www.stdunstans.org.uk
admissions@stdunstans.org.uk
Introduction
It is hoped that all Year 11 students will transfer to our academically selective Sixth Form, subject to grade expectations being met in their GCSE examinations. Students need an average grade of 6 across all their subjects, as well as meeting specific entry requirements, depending on the A Level subjects of their choice. Note: our Science and Maths subjects require level 8 at GCSE.
There is no need to complete a registration form, or to sit our entrance examinations, and our Middle School team will work closely with families where they believe there is a risk that a student will not reach the expected level of academic attainment to be eligible for transfer to Sixth Form. We want to support all students into our Sixth Form, wherever possible, and as such we frequently consult with Year 11 students across the year, both in helping support them with their GCSEs, and in managing the next steps into post-16 education.
There are several opportunities during Year 10 and Year 11 for students and families to meet with the Sixth Form Team, and to learn more about life in the Sixth Form. The Middle School team are also available for consultation and advice. The schedule of events for this year is included within this booklet.
Head of Year 11:
Ms E Wood ewood@stdunstans.org.uk
Head of Year 12
& Director of Futures: Ms R Redding rredding@stdunstans.org.uk
Co-Head of Year 13: Ms C Winder cwinder@stdunstans.org.uk
Co-Head of Year 13:
Ms A Collard acollard@stdunstans.org.uk
‘Sixth Form Experience’ Events
Across Year 10 and Year 11 we hold a number of events to help students in the Middle School familiarise themselves with Sixth Form life at St Dunstan’s.
We want to be as open as possible in showing students the whole range of support and opportunity that is available in the Sixth Form. Events will include information on our Careers and Higher Education programme, our Aiming High programme, our Sixth Form Diploma, the exciting new Sixth Form facilities, and tailored sessions that allow parents and students to ask questions of the Sixth Form team about what A Level studies might mean for them.
For this year, there are a number of ‘Sixth Form Experience’ events being hosted on the College site. For students, this will include a tour of the Sixth Form Hub and its facilities. You will hear talks on our Diploma with its academic and wider skills programmes, and you will be able to ask questions and think about the type of journey that would best suit you. You are warmly encouraged to attend one of these events and to hear from the Sixth Form team, as well as the current Sixth Formers.
A Levels on offer in September 2025
• Art & Design
• Biology
• Business
• Chemistry
• Classical Civilisation
• Computer Science
• Design Engineering
• Drama
• Economics
• English Literature
• French
• Further Mathematics (must be chosen with Mathematics)
• Geography
• German
• History
• Latin
• Mathematics
• Music
• Physics
• Politics
• Psychology
• Religion, Philosophy & Ethics
• Spanish
• Sports Science
The St Dunstan’s Diploma
The St Dunstan’s Diploma is the defining framework for Sixth Form life. All students embark on this ambitious and forward-thinking programme that is designed to develop well-rounded and self-confident individuals who can thrive in the wider world of higher education and beyond. It is a programme that deliberately allows for the development of the individual, creating multiple pathways of learning and growth. The Diploma has three strands that build well-rounded students for a future not yet written.
Knowledge
Academically rigorous A Levels serve as the backbone of the Diploma. We believe in academic challenge and inspiring curiosity in subjects that students are passionate about. We offer 24 subjects, providing a very broad academic choice. All students begin their Diploma journey on a programme of four Subject A Levels. In December of Year 12, one-to-one consultations with senior staff provide the option of dropping to three A levels, as well as enhancing commitment to some of the elective courses on offer.
Character
The St Dunstan’s Diploma overtly recognises and celebrates all of the activities, commitments and achievements that are valued and enjoyed through the College’s rich co-curriculum. In the Sixth Form, it is expected that students start to take a lead in these activities, as well as giving back to the wider school community, by starting up their own societies and other clubs. All co-curricular activities contribute towards the St Dunstan’s Diploma. Examples of regular Sixth Form activity include:
The St Dunstan’s DIPLOMA
Leadership Volunteering Societies Prefecture Scholars
Higher Education Apprenticeships Work & CVs Online courses Practical skills
• Helping lead the whole College community through prefecture
• Championing the CCF, House System, dramatic performances, sports teams and musical ensembles
• Completing the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award
• Leading community service initiatives both within the St Dunstan’s community and within our local setting
• Leading the Pupil Parliament
• Setting up and running an Academic Society
• Running clubs and activities for younger students
• Training to be a Peer Mentor and supporting our younger students
• Qualifying in Youth Mental Health
Four/ three Subject A Levels
Knowledge Character Futures
Futures
A programme of careers and higher education events are held throughout the Sixth Form, designed to give insight into a full range of possible sectors and higher education pathways. Specialists provide students with invaluable information in fields of Law, Medicine, Financial Services and The Arts, amongst others.
Through Year 12 students can take part in our Futures pathways, collectively called ‘Aiming High’. Each route contains taught undergraduate level material, guided personal statement projects, and where appropriate, marked admissions test practice. These bespoke courses ensure applications for competitive degrees are robust and strong, preparing students for some of the most popular degrees choices including Law, Engineering, Economics, as well as Music and Drama School and Art Foundation courses. During Lent term of Year 12, the UCAS application process is introduced to parents and students, launched with an evening event with the likes of admissions teams from Birmingham or Manchester Universities, offering insider guidance on personal statements. A panel of alumni also offer frank feedback on a university they attend, to help students understand the type of institution they would
like to apply to. Aside from this, specialist speakers on gap years, careers and overseas applications, are available for one-to-one advice throughout a student’s time in the Sixth Form. In the Trinity term, students have days off timetable to construct their UCAS application and begin in earnest their personal statement, having the lion’s share completed before the summer break. Through Year 13 Michaelmas term, the ’Aiming High’ programmes with early application dates intensify the preparation given to students for their admissions tests, including personal statements and interviews by their Tutors, and our expert Oxbridge and Galen programme co-ordinators.
To enable students to have a clear understanding of the careers open to them, in November we host a careers convention with over 60 exhibitors, plus a series of Career Insight events through Lent term, each with a panel of professional giving details advice on how to reach your target careers. These events are coupled with our visiting Career Mentors, professionals who visit the College termly, having one-to-one meeting with students each time they visit, so students can get continual feedback and progression advice on how to access competitive careers.
Diploma Research Programme & EPQ Qualification
The three strands of the Diploma –Knowledge, Character, Futures – are underwritten by our Diploma Research Programme. This is taught in weekly lessons by tutors and incorporates the chance to deepen study skills, devising projects and societies, developing personal interests and skill sets. Through it, students are auto-enrolled on the Extended Project Qualification, allowing a formally assessed qualification to be gained that can help with entry to certain university courses.
Alternatively, students may later opt out of the full EPQ and instead take up multiple other smaller courses. For example:
• Massive Open Online Courses (Future Learn)
• Ab Initio Language Study (Rosetta Stone)
• British Science Association ‘CREST Award’ (Gold)
• First aid Qualification
• Practical Skills Courses – recent examples include first aid, barrista training, and British Sign Language amongst others.
In these ways we are able to build a successful and forward-looking programme that enables a fully rounded student capable of facing their adult futures with confidence.
The Sixth Form Diploma Scholarship
Current Co-curricular awards
If you already hold a Co-curricular Scholarship with St Dunstan’s, and that this is confirmed in writing to families at the end of Year 10, then students will continue to hold that scholarship throughout their time with us in the Sixth Form.
Diploma Scholarship
Regardless of whether you hold a scholarship or not, all of Year 11 can also apply for a Diploma Scholarship at the end of their Michaelmas term.
This is a single award that recognises a particular specialism that students have become expert in. During Year 12, the Diploma Scholars receive further training from the Head of Sixth Form, are taken on bespoke visits and trips, including a residential at our Scholars’ Retreat, receive one-to-one mentoring, and produce a final project in their interest in Year 13 at our Scholars’ Symposium. They are also expected to run clubs and societies promoting that interest.
Sixth Form Diploma Scholarship can be held in the following areas of specialism:
• Diploma Scholar – Academic
• Diploma Scholar – Art & Design
• Diploma Scholar – Sports
• Diploma Scholar – Drama
• Diploma Scholar – Music
• Diploma Scholar – Design Engineering
Sixth Form Diploma Scholars will be expected to champion other years in their specialism for at least two terms of each year of Sixth Form. For example, they might be a Football captain and/or they might organise and run Photography club.
Application process
Year 11 will be invited by the Head of Sixth Form to apply for the Diploma in late October and families will be sent an application document where students can set out their case for being worthy of this award. Interviews take place during November and are carried
out by both the Head of Sixth Form and a member of the Senior Leadership team. Sixth Form Diploma Scholarships are awarded for excellence in one of the six fields of interest.
The Diploma Scholarship carries a fee remission, typically between 10% and 25% and lasts for the whole of a student’s time in Sixth Form, conditional on the requirements of the award being completed. If more than one specialism is held the fee remission can attract another 10%. Please note that there is a 35% cap on all types of Scholarship remissions - either Diploma or otherwise - for any one student.
Key Dates
MONTH
Year 10
Year 11
November
onwards
December February
WHAT
• Attend our Careers & Higher Education series
• University Programme introduction & various careers events
• Pupil & Parents Sixth Form Taster Day
• Oxbridge essay competition launch
• Sixth Form Open Evening
• Launch of Sixth Form Diploma Scholarship
• Deadline for applying for Diploma Academic & Scholarships
• Diploma Scholarship interviews
• Attend our Careers and Higher Education series
• A Level option deadline
• Diploma Academic Scholarship offers
• Acceptance deadline for Diploma Scholarship offers
• Diploma Scholars’ Retreat
