachments for students. Parents love it." Katharine Jones, Assistant Head, Chauncy School Herts

Finding Careers Information Accessing the Careers area in Moodle Logon from anywhere you have web access ... laptop, desktop, smartphone, tablet Web address:

e-blenheim.org.uk (Google ‘e-blenheim’ if you forget)

Logon name: Password:

ela blenheim

Accessing the Careers area in Moodle

Accessing the Careers area in Moodle When you’ve logged on, click the Careers link on the left

Accessing the Careers area in Moodle

Students can see the Careers section using their normal Moodle login details.

DfE Advice on Work Experience Education for 16 – 19 year olds should include work experience. Rationale: • A meaningful work placement can provide valuable experience of the work environment • help students decide on future careers or study options • demonstrate their potential to future employers or universities

Work Experience at Blenheim • We encourage all Year 12 students to find quality work experience for a 1 week block after completing AS levels • Casual work NOT work experience • Monday 17 – Friday 21 July 2017 • We have a legal duty of care for all students • Blenheim is responsible for the safeguarding and health & safety of all students on roll • Employers must have Employers Liability Insurance and risk assessment for young people

Work Experience & Degree Entry Requirements Work placements are essential/desirable for large numbers of degree courses • All veterinary science courses • Most Dentistry • Most Medicine • Most Nursing and Midwifery • All Teaching • Many Law • Engineering • Business & Economics

School Leaver Programmes & Apprenticeships • Work Experience just as relevant if not more so for any student looking to go into the workplace • “Relevant work experience was rated by 66% of recruiting employers as being a critical or significant factor looked for in candidates” • Volunteering can be counted as work experience

Higher Education Admissions What students should do: Now: start considering career / course choices and attend careers workshops. Spring 2017: Spring 2017: Summer 2017:

Autumn 2017:

HE Convention Future Choices Evening for parents Future Choices Day Detailed research into courses using UCAS.com & advice from tutors University Open days Applications & University Open days

Any questions? [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]