High aspirations, traditional values
Holyport College Sixth Form
HISTORY AND ETHOS High Aspirations, Traditional Values
Holyport College was founded under the Government’s Free School programme as the UK’s first State Boarding Free School. We opened our doors to our first students in September 2014 and our Sixth Form provision will start in September 2017 for both day and boarding students. Whilst we may be modelled on an independent boarding school, at Holyport College we aim to emulate the best of both the state and independent sectors. We pride ourselves on the diversity of our community and our students and staff are drawn from all walks of life. Eton College is our sole educational sponsor and our aim is to deliver an exceptional quality of education and a boarding experience which develops our students as independent and thoughtful citizens of the modern world. Despite being a new school, we have adopted a traditional ethos: we operate a longer school day, we structure our pastoral care around our boarding houses and we have adopted certain lexis and traditions from our sponsors at Eton College. That said, we are also keen to forge our own traditions and identity as we establish ourselves as a model for the future of British state education and for collaboration between the independent and maintained sectors.
Welcome MR W BOYLE: HEAD MASTER Young people demand and deserve the best possible future we can give them. At Holyport College we have an uncompromising ambition to see our students excel. The culture of high expectations for which the College is already known will also be the norm in our Sixth Form. Entrance to Oxbridge, Russell Group and other top universities should be the goal of all of our students as they embark on their Sixth Form studies. Academic success only comes about when young people are happy and well cared for; the College prides itself on its warm, welcoming atmosphere and high standards of pastoral care. I look forward to you studying with us at Sixth Form and achieving way beyond what you thought possible.
MR G ALFORD: HEAD OF SIXTH FORM I feel privileged to be appointed as the first Head of Sixth Form at Holyport College and I am very excited about working with everyone in the school to build an outstanding Sixth Form that provides the very best opportunities for our students.
THE SIXTH FORM The Sixth Form at Holyport College will ensure that its students achieve the full potential of which they are capable; that they become happy, successful and well-informed members of the global community; that they will always understand and cherish the value of learning for its own sake; that they will become resilient, self-reliant and morally upstanding adults whatever their chosen paths; and that they will have the necessary qualifications and personal attributes to choose those paths wisely. We believe that, in preparing our students for a university education at Oxbridge, Russell Group universities or other institutions with global reputations for excellence, we are giving them the best possible opportunity to achieve these goals. Our curriculum is constructed with this pathway in mind, its emphasis being on academic A-Level subjects which facilitate entry to top universities. Our culture, standards and expectations will reflect this aspiration through all aspects of College life.
As a boarding school, we have an opportunity to act as a bridge between school and university, allowing our students to enjoy an independent yet supported approach to their studies. Likewise, our relationship with Eton College offers outstanding opportunities for enrichment, extension and depth of learning. Holyport College was established to offer a very high standard of state funded education; an education with higher aspirations and higher expectations; an education founded on a sense of community, collaboration and mutual respect; an education which does not offer excuses, cut corners or look for shortcuts; an education predicated on the fundamental tenet that our students can achieve standards on a par with the best students in the best schools in the country, be they state funded or independent. Our Sixth Form will be the embodiment of this vision and our students will be testimony to it.
We welcome Sixth Form applications for both day and boarding places from those students currently at Holyport College and also from those at other schools who would like join our aspirational, unique and happy community.
OUR SPONSOR At Holyport College, we are fortunate and proud to have Eton College as our sole educational sponsor. Eton College was founded by King Henry VI in 1440 and is situated just a few miles away from Holyport near Windsor. Eton is widely recognised as a leading, academically selective, independent boarding school in the UK and, whilst Holyport College may be a relatively new school, we are fortunate to be able to draw on Eton’s heritage and experience. This sponsorship has allowed us to forge links between the two schools at a number of levels (in our governance, and through staff and student interactions). It is our mutual aim for Eton’s sponsorship of Holyport to become the gold standard by which other state and independent school collaborations are judged. Holyport students benefit from the use of a number of Eton College’s facilities and from the opportunity to build relationships with students currently studying at Eton; our staff are working alongside their counterparts to plan the Sixth Form curriculum and internal assessment materials ensuring that students are encouraged to aim high. Our Sixth Formers will benefit from the wide range of society meetings held at Eton, which help to encourage independent thinking and the courage to ask questions among students.
CURRICULUM Our Sixth Form curriculum is unashamedly predicated on the Russell Group facilitating subjects. We may not offer the same range and variety of subjects as some other centres, however, what we do offer, we will deliver exceptionally well. All of our subjects are offered as two year, linear A-level courses and, for some students, it may also be possible to take an additional AS in Maths. Our belief is that choosing the right combination of A-level subjects leaves open the widest range of courses for university study. All of our Heads of Department work closely with their counterparts at Eton College to ensure that the curriculum, and its delivery, are of the highest possible standard and that the work of our students is moderated against that of their peers at Eton College. All of this will help us to ensure that, when it comes to university entrance, our students will be competitive with the best there are.
The A-Level courses we offer are: • English Literature • Maths • Further Maths • Biology • Chemistry • Physics • Geography • History • Spanish • French • Latin • Art • Music • Economics • Government & Politics • Philosophy & Ethics • Sports Science
Staff At Holyport College, we believe that our staff are one of our greatest assets (second only to our students).
Our teachers are drawn from a wide variety of backgrounds (from state schools, from grammar schools and from the independent sector) but they have one thing in common: their passion for and expertise in their subjects. We encourage our staff to build strong relationships with the students they teach, to raise their aspirations and to challenge them on a daily basis to be the best, and never to accept excuses or compromises when it comes to their goals and achievements.
Life at Holyport College THE COLLEGE DAY The structure of our day allows our students more freedom to develop the personal and academic attributes they will need to succeed in the next stages of their education. Our College day is longer than that of most schools and colleges, lasting from 08:40 until 17:30 (15:45 on Fridays). This means that, alongside a high level of contact time with their teachers, our Sixth Form students will also have ample opportunity for independent study, collaborative study, additional support from tutors or teachers, careers advice, extension or enrichment activities and plenty of time to take part in our extensive co-curriculum programme.
CO-CURRICULUM Our co-curriculum is a central part of our school day, with an hour and half given over to societies, games and activities every afternoon. We are proud to compete against both state and independent schools in the full range of team sports, from rugby and netball to cricket, rounders and athletics as well as in less mainstream sports such as Eton Fives and petanque! Our relationship with Eton College allows our students access to their world class sporting facilities for many of our home fixtures and our rowing squads benefit from the use of Olympic venue Eton Dorney Rowing Lake for training. Alongside sports, we have a wide range of cultural and academic activities on offer: students in the Sixth Form can choose from drama societies, orchestras, choirs, ensembles and societies allowing them to deepen their
knowledge of their chosen academic subjects beyond the traditional A-level curriculum. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is flourishing at Holyport College, with many of our students involved, and we hope many of our Sixth Form students will go on to achieve the Gold Award. Likewise, there are many opportunities, through the co-curricular programme, to give something back to the community: by running a club or society for younger students; by coaching a sports team; by mentoring a student who may be struggling academically or emotionally or by volunteering at a local primary school or elsewhere in the community. Furthermore, students in the Sixth Form will have access to a wide and varied range of visiting speakers and will have the opportunity to attend society meetings at Eton College.
Boarding Life In choosing to be a Sixth Form boarder at Holyport College, you will be joining a happy and diverse community of like-minded young people who work hard and achieve academic success but also enjoy their time at school and the many and varied opportunities on offer. Our Sixth Form boarding experience is designed as a bridge between school and university: you will enjoy greater freedom but also greater responsibility. We have separate boarding houses for boys and girls and our Sixth Form boarders will share a well-appointed, modern bedroom etc. There will be opportunities for social events both within school and with other, nearby boarding schools, as well as the
responsibility of being a leader and role model for the younger members of the house. At Holyport College we pride ourselves on the level of pastoral care which we provide and this will be no different for our Sixth Form students. We have on site medical facilities and Sixth Form tutors are available in the evenings to support with studies, help resolve any issues or concerns or simply to have a chat. Boarding fees at Holyport College are significantly lower than those at independent schools and bursaries may be available for suitable individuals. Further details can be found on our website.
LEADERSHIP Our ambition for our students is that they become the leaders of tomorrow in every walk of life. In order to encourage them in this aspiration, we place a strong emphasis on leadership throughout their time at the school. Our Sixth Form students will be expected to be leaders in terms of their behaviour, attendance, appearance and positivity of mindset. As a traditional boarding school, there will also be more formal opportunities for leadership: in supporting or running clubs or supervising activities for younger students; in representing their peers on House or College councils; in working in the community (at local primary schools, care homes or community events) or as House or College prefects (or indeed as Head Boy or Head Girl).
UNIVERSITY AND BEYOND
Moving from school to university is a very exciting time for young people and preparation is the key to a successful transition. At Holyport we aim to ensure every student is successful in reaching their next goal. Students will be supported every step of the way, from researching university courses, throughout the UCAS application process, admissions tests and interviews, to making the all-important final choices. All our Sixth Formers will have access to unparalleled advice and guidance including: • One-to-one tutorials with specialist teachers in students’ chosen subjects • University visits and open days, subject workshops and online higher education
resources to help them research courses and universities effectively • Experienced Holyport and Eton staff to help prepare students for highly competitive admissions tests (BMAT, LNAT, HAT etc) and in-depth interview practice • Guidance and advice on applications to Oxbridge, Medical and Dental schools, Russell Group universities, specialist colleges, as well as European and American institutions with experienced support in the application process • Support beyond the classroom, including access to Eton College’s libraries, talks and seminars from visiting speakers at Eton, guidance on specialist work experience, gap year options, and careers advice.
The Holyport Scholars programme was founded to identify our students with the greatest academic potential and to extend and deepen their learning beyond the classroom. Our Sixth Form Scholars will be the College’s academic elite and the Scholars Programme will be specifically tailored to supporting them in furthering their knowledge in their own areas of academic interest. Holyport Sixth Form Scholars will have access to the following: • Priority invitations to visiting speakers, lectures and societies at both Eton College and Holyport College
• Specialist academic support and supervision in their chosen university subjects, over and above the A-Level curriculum • The opportunity to independently research, plan and write a dissertation on a subject of their own choosing, under the tutelage of a supervisor and with access to Eton College’s libraries • The opportunity to share and discuss this dissertation with fellow Scholars • Interview practice and coaching specifically tailored to Oxbridge interviews in their chosen subject • The opportunity to apply for a place on the Eton College University Summer School.
At Holyport College Sixth Form, academic excellence is at the heart of all that we do; our Scholars programme will ensure that our best and brightest students develop their love for learning and their knowledge of their chosen subject. This will be of huge value to their UCAS applications and will give them the best possible chance of succeeding at Oxbridge interview. Please note that full membership of the Scholars Programme is conditional upon successful application; however all Sixth Form students will be able to apply for tickets to the majority of Scholars events.
HOLYPORT SCHOLARS
WHY HOLYPORT? • The opportunity to attend one of the most exciting new schools in the UK with its aspirational, high achieving ethos within a diverse and mutually supportive community
• Community service through Duke of Edinburgh, Young Leadership programme, mentoring of younger students and prefect responsibilities
• Focus on core academic subjects, allowing students to keep options open and to give them the very best chance of securing a place at a top university with input from Eton College as Holyport’s sole educational sponsor
• The option to board at Holyport College, making close friendships and the chance to have a taste of independent university life
• Unparalleled tutor support and advice with applications to the most competitive courses and universities • Specialist support in preparation for university admissions tests and interviews • Extensive co-curriculum through our longer school day giving students opportunities to pursue cultural, sporting and academic interests
• New, purpose-built teaching rooms, specialist labs and classrooms, alongside dedicated Sixth Form study areas, reading rooms and Common rooms • A College at the heart of the community with a vibrant and caring learning environment which values the individual qualities of the individual student and maintains a positive outlook and a sense of humour alongside its pursuit of academic excellence • A College where everyone is mutually supportive and proud of all their achievements but is also not afraid of competition or of celebrating success
Full information on courses, the application process and key dates is available on our website: www.holyportcollege.org.uk/sixth-form For further information please contact: SixthForm@holyportcollege.org.uk Holyport College Ascot Road Holyport, Berkshire SL6 3LE Reception: 01628 640150 Admissions: 01628 640155
High aspirations, traditional values
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