Sixth Form Department

2019-06-21 Senior Department Newsletter

The typical day starts with registration in the tutor groups and then either assembly, chapel or tutor time.

Tutor time will consist of discussions and debates and include topics such as stereotyping, right and responsibilities as well as key and current news articles. There is also regular tracking meetings with individual students which will highlight areas of support needed and set manageable targets for the following weeks. Students will then attend their timetabled lessons or work in the study centre or relax in The Refectory. In addition to the timetabled academic subjects students will also have timetabled careers and enrichment.

Saint Felix pupils celebrated another very successful set of A Level results achieving a 99% pass rate with over a third of pupils achieving A*/A with particularly strong results in Classics, Spanish, Business Studies and Economics.

The vast majority of students will go on to study at their university of choice including Rosy Sida who secured her place to read Classics at Kings College, Cambridge with an outstanding 100% mark for her Latin A Level (A*) plus A* in Ancient History and A in Drama.

Headmaster James Harrison comments “It’s particularly pleasing to see exceptional Maths grades again; Saint Felix received an award for the best A Level Maths results in the UK two years ago, and so we remain one of the country’s most outstanding Maths departments.

At Saint Felix all year 12 and 13 students will have timetabled career sessions.

The aim of these is to support the student in making the right decisions as to where to move onto after leaving the school. This will include support for University, Apprenticeships, going into work or taking a gap year.

All students start the process with the use of SACU and this then forms the bases for research and discussions as to the options that are available to them. Students spend time looking at the skills that are needed and this range from personal and soft skills through to the use of digital skills and enterprise.

Students leave Saint Felix to move onto new and exciting experiences:

Student Destinations 2019

Link to UCAS website

Link to SACU website

At Saint Felix we strongly believe that there is more to being a Sixth Former than just academic study; that there is also the responsibility of developing skills that will support life outside and beyond the school gates.

To support this ‘Learning for Life’ we have developed a programme of life skills that runs throughout the sixth form and is an extension of the curriculum.
Topics covered will include:

• Developing effective arguments
• Debating
• Model UN
• Money Management
• Student Cooking
• Car Maintenance

At Saint Felix we aim to help students develop into independent young adults ready to face the challenges when they leave to attend University, Apprenticeships or the world of work.

To this end when students arrive in the Sixth Form they are given an increased amount of freedom. This starts with coming out of school uniform and into formal work wear, where individuality can be expressed.

Initially students are supported to manage their time and their work, however as they progress over the two years they are expected to take on the management of this themselves. Students are closely monitored by their tutor and Head of Sixth Form to ensure that they have the balance correct and support and guidance will be given where necessary.

The typical day starts with registration in the tutor groups and then either assembly, chapel or tutor time. Tutor time will consist of discussions and debates on key and current news articles. There is also regular tracking meetings with individual students which will highlight areas of support needed and set manageable targets for the following weeks. Students will then attend their timetabled lessons or work in the study centre or relax in The Refectory.

In the Sixth Form we expect students to take on supporting and leadership roles throughout the whole school. Students will spend time supporting the younger students in both curriculum and extra curriculum areas, with many working directly with Pre- Prep and Prep school teachers. In Year 13 students can apply for a number of senior student positions and take on whole school leadership roles.

All students are allocated a personal tutor and will have regular meetings to discuss areas that the student is concerned about.

PSHEE is not taught as a separate subject but will form part of the Enrichment and Skills Programme that is delivered. Students are also free to speak to the Head of Sixth Form and any of the nursing staff in the San if they wish to.

Students on entering the sixth form will typically choose 3 A Levels.

Students who have not met the minimum national standards in GCSE Mathematics and English Language will also have weekly timetabled classes in these subjects. Where it is appropriate students will be put onto the IGCSE English curriculum.

All overseas students when they arrive will be given English Literacy tests and will have either timetabled IELTS lessons or be given the option of taking GCSE English Language. Students will also be given the chance to take the A Level of their first language.