Sixth Form Student Handbook 2021

Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School Sixth Form Student Handbook 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 Headteacher: Senior Assistant Headteacher (Pastoral): Mr P Pollard Senior Assistant Headteacher (Academic): Mr R Green Assistant Headteacher (Data) Miss H Blaskett-Foord Mr J Sénéchal Mr E Sherman Telephone Number: 01227 463711 E-mail Address: [email protected] Absence Email Address: [email protected] Website: www.langton.kent.sch.uk Head of Sixth Form: THE SIXTH FORM TEAM Pastoral Manager (Years 11 & 12): Pastoral Manager (Years 12 & 13): Miss K Cameron-Fleming Sixth Form Admissions and Timetable: Ms L Jackson 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 Emily Clarke Amelia Coleman DEPUTY HEAD STUDENTS Hannah Boulton Drishya Rai HOUSE CAPTAINS Austen – Wiliam Barker and Lily Edmondson Curie – Murray Ethell and Anushka Mirza Fonteyn – Thomas James and Sophie Uzzell Johnson – Emmie Heath and Ian Hooks Nightingale – Lottie Neame and Louis Small Pankhurst – Onadi Gamage and Hermione Paul

SPORTS CAPTAINS Jack Small – Sixth Form Lucy Warren – Key Stage 4 Emilia Stokes – Key Stage 3 FORM GUARDIANS 7A – Isobel Den McKay, Charlotte Lucas, Alicia Nielsen Gorgojo 7C – Amelie Hull, Lucy Kyle, Lottie Line 7F – Eliza Allen, Amelie Barnes, Grace Elliott 7J – Katy Oliver, Emily Stephens, Matilda West 7N – Finn Astin Cooke, Cerys Collins, Ellie Simpson 7P – Millie-Rose Dale, Sarah Farhan, Imogen Pethick SENIOR PREFECTS – YEAR 13 TEAM LEADERS Victoria Pope Hanna Clarke YOUR VOICE We value student feedback and you will find a box outside Mrs Bramwell’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 Students involved in this award-winning project will have the opportunity to: • Carry out conservation and maintenance activities within the Orchard such as planting trees, weeding, maintaining the pond, pruning hedgerow etc. The area devoted to wildlife will be increasing next year due to the demolition of the old school building, so there is lots to do! • Set up trail cameras and use the footage to produce short video clips to upload to the school website. • Take part in a research project to study the impact of biodiversity on psychological and physiological well-being of SLGGS students. The research involves measuring the impact of taking a walk in different environments on feelings of well-being (measured using a questionnaire) and physical factors such as pulse rate and blood pressure. • Work with our Science Partner for this project, Dr Turner. He is a highly regarded entomologist and conservationist at the University of Cambridge. The Orchard Project has recently won a Green School Award in the Nature Conservation Category. Perfume@SLGGS After signing a confidentiality agreement, students work with industry experts to analyse the chemical make-up of perfume and effect that smells have on humans. 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 into 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 The Philosophy Project @ SLGGS has been designed to introduce you to some of the most influential thinkers of our modern world and to engage with life's 'big questions'. Philosophy can be defined as 'the study of the ultimate nature of existence, reality, knowledge and goodness, as discoverable by human reasoning.' (Penguin English Dictionary). In the Philosophy Project you will be challenged to explore your own morality and understanding of the nature of knowledge and existence. Greenpower F24@SLGGS The Greenpower Project is an electric race car designed and built to enter the Greenpower Electric Car Championships against other schools Nationally. The car was built by the current Year 12’s (chassis, motor, seat, steering, wheels etc and it drives!) but now needs a body fitting and the set up refining (telemetry, safety, brakes etc) – the car drives well and we have had fun this year already! You will be part of a team of approximately 12 and will need to be keen, hands on with tools and have an interest in engineering. Sessions will be workshop based with some testing on the school field – do not think you are signing up to drive a car every week! We also want to attract some local sponsorship to brand the car with and help support us financially for the next stage – racing! ArchIVE@SLGGS Students engage with the theory of archives and analyse materials and artefacts that have been never accessed by academics before at the First and Second World War archives at Dover Castle. This year, students will be collating their projects as part of an innovative online exhibition. OpenMinds@SLGGS Debate: discussion, development, discernment. There is no better way to clarify your ideas than to test them out among a group of your forthright, articulate, vigorously arguing peers. Come prepared to hear arguments on a given topic, to write a short speech, to support your colleagues as they write theirs, to listen and vote on the motion. You might be surprised at the results; and surprised at yourself, and what you can do faced with a challenge. Open Minds: opening your mind. ChangeYourMind@SLGGS (starting in January 2022) Are you interested in a career working with children and young people? This exciting programme, that we are launching for the first time, could be just the thing you need! This programme is a project that offers research skills, coaching skills, and can help you overcome personal anxieties to cope with many skills you may have to use in the workplace. This will also make your CV and personal statement stand out. You will work as a team and also independently. You will develop your ideas from the ground up – initially developing resources to use with primary school children in their school, or at SLGGS if the children are able to visit us. You will also approach primary schools to offer the workshops. You will be given time to research and train to mentor Year 5/6 children in topics such as internet safety, positive body image, hygiene and mental health and wellbeing. Young children will look up to you and take on board this information from someone who is closer in age to them than a teacher! We will support you with all aspects of the training. This project is already run in many other schools and has been very successful and is gaining excellent recognition nationwide. 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: Pathway to Medics, Dentists, Vets (MDV)@SLGGS MDV has 100% success rate in securing offers in Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine for the last 7 years. Weekly meetings help students prepare for success and the programme runs in parallel to the equally successful Pathway to Healthcare, which has also had 100% success in securing students’ places. Pathway to Oxbridge@SLGGS Our very successful specialist support programme for students who wish to apply for highly competitive courses at Oxford and Cambridge. We have a success rate more than twice the national average and increased numbers year on year. Pathway to the Ivy League@SLGGS Applying to universities in the US is a highly complex process and we are delighted that our preparation programme has had such success in securing places including Harvard and the leading design college in the US. Pathway to Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) and Law@SLGGS The PPE and Law pathways form part of our specialist Pathways to the Professions programmes that run to help students secure places in highly competitive courses. The PPE programme, for example, 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. The Pathway to Law programme harnesses the skills and experiences of judges, barristers, solicitors and legal executives to secure students’ places in law degrees and degree apprenticeships. Pathway to Engineering@SLGGS New for 2021 is our Pathway to Engineering which will be run by our Design Engineering, Maths and Physics Departments to encourage the interdisciplinary approach that is at the heart of a career in engineering. This exciting opportunity will enable you to work with industry specialists and academics and provide you with a competitive edge. Pathway to Apprenticeship Securing a place on a degree apprenticeship is tough! The most competitive vacancies in the UK require a specialist approach. This programme has secured students places on degree apprenticeships in Engineering at Jaguar Land Rover and BMW Mini, in Structural Engineering at Blue Consulting, at the ITV legal department as a Legal Executive and at PWC as a Tax Accountant. STUDYING FOR YOUR A LEVELS STUDY AREAS All students have access to a minimum of 5 spaces (usually 6) during every private study period every day, alongside the Sixth Form Study Room, Sixth Form Common Room and Library. 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.

HANDLING YOUR WORKLOAD 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. 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. 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. If you lose a book, you will be expected to replace it. THE SIXTH FORM COMMON ROOM Any Sixth Form student may use the Common Room during private study periods, at lunchtime or at breaktime. The cleanliness and tidiness of the Common Room is the responsibility of all Sixth Form students. ORGANISATION 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 Pastoral Manager’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, the Head of Sixth Form or Attendance Officer. You must sign out on the screen in reception if you leave site for any reason. 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 Pastoral Manager’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 Pastoral Manager’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 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’ 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. SUPPORT, REPORTING AND REVIEW REPORTING AND PARENTS’ EVENINGS YEAR 12 • Summer assignment scores will be sent home in Term 1 • Reporting data will be sent home in Terms 2 & 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 • Reporting data and UCAS Predicted Grades will be sent home in Term 1 • 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 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.

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 – impartial help with careers and university • 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 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 • 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.