2020 Sixth Form Student Handbook pdf

Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School Sixth Form Student Handbook 2020 An electronic copy of this handbook can be found on w drive/student shared documents/sixth form handbook ‘Your future starts here’

Headteacher: SCHOOL CONTACTS Deputy Head (Student Welfare): Deputy Head (Curriculum and Standards): Mrs A Scully Mr R Green Mr P Pollard Telephone Number: (01227) 463711 SLGGS E-mail Address: [email protected] SLGGS Absence Email Address: [email protected] SLGGS Website: www.langton.kent.sch.uk Head of Sixth Form: THE SIXTH FORM TEAM Sixth Form Pastoral Manager: Sixth Form Admissions and Timetable: Mr J Sénéchal Careers Advice and Guidance: Mrs L Bramwell Sixth Form Administrator: Mr E Sherman Mrs M Semlyen Mrs M Lee Your Form Tutor is the person who has overall responsibility for your welfare. You will have regular meetings with your Form Tutor who will have an overview of your attendance, punctuality and your academic progress. Please keep your Form Tutor updated about all of your achievements and about any concerns or anxieties that you might have. Equally, you may wish to speak to your teachers about your own personal progress and you should feel confident that you can seek support and advice from your teachers at any time. THE STUDENT LEADERSHIP TEAM HEAD STUDENTS Amy Stretch Erica Williams DEPUTY HEAD STUDENTS Poppy Preece Jack Rayner HOUSE CAPTAINS Hannah Birrell Melody Bond Charlotte Burden Emma Carter Catriona Forbes Pearl Hannaford Sally Ho Emma Littlefield

Hannah Mawardi Issy Mount Connie Parsons Evan Sharma SPORTS CAPTAINS Rosie Walsh - Sixth Form Katie Daughters - Key Stage 4 Jasmine Warner - Key Stage 3 FORM GUARDIANS Group 1 Emily Clarke, Amelia Coleman, Lily Keem, Molly-Ella Waite Group 2 Jess Modley, Lottie Neame, Lily Siddle, Miriam Skeats Group 3 Lucy Abel, Francesca Butler, Elizabeth Clover, Melissa Campbell-Oulton Group 4 Daisy Greenway-Gee, Lucy Jordan, Victoria Pope, Ellie Rogers Group 5 Freya Butterfill, Hannah Clarke, Mabel Cozens, Onadi Gamage Group 6 Izzy Bradshaw-Batt, Isabel Heeley, Issy Pottage, Holly Sandall SENIOR PREFECTS Lizzie Hornsby and Rosie Lowdell in Year 13 will lead and manage this group of students during the academic year 2020 – 2021. Additions to the following appointments that have already been made will be finalised following the closure of the application process at the start of the academic year: Tiamar Alexander, Millicent Browning, Madeleine Cooke, Lily Edmondson, Katie Elford, Amber Harris, Emmie Heath, Esther Kendrick White, Finn Lawrence, Angela Logan, Alys Mulroy, Mreedula Pathan, Yagmur Sesen, Lauren Suart, Diya Upadhyay, Sophie Uzzell, Emma Wickes, Ellie Williamson YOUR VOICE We value student feedback and you will find a box outside Mr Sénéchal’s office in the sixth form area where you can make suggestions about the way that we can improve still further. Equally, you will be asked to contribute to whole school debates with your Form Tutor during your weekly tutorials. YOUR TIMETABLE Most students begin Year 12 with three or four A Level subjects and complete an EPQ as part of the Extended Langton Curriculum. Most students study three subjects in Year 13. In Year 12, students will usually have:  4 x 1 hour lessons per week per subject  1 x 1 hour session on a Wednesday each week labelled ‘Research@SLGGS’  1 x 1 hour session on a Friday each week labelled ‘IVE’  Private study periods EPQ lessons and supervised study sessions are added to the timetable in January of Year 12. Career lessons are added to the timetable in Term 6. All students have access to the ‘Centres of Excellence’ and ‘Elective Programmes’ which run at lunchtimes and after school every week throughout the year. In Year 12 you must attend school between 8.45am and 3.25pm. In Year 13 you can apply for Home Study (see below). ASSEMBLIES AND TUTORIALS Assemblies and tutorials for Years 12 and 13 take place between 8.45am and 9.05am. Attendance is compulsory.

PRIVATE STUDY PERIODS For those periods not designated as supervised study, you may still want to access the study areas, the Library or the Common Room (for more information see below). You will need to ensure a good balance between your use of the Common Room and your workload in these sessions. If you experience some difficulty with workload and progress, it may be necessary to include extra supervised study sessions in your timetable. SUPERVISED STUDY SESSIONS During supervised study sessions you will be expected to work on coursework, homework or research and preparation for your chosen courses. You will be allocated a space to do this work and there will be a register and supervision to ensure a quiet working environment. CHANGING OR DISCONTINUING SUBJECT(S) In Year 12, where students decide that they would like to change one or more of their options, this can only be done during Term 1, and only after consultation with the Head of Sixth Form. Only in exceptional circumstances would an application to change subjects be considered after this point. Students who wish to discontinue a subject must see the Head of Sixth Form. COURSE OUTLINES AND EXAM BOARDS You can gain an overview of your A Level course outline, find out about the exam board that is used for individual subjects under the Sixth Form tab on the school’s website: www.langton.kent.sch.uk. LANGTON EXTENDED CURRICULUM OVERVIEW As part of their timetable, all Year 12 students enrol for a Research Project, take part in the Intellectual Vision and Endeavour (IVE) programme, study an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and follow the Careers Curriculum. Many of our students enrol for our elective programmes and join our four specialist centres of excellence; the Mind Lab@SLGGS, the Langton Language Centre, the Langton Music School and the Sport England Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS). AWARD WINNING RESEARCH PROJECTS@SLGGS Research Projects are timetabled on Wednesday afternoons: The Orchard Project@SLGGS Having been awarded a Royal Society partnership grant to carry out research into the impact of biodiversity on well-being, students work with the Biology Department and ecologists from the University of Cambridge who have extensive experience in ecosystems. Perfume@SLGGS After signing a confidentiality agreement, students work with industry to analyse the chemical make-up of perfume and effect that smells have on humans. Changemakers@SLGGS Students work with a global network of social entrepreneurs, innovators, business leaders, policy makers and activists to build an ‘Everyone a Changemaker’ world. CERN@SLGGS Students use a particle detector from CERN to carry out autonomous research including the angle at which the sensor affects the number of muons detected or, more recently, the awarding winning research conducted in to the radioactive properties of tea. Comedy@SLGGS Working with lecturers that teach stand-up comedy at UKC, students work to obtain a platform to deliver their own material and investigate the ways in which comedy can empower young people; giving them a voice, defusing tension and stress, creating friendships and connections.

Philosophy@SLGGS Students are introduced to a range of history’s most influential thinkers, from Aristotle and Descartes to Peter Signer. Working with University lecturers, the Project allows students to study the ultimate nature of existence, reality, knowledge and goodness, as discoverable by human reasoning. Greenpower F24@SLGGS We inspire our students to excel in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) through a unique challenge: to design, build and race an electric car. Students can compete at Greenpower events in the UK and other countries including the USA, Poland and China. ArchIVE@SLGGS Students engage with the theory of archives and analyse materials and artefacts that have never been accessed by academics before at the Cold War and First World War archives at Dover Castle. INTELLECTUAL VISION AND ENDEAVOUR (IVE) PROGRAMME The IVE Programme is timetabled every Friday morning in Year 12. The IVE Programme encourages a culture of intellectual expansion through a programme of weekly innovative and visionary lectures and original research projects delivered by subject specialists, professors, doctors and world leading experts in their field. Our students’ participation in ground breaking research since 2018 has led to hugely reduced offers from universities and helped students to make the transition between school and university. EPQ EPQ lessons are timetabled in January in Year 12. The EPQ is an independent project carried out by the student with the help of one of our expert supervisors. Students choose to write a 5,000 word dissertation or scientific report or an essay supplemented with an artefact or a performance. In 2019, 58% of students achieved an A* - A Grade and 85% achieved an A* - B grade and led to reduced offers from universities, developed essential ‘soft’ or transferrable skills and had a positive effect on outcomes at A Level. AWARD WINNING CAREERS CURRICULUM Tutorials take place in Terms 4 and 5 and ‘Careers Lessons’ are timetabled in Term 6. Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar holds the Investors in Careers quality award and is identified as ‘the leading school in Britain for the quality of its careers programme’ (The Key for School Leaders). One of only three schools in the country to achieve all of the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks (State of the Nation report), our careers programme ensures that students ‘have their education or training futures organised’ (Ofsted). All students have ‘Careers Lessons’ to begin the process of planning for their future including UCAS, Degree Apprenticeships, School Leavers Programmes, Employment or Gap Year. Our Careers Fair, Study Abroad Fair and ‘Future Evening’ and ‘Finance Evening’, run by recruitment specialists and admissions tutors, means that our students understand their progression routes, understand the benefits of networking and how to manage money. Unlimited 1:1 careers guidance appointments throughout Years 12 and 13, personal statement clinics and mock interview panels means that our students benefit from being part of a school where ‘comprehensive support for university applications is a strength’ (Ofsted).

CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE Many students enrol in to one of our ‘Centres of Excellence’. Mind Lab@SLGGS Our ground breaking centre for psychological research and enquiry opened in 2019 and is the first school based centre of its kind in the country. Students work alongside Mrs Homerston, Director of the Mind Lab, and academics from the University of Kent to carry out cutting edge research, psychological experiments and inform whole school policy on mobile phone use or how students experience positive emotions or what affects peer relations. Langton Language Centre (LLC)@SLGGS A hub of excellence for languages, students can learn to Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and a plethora of ‘unusual’ languages like Korean, Arabic, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Mandarin or Polish. Ab Initio courses in Spanish, an increasing portfolio of lectures on topics such as Austrian literary culture, the Cuban Revolution or on ‘Why French is like Cockney’ sit side by side conferences, trips and the work our students do with academics from the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church. The ‘Active Minds’ Project, in conjunction with completing a language leaders course explores the effect of learning a language on the mind and dementia. An exploration of the linguistic heritage of the British Isles gives students the opportunity to find out about why Latin, French and German phrases exist in our society today. Research into the use of standardised English and ‘Aylesham-onics’ – an exploration of the language history of Aylesham and their particular ‘dialect’ – are other areas that our Sixth Formers have investigated. Sport England Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) Run by university sport scientists, strength and conditioning coaches, nutritionists, psychologists, lifestyle practitioners and UK Anti-Doping Educators, SLGGS is one of only a tiny handful of institutions in England which gives our elite athletes access to this programme. The TASS scheme helps athletes in education – aged 16-plus – to get the very best from their sporting and academic careers without having to choose between the two with sports including Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Football, Netball, Rugby, Shooting, Swimming, Tennis and Triathlon. Langton Music School Students who have an interest in singing, playing, conducting or events planning have been involved in music tours from France to Austria, Belgium to the ‘Five Cathedrals in a Day’ tour in England. There is an abundance of ensembles, choirs, a full orchestra and a Sixth Form Barbershop which means that even those who do not study Music at A Level can continue to pursue their love of music outside the curriculum. ELECTIVE PROGRAMMES Elective programmes are optional and run during lunchtimes: Medics, Dentists, Vets (MDV) Programme@SLGGS Identified by Kent Medical School as the hub school to support all other schools in East Kent, the MDV programme has resulted in 100% success rate in securing offers in Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine for the last 6 years. Top Flight Programme@SLGGS Our very successful specialist support programme for students who wish to apply for highly competitive courses like Law at highly competitive institutions such as Oxbridge the Ivy League, Central St Martins or apprenticeships at the Bank of England or Jaguar Land Rover. Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) Programme@SLGGS The PPE programme introduces our students to the study of the great modern works of economic, political and philosophical thought through an innovative series of tutorials and speakers as we help students understand ethical judgements, determine how resources are allocated and evaluate the choices that political systems must regularly make.

STUDYING FOR YOUR A LEVELS STUDY AREAS There are two main Sixth Form study areas containing approximately 40 computers. One is located next to the Sixth Form Common Room and the second is located next to Lab 1. INDEPENDENT STUDY One of the biggest differences between GCSE subjects and A Level subjects is that A Levels are designed so that teachers cannot deliver the content of the course in A Level lessons alone. A Level guidelines state that it is essential for you to work for at least as many hours outside of lessons as you have hours of lessons themselves. For example, if you have lessons in History that equate to 5 hours in classes each week, then you should work for a minimum of 5 hours outside of lessons on History each week. If you fall behind in your studies, you may be asked to stay behind after school in the sixth form study area until at least 5:30pm. HANDLING YOUR WORKLOAD Many of the best A Level students attend all of their lessons on time, work consistently during every supervised study session and private study session and stay behind after school to work until approximately 5:30pm. The same students spend their time after 5:30pm travelling home and relaxing in the evening before the start of a new day. If you find it hard to meet a deadline or cope with the varying demands of your timetable, then please remember to talk to the subject staff concerned and your Form Tutor as soon as possible. Do not delay! By opening channels of communication early you will discover that we can help to support you. THE LIBRARY You will be issued with a barcoded library ticket, which will entitle you up to 7 items free of charge. You can reserve a book which is out on loan by filling in a reservation slip. DVDs are on loan for 48 hours only. The Library holds key texts for your subjects on reference and short term loan. All bags should be left outside the Library, or on the bag rack situated inside the Library entrance. There is no eating or drinking in the Library and we ask that you observe the rules of silence while you are in the Library. If you do not, you will be asked to leave and may lose all Library privileges. THE SIXTH FORM COMMON ROOM Any Sixth Form student may use the Common Room during private study periods, at lunchtime or at breaktime. The Sixth Form Common Room has a café which is open in the morning, at breaktime and at lunchtime. The cleanliness and tidiness of the Common Room is the responsibility of all Sixth Form students. LOCKERS AND ORGANISATION You can keep all of your school textbooks and resources that you use in the locker that you are allocated at the beginning of the term. Please see your Pastoral Manager should you require any further information about lockers. It is essential that you are well organised and that you attend every lesson equipped with all of the tools to learn. At the minimum, you will be expected to bring in the core text, your folder, pens and paper to every lesson. ATTENDANCE AND ‘HOME STUDY’ THE ATTENDANCE CONTRACT It is essential that you adhere to the Attendance Contract which you signed and returned to us at the beginning of the term. A copy of the contract is pinned up outside the Head of Sixth Form’s office. A student may not progress in to Year 13 if unauthorised absence exceeds 10%. GOING OFF-SITE You are allowed off-site during the lunch hour, but at no other times, unless you have a valid reason and the permission of your Form Tutor, Pastoral Manager or the Head of Sixth Form. If you leave the premises during school hours, you must sign out and sign in again at Student Support.

HOME STUDY In Year 13, students may be allowed to work from home during their personal and supervised study sessions. This is by arrangement with the Head of Sixth Form, and only where excellent progress is being made in all subjects. School occasions and events take priority and you may forfeit this study time because of such an occasion. DRIVING LESSONS While many students could argue that driving lessons are educational in that they are learning an essential new skill, neither the government nor the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) consider driving lessons to be educational in the sense that they should take place during the school day. The government clearly stipulates that students have to complete a programme of a minimum of 540 hours of lessons per annum and the QCA states that A Level students should spend approximately 20 hours per week studying their A Level subjects outside of the classroom which is why we have supervised study sessions and personal study sessions on the timetable. Therefore, students are expected to use the time between 8:45am and 3:25pm to work on the subjects that they are studying. You are also reminded that school ends at 3:25pm, approximately 2 hours before the working world when you might be able to make an appointment for your driving lessons. Alternatively, there are 175 days in the year when students are not expected to be in school when you can learn how to drive. STUDY LEAVE AND PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS Study leave is permitted during the Year 12 end of year examination period and the external examination period. Mr Sherman, the Assistant Headteacher, has overall charge of Public Examinations and must be consulted about entries, especially if you are doing an A Level off-site. If you have been entered for an examination and then subsequently withdraw from the course, you must inform Mr Sherman immediately. Please also consult Mr Sherman if there are any extenuating circumstances prior to your examinations. UNIVERSITY VISITS We encourage all of our students to visit those universities that they are thinking of applying to. Please see the Head of Sixth Form or the Pastoral Manager to book time off to carry out a university visit. BEHAVIOUR IN THE SIXTH FORM BEHAVIOUR As the most senior members of the school, it is incumbent upon you to act as a positive role model to the younger students in the school. It is essential that you adhere to the Code of Conduct which you signed and returned to us at the beginning of the term. THE SIXTH FORM LEARNING AGREEMENT It is essential that you adhere to the Sixth Form Learning Agreement which you signed and returned to us at the beginning of the term. A copy of the agreement is pinned up outside the Head of Sixth Form’s office. THE DRESS CODE It is essential that you adhere to the dress code. A copy of the contract is pinned up outside the Head of Sixth Form’s office. School is a learning environment and therefore a place of work.  Shorts, skirts and dresses should be at least mid-thigh length  Low cut trousers, shorts or necklines are not permitted  Clothing should ensure that underwear is not visible  Strapless tops, strappy tops and vest tops are not permitted  Clothing should ensure that midriffs are covered  The wearing of a hat in school is not permitted  Flip flops and high heels are not permitted  Formal wear is required for some events

The positive atmosphere of our Sixth Form is important to all of us, and the Sixth Form team do not want to spend time on uniform infringements. However, if you do infringe this code, you will be provided with clothing to wear in school and may be sent home for repeated issues. Should any concerns regarding dress or appearance arise, the Head of Sixth Form and/or the Sixth Form Pastoral Manager will address the concern raised with the student. The Head of Sixth Form and the Sixth Form Pastoral Manager have the final say on issues of dress and appearance. THE ‘MOBILE DEVICE E-MAIL AGREEMENT’ You were provided with a username and login at the beginning of the term and details about the way in which your school e-mail and calendar can be shared with your mobile device. It is important that you have ‘synced’ your mobile device and that you adhere to the terms of the ‘Mobile Device E-Mail Agreement’. A copy of the ‘Mobile Device E-Mail Agreement’ can be found outside the Head of Sixth Form’s office. RESPONDING TO E-MAILS AND TEXT MESSAGES It is essential that you respond to all e-mails and text messages that are sent by a member of staff within 48 hours. PARENT/GUARDIAN ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM It is essential that you adhere to the Parent/Guardian Acceptable Use Policy Acknowledgement Form which you signed and returned to us. A copy of the form is pinned up outside the Head of Sixth Form’s office. SUPPORT, REPORTING AND REVIEW REPORTING AND PARENTS’ EVENINGS YEAR 12  Summer assignment scores will be sent home in Term 1  Minimum Target, Current, Predicted and Effort Grades* will be sent home in Terms 2 and 4  A Parents’ Evening will be held in Terms 3 and 6  End of year examination results will be sent home in Term 6 YEAR 13  UCAS Predicted Grades* will be sent home at the start of Term 1  UCAS Predicted, Minimum Target, Current, Predicted and Effort Grades* will be sent home in Term 2  Mock examination results will be sent home in Term 3  A Parents’ Evening will be held in Terms 2 and 3 Students are invited to attend Parents’ Evenings in Years 12 and 13. SUPPORT PLAN Your progress in all your subjects will be monitored regularly and will be discussed with you by your Form Tutor. Your teachers will provide you with a ‘Support Plan’ if you are finding it hard to make progress and Heads of Department and the Head of Sixth Form will support you at specially arranged meetings during the course of the school year if necessary. ADDITIONAL LUNCH TIME AND AFTER SCHOOL SUPPORT A timetable which shows the weekly support sessions that are run by individual departments at Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School will be published and displayed in the Sixth Form area by the end of Term 1. ENTRY INTO YEAR 13 Students should:  Study at least three subjects in Year 13  Achieve at least two D grades and an E grade (DDE) in Year 12  Achieve at least an E grade in the subject that you wish to study at in Year 13 A student may not progress in to Year 13 if unauthorised absence exceeds 10%.

USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT REPORTED GRADES Minimum Target Grade: A minimum grade that a student should achieve at the end of the academic year. It is largely based on a student’s performance at GCSE Level. Current Grade: The grade that a student is achieving at any stage during the course of the year. This is largely based on classwork, homework, assessments and attendance. Predicted Grade: The grade that a teacher awards for submission to UCAS. This is largely based on the end of Year 12 examination result, classwork, homework, assessments and attendance. UCAS Predicted Grade: The grade that a teacher awards for submission to UCAS. This is largely based on the end of Year 12 examination result, classwork, homework, assessments and attendance. FINANCE PARENTPAY Like most schools, Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School allows parents to pay online for any expense associated with the school. You will receive your ParentPay username and login details at the start of the term. Please see the Finance Department if you would like another copy of your username or login details. THE SIXTH FORM FUND FORM We ask that you contribute £60.00, via ParentPay, to the Sixth Form Fund which equates to 29 pence per week in Year 12 and Year 13. BOOK DEPOSIT FORM A fully refundable £50.00 book deposit via ParentPay. The book deposit is refunded when all of the course textbooks are returned on the day of the Leavers’ Breakfast at the end of Year 13. CASHLESS CATERING CONSENT FORM We require the consent of at least one parent in order that the biometric information of each student can be processed. Please be assured that this information remains within the school and that the biometric information taken is an algorithm and not the actual finger print. The preference of the school is to use biometrics as this is more secure and faster than any other method of identification. BURSARIES Details about bursaries are available on application and details are available on the school website. Please visit the Finance Office if you have any further queries. FREE SCHOOL MEALS Find out more about how to qualify for free school meals on the school website. Alternatively, the quickest and easiest way to apply for school meals is to apply online: www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/free-school-meals or contact The KCC Assessment Team directly on 01843 873612. KENT 16+ TRAVEL CARD The application form is available on the school website under the Sixth Form tab. You should receive your travel card at the beginning of the term. Any travel cards not collected will be returned to KCC by the end of September. Please contact the Finance Department if you have any further questions. CAR PARKING Car parking on the school premises is limited to those students with a disability. All other students who wish to drive to school can park free of charge in the bays outside of the school on the roadside or pay £3.00 a day to use the Park and Ride at the top of Old Dover Road.

PAID EMPLOYMENT It is understandable that some students undertake part-time paid employment. Experience in the workplace can be beneficial and we do not discourage part-time paid employment altogether. However, studies have shown that part-time paid employment has a negative impact on your academic progress at school. During term time, we recommend that no student engages in work for more than 10 hours per week and that evening work is not more than once a week, Monday-Friday. Where your academic performance is seen to be falling, we may advise you to discontinue part-time work. SIXTH FORM COMMUNITY THE SIXTH FORM STUDENT LEADERSHIP TEAM Our Sixth Form students are expected to take on leadership and management responsibilities to make a valued contribution to the vitality and character of the community. The Head and Deputy Head Students lead and manage the students in Years 7-13 and act as the school’s ambassadors at key events and oversee the school’s charity work. House and Sports Captains lead and manage relevant whole school events. Senior Prefects oversee the day to day running of the school and act as the front of house team at whole school events. Form Guardians support and nurture students in Year 7. Assisting departments, mentoring younger students and engaging in voluntary work are all activities in which our Sixth Form students make valued contributions. CLUBS, SOCIETIES, PUBLICATIONS AND PROJECTS Clubs and societies run during lunchtimes and after school. There are over 20 clubs and societies, most of which are led by Sixth Form students. The Eco - Society, LGBT+ Society and Classics Society sit alongside student publications, journals and magazines such as the Young Scientists Journal, The F- Word and The Langton Lion. PROJECTS Many students also work on the Arts Award: Gold level 3 qualification, as designers on the Engineering Project, as ‘Mental health champions’ or with Amnesty International. TRIPS Students travel to dozens of destinations in Years 12 and 13 from Vietnam to Greece, Amsterdam to Italy. DofE Gold@SLGGS means that students push personal boundaries, gain new skills and enhance their CVs and university applications in the process and the World Challenge trip challenges students to survive for three weeks in a far flung land! TERM DATES 2020/2021 ACADEMIC YEAR 1st September 2020 STAFF INSET DAY – NO STUDENTS 2nd September 2020 Year 7 & Year 12 students ONLY 3rd September 2020 All Year Groups TERM 1 2nd September 2020 – 20th October 2020 TERM 2 2nd November 2020 - 18th December 2020 TERM 3 4th January 2021 – 12th February 2021 TERM 4 22nd February 2021 - 1st April 2021 TERM 5 19th April 2021 – 28th May 2021 TERM 6 7th June 2021 - 22nd July 2021



HOW TO SURVIVE YEAR 12 FROM STUDENTS WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH IT We hope you find this survival guide useful for your year ahead. It is filled with useful tips and everything we wished we’d known when we were in your position. You’ve finally made it to Sixth Form so make sure you make the most of it. Remember, don’t worry, have fun and ask for help if you need it! All the best Written by the Student Leadership Team EXTRA ADVICE …  Year 12 is a time to change if you want to – it’s a fresh start, you could be a completely different person from who you were in Year 11, especially if you have moved from another school  Take every possible opportunity that you are given, whether that be to perform in dance evening or go on the French exchange, you want to experience as much as possible!  Revise as much as you can, do not be afraid to start early and try new or different revision styles. Also, don’t be scared of revision and exams overall, everyone goes through them and just try to make it as good as possible!  From as early as possible, try to have a clear aim for your two years in Sixth Form. What are your goals? Where do you want to be in 5 years? What do you need to do to reach those goals?  It’s good to get a job but don’t allow this to become your main focus – you want your weekends filled with school work and seeing friends WHERE SHOULD I LOOK FOR HELP?  Talk to your teachers! They really are there to help you, email them or ask them in person as many questions as you possibly can  Talk to your careers advisor… she’s very knowledgeable and has lots of good advice about applying for university, apprenticeships and life post Sixth Form  Speak to your Pastoral Manager or Head of Sixth Form if you’re struggling with anything or are worried about a friend, particularly during this very stressful time period  Go to your Head Students with suggestions on how your Sixth Form life could be improved  Speak to Year 13’s about anything else they wish they’d done in Year 12 TOP TIPS  Hit the ground running – revise as you go along and do the work set by your teachers  Work in as many of your private study periods as you can. If you feel you cannot commit to this then perhaps tell yourself that you are allowed 2 private study periods in the Common Room per week, and the others you will spend working.  Get involved, to get the most out of Sixth Form life and do something you always wished you had done in the lower school – apply for leadership roles and help out with the lower school and open evenings and join a club or research project  Past papers will become your best friends, use them for every subject and before every test – write everything you got wrong on a revision card and make sure you know it for next time  Make the Common Room into the nicest place you can – try not to leave rubbish everywhere and bring in some blankets and cushions  If you have any suggestions or ways to improve the school, then make sure to tell your Head Students  If it gets too hard, you don’t understand something or you need some advice, then don’t keep quiet about it – make sure to tell a teacher or someone else that you trust – none of the teachers want to see you fail!  Work hard and believe in yourself!

WHAT TO EXPECT + WHAT WE WISHED WE KNEW  Keep all your notes in order from the beginning of Year 12 and make good notes as you go along for the end of each topic  You will get stressed at some point: A Levels are not easy but just remember that you’re not going through this alone and even if it doesn’t feel like it they will end!  Use the specification to make your notes – examiners will literally make questions based on this  Your mocks are important – if you go into Year 13 understanding everything from Year 12 then you will be at a massive advantage  You will not have the nicest area in the Common Room in Year 12 – these will be territorially occupied by Year 13’s – just respect this and no one gets hurt!  Use the summer between Year 12 and Year 13 wisely – revise what you did in Year 12 and get ahead  3 subjects does not mean less work BEING A BOY IN A GIRLS’ SCHOOL  DON’T WORRY  You’ll find friends if you put yourself out there – don’t be afraid to stand out, you’re going to regardless  Expect to be the only boy in your lessons  Learn how to understand sarcasm  Take full advantage of the exclusive boys’ toilets (they’re nicer than the girls’ ones) CHANGING FRIENDS  People will leave, move and change in Sixth Form so expect to have different friends than in Year 11  Embrace it – you’ll end up being good friends with people you may never have thought you would be friends with  Welcome new people into your friendship group as well, put yourself in their shoes and how much better you could make their Sixth Form experience just by welcoming them into your friendship group People will also change a lot in the summer between Year 11 and Year 12 and if you suddenly feel out of place with the people you were friends with before then you’re not alone! BEST ASPECTS OF YEAR 12  Finally, you can wear non-uniform so use this as an opportunity to express yourself (but within the boundaries of the dress code)  Look forward to the day ‘dedicated to fun’ at the end of the year and if you have any suggestions for it then don’t hesitate to raise them  Taking only the subjects you really want to take  You and your friends will start being old enough to drive so you won’t have to walk to Sainsbury’s anymore or get the bus to school  Being a marshal rather than walking the sponsored walk  Being given the opportunity to apply for the Student Leadership team HOW TO USE YOUR SUMMER WISELY AIMING FOR OXBRIDGE OR EARLY ENTRY?  Get reading! Get a book related to your subject, read it and make notes of key ideas and quotations as you go along.  Watch some videos on your subject, go to a lecture or apply to a summer school.  Refine your personal statement and make sure to get other people to read it.  Go to summer schools – just google them to find out more! The most beneficial ones are usually the ones that you’re selected for rather than the ones you pay loads of money for so just be aware! NOT EARLY ENTRY Decide what you want to do after sixth form and where you want to do it. This means you will start Year 13 with a greater focus as you will have your goals in mind.

WORK AND REVISION  DO NOT FEEL YOU HAVE TO REVISE ALL SUMMER TO DO WELL IN A LEVELS! Make sure that you understand everything from Year 12. Anything you don’t, write it down and sort these out at the beginning of Year 13 by asking your teachers.  Look up the specification of your subjects for next year so you have a good idea of what is to come. HOW TO SURVIVE YEAR 13 WRITING PERSONAL STATEMENTS  Keep everything related to the course that you want to study in a folder (e.g. books and certificates) so when you come to write your personal statement you have everything in one place  Don’t stress too much over it – we found some universities for some courses won’t even read them and if they do it’s just to ensure you are the right candidate for the course  MEET THE DEADLINES! They’re set for a reason!  Keep it concise and use your own words  If you really love the subject you want to do then don’t be afraid to sound passionate in your statement but avoid colloquial words and phrases such as ‘I love this because…’ WEBSITES FOR RESEARCHING  Which.uni.com  Thecompleteuniversityguide.com  UCAS  The Guardian University Guide  Alternative student prospectuses  YouTube videos – loads of students make them about their honest opinions and experiences at uni WHERE SHOULD I LOOK FOR HELP?  Your Pastoral Manager – she can help in her own right with school or personal matters or refer you to school counselling if necessary  Your friends – often you’ll be going through the same sorts of things, or at least they’ll be in the same environment  Head of Sixth Form – changing subjects and timetabling  Careers advisor – non-judgmental help with careers and university  thestudentroom.com has loads of tips for a variety of subjects and helpful general forums to do with school and teenage life  Your teachers – they’ll have the best idea of how you’re doing in relation to your studies, and can help with extra- curricular opportunities to do with their subject  And if all else fails … Club Chem is open 10pm – 3am Wednesday – Saturday (6am close) TOP TIPS  Take advantage of all the opportunities and scholarships offered to you e.g. The Careers Fair  Revise as much as you can  Read  Use the study room or the library in your frees and sit in the Common Room at lunch and break to socialise  Find a good balance between going out and working  Don’t let part time jobs distract you from your revision – studying will need to become your top priority if you want to do well  Do a bit of work most days, then you’ll get into a routine of productivity  For language students, make sure you learn 5 or so words a day, and come exams your vocabulary will be so much stronger!  Don’t feel pressured into going to uni – if you don’t know what you want to do then take a step back and think, it’s your life after all

WHAT TO EXPECT + WHAT WE WISHED WE KNEW  It’s really hard but it doesn’t have to be!  Gather all your notes in one place from the start of the year – you never know how much of it you will need (quote from Charlie: ‘I wish I had gathered all my notes from lessons in one place as I learnt throughout the year because now I have so many pieces of paper that I’m going to have to use as toilet paper because I don’t know what it means anymore’)  Revision guides do not contain all the information that you need  Take school more seriously and personal life less seriously – everyone will go out after exams as well, you’re really not missing that much TIPS ON GOING OUT  BE SAFE – You’ve grown up in Canterbury so when you go out you feel comfortable and invisible BUT there are still strange people around and cities are completely different places at night  Do not keep your card in the back of your phone – if you lose your phone, you lose both  Take a picture of the ticket they give you in the cloak room, then it doesn’t matter if you lose your ticket  Know how you’re getting home before you go out and make sure someone knows where you are – and never get into a car where you know the driver has been drinking  As exams start getting closer, going out needs to take the back foot – perhaps make a rule amongst your friends that you only go out for birthdays  Don’t feel forced into going – if you didn’t like clubbing the first time, chances are you won’t like it the next time  Don’t worry too much about it!! Have fun! It’s a good way to forget about all your work for the night HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR  Turning 18  Never having to go to school ever again (also very sad)  Getting to know all sorts of people from different backgrounds and learning about their culture  Being the oldest in the school  Getting the best areas in the Common Room  Greater relationships and banter with teachers REVISION THE RULE OF 8 You have 24 hours in a day. Split it into 3 lots of 8 hours. 8 hours should be spent sleeping (you can’t do anything well without sleep!), 8 should be spent studying/doing homework (this includes the 1 – 4 hours of lessons you may have in a school day), and the final 8 are yours to do what you like – eat, see friends, work, go out. Especially leading up to exams this ensures you get at least 8 hours of work done per day but you still get enough sleep and see your friends. THE STAIRS TRICK Using revision cards (or even just bits of paper) put a key term or question or something you know you need to remember on the back. Put one on each step of your stairs. Pick up the card on your first step. If you get it right then you can step up to the next card. If you get it wrong you have to go right back to the bottom and begin again. Once you get to the top you should know everything on the back of those cards.  Revise for topic tests thoroughly, make notes using the specification and revision guides – you’ll thank yourself in the long run  Condense what you need to know and then test yourself by elaborating from this condensed information  Bring some revision cards in your bag with you – you never know when you’re going to have a spare moment  Look at topics regularly and often, even just running through some revision cards from a topic you haven’t done in ages will help you in the long run