Sixth Form Student Bulletin Week beginning

Sixth Form Student Bulletin
Week beginning Monday 27th April 2015 (Week A)
Tuesday 5th May: Leavers’ Assembly
Monday 11th May : Start of the summer exam timetable
Monday 8th June: A2 courses start for Year 12
Tuesday 16th June : Higher Education Evening for all Year 12 parents
6.00pm-7.30pm
 Friday 19th June : Higher Education Trip for all Year 12 students to
Sheffield-details to follow
 Wednesday 24th June: Year 13 Leavers’ BBQ
 Monday 29th June - Friday 3rd July: Year 12 Work Experience Week
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Please note that the school will be open for revision on the following
Saturdays: 9th and 16th May and the 13th June.
The Common Room and the IT rooms will be available and if you need
a room to do some group revision in we can open up one of the
science labs.
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Revision Tips
1. Avoid distractions: Mobile Phones (or Gaming) and revision = lack of focus on the subject
matter = lack of success in the exam. So…..turn it off and put it away.
2. Planning: Draw up a plan for your revision - which topics need covering and when are you
going to cover them?
3. Time : 3 hours a day is generally the recommended amount for after school revision up to
the exams. At weekends 6 hours is the recommended amount. So create the time, in
particular it is essential that you book time off work.
4. Method: find a method that works - this takes time. Notes/mind maps/flash cards/group
revision/pair testing/past papers…..Ask for help if your way isn’t working.
5. Relaxation - if you are spending a large amount of the day revising your brain needs a
break so; exercise/see friends/watch your favourite TV programmes.
6. Ask for help - if you are getting worried - don’t suffer in silence.
Revise on the go!
AS Psychology Revision App by Cara Flanagan –Year 12 Psychology students, please have a look at
this
The Common Room
The Library Quiet Room is open to work in until 4.00pm each day.
Remember the Common Room is open until 6.00pm every day for you to work in.
Revision Sessions this term
A-Level Geography Revision Session Timetable 2015 after Easter
Date
Monday 20th April
Monday 27th April
Wednesday 29th April
Wednesday 6th May
Wednesday 13th May
Topic
AS GEOG1 – Population
AS GEOG1 – Health
AS GEOG1 – Rivers
AS GEOG1 – Cold environments
AS GEOG2 – Skills and personal
investigation
Tuesday 2nd June
Wednesday 3rd June
Monday 8th June
A2 GEOG3 – World Cities
A2 GEOG3 – Tectonics
A2 GEOG3 – Development and
Globalisation
A2 GEOG3 – Weather
A2 GEOG4 – Skills and personal
investigation
Wednesday 10th June
Wednesday 17th June
Miss Walter is running ‘drop in’ sessions every Monday on Kindertransport for
Year 12 English Literature to offer extra support on areas you are unsure of and to
go through past papers
Physics with Mr Henderson in S1 on Monday lunchtimes and with Mr Teal
after school on Tuesdays.
Psychology and Sociology AS after school on Wednesdays and Thursdays
History are running revision sessions every Wednesday in H4 for The Condition
of England
The recent Ofsted Inspection
Thank you again to you all for your input during the inspection and special
thanks to those of you who spoke to the inspectors.
Following last month’s inspection the school was found to ‘require
improvement’. ‘Requiring Improvement’ is the term Ofsted now use for
schools that were once referred to as ‘satisfactory’.
The report is available on-line and there is a small amount written about the
Sixth Form at the end of it. There is a summary below of the comments
made about the Sixth Form and as you will see the comments are positive.
The category we have is because there is an ‘Ofsted Framework’ for
inspections whereby if results are hitting, ‘expected standards’ and are
around ‘National Average’ the Sixth Form cannot be given a ‘Good’, no
matter how good it is in other respects. Our Sixth Form hits National
Averages and students come in to it with slightly below average GCSE
grades. I will leave you to draw your own conclusions on the system.
 The sixth form is improving. Standards are broadly average and
improving overall, demonstrating students are making the progress
they should.
 Almost all students achieve pass grades at A Level by the end of Year
13 (The figure, not in the report, is 99.5%-there was 1 U grade last
year).
 Students are well supported in their learning and given help to
improve.
 Students feel generally well supported in their learning and personal
development through Years 12 and 13. They find careers information
useful in the breadth of information that it provides to help them
make decisions about their future.
 Students like the sixth form, which they say gives them good
opportunities to develop both their academic and personal skills
 Students are good ambassadors for the school because they behave
well, act maturely, attend very regularly and get to school on time
 Younger students in the school look up to the sixth form students
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Sporting Activities out of school
If you take part in sport out of school or officiate out of school could you
please let Mrs Booth have the details – thank you.
Year 13s – Locker Keys
Please remember to return these to student reception (to get your deposit
back), when you have finished using them.
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Careers Appointments
We have no more scheduled interview days but if you do need to speak to the
careers advisor please let Mrs Booth know and she will arrange an interview
for you. Our careers advisor will also be around to speak to and offer advice
on Results Days
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Happy Birthday this week to:
Dineka Keeton – 2nd May
Thomas Mendham – 2nd May
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Year 12 Work Experience June 29th - July 3rd
Please send off your applications for work experience as soon as possible if
you haven’t already done so. Risk Assessments need to be in place and if
these are not up to date and legal then unfortunately the placement will not
be allowed. Tutors will be distributing an Employer Agreement Form which
you need to complete and hand back to Mrs Booth as soon as possible. IF
YOUR PLACEMENT IS NOT RISK ASSESSED AND APPROVED THEN THE WORK
EXPERIENCE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED.
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Shadow Judging opportunity for the BBC National Short Story Award
This is available to all Year 12 and 13 students who are interested in shadow
judging the BBC National Short Story Award with Book Trust alongside Sarah
Hall, Ian Rankin, Allan Little, Tash Aw and Di Speirs
Register your interest before the 22nd May, check the website for more
details http://www.booktrust.org.uk/prizes/1
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Vacancy Bulletin
Deloitte Bright Start school leaver opportunities for Year 13 students:
Deloitte are offering students the opportunity to join them on their various school leaver
schemes, where they will be exposed to a range of business areas working alongside
leading professionals.
This is an excellent way for students to kick-start their career, build their professional
network, work towards professional qualifications and earn a competitive salary straight
after school or college. Throughout this five-year programme, Deloitte will organise social
activities especially for BrightStart students, as well as offering the chance to join
companywide clubs – making this a great alternative to university!
Visit their website for more details
http://www.purepotential.org/events/opportunities-with-deloitte/
Pure Potential
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British Gas Apprenticeships
British Gas are looking for individuals for Apprenticeships and Traineeships
Information System Apprentice
Apprentice Gas Installation Engineer
Trainee Smart Metering Expert
All information and links to apply for the above roles are on the
Apprenticeship Notice board just outside the office.
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Year 12
University-planning ahead
We have arranged to take you all to a UCAS Higher Education Fair in
Sheffield after your exams. We have also arranged an evening for you
and your parents where the process of applying and financing university
will be explained.
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Year 13
 University offers and finance - What to do?
If you haven’t replied to your offers yet please see Mrs Livings
 Finance applications: you need to be getting on with these.
https://www.gov.uk/student-finance-register-log
 Apprenticeship help for Year 13
On Fridays after school Mrs Livings is available to help anyone applying
for apprenticeships or employment. Please come along or see her and if
you can’t make Fridays a different time for help can be set up.
Visit www.careermap.co.uk – the quick and easy way to search for
apprenticeships in your area
Mrs Booth has up to date information on apprenticeship opportunities across
the East Midlands please ask her for more information
Apprenticeship opportunities are also available from the App Store for
iphone users and from Google Play for android phone users
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Financial help in the Sixth Form
If your family circumstances change during your time in the 6th Form and this
leads to financial hardship please come to see us so that we can see if it is
possible for you to access the bursary fund.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------News Item of the week
I am sure we have all been shocked and saddened by the news this week of so
many people losing their lives drowning on their way to Europe from Africa,
and then on Saturday at the news of an earthquake striking Nepal with an
estimated 2,000 people dead.
I know many of you will already be thinking of how we can respond to such a
need for help. Please let your tutors know on Tuesday of any ideas you have.
Nepal death toll climbs towards 2,000 as world
responds to earthquake Casualties and Damage
The magnitude-7.8 quake was the worst to hit Nepal in eight decades and caused damage and
fatalities in neighbouring countries. In addition to more than 2,100 people killed in Nepal, a
total of at least 61 died in India, Bangladesh, China’s region of Tibet and Pakistan.
The earthquake hit a heavily populated area of Nepal, including the capital, Kathmandu
where at least 721 people died and its impact spread far beyond the Kathmandu Valley.
Strong aftershocks were still being felt Sunday, including one with a magnitude of 6.7.
Local hospitals were filling with injured residents, and Kathmandu’s international airport was
shut down for hours, hampering initial relief efforts in the isolated mountainous country.
Among the destroyed buildings in Kathmandu was the nine-story Dharahara Tower, a
landmark built by Nepal’s royal rulers as a watchtower in the 1800s and a UNESCOrecognized historical monument. It was reduced to rubble and there were reports of people
trapped underneath.
Aid efforts
With Kathmandu’s airport reopened Sunday, the first aid flights began delivering supplies.
The first to respond were Nepal’s neighbours India, China and Pakistan.
Indian air force planes landed with 43 tons of relief material, including tents and food, and
nearly 200 rescuers, India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said. The
planes were returning to New Delhi with Indian nationals stranded in Kathmandu. More aid
flights were planned for Sunday.
A 62-member Chinese search and rescue team also arrived Sunday. Other countries sending
support included the United Arab Emirates, Germany and France.
Pakistan prepared to send four C-130 aircraft, carrying a 30-bed temporary hospital
comprising army doctors, surgeons and specialists. An urban search and rescue team was also
sent with ground-penetrating radars, concrete cutters and sniffing dogs. Pakistan was also
sending 2,000 ready-to-eat meal packs, water bottles, medicines, 200 tents, 600 blankets and
other necessary items.
The Guardian website Sunday 26th April
Thought for the week
"Those of us enjoying freedom and with our basic needs met, have a moral
obligation to engage in compassionate activism on behalf of those who have no
freedom, who have no voice, whose situation is precarious, whose lives are in
crisis." Women’s Aid International