Your journey starts here
Guilsborough Academy Sixth Form Prospectus
Welcome Messages From the Principal
I would like to offer a very warm welcome to all students looking to join Guilsborough Academy Sixth Form. Here you will be encouraged to excel academically while involving yourself in a wide range of extra-curricular activities. We believe it is our responsibility to help you see beyond the limits of your own expectations and ensure you can reach your potential.
At Guilsborough Academy Sixth Form, we pride ourselves on providing a welcoming yet challenging learning environment that enables all students to aspire and succeed. Our range of qualifications enables students to select a programme of study of interest to them and that will enable them to follow their chosen route to post-18 options. Our focused careers advice and guidance supports students to access a range of impressive university and apprenticeship places, as well as those considering gap years and entering employment.
Mr S Frazer Principal
From the Director of Sixth Form
The Sixth Form at Guilsborough Academy is an inclusive learning environment. We put the students at the heart of everything we do, and work closely with the student body to make improvements to our offer. During your time in the Sixth Form you will be supported by a highly experienced tutor who will be available to support you daily. Your progress in the Sixth Form will be monitored and aided by a team of teachers and support staff with a wide range of expertise.
Our students are encouraged to inspire others through their successes, leading as role models and mentors, as well as contributing to the wider community, both within and beyond the academy. We are proud of our students; they are at the heart of our Sixth Form and Academy.
We look forward to welcoming you into our happy and successful Sixth Form where we offer both high support and high challenge to all.
Mr D Mills Director of Sixth Form
From the Student Leadership Team
We would like to wish you a warm welcome to Guilsborough Sixth Form, where if you believe it, you can achieve it!
We believe that our sixth form provides support that allows us to flourish academically, but more importantly, will ensure we leave at the end of our 2-year journey as well-rounded individuals. This stage of our academic journey sees a large leap forward in independence and self-guided learning, but we are well supported at all stages to develop these skills.
We understand better than anyone that given the pressures of exams and in our own private lives, it is vital that mental health is a key focus within the sixth form environment. This is promoted through our plethora of workshops, talks from external professionals, and activities run by us, your Student Leadership Team (SLT). For example, once a term we incorporate a wellbeing day into our timetable, and we have a fun quiz every Friday morning.
The vast variety of extracurricular activities, wider community events and opportunities to integrate with both year groups supports our social and academic development, whilst encouraging a greater sense of knowledge and understanding of the world outside the classroom. The opportunity to take on leadership roles is extremely prevalent at GASF, with the ability to run your own societies, deliver assemblies or become an active member of the SLT. As students, we approach our work with the attitude of beating not meeting deadlines; an attitude that will unlock endless opportunities.
Here at Guilsborough, we place high value on understanding our peers through our meticulous student voice programme in order to make pupil-led developments. The SLT’s main goal is to work as the bridge between both students and teachers, as well as between the students themselves, with a large focus on the integration of Year 12 and 13. Anyone who has been through this experience before will tell you, the academic step up from Year 11 to 12 is by far the largest in your academic journey and for many can be a bit of a culture shock, but we are placing an increased focus on ensuring that you feel prepared to take this step.
We wish you all the best of luck in your forthcoming examinations and we hope to see you at Guilsborough Sixth Form in September 2025.
Student Leadership Team 2024-25
About The Sixth Form
The majority of our sixth formers are students who stay on at Guilsborough following successful Year 11 studies. An increasing number of students also join the Sixth Form as external applicants.
We are proud of our outstanding examination results and excellent value added outcomes for students of all abilities. The majority of students achieve their chosen post-18 pathway each year; we encourage all of our students to aim high, and support them to be successful no matter the route they choose.
The step up to Sixth Form requires significant adaptation to the way you are currently learning at school, especially the amount of independent effort you put in.
The approach that you take directly corresponds with what you get out of your time at our Sixth Form, both academically and socially.
The Curriculum
At Key Stage 5, we offer a diverse, challenging and engaging curriculum. The Sixth Form is committed to providing students with opportunities and qualifications that match their aspirations. Our range of courses caters for students who wish to follow an academic route, a more vocational one, or a mixture of the two. Most importantly, we support all of our students to enable them to follow their chosen pathway Post -18.
Programme of Study
The majority of our students will study three A Levels or Level 3 Vocational courses.
In addition to their core programme of study, students will be able to select from a range of enrichment options.
Our offer also includes tutorial time, study support, independent study time, assemblies and work experience.
A Levels
A Levels are linear, 2 year courses. Students study their chosen subjects for a full two years, with no option to sit an AS level at the end of year 12. This means that students will complete all of their exams at the end of year 13. Some subjects have a Non-Examined Assessment (coursework) component, which usually counts for up to 30% of the final grade.
BTECs
Vocational courses are more closely related to the world of work with a practical slant.
Assessment may come from a mixture of practical assessments, portfolio/ coursework and examinations, in both Year 12 and Year 13.
Vocational courses are predominantly assessed by coursework with a smaller examination element, so they are well-suited to hard working students who traditionally struggle with the exam element of qualifications. They are suitable for a wide range of students, and are designed to accommodate the needs of employers and allow progression to university. They can be studied alongside A Level subjects.
For 2025, only one BTEC can be included in a student’s programme of study.
Students are encouraged to take part in timetabled Enrichment activities alongside their core programme of study. Two popular qualification options are Core Maths and the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ):
Core Maths
It is ideal to study Core Maths alongside subjects with a numerical content e.g. Psychology, Geography, Science, Economics, Business. This is run as a two year course. It enables students to retain and further develop their maths skills whilst supporting their learning in other subjects and is highly regarded by universities. The qualification gains UCAS points equivalent to an AS level.
EPQ
Students produce a 5000 word academic report or an artefact with a report of at least 1000 words. The topic can be absolutely anything of their choosing. There are 3 compulsory components: the product, a presentation, and a detailed written log of the process. Skills developed include research, critical thinking, decision making, presenting and referencing. This course requires a high degree of independent study including planning & researching. It is suitable for who are highly motivated to explore a specific question. The qualification gains UCAS points equivalent to an AS level. It is highly sought after by universities and may result in a lower offer being made.
Wider Curriculum
Our wider curriculum supports our students to learn about and develop their personal strengths and characteristics, understand how to relate to and support others, and grasp bigger ideas that affect the world they live in.
Our tutorial programme covers statutory topics including Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and British Values. The schedule is fluid and regularly adapted to include current events and topics requested by our student body.
Topics are delivered via tutor-time activities, assemblies, workshops and guest speakers.
WORLD
OTHERS
SELF
Sixth Form Life
We pride ourselves on the integration of all students across both year groups. Our Sixth Formers have privileges and are treated like mature young adults in preparation for their role as global citizens in the 21st Century. We like to think of ourselves as a ‘half way house’ between school and university or the world of work; giving students the independence and autonomy that they deserve but stepping in to provide additional support, guidance, and pastoral care where needed.
We also hold events throughout the year to promote student integration, for example we host a yearly summer ball organised by the student body, a year 12 team building day, and a range of extra- and super-curricular trips. Recent popular options have been an Art and English tour of Paris, Media trips to Warner Bros studios, and a Geography field trip to Iceland. The Student Leadership Team lead on a range of committees and in-school events including sports days and charity fundraising.
Our Enrichment
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
Many young people find achieving a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award life changing. Sixth Form students will undertake the Gold Award. It involves 5 sections, one of which is the expedition section. The other sections are Volunteering, Skill, Physical and Residential. In undertaking a DofE programme you will participate for an hour per week in a Volunteering activity, then an hour per week for a Physical and Skill activity of your choice. This is for a total of between 6 and 18 months.
We then train for and participate in two self-sufficient expeditions which are 4 days/3 nights away, usually in the Lake District or Wales.
Young Enterprise Company Programme
Students can choose to form a team to enter the Young Enterprise Company Programme for their Enrichment option. In 2024, our team won Innovation, Sales & Marketing and Runner-up awards at the County Final for their success as ’Ginovate’, a company selling candles made from recycled gin bottles, and progressed to the Regional Final.
World Challenge
We offer a World Challenge expedition bi-annually. Students are encouraged to fundraise the fee and then take part in a once-in-a-lifetime experience overseas, including cultural exploration, a physical challenge, and a community or environmental project.
In 2023, 15 students travelled to Cambodia. In 2025, we are heading to Tanzania.
Mentoring Roles
You may have seen or been involved in some form of mentoring whilst you were in the lower school. It is a fantastic programme that builds a link between the lower school and Sixth Form students.
We offer a variety of mentoring roles that usually take place weekly during a tutor time:
Pastoral Mentoring:
Focused on connecting with younger students, building relationships and developing their confidence. Training is provided.
Subject Mentoring:
Providing support for GCSE students in both core and options subjects.
SEN Mentoring:
During tutor time or independent study periods. You choose how many sessions you want to be involved in. Providing lesson support for students with specific educational needs. Training is provided.
Reading Buddies:
Read to KS3 students and hear them read to you. Build a relationship and support the development of their confidence and reading skills.
World Challenge was a trip I will never forget, it has taught me so much and will be an experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
This trip completely altered my mindset. Witnessing the strong bonds forming among fellow students and our teachers was heart-warming. I wholeheartedly recommend World Challenge, as it offers something enriching for everyone.
Extra Super Me is a way to record and recognise all the things you do that go above and beyond the basics to ensure that you are excelling in your personal development. When you complete tasks or achieve goals, you earn credits. Those credits add up to in-school rewards, but more importantly they’ll help you write amazing applications and help you develop the skills that will impress employers, universities and training providers post-18.
Prize Draw: £50 Voucher
Prize Draw: Apple AirPods
Prize Draw: Apple iPad
The Categories
Academic
What are you doing to ensure success in your qualifications?
Super-curricular
How are you exploring the subjects you’re interested in further and deeper?
Extra-curricular
What are your skills, interests, hobbies?
Community
How are you contributing to support others?
GASF Extra Super Me
Profile of a Gold Award Student
2024’s Apple iPad Winner – Jemima Lambert.
How Jemima achieved Gold
ACADEMIC
• Average attitude to learning score below 1.34
• Voluntarily studying in S5
• 100% attendance per half term
• Recorded examples of 6 skills on Unifrog
• Applied to UCAS
• Attended Arrows
• Completed a set of Unifrog tasks
• 50 positive events on Go4Schools
EXTRA-CURRICULAR
• Completed Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
• Applied to an overseas project—teaching spoken English in Spain, summer 2024
• Passed a grade on an instrument
• Passed driving theory test and passed driving test
• Represented the school in sport
• Entered a national competition
• Attended an extra curricular club
SUPER-CURRICULAR
• Completed an additional qualification in school (EPQ)
• Attended a workshop/summer school
• Completed a virtual work experience
• Attended 5 university open days
• Organised work experience by the deadline
• Completed a MOOC
COMMUNITY
• 100% attendance to Thursday morning mentoring
• Designed and delivered an assembly
• Applied for the student leadership team
• Ran a charity event/stall/activity
• Volunteered at a 6th form and Year 6 open evening
• Designed and created a display in GASF
• Helped out in a lower school lesson at least 5 times
• Took part in a school focus group
• Designed a resource for a member of staff
• Responded to a student voice survey
• Ran a tour for external visitors
• Contributed to GASF social media
• Helped to decorate GASF for Christmas
Post-18 Preparation
During your time with us, you will be making some big decisions about your future.
Our programme includes advice and support on all your post-18 options and how to prepare for them, throughout your time in sixth form.
Support and Guidance:
• Specialist tutor team
• Access to independent careers advisor
• Unifrog used throughout your sixth form career
• Trips to university and apprenticeship fairs
• Assemblies and workshops from experts in a range of fields
• Online calendar of university open days, webinars, virtual work experience opportunities
• Post-18 applications guidance booklet
• ‘Arrows’ aspirational society
• Networking opportunities
Destinations
Our Post-18 destinations continue to be excellent. 95% of students were able to access their preferred pathway, with 80% of those who applied to university achieving a place at their first choice or insurance institution. A number of our cohort obtained places on Higher and Degree Level Apprenticeships with companies including; 3PA, Mercedes and the NHS.
Unifrog
The Unifrog platform is used extensively in the sixth form to help students explore pathways, track achievements, and produce applications.
All current Guilsborough Academy students have a Unifrog account, and Year 11 students are encouraged to use it to look at all their options and figure out their best path at Post-16 as well as Post-18. Students can email careers@guilsborough.northants.sch.uk or pop into the Careers Hub if they need help with how to use the platform or any additional guidance about their choices.
Where are they Now?
Students from GASF go on to a wide range of Post-18 training and careers. Here are just a few of our alumni stories.
Cora Bancroft
Undergraduate Engineer at The Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology
I work three days a week as an engineer at Dyson whilst studying for my degree from The University of Warwick for the other two.
The first two years of the program were spent rotating through different engineering teams, experiencing everything from app development to structural analysis and early stage robotics. Now in my final year I’ve specialised into software and work in a cloud team delivering the out of box experience for our users; every single time someone opens the Dyson Link App they interact with code I’ve written which would have been unimaginable just a few years ago.
Compared to a normal university I’ve had the opportunity to develop so many skills that I wouldn’t have been exposed to otherwise, all whilst getting to apply my degree to real world problems as I learn. Plus - no student debt!
Hetta Johnson English student at University of Oxford
One of the most notable aspects of being an English student at Oxford is the amount of reading there is to do. It sounds obvious but the lists can be extensive so balancing my time in order to complete everything was a valuable learning curve. It also helped me massively during term as it allowed me to keep up with classes and develop my own tastes, refining what I enjoyed studying. As important as keeping on top of the work is, striking a good social balance is just as necessary, thankfully there will be ample opportunity to immerse yourself in university life.
While moving away from home can be daunting as well as exciting, it was a great chance for me. Everybody begins on the same page and there is a whole new and vast array of people from all walks of life to meet and befriend, made all the better by being in a new place. I look back on my memories of first year fondly (despite the strangeness caused by the pandemic!).
Luke Boswell
Acting for Contemporary & Devised Performance at University of Northampton
I’m just entering my second year of my ‘Acting for Contemporary & Devised Performance’ course at the University of Northampton; I’ve been waiting to get back all summer!
Last year we did a couple of performances, one which we devised from scratch called ‘The Next Stop Is…’ This 1 hour piece was our final performance of the year and it was predominantly written by myself which was a new and really fun opportunity I was able to take thanks to my course. The photo above shows me in action.
I’m going to be really busy over the next few months, but I do still catch up with my friends from my days at Guilsborough – especially the team who helped me edit the Guilsborough Guardian newspaper!
Choosing Your Options
The decision regarding where and what you study Post-16 is an important one, and you will need to ensure that all options are considered carefully so that you can make an informed decision. In making your decision you should consider a range of factors:
• Interest in the subject. Remember that even if you have studied a subject at GCSE, A Level courses in some subjects are very different from their GCSE counterparts. Some A Level subjects are not options at GCSE, and so you should find out what they involve.
• Consider the grades that your subject teachers have predicted you (each subject has different entry criteria). Reflect on whether you are choosing options that you are likely to succeed in.
• Make careful assessment of your aspirations, personal strengths, and other skills and interests that you have. Ask yourself whether you have the ‘soft skills’ required for each course.
• If you already have a career path/higher education course in mind, ensure you are choosing the right subjects that will leave this door open for you.
• You can get support and guidance with this decision from your parents, tutor, subject teachers, the Sixth Form Team, or the Careers Hub
Take all the advice you can, but ultimately it needs to be your decision!
The Application Process
The application process for Guilsborough Academy Sixth Form is geared to ensure students continue to be successful.
The application is completed through an online form. When you complete this initial application, you will be asked to choose the 3 subjects you most want to study together with a reserve choice. Once the deadline for the initial application has been reached, the school will look at which combinations of subjects have been chosen; timetable blocks will then be created. All courses offered are subject to viability, therefore if there are insufficient students choosing certain courses, they may not be offered. Applications should be completed by 2nd December 2024. Students can apply after this date to join the Sixth Form, but their choices cannot be taken into account when creating the option blocks.
Following the receipt of applications, students will be invited to attend an application discussion with a member of the Sixth Form team. During this discussion, reasons for their application and their subject choices will be explored, and predicted grades will be considered, to ensure that all students are choosing the most suitable pathway. Should there be any timetabling clashes with their chosen subjects, these will be resolved at this point. Following the completion of all discussions, offer letters will be sent out.
Offers of a place in our Sixth Form will be conditional at this point, subject to GCSE results. On GCSE results day (21st August 2025), students will confirm their place and the subjects they would like to study during our enrolment process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a typical school day for a Sixth Former?
The school day is different for our Sixth Formers, compared to lower school. The focus is on recognising and nurturing students’ development as independent learners in order to prepare them for 21st Century society. Whilst they are expected to be in school between 8:45am and 3:15pm, their day consists of tutor time, lessons, supervised and independent study sessions, and enrichment.
Do Sixth Formers have to stay on site all day?
To ensure that our students are supported fully and develop further the skills of resourcefulness and resilience, in Year 12 they are expected to be in school from 8:45am to 3:15pm. Students are allowed to sign out at lunch time if they wish but must return for the start of the next lesson. Based on the progress that they make in Year 12 and during the first part of Year 13, some of our year 13 students are then given the option of studying at home during their independent study time.
How many hours of study need to be completed outside of lesson time?
We recommend that all of our students spend a minimum of five hours studying in addition to lesson time, per subject, per week. This time could be spent completing wider reading and research, consolidating notes and information from lessons, completing set tasks from the teacher, or completing past exam papers. It is essential that our students spend quality time focusing on their studies so that they are confident at this higher level of studying and prepared for the challenges of the world of work. Not all of this time needs to be completed at home; their supervised and independent study sessions are an excellent opportunity for this.
What provision is there for Work Experience?
All students will complete at least a week of work experience during their time with us. Students will be required to research and secure their own placements (taking into account their interests and possible career paths) and to provide details of these to the Careers hub; this is so appropriate Health and Safety checks can be carried out and placements secured. Unfortunately, as set dates are provided for work experience, (usually at the end of year12) any placements that occur at other times during the school year are unlikely to be authorised as an absence.
What are the transport arrangements for Sixth Form students?
As is the case with all students nationally over the age of 16, our sixth formers have to pay for their bus passes. Northamptonshire County Council will process all applications – these should be submitted by May in order for it to be guaranteed that the application will be processed before the start of the academic year.
Once students have passed their driving test they may want to drive to school. Students are able to park in the designated car park, however in order to do so they must apply for permission. They will need to provide details of their registration as well as proof of insurance in order to be granted permission to park. Please note there are limited spaces available for Sixth Formers and students are not permitted to use spaces allocated to staff.
What financial support is available?
If you are entitled to free school meals or your yearly household income is less than £25,000, you could be eligible to receive the bursary fund. Additionally there is a discretionary bursary which any student can apply for if household finances are tight.
Students can apply for individual payments that can be used to pay for: books / equipment / materials / UCAS application fees / travel to open days / educational visits / field trips which are course related, Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks / appropriate clothes / bus pass, etc.
Each bursary application will be assessed separately according to individual needs and treated in the strictest confidence.
Key Dates
2nd December 2024
Early Sixth Form Application Deadline for subject blocking. Applications remain open until Results Day 2025
January/February 2025
Sixth Form Application discussions
March/April 2025
Sixth Form Offer Letters
May 2025
Deadline for Year 12 Bus Pass Applications to Mainstream Transport. Charges for bus fares will apply www.northamptonshire.gov.uk
5th May - 20th June 2025
GCSE Examination Period
23rd June 2025
Trip to UCAS Fair
24th June 2025
Sixth Form Parent Induction Information Evening
24th - 25th June 2025
New Student Induction Days
21st August 2025
GCSE Results and Enrolment Day
September 2025
Year 12 Team Building trip to Go Ape
September 2025
Tutor Meet & Greet Evening
January 2026
Year 12 Parents’ Evening
June/July 2026
Pre Public Examinations
July 2026
Sixth Form Summer Ball
Mr S Frazer B.Sc. (Hons)
Principal: