Why Sixth Form? A Short Guide
Staff • Miss Atkinson: Vice Principal Teaching and Learning • Mr Hare: Head of Sixth Form • Mrs Evans: Careers & Guidance • Miss Wightman: Head of Year 12 • Mr Montgomery Senior Teacher in charge of Timetable
Important Dates • Student Options Introduction 19 th January • Parent Information Evening 19 th January - 7pm • Options Afternoon Wednesday 21 st January 1.30 – 3.30 – parents are welcome • Interview Request by 2 nd February • Parent/teacher meeting 4 th February • One to One interviews 26 th & 27 th Feb • Decision making time 24 th Jan – 1st March • Option forms handed into your form tutor on or before 2nd March – this deadline must be met
What do I know about Sixth Form? • Post 16 Study • Two year course • Two types of A Level • Mix and Match Choices • Qualification for Higher or Further Education • Access to a professional career
What are the advantages? • Offers more time to decide what students want to do in the long term! • Offers a pathway to future studies and careers • Allows students to pursue subjects that they have enjoyed at GCSE or to pursue new interests • Gives opportunities to acquire more life skills • Develops confidence and independence
What is the alternative? • Leave school at 16 • Enter the workforce • Pursue Further Education (Belfast Metropolitan College) • Vocational route • Apprenticeships
Why are A Levels a good idea? • Opportunity to go to University or enter FE at a higher level • Gives an advantage in the market place for jobs • Gives access to a better paid job • Gives better career choices
Why are A Levels at Lagan a good idea? • Teachers and students know each other • Students are comfortable with their environment • Range of subjects offered • Extremely high quality of teaching and learning • Excellent results - consistently above NI average for A* grades at A2 level in a number of subjects • Top performing candidates in Northern Ireland
Enrichment Students will have the opportunity to participate in a range of enrichment activities – these build up life skills and enrich the students Post 16 curriculum. Students can choose from: • Young Enterprise • Sentinus • First Aid • Sign Language • Personal Safety • Mandarin Chinese • European Awareness • Uni Survival
Extra Curricular • Mediation • Mentoring • Wide range of sports : Football, Basketball, Hockey, Netball • Volunteering • John Paul ll Award • Prefect team • World Challenge
A Level Choice • Choice of 25 • 19 General A Levels: History, Maths, Geography, RE • 6 Applied A Levels: Business Studies, Health & Social Care, Moving Image Arts
What are the main differences between General and Applied A Levels? • Both types of A Level are equal in value • General A Levels are more academic and exam based • Applied A Levels can be more practical in nature and are assessed differently having a mixture of exams and assignments
Applied A Levels Single or Double Award Double Award Applied A Levels are equal to 2 General A Levels and are counted as separate A Levels for University/UCAS purposes Applied A Levels have their own entry requirements. (Identified in Sixth Form options booklet)
A Level Choice Changes to some A Levels • AS and A2 are no longer linked in England which impacts on 2 subjects in Lagan • Art & Design & Sociology become a full 2 year course with no AS level exams. The full grade comes from exams at the end of Year 14. • No AS grade gained
Year 13 Entry Requirements To study 3 A Levels • 5 Passes at GCSE A* - C, one of which must be English Language, English Literature or Maths. • To study 4 A Levels • 7 Passes at GCSE A* - C, one of which must be English Language, English Literature or Maths – minimum of 24 points from GCSE grades.
Year 13 Entry Requirements • Students with the highest GCSE score – will be considered in descending order - an applicant’s GCSE score being calculated on the basis of GCSE results as follows: • A* - 4 points • A – 3 points • B – 2 points • C – 1 point • A Grade B in the subject to be studied at A Level
Additional Criteria • Good attendance record • Good behaviour and attitude • Good uniform • Commitment shown to the College
Admissions • Approximately 110 places • Strong Competition • Lagan College Students who meet the requirements, will be given priority over students applying from other schools
How many A Levels may be taken? • It is possible to take 4 A Levels, If students have a minimum of 24 points from GCSE results • Most students take 3 A Levels • Students can mix and match General with Applied A Levels
Can students take only 2 A Levels? • It is not possible to study 2 A Levels unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Career Profiles • If I was interested in a career in Business but wanted to travel, what should I study? - Business Studies Double Award - Spanish or French
Career Profile • If I was interested in Journalism, what should I study? - You could study English Literature, Sociology and History or Politics, RE and Geography
What do I need to take for professions like…. • Medicine - A Level Chemistry & Biology - A Level Maths is very useful - 4 AS subjects required
What do I need to take for professions like…. • Engineering - A Level Maths is compulsory - Chemistry or Physics or both
Primary School Teacher • 3 Academic A Levels Or • Mixture of Academic with Applied A Levels But not • Simply Applied A Levels
Application Process? • Options Forms given out - Identify preferred choices from a list - Rank order choices ( 1 -3) - Include a Reserve choice
What happens in August? • Students come to school to collect • results. • Those who meet the requirements with no changes to subject choices will collect an acceptance pack. • Those who meet the requirements with changes to subject choices will have the opportunity to do this – timetable allowing
What happens in August? • Students who do not meet all of the criteria, for automatic acceptance, will be asked to attend a guidance interview before leaving the school. • We aim to let all students know if they have been given a place by the end of the results day. • Representatives from the Careers Dept and Careers Service will be in school to offer support and guidance. • All students should have a “Plan B”
What if I really don’t know what I want to do as a career…. • Students should: • Choose subjects that keep options open • Choose subjects that they like • Choose subjects that marry well together
What should I do now? • Support the students in meeting the demands of their GCSE courses • Work with them to ensure they get the best grades possible • Encourage them to work hard • Look at all alternatives offered for students at Post 16.
Important Dates • Student Options Introduction 19 th January • Parent Information Evening 19 th January - 7pm • Options Afternoon Wednesday 21 st January 1.30 – 3.30 – parents are welcome • Interview Request by 2 nd February • Parent/teacher meeting 4 th February • One to One interviews 26 th & 27 th Feb • Decision making time 24 th Jan – 1st March • Option forms handed into your form tutor on or before 2nd March – this deadline must be met
Recommend
More recommend
