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A Note from the Director of the Sixth Form
A Note from the Director of the Sixth Form Mrs Miller (millerc@ashfordschool.co.uk)
The Sixth Form experience is unlike any other in your school life. It is an opportunity to explore all Ashford School has to offer, from the academic breadth and depth of your A level subjects and university preparation, to the wide variety of sporting, music and drama opportunities, international tours, or local community service. Your time in the Sixth Form is a chance to pursue your interests and develop both personally and academically. In short, it is a time for you to develop as an individual.
We have high expectations of you and what you will achieve, and we will support you to do this. The Sixth Form curriculum is designed to provide you with a myriad of opportunities. We expect you to take advantage of these with an open mind, looking for any chance to learn. Academically, you will benefit from excellent teaching and resources to assist you through the challenges of A levels and further study in your chosen subjects. We also want you to be active in the wider life of the School, and we will give you genuine opportunities to lead others. By the end of your time in the Sixth Form, we want you to be well prepared for the next stage in your life. For most of you, this will mean university and we provide excellent support through our individualised careers and higher education advice.
Please find out as much as you can about the subjects you are considering. This booklet provides some information to help you get started in making your subject choices. Please speak to your teachers, or the relevant Heads of Department, for the subjects you are thinking of studying. They will give you good advice based on what they know of you.
The subjects listed are those we plan to offer in September 2021 (subject to staffing and viable pupil numbers). The “Preferred Entry Requirements” section for each subject indicate our recommendations, based on our knowledge and experience of the courses and of former successful students. The step up to Sixth Form study can be large, so it is important that you build on a solid foundation from GCSE study.
The key dates you should be aware of from now on are as follows. • 2 November 2021: Sixth Form Options Evening. This is an opportunity to talk to the lead teachers of subjects and to learn about the course. • December 2021: we will ask pupils for an initial (non-binding) indication of the subjects they might like to study in the Sixth Form. This helps us to get an early idea of numbers in each subject. • 6 January 2022: students sit their mock GCSE exams, the results of which will give a good indication of suitable subjects for study in the Sixth Form. • February 2022: Year 11 pupils submit their ‘firm’ subject choices. • 11 February 2022: Year 11 Parents’ Evening, to discuss what pupils need to do before their GCSE exams, and informally to discuss Sixth Form subjects with teachers. • February/March 2022: Mrs Miller available to talk to pupils and parents about A Level choices
I look forward to welcoming you into the Sixth Form next September. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or, for subject-specific questions, the relevant Head of Department. Please do make an appointment with me – parents or pupils, if you have uncertainties or worries about your A Level plans. This can be done via Mrs Stuart (stuartf@ashfordschool.co.uk).
