Canford Sixth Form

S I X T H F O R M YOUR FUTURE ...

Welcome to Canford Sixth Form is a time of transition in your education. GCSE courses are a distant memory and the exciting wider world lies just ahead. We realise that as a Sixth Former you will want more freedom to make your own choices, more independence, to take more responsibility for your own actions and perhaps also the opportunity to become leaders both among your peers and in the wider world.

We will offer you all this within the stability of an established school community, providing guidance both inside and outside the classroom.

You will be expected to work hard, to participate, to make the most of the opportunities you are given. In return, you will be given the chance to put forward your views, to challenge existing wisdom and to make a real difference. Staff will encourage you to think seriously about what you want from your future, and they will give you all the support to try and get you there.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said: ‘Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail.’ We aim for excellence in all that we do here at Canford, and will do our very best to ensure that you are given the insight and versatility to follow your chosen path. We will give you a coherent and connected learning experience which will equip you with the best possible academic results you can achieve, and through a range of co-curricular opportunities you will gain the confidence, the insight and the skills which combined will give you every chance to realise your dreams.

If you have that same ambition, a desire to succeed and to be the best you can be, Canford could be the place for you.

I look forward to meeting you.

Ben Vessey Headmaster

At a glance ...

• 260 pupils in the Sixth Form • Expert, subject specialist teachers in small classes • Intellectual enrichment opportunities • Unique careers mentoring networking resources within a dedicated careers centre • Medical School and Oxbridge entrance programmes • The chance to study for an Extended Project Qualification • Art, Drama and Music options at A level and within the co-curricular programme • Specific Sixth Form Partnership trips to Argentina, India and Ghana • Sports coaching to National standards • Cultural programme of events • Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Pringle Trophy and many other outward bound experiences • Scholarships and means tested bursaries for new Sixth Form entry worth up to 100% of fees

“The opportunities that Canford offers are vast.”

Upper Sixth leaver

Academic Life Exam results are the tickets to the next stage of your education and career.

We offer Sixth Form courses that lead in most subjects to an A level, and a number to the Cambridge Pre-U qualification.

You will generally take four AS levels in the Lower Sixth which usually consist of a number of modules. You then continue three subjects which you study in more depth to A2 level.

You will have more free periods in the Sixth Form and you are given more freedom to decide your priorities. It is important that you organise your academic work and also make the most of the wider range of co-curricular options that being part of a school like Canford can offer you. You will have an academic tutor who you will meet with every week, to keep you on track and make sure you are managing your time.

There is more to an academic education than just exam results. We want you to think outside the box, to develop a greater intrinsic interest in a particular subject, to challenge and debate. Our unique enrichment programme will give you the chance to focus on particular subjects you are interested in, which proves very helpful when applying for competitive university courses. Many in your year group will write, as part of the enrichment programme, an extended project on a topic of particular interest to them, which is worth half an A level. Courses in critical thinking are offered, while artists and scientists in residence provide different perspectives on curriculum study.

We run a diverse General Studies lecture programme, inviting a variety of speakers to the school each year. The annual Sixth Form Symposium and thriving Sixth Form societies give you free rein to voice your opinions and put forward new ideas and views, both to your friends and also to your teachers!

Sixth Form Centre Sixth Formers have their own centre where they can socialise, work and relax. Whether you want some time away from House, to chat to friends or just generally have a break, this is a great meeting point for the whole year group. With its own kitchen, TV and social areas, it is where many fun social events for Sixth Formers take place at the weekends, and in the evenings. With the upper floor dedicated to an ICT suite and desk areas, it’s also a good place to catch up on some work, and being next to the main teaching blocks is very convenient if you need to speak to teachers or tutors on a 1-1 basis.

At a glance ...

• A fine record of achievement - ranked in the top 5 independent boarding schools in the UK at A level in recent years by The Daily Telegraph • 4 subjects taken to AS level; 3 subjects taken to A level/Pre-U • Class sizes: Lower Sixth average 10 Upper Sixth average 9 • 35 minute lessons: Lower Sixth 34 per week Upper Sixth 26 per week • Work outside class: minimum 20 hours per week expected • Dedicated Sixth Form Centre with access to online resources • Unique academic enrichment programmes specific to Sixth Form • Diverse lecture programme of visiting speakers, writers, resident artists and scientists

“You get the opportunity to work at a higher level with teachers who are keen and interested to both help you develop your own skills as well as push the boundaries of our understanding of the subjects.”

Current Upper Sixth pupil

Pastoral Houses When you join Canford you become a member of a house. There are 10 houses here, 7 for boarders and 3 for day pupils. The Housemaster/mistress (HsM) is responsible for your day-to-day well-being. Each house varies in layout but all the houses are well-staffed and are very welcoming and popular, social environments, small enough for you to feel well known and large enough to have a good mix of personalities. You are sure to feel part of Canford very quickly.

Tutors The tutor system is central to our pastoral care. You will be given a personal tutor who you will meet regularly not only for discussion of academic progress and objectives, but also to talk about anything in particular which you need advice and guidance about. Your tutor really becomes a key mentor and guide over your two Sixth Form years.

Food Our catering is run in-house, and you will find that our chefs use the freshest local ingredients wherever possible. You will get the chance to have your say as there is a pupil food committee which meets regularly with catering staff to discuss menus. If you feel like a snack, there are also tea and toast making facilities in all the houses, as well as in the Sixth Form Centre.

Well-being Our Health Centre is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is staffed by fully qualified Registered General Nurses. There is a daily GPs’ surgery and Poole and Bournemouth Hospitals are within 30 minutes’ drive. If you have any health or general counselling issues you need to talk about, there are plenty of people you can go to confidentially within the school including general counselling support. We also run talks and seminars each term on many different aspects of teenage health and well-being, which give you the chance to have your questions answered. Some of the speakers will also run separate events for parents.

Communications We want to make sure we keep in touch with your families on a regular basis. There is a central portal where your assessments will be recorded and can be accessed by you and your parents and a report will be written every term. There are also many events each term for parents to get involved in. Everyone who joins the school becomes part of the Canford community and joins the Canford School Society.

House staff and tutors are all contactable via telephone or email, but they do have both teaching and co-curricular commitments every day. Face-toface meetings can always be arranged to discuss your son or daughter should the need arise.

At a glance ...

• Houses provide a welcoming, friendly environment • Personal tutors offer guidance and support throughout the Sixth Form years • Main meals eaten together in the Great Hall, giving the chance to meet pupils in other houses and to socialise during breaks • An online portal for parents to view timetables, event details, key documents and mailings • House staff and tutors contactable by email and telephone, with one-to-one parent meetings arranged when needed • Health Centre open 24 hours a day supported by matrons and external medical professionals • Programme of talks on teenage well-being for both pupils and their families

“There is always a way of finding the right balance with the help of house staff and also your tutor who will stick by you through thick and thin.”

Upper Sixth leaver

Beyond the Curriculum We think education is about much more than exam results. If you choose to come to a boarding school like Canford, the opportunities it can offer you through its co-curricular programme are extensive. There are so many different intellectual, creative, physical and artistic options that you are bound to find something to fire your imagination!

In the Sixth Form we will also encourage you to develop your leadership skills, organising and running activities for yourselves and for younger pupils. A recent example was the Devizes to Westminster Canoe race, where Canfordians led their own preparation for entering this event.

Organising and running successful fund-raising events for charity is also popular, as is running some of the larger Community Service projects such as the teenage City Reach programme in Southampton. If you develop an enthusiasm for something, we will encourage you to run with it. New societies and clubs are welcomed and the door is never closed to new ideas.

There are also enterprises you can get involved with such as the Combined Cadet Force (choose from Army, Navy and Marines), the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and Adventure Training. Climb a mountain, ski with the Army, dive in the Red Sea - there are any number of challenges you can try.

The skills we hope you will learn through our co-curricular programme should be extremely valuable to you when preparing for university interviews, personal statements and for two steps beyond in the world of work. Employers have continually emphasised that co-curricular experiences enhance enormously the vital qualities which they look for when recruiting young people so we will encourage you to get involved and expand your horizons.

partnership DRAMA SPORT CAVING CCF TREKKING

COMMUNITY F24 car racing FISHING LEADERSHIP skiing KARATE city reach

At a glance ...

• The opportunity to take part in unique community projects abroad, in Argentina, Ghana and India • A CCF corps and accredited centre for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme • The Canford Adventure Training programme offering outdoor pursuits including camping, climbing, canoeing, caving and trekking • More than 25 additional clubs and activities • Thriving Sixth Form societies and discussion groups • Diverse programme of lectures and visiting experts

“Canford has really broadened my horizons. I do so many things now I would never have dreamed I could, or would, be good at.”

Upper Sixth pupil

Careers Support We have a dedicated team of careers staff who are experienced in giving you information, advice and guidance about your choices after Canford, whether in further education or general career direction. Recognising and developing some of the key skills that both universities and businesses regard as important for future success is a key first step which we will help you with, as well as giving you food for thought on what to expect.

Helping you negotiate the tricky waters of CV writing, job applications and interviews are all in a day’s work for the careers staff. The school provides psychometric testing to help you make the right choices.

We have a strong network of current and former parents and Old Canfordians who can offer you advice and possibly valuable work experience to give you an advantage in an increasingly competitive world.

Every year there is a Careers Symposium with talks from a range of businessmen and women, and an online mentoring system matches your interests to those already working in that industry.

Key elements Lower Sixth • A Careers Symposium which provides opportunities to meet and talk with a range of successful work professionals • Participation in the UCAS Higher Education University Fair • The opportunity to become involved with career experience courses • Advice on Gap years and organised visits to Gap fairs • Information about university taster days and summer schools • Open day visits to Bristol, Exeter and Bath universities • Visiting speakers from university admissions’ teams • Workshops for UCAS registration, personal statements and applications • Assistance with organisation of work placements

Upper Sixth • • • •

Interview training programme with external consultants Support with UCAS applications Ongoing guidance and interview practice for university applicants Keeping pupils and parents informed on essential stages of university applications, for example deadlines, requirements and student finance • Support and advice on and subsequent to results day

At a glance ...

• On average 10% of the Upper Sixth gain places each year to Oxford and Cambridge Universities • Over 80% success rate in applications to Medical Schools in the past 10 years • A careers department with dedicated staff, open 6 days per week • Assessment and testing to provide tailored guidance on career choices • Access to the Canford mentoring network of current and former parents and OCs • Annual Careers Symposium for Lower Sixth • Support and advice both on and after results day

“I got a lot of advice about the various tests and interviews I would have to face and nothing was left too late. I would never have received any offers without Canford’s help!”

Upper Sixth leaver

“You are responsible for how you manage your own time and how you work.

Although you have to make important decisions, you are organising your own future.

It is incredibly satisfying to know that your success is down to you.”

Upper Sixth leaver

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Canford School Wimborne Dorset, BH21 3AD t: 01202 847207 e: admissions@canford.com

www.canford.com/In-The-Sixth-Form

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