Welcome Evening for New Parents and Carers 2014

Welcome‌to all parents and carers of our new students

ASFC…  Over 2000 students.  Top 10% for AS progress and performance in 2014.  Official ranking of ‘very good’ for A-level and BTEC progress.  Our highest level of high grades (A*, A and B, Distinctions) ever achieved.  Ranked 19th out of 93 Sixth Forms across the country for success rates at level 3.  Over 80% progression from Level 2 to Level 3.  Over 600 students progressing to over 70 universities.

How?

Here’s how, put simply… High quality teaching. Co-ordinated ‘wrap around’ support. Comprehensive package of ‘extras’. Hard work and dedication.

Meeting the academic challenges of Sixth Form College Nine months to ‘make the grade’. Switch in the skills and competencies expected. No ‘sailing through’. End of first year grades matter!

Deeper level of study Increased independence More evaluative/analytical More content

No January exams/modules…. mocks instead

What’s different from Year 11?

More homework - some set pieces - wider reading & research - 4 hours per week per AS - 10 hours per week for BTEC students

Study periods Need for strong organisational skills

Duration & speed of course – time at Sixth Form “whizzes by”

Sixth Form

School

Wider world (university, employment

A bit of a nag… Well actually, a NAG ( National Average Grade). NAGs are taken from a national system called ALIS (A Level Information System). NAGS are based upon calculations as to a student’s chances of achieving certain grades, but… At ASFC NAGs used at ASFC as minimum expected grades. This is how we measure students’ progress and our performance as a college. No AS student has a NAG lower than a D. Two reports home and a parents evening.

Criteria for progression into the next academic year: 95% attendance overall and in each course. A good record of behaviour and work-rate. Successful completion of work experience (for vocational students). Completion of all A1 work to at least pass standard (for Level 3 vocational students). Attending and completing all examinations. At least a merit grade at Level 2 (for Level 2 BTEC students). At least 3 AS passes at grade E. If science subjects are being studied, D grade is required to continue.

Excitement – eagerness to try new things ‘Tempted’ by other opportunities - apprenticeships - jobs/money “The grass is greener” Stress

New, higher level of study Faster pace

Tough times/being out of their comfort zone

Different people

New teachers Life changes

Confused about their next steps after college

RESILIENCE & SUPPORT…

Support Services at ASFC

The ‘ASFC 10’

Unauthorised

Authorised

Building a Profile Over the past few years, I have taken on many positions of responsibility. One such position was being selected to be a Student Ambassador when my high school merged with another. This position involved attending numerous meetings and events, being involved in the interview process for the new headteacher, and contributing to discussions on the proposed new school logo and uniform designs.

I sat on the School Council and the Anti-Bullying Forum and won several academic awards including English, Drama and Pupil of the Year.

However, my biggest achievement was becoming Head Boy which involved leading a team of 60+ Prefects as well as delivering speeches to pupils and parents. At college, I am involved in a Student Action Research Project which involves working with a team of other students to devise an action plan in relation to aspects of teaching and learning. I am an FA referee and I officiate junior football games weekly. I now also officiate Academy level matches for Manchester City and United after this year being accepted into the Manchester FA Referee Academy, comprising of the thirty hand-picked elite referees in the county