Sydenham and Forest Hill Sixth Form Prospectus

sixth form of sydenham & forest hill schools

SFH6 – two highly successful and popular schools working together in post 16 education since the 1970’s.

SFH6 is a dynamic and forward looking Sixth Form with very high standards. We have a tradition of providing high quality education with consistently high results at A level founded on innovative and effective teaching and an extensive and wide curriculum. We ask our students to take responsibility for their own learning and we believe in the rights of all to achieve at the highest possible level. We value aspiration, drive, energy and ambition. We expect our students to be motivated, focussed and willing to contribute at school, in the community and beyond.

We challenge them to become well balanced young people who make good decisions and respond to change with confidence and optimism.

At SFH6 we encourage all of our students to become fully independent learners equipped with the knowledge and skills needed for success in the future. We support them in becoming confident, articulate and thoughtful people with a positive contribution to make in the world.

“ The teaching has been great with a high level of support provided during my sixth form experience.” Daniella Lowe

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“ Students make good progress in the sixth form, particularly those who are more able. The numbers continuing into higher education is high and recently there have been a significant number of students accepting places at Russell group universities.� Ofsted 2011

Our Curriculum is designed for maximum flexibility & choice.

Our curriculum offers pathways that give our students the opportunity to achieve their personal best. We offer courses to suit a wide range of interests, talents and aspirations. Forest Hill and Sydenham Schools work to rigorous systems of quality control and good practice in education to ensure that all our students are stretched

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and challenged and that academic and teaching standards are high. Our students have excellent facilities and resources including access to the latest technology and purpose built specialist rooms, labs and recreation areas. We continually raise quality through innovation and professional development.

SFH6 students have a very good record of progress to Higher Education and training. We have a rapidly increasing number gaining access to the top universities, including Russell Group and Oxbridge.

opportunity

& choice

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pportive nclusive

SFH6 is an inclusive community.

Everyone has opportunities for personal success.

We encourage our students to aspire beyond their own expectations of what is possible. Each person is known, valued and supported as an individual within a comprehensive system of pastoral care. As a member of SFH6 each student is allocated a personal tutor who takes the lead role in supporting their academic progress and personal development.

Individual progress is our priority and is closely monitored.

All students meet their personal tutors for Action Planning Interviews at key points across the year and have weekly hour-long tutorials that are designed to help with developing study and examination skills. We are committed to ensuring that students are successful in their examinations and so all students’ academic progress is closely and regularly tracked by their teachers and tutors. This means that teachers assess students’ work regularly, set two mock examinations each year and provide detailed feedback to enable students to move forward.

“ As an external student I was made to feel very welcomed by both the friendly staff and students.” Patrick Smith

SFH6 is a diverse community of students from many different cultures and backgrounds, learning and working together in an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect. We have a strong and embedded equal opportunities policy ensuring our students’ rights to achieve potential without suffering prejudice or discrimination.

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SFH6 students take part in a large range of Extracurricular Activities.

SFH6 students have a large range of opportunities for enrichment and enjoyment of Sixth Form life. Students are free to use the facilities at Forest Hill and Sydenham which are only a short walk apart.

All students are invited to participate in extracurricular activities in a wide range of environments. We encourage students to broaden their experience by participating in residential visits both in the UK and abroad. Typical examples include annual trips to Spain, the European Parliament in Strasbourg and a popular Ski trip. Subject based trips include residential fieldwork trips for Biology and Geography, a Sociology and Psychology trip to New York, a History visit to Moscow and a Science visit to CERN in Switzerland.

“ Students enjoy being at the school, for many reasons, including the freedom and independence that the sixth form gives them and the new accommodation that provides a good learning environment.” Ofsted June 2011

Students are encouraged to broaden and extend their learning by taking up opportunities such as taking a Law Degree Module taught by the law department at South Bank University, or by learning Mandarin with students at Alleyns School. In addition many of our students take the opportunity to participate in the AQA Extended Project at the end of Y12 which allows them to develop an area of personal interest into an academic research project.

SFH6 has superb facilities and great enrichment activities. Our students learn new skills and gain confidence in many directions.

SFH6 Students visited Strasbourg to take part in the EuroScholar Debate in the European Parliament – April 2013

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challenging

& engaging

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ership esponsibility

“ The sixth form is determined to help you achieve, there is an incredible amount of dedication amongst the staff.�

Finn Nightingale SFH6 President 2012 – 13

Being a member of the SFH6 community means making a contribution and participating in the life of the sixth form and the two schools.

SFH6 has a culture of partnership, collaboration and cooperation between the two schools, their staff, governors, students and parents/carers.

We think it is important that SFH6 students make a contribution to the sixth form, our schools and the wider community. Students are able to become SFH6 ambassadors or student mentors which give them great opportunities to demonstrate

and develop their leadership skills. Each year our students also elect a student President who represents the student body on a number of committees. Our students also organise regular fund raising activities for a range of charities. We encourage all SFH6 students to behave as role models for younger students with maturity and consideration for others.

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Zach Evans Grades – A* in Art, A in Psychology, A in English Literature & Language, Distinction in BTEC Music.

Destination – Jesus College Cambridge to read English.

Ellie Savage Grades – A* in Mathematics, A* in Chemistry and A in Further Mathematics.

Destination – Sidney Sussex College Cambridge to read Natural Sciences.

Ramla Ali Grades – A in Mathematics, A in Biology, B in Physics, B in Chemistry.

Destination – Medicine at Kings College London.

Martin Ansong Grades – A*s in Further Mathematics, Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics.

Destination – Mathematics at Warwick University.

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Student Destinations We work very hard to support all our students to be successful and ambitious with their chosen courses as well as their plans for progression after the sixth form.

We make a considerable effort to ensure that our students progress to their intended destinations whether this is university, Art College, apprenticeship or suitable employment. We have a careers advisor who is able to give students one to one careers interviews as well as a dedicated team of sixth form pastoral staff.

We provide an extensive UCAS guidance programme which starts in Year 12 and continues into Year 13, including the summer holidays when the results arrive.

As part of this programme students participate in workshops with university student ambassadors, visit universities and attend a range of activities to support them in writing their personal statements. We are particularly proud of the universities that our students attend after SFH6. Some of the institutions that our students have been recently been accepted into include: Jesus College Cambridge, Queen Mary’s College London, Bristol University, Edinburgh University, Nottingham University, Warwick University, Manchester University, Sheffield University, University College London, Imperial College London, London School of Economics, Durham University, Leeds University, Cardiff University, Birmingham University and Camberwell College of Arts.

achievement

nt & ambition

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planning y program Our joint sixth form enables us to offer a wide range of courses giving our students real choice about their sixth form studies. We offer over 30 A Levels, 9 Level 3 vocational courses and 2 Level 2 courses.

Students are usually expected to study 4 subjects in the first year for A/AS Level and 3 subjects in the second year for A/A2 level. Some students will continue with all 4 subjects in Year 13.

Students following a Level 3 vocational programme will usually take the equivalent of 3 or 4 subjects but some of these courses may be double awards.

Students taking a Level 2 course will choose just one of our full time courses along with GCSE English and/or Maths GCSE retake where required.

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General Entry Requirements A/AS Level: 5 GCSE’s at grade C or better including English and Maths. We normally expect at least a B grade in the subjects you intend to study for A level. Students progressing to an A Level from a Level 2 course in the sixth form are expected to achieve a Distinction and to have achieved a grade C or better in English and Maths.

Vocational Level 3: 5 GCSE’s at grade C or better and/or at least a Merit at Level 2. Students progressing to a Level 3 vocational course from a Level 2 course in the sixth form are expected to achieve at least a Merit.

Vocational Level 2: D grades in your top 5 GCSE’s.

Detailed course descriptions and entry requirements can be found in the course booklet and on our website.

m How do I apply for a place at SFH6?

All current students of Forest Hill and Sydenham Schools have the right to apply to SFH6. We also welcome applications of students from other schools of which there have been an increasing number. These students have no trouble integrating and thriving in our Sixth Form.

Some students are eligible for a Bursary, paid half termly.

Application forms can be found online on the SFH6 website or by phoning the sixth form office at either school.

Dacres Road, London SE23 2XN

Dartmouth Road, London SE26 4RD

Sixth Form: 020 8613 8431

Sixth Form: 020 8291 8455 or 020 8291 8484

Main School: 020 8699 9343

Main School: 020 8699 6731

www.cleverbox.co.uk

Sydenham School

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Forest Hill School