Sixth Form
Support, Inspire, Achieve
Barton Court Grammar School An Academy of Excellence
Mission Statement At Barton Court Grammar School students are supported, inspired and challenged to achieve their very best in all that they do in order to reach their full potential and academic excellence. Students develop into independent and resilient learners who are able to succeed in an ever-changing and technological world. When they leave Barton Court, students are articulate, confident and principled young people who have made a positive contribution to their school and the wider community.
“ Barton Court Grammar School is a forward thinking school that provides outstanding education.�  Ofsted
Welcome to
Barton Court Grammar School Please take time to read our Sixth Form prospectus. I know that you will be impressed by our outstanding results, our first class facilities and our impressive range of courses. At the heart of our successful Sixth Form is our commitment to delivering excellence through support, inspiration and achievement. Personal excellence is ensured through an innovative curriculum, high expectations and the highest quality of teaching and learning based on an understanding of each student’s individual needs. In Barton Court Grammar School Sixth Form we want to develop your talents and interests, preparing you for the best universities or high quality training and employment. We believe students achieve their best in a supportive and purposeful learning environment. You will be supported with regular tutorial interviews and specialist advice and guidance, and we have a dedicated independent Sixth Form Learning Centre in which you can maximise the effectiveness of your studies. In Barton Court Grammar School Sixth Form you will choose between a wide range of Advanced Level courses and have the opportunity to study the AQA Baccalaureate. Beyond the curriculum you will develop new friendships, take on roles of responsibility and in a broad sense reflect upon what is important in life. Through this you will develop a mature sense of values. We believe yours is an exciting future, together we can work towards achieving your goals.
Ms K Cardus Executive Headteacher
Mr I Macaulay Head of School
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Academic Curriculum
A broad and versatile curriculum ensures that your time spent studying allows you to develop not only academically, but also your life skills. Whatever your talents you can find the right course and subject combination to suit your aptitudes. Whichever course options you decide you can be confident that you will be supported to achieve your full potential. As well as all these opportunities Barton Court Grammar School has a dedicated academic team to support you through the Sixth Form as well as the Tutor System to nurture and guide you as you develop into the world class student you have the potential to be. Students will typically take 3 or 4 subject courses in Year 12 and 3 or 4 subject courses in Year 13 depending on their individual needs. Students can also develop their research skills and demonstrate independent learning through the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and the AQA Baccalaureate Qualification.
“ The school provides students with an outstanding curriculum that effectively meets their needs and aspirations.” OFSTED 2
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“ With such a warm and vibrant atmosphere, it is very easy to enjoy life in the Sixth Form at Barton Court Grammar School.” Year 13 Student 4
Developing Leadership Skills
The skills of leadership are not skills you are necessarily born with, but rather skills you develop and hone through practice and time. At Barton Court Grammar School we seek to give you many and varied opportunities to develop your leadership skills throughout your time in the Sixth Form. As a young adult you will be expected to be a responsible role model in the School, setting the right example for others to follow. There are many formal positions of leadership within the Sixth Form, these include: the Prefect Structure, the Tutor system; the Student Voice and the leadership of clubs and societies. In addition to these whole school leadership roles over half of Year 12 are involved in subject mentoring, providing support for younger students. Mentors report how fulfilling the role is and how, as well as helping the younger students, the mentors themselves also benefit from the opportunity to inspire interest in their subject. Therefore, whichever role you choose to play in the Sixth Form you can be confident that it will contribute to your development as a person and leave you better equipped to be successful in whatever you choose to do in the future.
“ Students’ achievement is outstanding.” OFSTED 5
Life-long Learning: A Thinking Schools Approach 6
At Barton Court Grammar School we believe that education is more than the sum of subjects. It is also about what you learn and how you learn. Research by The Sutton Trust has shown that when students understand how they think and learn they make greater progress and become more resilient and adaptable. Students are encouraged to become resourceful and resilient learners who take responsibility for their own learning. We have placed “thinking” at the heart of our teaching and learning, and have developed a common visual language of learning to enable our students to become independent, confident, life-long learners. Students are encouraged to work together in teams and enjoy new friendships, take on roles of responsibility and develop a mature sense of values. We want our Sixth Form students to stand out from the crowd in this competitive world and, as such, we actively encourage them to develop their independent and enquiring minds. An independent Learning Centre enables students to think and work in quiet, calm and modern surroundings. Here, they can make extensive use of ICT facilities, including wireless technology for their own laptop. All students are encouraged to develop their own area of academic enquiry. The majority of students choose to complete an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). This provides students with the opportunity to focus on a specific aspect or theme of any area they are interested in and conduct their own enquiry into it.
“ Teachers use a wide variety of activities and learning styles to engage and enthuse students.” OFSTED 7
Raising Aspirations, Delivering
Excellence As you will be aware the competition for university places has never been greater. In addition, it is essential that students attend the university that is going to provide them with the greatest number of opportunities when they graduate. Barton Court Grammar School, therefore, provides extensive support and guidance for students to help them secure the best university offers. Year 12 students have a UCAS day where they are guided through the application process. Every student receives an individual career guidance session with a qualified adviser. There are a variety of well-established bespoke support programmes in place at the School. Students wishing to apply to Oxford or Cambridge are supported through a specific Oxbridge programme; students interested in Medicine, Veterinary Science or Dentistry benefit from a specific “Medics” programme and those interested in Law or STEM careers also benefit from a specific bespoke programme. Students are invited to attend our “Inspire Lecture Programme” and encouraged to complete “super-curricular” activities to broaden their skills, horizons and knowledge. Students who wish to enter the world of work at the end of their Sixth Form studies also have the support of an independent Careers Advisor and benefit from our work experience/ shadowing programme which enables students to better understand the world of work and career they may be interested in. Whatever you choose to do at the end of your Sixth Form studies at Barton Court Grammar School you will be confident that you will have achieved your full academic potential and developed the personal skills necessary to be highly successful.
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Partnership and the Trust
Barton Court Grammar School is the lead school of the Barton Court Academy Trust. This is an exciting opportunity which brings together a family of secondary schools to build additional capacity to ensure that all students in the Trust receive an outstanding education. We believe schools are stronger when they work together and have a common purpose to provide the highest standards in teaching and pupil outcomes. We promote an individual identity for each of our schools so that they continue to respond to the needs of their pupils, their families and the wider community they serve.
“ The School is a happy and harmonious community where students are motivated to achieve as well as possible and develop into confident and successful young adults.�  OFSTED 9
Longport, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1PH Tel: 01227 464600 Email: office@bartoncourt.org www.bartoncourt.org Follow us on Twitter
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An Academy of Excellence
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Barton Court Grammar School