Queens Drive, Acton, London, W3 0HW T: 020 8752 1525 F: 020 8993 6632 E: office@ellenwilkinson.ealing.sch.uk www.ellenwilkinson.ealing.sch.uk
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Making Your Choice During the next few weeks, you will be considering your course of action for the coming year. The decisions you make will have a great impact on your future whatever you are planning to do when you leave school – university, training or a career. Entry to the Sixth Form is open to all girls from The Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls and we welcome applications from girls from elsewhere who meet the admissions criteria of the school. The Sixth Form offers excellent facilities for students and gives you the chance to explore a variety of interests and activities. We provide a wide range of courses at all levels and there are opportunities for achievement in many fields. The success of the Sixth Form is reflected in the large numbers of girls progressing to university, college and starting exciting careers. Whatever you want to do in life, the time you spend in The Ellen Wilkinson Sixth Form will help you to achieve your ambition. We have always taken pleasure and great pride in the Sixth Form and the achievements of the girls and we hope that you will join us and help us to go from strength to strength in the next two or three years.
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WHY CHOOSE THE ELLEN WILKINSON What SCHOOL? We Offer The information in this brochure will help you make the important decisions about where you study and what you study. You will also receive individual advice and guidance at the school to make sure you choose the course most suited to your ambitions, interests and qualifications.
Courses You can choose from a wide range of AS and A Level courses as well as Level 3 BTEC Nationals. Alternatively you can take a one year Level 2 Applied course in Business, Travel and Tourism or Health and Social Care with GCSEs in English and Mathematics.
Continuity In Year 11 you are known and valued, and although the Sixth Form represents a fresh start it is reassuring to know that tutors: - know your strengths and weaknesses - will be better able to advise you on what you will do in the future - will write effective references because they know you. If you are new to the school, our tutors are here to help you make a fresh start.
Guidance & Support
“ Teachers have a strong focus on helping students to learn, and a good awareness OF students’ needs”. SIXTH FORM STUDENT
You will be assigned to a small tutor group with an experienced form tutor who will monitor your progress, help you to set targets to improve your performance and generally look after your day-to-day well being. Tutors help you to make decisions about your future and will write your leaving or university reference.
Increased Freedom Attendance at all lessons is essential and you will be asked to sign an agreement that you will be punctual, attend classes and keep up with your coursework. Nevertheless you will find the Sixth Form more flexible in many respects, but you will be more accountable and must be prepared to take much more responsibility for yourself and your studies.
Results We are committed to continuing the high level of achievement in all subjects and at all levels. Our excellent results and the progress made by our students speak for themselves.
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You Are The Sixth Form When you join the Sixth Form you become the Sixth Form. What happens there, what is organised, how it runs, depends on the contribution of each and every one of you. Each tutor group elects a representative who meets the rest of the Sixth Form Council every week. The Council deals with a variety of Sixth Form issues. It organises social events and generally helps with the smooth running of the Sixth Form Centre.
Facilities There is a large new building completely dedicated to Sixth Form use. As well as a large social area with a fully equipped kitchen there are three classrooms with the latest digital and computer facilities. There is a large room for supervised silent study, and an independent study room which also serves as a resource area. In the summer double doors open out on to a sunny patio for lunch time relaxation. The Sixth Form Centre is linked to our new Learning Resource Centre with additional sixth form classrooms and break out spaces as well as providing direct access to the library and study area.
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The Whole Person You will study in the Sixth Form to gain the academic and vocational qualifications needed for the next stage in your career. You will, however, develop as an individual in many other ways. You will make new friends, strengthen long-standing relationships and learn new skills. You will learn how to manage your time, how to organise events, chair debates and run meetings. You will learn how to cope with problems, how to face interviews and sample the world of work. You will discuss topical issues and have the opportunity to debate them with visitors from all walks of life. With increased freedom comes additional responsibility, both to yourself and to your work, but also to your friends, team members and the school community. Many girls enjoy the added responsibility of prefect duties, helping in departments, helping senior staff and supporting younger girls in their forms, and in the paired reading and numeracy schemes. The ability and readiness to take on responsibility is highly regarded by employers and university admissions tutors and it is not surprising that there is great competition to take on the ultimate responsibility of Head Girl. Most departments organise activities which enhance your studies and increase the level of interest and participation.
“ THE SCHOOL HELPS US DEVELOP ALL OUR SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES�. SIXTH FORM STUDENT
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Entry To Sixth Form Courses You must have achieved a grade A*, A, B or C in at least FIVE appropriate GCSE subjects to embark upon an Advanced Level course. If you do not obtain these grades, you can take a Level 2 Vocational course and may progress on to Advanced Level the following year. A grade C in English Language is required for all Advanced subjects and you will need to obtain at least a grade B in the subjects you wish to take at A Level for most subjects. You will also need to have at least a grade B in Mathematics to take Science A Levels, Psychology or Economics. All subjects that require a grade B at GCSE are clearly marked on the application form. All students will also have the opportunity to take the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) during their second year of study.
You can take some subjects at A Level which you have never studied before, but you will have to convince the Head of Department that you are well informed, academically able and genuinely interested in their subject. The decision about which courses you take will be made on an individual basis, taking into account all your achievements, your GCSE grades and your hopes and ambitions.
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“ MY TUTOR GAVE ME EXCELLENT INFORMATION, ADVICE AND GUIDANCE ABOUT MY FUTURE CHOICES�. SIXTH FORM STUDENT
PREPARATION Planning FOR For The UNIVERSITY Future An important aspect of what we do in the sixth form is the support we offer students in their preparation for and application to University. We provide detailed support on the practical elements of an application including advice on choosing an appropriate course, selecting a university, writing personal statements and preparing for a successful interview. We also provide a comprehensive programme of additional support sessions that provide students with specific advice on how to successfully apply to competitive courses and universities, how to gain vital work experience and planning for entrance examinations and tests. These provide our students with a competitive edge when applying and help to maintain our excellent record of ensuring EWS students are able to take that next step in realising their ambitions in life.
As a general rule it is wise to choose Sixth Form courses linked to your best GCSE grades and subjects you feel will continue to interest you for the next two years. If you do not obtain the grades needed to start an advanced course, remember that we offer three full time Level 2 courses which may lead on to an advanced course if you achieve a Merit or Distinction at the end of the year. The courses allow you to take English Language and Mathematics GCSEs and include two weeks work experience. Advanced level students take four AS level subjects in Year 12, and continue on with three of them to A2 in Year 13. There is a wide range of subjects and further details are available on the school website. Several subjects, e.g. Mathematics, English Literature, Biology, Chemistry, Psychology and Sociology appear in more than one option group which gives you more flexibility about choices, and allows you to study a mixture of Arts, Humanities, Applied and Science subjects if you wish. However, you must choose these subjects very carefully and consult University course requirements, as well as thinking about which subjects complement each other. There is no shortage of help available when you come to choose your subjects. Apart from web-based information and a variety of guides in the Careers office and the Sixth Form Resource Room, you can consult your teachers, the Sixth Form Team and of course the Connexions Adviser who is in school at least three times a week. You will all receive individual advice when you enrol in September.
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Extra Curricular Activities Admissions Officers at universities, as well as employers, expect that students will have taken advantage of opportunities offered to them while they are in the Sixth Form. All departments organise trips and visits to the theatre, to lectures and conferences. You will be expected to attend residential field courses in Geography and Biology.
Girls are encouraged to take on responsibilities whilst in the Sixth Form. These range from peer listening and paired reading to department and form prefects, and the Head Girl, who runs the Sixth Form Council.
The Business Studies Department has run study tours to Europe; Drama, English and Media Studies include workshops, theatre and cinema visits and activity days at places such as The Guardian Newsroom and Sky and Ealing Studios. All Level 3 course students are expected to spend one week on work experience. There is a compulsory two week work placement for Level 2 students. This is generally recommended for all girls who are considering applying for a vocational degree.
Lunch time clubs run by Sixth Formers include the Amnesty Group, the Debating Society, the Film Club and Guitar club. Every Christmas Year 12 write, produce and perform the Pantomime for the benefit of the whole school. Many girls also become involved in charity and voluntary work, for instance the Envision group visits the school every week to help organise activities. The Young Enterprise Project takes place each year and girls take part successfully in the National Bar Mock Trial competition at a Crown Court. One of the most popular events is the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, which attracts over 40 students each year.
Broadening awareness of University and University life is also important, and information about open days, taster courses and summer schools is available. There are talks by admissions officers and visits to open days such as the GEEMA day at Cambridge, Cardiff University and Imperial College.
All these activities are recorded for posterity in the Year Book which is produced by Year 13 at the end of their course. All of this helps to make the Sixth Form a memorable and enjoyable experience alongside the academic success achieved by so many girls.
Making Your Choice During the next few weeks, you will be considering your course of action for the coming year. The decisions you make will have a great impact on your future whatever you are planning to do when you leave school – university, training or a career. Entry to the Sixth Form is open to all girls from The Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls and we welcome applications from girls from elsewhere who meet the admissions criteria of the school. The Sixth Form offers excellent facilities for students and gives you the chance to explore a variety of interests and activities. We provide a wide range of courses at all levels and there are opportunities for achievement in many fields. The success of the Sixth Form is reflected in the large numbers of girls progressing to university, college and starting exciting careers. Whatever you want to do in life, the time you spend in The Ellen Wilkinson Sixth Form will help you to achieve your ambition. We have always taken pleasure and great pride in the Sixth Form and the achievements of the girls and we hope that you will join us and help us to go from strength to strength in the next two or three years.
Queens Drive, Acton, London, W3 0HW T: 020 8752 1525 F: 020 8993 6632 E: office@ellenwilkinson.ealing.sch.uk www.ellenwilkinson.ealing.sch.uk
Designed & Produced by cleverbox 020 8466 7222 www.cleverbox.co.uk