Sixth Form Award by Bishop's Stortford College

Bishop’s Stortford College

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non scholae, sed vitae discimus we do not learn for school, but for life

THE SIXTH FORM AWARD The Sixth Form is an exciting time where you begin to take ownership for creating your own future. You have begun that journey by choosing A Levels that you enjoy and are good at – but preparing for life beyond the College involves much more than the standard academic qualifications, important as they are. We want you to have the chance to branch out, have fun and build up a portfolio of skills and experiences that will help you to stand out from the crowd. The Sixth Form Award is designed to present some options for you to do just this. We want to encourage you to find areas that you enjoy and will further your skill set and experiences. You may be someone who already has a good idea of the general direction you would like to go in for future studies. In which case, pick skills and activities that will help you to stand out from the crowd in that area. Most pupils joining our Lower Sixth need to identify the post-18 option which will suit them. The Award gives you the opportunity to build general skills and broaden your horizons by trying new things that will help you find the direction you want to take in the future. The key is that you take ownership of your own portfolio. Your tutor and Mrs Marshman will help you if you are unsure.

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HOW WILL THE AWARD WORK? The Award works by giving credits to activities that you do throughout your time in the Sixth Form (from Autumn in the L6th to the end of Spring in the U6th). Each activity is placed within a band and is awarded credits based on the time and commitment involved. •

and 1– requires Sixth Formers to attend weekly sessions, prepare outside the B session and achieve a significant qualification. Activities in this section earn 40 credits.

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and 2 – requires Sixth Formers to attend weekly sessions, do some B preparation outside the classroom and may result in a qualification. Activities in this section earn 20 credits.

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and 3 – requires Sixth Formers to attend weekly sessions for a term, with B little or no preparation needed outside of this. Activities in this section earn 10 credits.

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and 4 – requires Sixth Formers to show a sustained commitment over several B weeks, not necessarily a term. Activities in this section earn 5 credits.

Band 1 requires the most time, effort and generally results in an external qualification. Therefore, it carries the most credits. Bands 2 to 4 decrease accordingly. You will be expected at the very least to complete one Band 1 option in the L6th as well as a term’s worth of volunteering at some point during your Sixth Form studies. These are the only compulsory elements. You have complete control over the other activities you choose to take because the Award is designed to be unique to you, to suit your interests, develop your skills and help you meet your aspirations. For instance, if you are in the school musical you might want to reduce your other activities that term and then pick others up in the following term. At the end of each term, you will need to upload evidence of your activity on Morrisby. Mrs Marshman will check this and once accepted, credits will be given accordingly. At the end of the Award, there will be an Award Dinner which will be a chance for your contributions and efforts to be acknowledged and you will receive your Award at Speech Day. There are different levels to the Award, according to the commitment you show, and this will be calculated according to the credits you have earned during your time in the Sixth Form. Pass – 80 credits Merit – 110 credits Distinction – 140 credits

‘Prepare yourself to be employable and successful’ Katie Couric

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HOW DOES THIS WORK IN PRACTICE? Here are a few examples of how someone might choose to build their programme. These are purely examples, however, no two pupils will have an identical programme since the Award is designed to be bespoke to each individual Sixth Former.

OXBRIDGE APPLICANT – GAINED AN AWARD WITH DISTINCTION BY EARNING 155 CREDITS. Autumn L6 EPQ

Spring L6 EPQ

Academic Enrichment

10 Academic enrichment

Rugby 1st XV

10 External Competition

Volunteering

Summer L6 EPQ

Autumn U6 40 Academic 20 enrichment x 2

External essay Competition

10 Rugby 1st XV

Spring U6 Academic enrichment

Academic Prefect

FUTURE ENTREPRENEUR – GAINED AN AWARD WITH DISTINCTION BY EARNING 125 POINTS CREDITS. Autumn L6 Mini MBA Student Investor PDP

Spring L6 Mini MBA 10 Student Investor PDP

Summer L6 Mini MBA

Autumn U6 40 Volunteering

Student Investor PDP

10 Microsoft Specialist Qualification

Spring U6 Food hygiene Course

Head of House

INTERESTED IN THE CREATIVE ARTS – GAINED AN AWARD WITH DISTINCTION BY EARNING 135 CREDITS. Autumn L6 EPQ Play

Spring L6 EPQ 20 External Competition Adobe skills

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Summer L6 EPQ

Autumn U6 40 Volunteering

Spring U6 10

External Competition

Life drawing

Fusion 360

Running a PDP

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SPORTS ENTHUSIAST – GAINED AN AWARD WITH DISTINCTION BY EARNING 135 CREDITS. Autumn L6 Sports Leadership Course 1st XV Hockey

Spring L6 Sports Leadership Course 10 1st XI Netball LTA Level 1

Summer L6 Sports Leadership Course

Autumn U6 40 Volunteering 10 – coaching younger pupils.

Spring U6

1st XII Rounders

10 1st XV Hockey 10

1st XI Netball

NPLQ

Spring U6 Volunteering

LTA Level 2

MUSICIAN – GAINED AN AWARD WITH DISTINCTION BY EARNING 145 CREDITS. Autumn L6 EPQ Grade 8 x1

Spring L6 EPQ 20 Grade 8 x1

Music ensemble

Summer L6 EPQ 20

Music ensemble

Autumn U6 House Music Lead

External competition

Portfolio building

Diploma

Music ensemble

Spring U6 Volunteering

Netball 1st VII

Choir

Prefect

LIKES DOING EVERYTHING! GAINED AN AWARD WITH DISTINCTION WITH 205 CREDITS. Autumn L6 EPQ Play

Spring L6 EPQ 20 Netball 1st VII

Summer L6 EPQ 10

External Competition

Choir

Adobe skills

Choir

Ivy House

Choir

Ivy House

40 5

Autumn U6 House Music Lead Grade 8 Singing

Ivy House

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SIXTH FORM AWARD ACTIVITIES

The list below is indicative only. There is so much going on at the College and of course with this Award you can create your own options too. You may already be committed to College activities such as Orchestra, Choir, Sports teams. These will be credited (in conjunction with Mrs Marshman) as they require sustained commitment. We haven’t included every activity here but are focusing on those that may be new to you. You may also have a significant commitment outside of the College that takes up a lot of your time and directly feeds into your future ambitions (e.g. National Youth Orchestra, Saracens development squad, running a small business) which you could consider including towards your Award. For each activity you will fill in a section on Morrisby and Mrs Marshman will approve both the planning and completion of the tile. You will not automatically gain credit, you must prove that you have completed the activity to the best of your ability, via uploading evidence on your Morrisby page, such as a short teacher report that you have collected or a certificate. Again, Mrs Marshman will let you know when your activity has been signed off and your tile on Morrisby for that activity will then show it as completed.

COMPULSORY ACTIVITIES – BAND 1 We expect all students to complete either an EPQ, mini-MBA, Sports Leadership Award or English as a Foreign Language qualification. We would not recommend that you take more than one of these. These qualifications run throughout the L6th and will take you 120 hours to complete. Essentially, think of these as an extra AS Level (in old money – half an A Level). You will have Monday p3 timetabled (lessons for EPQ and Sports Leadership) and PDP time for the MBA and Sports Leadership as well as your own independent work. These are worth 40 credits upon successful completion.

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EPQ – 40 CREDITS. This is an accredited AQA qualification that allows L6th students to develop their independent learning and project planning skills to bring about either a 5000-word dissertation, or artefact and accompanying written report on a subject area of their own choosing. Accompanying taught skills sessions covering the basics of academic research, referencing, the use of questionnaires and surveys, time management, report writing, and presentations will be delivered by a small team of College staff throughout the year. These members of staff will also act as supervisors for individuals and provide support through one-to-one meetings and small group sessions. Students will start their EPQs in late September/early October before submitting their final products during the final week of their L6th year. Acknowledged by universities, this is a great opportunity to explore in-depth a topic of your choice beyond the curriculum. The skills you gain will be invaluable for future academic studies and the workplace. MINI MBA – 40 CREDITS. This is an exciting new opportunity for any Sixth Form student that is interested in business. MBA stands for a Master of Business Administration which is normally studied through a Business School or University in mid-career or at least after initial University degrees. Among Fortune 100 companies in 2019, 54% of CEOs held a graduate degree, and 59% of those graduate degrees were MBAs. An MBA qualification is not imperative to becoming a successful entrepreneur. However, it gives you an edge over your contemporaries and will help you to be able to make critical decisions so your start-up venture can become successful. The College is one of only four schools in the UK to have teamed up with Hult International, a renowned international business school to offer a Mini MBA aimed specifically at Sixth Form students. The course is split into three sections: •

ersonal Impact & Presence Module (which will P help you analyse your own potential as a leader)

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Business Performance Module

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Marketing & Strategy Module

This is a great option for any Lower Sixth student who see business as part of their future, whether or not they are an A Level Business or Economics student. Please note there is an additional cost to this option, which is estimated to be around £500 per term, dependent upon numbers.

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SPORTS LEADERSHIP – 40 CREDITS. The Sports Leadership qualification is designed to use sport and physical activity to help young people develop and hone their leadership skills, whilst helping themselves and others stay physically active. The aim of the course is to develop confident, healthy leaders through sport and physical activity. Lower Sixth students undertaking the qualification in Sports Leadership will learn and demonstrate important life skills such as effective communication and organisation alongside learning to lead basic physical activities for younger people, their peers, older generations and the wider community. The course involves both guided & peer-to-peer learning under supervised leadership to ensure that learners have all the skills they need to lead basic physical activities for others. The Level 3 Qualification in Sports Leadership is recognised in personal statements and carries UCAS points. The course will be managed by the PE and Games Department to support pupils throughout and will involve classroom and practical sessions. These sessions will take place throughout the school year. Pupils will gain experience of working with groups in the Pre-Prep and Prep, as well as managing and organising sporting events and activities at key points during the academic the year. IELTS/CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH QUALIFICATION – 40 CREDITS. These qualifications are for students for whom English is an additional language and may be essential for progression into further education in the UK. The International English Language Testing System evaluates all your English skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The test reflects how you will use English to study, work and live in an Englishspeaking environment. IELTS is accepted by more than 11,000 organisations in over 140 countries. It is accessible to students at all levels. Cambridge Advanced is an in-depth, high-level qualification that shows you have the language skills that employers and universities are looking for. The examination covers all four skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. It is suitable for students who want to show that they have advanced English language skills. More than 9,000 educational institutions, businesses and government departments around the world accept C1 Advanced as proof of high-level achievement in learning English, including all top UK universities. An ‘A’ grade is worth 32 UCAS points and is equivalent to another A-Level.

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ACTIVITIES IN BANDS 2– 4 You can choose from any of the activities below and obviously add your own in, subject to approval from Mrs Marshman. Whilst we have grouped them here in themes, intellectual curiosity, skills and leadership, there is no requirement for you to take an option within each (apart from the service theme) – it is purely to help you plan.

SERVICE We expect everyone to complete at least half a term of volunteering, for an hour a week. What you choose to do is up to you. Organising your volunteering will be in your hands – the College will provide some suggestions and opportunities, but these are not exhaustive. You will need to take the initiative on this. If you are stuck, do ask Mrs Marshman or Mr Morris for advice. Below is a list of some of the opportunities you could pursue in this section of the Award. THE PEER EDUCATION PROJECT – CREDITS 20. This is a secondary school based, educational programme that aims to give young people the skills and knowledge they need to safeguard their mental health, and that of their peers. The project is designed to be taught by older students to younger pupils. The project believes that there is a basic level of knowledge and skill that everyone needs around their own mental health. By teaching the 6-week course to L3 pupils during their activity slot on a Thursday afternoon (3.45 – 4.45) or different groups across the year, we hope that they will be equipped to meet the challenges which they and their friends will encounter in life. There is a training day on Tuesday 28th June for all those interested in this richly rewarding project. This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in pursuing psychology in the future, and/or for contributing to the wider community at the College. It is led by the College Chaplain. VOLUNTEERING AT LOCAL CHARITIES – 10 CREDITS. This can include working with Grove Cottage, Charity Shops, Animal Rescue Centres, Wiggly Willows, local Care Homes and local litter picking schemes such as TUB’s. Simply contact the organisation that interests you to see if they want support and set up your volunteering, then let Mrs Marshman know via your Morrisby account. VOLUNTEERING WITHIN EDUCATION – 10 CREDITS. For those interested in Education as a profession, there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer within the Pre-Prep, or Grimwade, or any local primary school. Activities include listening to pupils reading. Simply get in touch with Mr Heard or the Prep School reception team and they will be able to direct you for in-house service or contact your local school reception if you would prefer to support a school in the wider community. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL – 10 CREDITS. Amnesty International is a global movement of over ten million people that works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth, and dignity are denied. It is the world’s largest grassroots human rights organisation which investigates then exposes abuses, educates, and mobilises the public, and helps transform societies to create a safer, more just world. Students play a vital role in their quest for better human rights by campaigning, fundraising, lobbying, and raising awareness. At the College you would be part of an active and long-established group that works tirelessly to improve human rights. Whether you are a passionate advocate of freedom, or someone interested in international relations and or human rights law in the future, this is an activity for you. It is led by Mr Tether.

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THE CHAPLAIN’S COMMUNITY SERVICE COMMITTEE – 10 CREDITS The Chaplain at the College organises a wide variety of community service projects, from the Whole College Charity Days to Harvest Festival, Shoebox Appeals and the locally well-known Senior Citizens’ Christmas Party. If you enjoy fundraising for local causes and would like to be part of a committed team that works with the Chaplain to run and develop such opportunities, the Chaplain’s Community Service Committee is an excellent option for you. RECYCLING COMMITTEE – 10 CREDITS. Are you passionate about the environment and how the College can play its part in cutting our Carbon Footprint? Then the College Recycling Committee is for you. With a wide remit and plenty of potential for future growth, join this group if you want to shape the future and see the environment as pivotal in that. This group is run by Mrs Bravo. READING MENTORS SENIOR SCHOOL – 10 CREDITS. This is an initiative whereby we create reading groups with younger pupils to allow you to lead and discuss books that they may not have come across. The goal is to challenge these students to read more and enjoy some texts that you propose and decide upon. You set the pace of reading each week and lead the discussions about those texts. This activity is overseen by Mrs Bloomfield in the Library. DIVERSITY COMMITTEE – 10 CREDITS Run by two Prefects, this is an opportunity for you to have your voice heard and shape the future of equality, diversity, and inclusion at the College. If you are passionate about freedom of expression and human rights, particularly with an educational environment then this is the activity for you. Mrs Pawulska oversees this group. VOLUNTEERING WITH ORGANISATIONS OUTSIDE SCHOOL – 10 CREDITS. You may already invest your time in your local community through the Guiding/ Scout movement, Church, National Trust, English Heritage, or conservation and wildlife groups. If you do, please be aware that your commitment will be acknowledged and credited by the Award. Simply tell us what you do, the level of your commitment and the credit will be attributed accordingly by Mrs Marshman. ENGLISH LESSONS FOR UKRAINIANS – 20 CREDITS. Would you like to help Ukrainian adults who have recently arrived here in Bishop’s Stortford acquire the language skills they need to feel confident in day-to-day conversation, as well as build their receptive knowledge of English? This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in contributing to the wider local community, or anyone interested in teaching abroad as part of a gap year/languages degree or considering a career in teaching. A Level linguists/ESOL pupils here at the College would be well suited to this area of service due to the skills/knowledge they possess as language learners themselves, which they could pass on if they wished to get involved in this project. Training materials/guidance for this activity will be provided by Mrs Edmunds.

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INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY There are a broad range of academic enrichment activities on offer at the College which will vary term by term and by level of commitment. You will need to pick your activities according to your interests and aspirations. Do you enjoy studying beyond the curriculum in areas that fascinate and extend you? Here are some examples of what will be on offer to you next year. As in all sections of the Award, feel free to also create your own. Mrs Marshman will let you know if they meet the required criteria for credits within the Award. UK CHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD – 10 CREDITS. A long standing nationally and internationally recognised competition run by the Royal Society of Chemistry which is open to all L6th and U6th Chemistry students. Preparation for this occurs during the Autumn Term using materials that will extend your knowledge far beyond the A Level course content. A two-hour paper is then completed in January with Gold, Silver or Bronze certificates awarded to successful students just prior to the Easter holiday. This can be used to strengthen applications for chemical sciences courses at university. Mr Barlow oversees this activity. MODEL UN – 10 CREDITS. Model United Nations is a popular activity for those interested in learning more about how the UN operates. Hundreds of thousands of students worldwide take part every year at all educational levels. Many of today’s leaders in law, government, business, and the arts – including at the UN itself – participated in the Model UN as students. The scheme allows students to participate in simulations that run as near as possible to actual UN conferences so that you get a true insight into how International Peace is maintained. This is a great option for anyone interested in politics and/or international relations in their future and is run by Mr Murtagh-Howard. BRITISH BIOLOGY OLYMPIAD – 10 CREDITS. The British Biology Olympiad (BBO) challenges and stimulates students with an interest in biology to expand and extend their talents. It enables students to demonstrate their talent and to be suitably rewarded with publicly recognised certificates. This is open to both L6th and U6th. The BBO is open to students in post-16 education studying at school or college. The competition consists of two, 45-minute multiple choice papers to be taken online under staff supervised exam conditions. This activity is great for those wishing to study biological sciences at university and is organised by Dr McPeake. CRITICAL THINKING – 10 CREDITS. In an age of fake news, how do you unpick what is or isn’t a valid argument? This course will give you a basis in the history of thought and then the tools to dissect arguments, considering their assumptions, flaws and potential bias. This course is for anyone who wants to apply for a Humanities/Social Science degree at a top university/Oxbridge or for anyone who likes debating ideas and wants to know how to ‘win’ with a killer argument! This course is run by Mrs Banks.

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CAMBRIDGE CHEMISTRY CHALLENGE – 10 CREDITS. A competition designed exclusively for L6th Chemistry students run by the University of Cambridge and other sponsors. This competition follows a similar format to the UK Chemistry Olympiad, with a one-and-a-half-hour paper sat in June of the L6th year. No preparation sessions are offered for the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge as material covered on the entirety of the L6th course is all that is required for students to attempt the questions. Gold, Silver, and Copper awards are awarded to successful students and presented at the end of the Summer Term. These awards are viewed highly by universities and will mark you out with distinction. Mr Barlow oversees this activity. MEDICAL, VETERINARY AND DENTISTRY – 10 CREDITS This programme begins in the second half of the Summer Term in the L6th to support students in writing their personal statements and focussing their preparation over the summer holidays for their UCAS applications and the UCAT and BMAT entry tests. Over the course of the Autumn Term students will develop the skills required to perform successfully at interview. This includes the discussion of recent developments in their chosen field, consideration of ethical issues, mock interviews and MMIs, as well as talks from current medical students and practising doctors. Of the 2021–22 cohort of students who took part in this PDP, all have been offered a place at medical or veterinary school. It is therefore essential for anyone wanting to pursue a future in this field. This activity is run by Mrs Vernon-Harcourt. CHEMICAL SCIENCES OXBRIDGE GROUP – 10 CREDITS. Sessions open to all interested in post-18 university courses in the chemical sciences. Topics to be covered during the 2022–2023 academic year include: an introduction to quantum mechanics, nano chemistry, computational chemistry & the virtual lab, conformations of organic molecules, x-ray crystallography, the history of science from the ancient Greeks to the post-atomic age. This group is essential if you are considering applying to Oxbridge for science and is led by Mr Barlow.

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FILMMAKING – 10 CREDITS. Would you like to be the next Ingmar Bergman, Steven Spielberg or Christopher Nolan? Do you have an interest in film and the way they can manipulate audiences to generate an emotional response? Do you want to improve your filming and editing skills or show off the skills you already have? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, then the Filmmaking course will be for you. You will learn how filmmakers create film to affect audiences to generate a powerful response and then create your own film/films that we can enter into competitions such as The Young Filmmaker. You don’t need to be a Media student to join this activity, although if you believe Media and specifically Film will feature in your future, this activity run by Mr Baxter is a must! DISSECTION CLUB – 10 CREDITS. The dissection club is for those pupils doing A Level Biology. Priority is given to those intending to apply for Medicine or Veterinary Science. The aim is to enable students to develop their dissection skills while exploring the physiology of organs and organisms beyond the A level Biology specification. Attending this activity is a great way to enhance your practical skills if you are interested in studying biology at university and Dr McPeake runs the group. SCHOOLS ANALYST COMPETITION – 10 CREDITS. A practical science competition run by the Analytical Division of the Royal Society of Chemistry that thoroughly tests your precision in laboratory chemistry. Prizes are awarded to a winning group within the College and to the winning school within the region. The 2022 competition was based around finding the perfect recipe for fish and chips. This is the only competition run in Chemistry that provides extension beyond A Level courses in a practical capacity. It is therefore great for anyone considering a career in Chemical Science. YOUNG INVESTOR/STUDENT INVESTOR CHALLENGE – 10 CREDITS. The Student Investor Challenge is the UK’s premier investment competition for students. The Student Investor Challenge is designed for teams of four students to compete against each other and has three rounds. The competition is open to teams from schools anywhere in the world. In previous years the top prize was a trip to New York – including a visit to the financial centre. If you see your future lying in the financial sector this activity is well worth the time, since it holds international recognition. It is led by Mr Murtagh-Howard. CAMBRIDGE CHEMISTRY RACE – 10 CREDITS. One team of three to five Sixth Form chemistry students will be heading off to Cambridge in February 2023 to compete in a series of problems over a twohour time period. The goal of each team is to answer as many questions as they can within the time limit. Once a question is answered successfully, the team is presented with a new one and a live leader board is updated. Half an hour before the race ends, the ranking is hidden, and the final winners are announced at the closing ceremony. The questions range from easy riddles, tasks of A Level difficulty, through to complex chemical problems. Mr Barlow runs this activity. We would encourage you to find an external competition or course to stretch your understanding in a key area of academia of interest to you. Alternatively, you may choose to attend a subject based PDP. Please speak to Mrs Marshman about how this may be accredited.

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SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP The following activities are designed to enhance your skills’ base and leadership potential. In some cases, they will lead to formal qualifications that you can take with you and even use for paid employment. Some will incur a cost. If there are courses you have found that are run externally or online – and they will help you to build your portfolio of skills – let Mrs Marshman know. As you progress through the Sixth Form you may also pick up a position of responsibility, such as leading a PDP, or becoming a Prefect or Head of House, and these also can count towards the award. BSAC SCUBA DIVING COURSE – 20 CREDITS. Take the opportunity to work towards your PADI Open Water Qualification or expand on this if you are already qualified. We offer further courses such as an Advanced Open Water, Nitrox, Deep Diving, Photography and Rescue. This activity runs from 16.00–18.30/19.00 every Wednesday. This includes one hour in the classroom followed by time in the pool to learn practical skills that will allow students to gain their PADI licenses. Open Water will allow individuals to dive down to 18 metres, and additional qualifications, such as Advanced Open Water will extend this to 30 metres. Scuba Diving is a great activity for those who have an interest in marine life or just want to try something new. It is a qualification you can carry into the future and is a great way to explore the underwater world, whether on BSC organised trips or solo travelling in the future. Ms Swift and Mr Lipscombe run this activity. PYTHON CODING – 10 CREDITS Start your journey in the world of computer programming! If you were always curious about learning a computer language, with its simple and intuitive grammar and structure Python is the perfect place to start. Some knowledge of computer programming is now virtually compulsory for most science and technical degrees at universities, and highly valued in many workplaces. Not everyone has the patience to spend hours on YouTube looking for courses that often start well, but soon become monotonous. Instead, come and learn in a group environment where you can have some help and support. Although this will be mostly geared for beginners, if there are some intermediate level coders who want to join, Señor Nunez might be able to accommodate you with some more challenging projects.

FIRST AID – 10 CREDITS. This is a course run by qualified first aid instructors from the Medical Centre, giving a full qualification in first aid and is valid for 3 years. Knowledge covers, for example: CPR, use of an AED, severe burns and wounds, managing an unconscious patient and those suffering from severe allergies and anaphylaxis. There will be 3 hours of classroom-based activity and 3 hours online. IVY HOUSE AWARD – 20 CREDITS. The Ivy House Award is a national initiative that brings the kind of personal and professional development usually reserved for the most senior executives to students, at a time when it can make the biggest difference. Running for 20 sessions, the award will develop your leadership and life skills, giving you the knowledge, skills, and confidence to step up and take ownership of your future. ‘Be curious. Be open. Have a go. Be prepared to make mistakes; allow yourself to be challenged and to be supported. Support others, share your thoughts and feelings and really get to know yourself.’ Ms. Hearne and Mrs Self run this activity. For more information on Ivy House please visit the website via the QR code below. LTA LEVEL 1 AND 2 TENNIS COACHING QUALIFICATION – 10 CREDITS. This activity enables students thinking of taking a tennis coaching qualification to build skills such as: tips on communication, demonstrations, how to make sessions fun for the younger U10 players, setting up practises, general organisation, feeding, rallying. Once completed Sixth Formers can then embark upon their LTA Level 1 Assistant Courses externally. This activity will run during Spring Term and is run by Ms Pryce.

MORE INFORMATION ON IVY HOUSE

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MINDFULNESS 8 WEEK COURSE (.B) – 10 CREDITS. Some of you will have completed the .b mindfulness course in 4th Form. However, this new course is focused on how mindfulness can help in your dayto-day life at 6th Form and beyond. The course is supported by the Mindfulness in Schools Project and is an 8-week course. At its most basic level, mindfulness helps train your attention to be more aware of what is happening, rather than worrying about what has happened or might happen. We learn to bring greater curiosity to whatever it is we experience. It is a practice of ‘stopping and noticing’ and of training attention and awareness. It is evidence based and endorsed by the National Institute of Clinical Excellent (NICE). It is not meditation, and it is not religious (Western mindfulness is secular). Mrs Self runs this activity and would welcome anyone looking to understand this life empowering technique. Psychology students may find it particularly interesting if they want to further their studies at university. NATIONAL POOL LIFEGUARDING QUALIFICATION (NPLQ) – 20 CREDITS. The NPLQ is the most awarded lifeguard qualification in the UK and is also internationally recognised. More than 40,000 pool lifeguards qualify with the RLSS UK every year, and there are currently more than 90,000 pool lifeguards qualified in the NPLQ – 95% of all UK pool lifeguards. The College is an accredited centre, and should you enlist for this activity you will cover all elements of Pool Rescue Techniques, Lifeguarding Theory, First Aid and CPR. The course is physically demanding and will include swimming to set times, lifting casualties and diving to the deepest part of the swimming pool. Training and assessment for the NPLQ are in three sections, and candidates must successfully pass all to attain the qualification. This qualification is recognised internationally and will open a vast area of employment to you. Mr Pearce runs this activity. FUSION 360 DT MODELLING COURSE – 10 CREDITS Perfect for those taking A Level Design, this award will be an independent learning space to work through the Fusion 360 course using tutorials to bolster the Fusion work you will be doing as part of the A Level Design course already. Sit the exam at the end of the course to gain a qualification in the amazing CAD programme that is Fusion 360 and you will have an invaluable qualification that is recognised throughout the Design Technology industry.

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MICROSOFT SPECIALIST AND ADOBE CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL – 20 CREDITS. If you are interested in IT and see your future digitally based, this course is for you. The Microsoft Office Specialist Program provides industry-leading assessments of skills and knowledge through projectbased testing, giving students real-world exercises to appraise their understanding of Microsoft Office, preparing them for future academic or workforce opportunities. Sign up for this course and you will work online to take the Microsoft Specialist Certificate. In the workplace this qualification is valued highly and will place you at an advantage in most recruitment situations. Mrs Gunes will oversee this activity and it will incur a cost to take the final exam. FOOD HYGIENE LEVEL 2 – 10 CREDITS. Be introduced to the key principles and skills of food preparation by our Catering Team, Chartwells, then go online and complete your Food Hygiene Level 2 course. This qualification is suitable for anyone who might become involved with handling, preparing & cooking food. This includes chefs, care staff, home bakery businesses, community volunteers and a surprisingly wide variety of businesses. Our Chartwells Catering Manager at the College, is your point of contact for this course. OPEN UNIVERSITY FINANCE COURSE – 10 CREDITS. The ‘Managing my money for young adults’ course helps give you the confidence and tools to be in control, whether it’s now, or at university or in the workplace. The course typically takes between 12 to 16 hours to complete and has been awarded the Young Money Financial Education Quality Mark. You study eight straightforward online sessions of 1–2 hours. You will learn how to make your money work harder and go further, online and at your own pace. Upon successful completion you are awarded an Open University Digital badge, which has recognised status with employers across the UK. This is a great way to improve your future and make yourself stand out as proactive in the workplace and university. MUSICAL CERTIFICATES AND THE DIPLOMA If you learn an instrument and are pursuing grades 6, 7, 8 or the Diploma, you will be given credits accordingly.

BishopsStortfordCollege.org

Be brave, be independent, be fearless and committed in your approach to the Sixth Form Award and you will discover, develop and enhance your future.

Bishop’s Stortford College, School House, Maze Green Road, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM23 2PQ Telephone: +44 (0)1279 838575 Email: general.enquiry@BishopsStortfordCollege.org