Sixth Form Handbook 2020 2021 - Miss Davies Head of Sixth form Miss Kedie Mrs Farrar - Kettering Science Academy
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Sixth Form Handbook
2020 - 2021
Miss Davies
Head of Sixth form
rdavies@ketteringscienceacademy.org
Miss Kedie
mkedie@ketteringscienceacademy.org
Mrs Farrar
kfarrar@ketteringscienceacademy.org
An Introduction from the Head of Sixth Form Here at KSA we strive to offer a bespoke experience for students choosing to complete their A Level study with us. We have fantastic facilities at KSA, especially with our new Sixth Form Centre opening, as well as a dedicated team of staff who support students with every step of their journey. As part of this support, we give students the skill set to be independent young adults capable of succeeding in their next steps, be that applying for aspirational universities, apprenticeships or the workplace. We are constantly evolving as a sixth form and are proud to offer an ever-growing number of subjects to ensure that we can cater for the different needs of our students. We have a number of specialist A Level only teachers who complement the strong team who work across the academy. Our dedicated teachers support our sixth form students both academically and pastorally. We know the aspirations of every student are different, and so our tutoring and pastoral systems will ensure that your individual needs are fully met. Our highly experienced team also ensures that each and every student has a wealth of opportunities available to them beyond the taught curriculum. Alongside ensuring you gain the best academic results possible, we offer opportunities for you to take part in extra- curricular activities including the silver DofE award; mentoring and coaching younger students; on-going work experience; student voice to name but a few. Each year we elect a head boy and head girl who work tirelessly to ensure that the needs of students are met. I look forward to working with you all over the coming two years on your journey. Miss Davies The Academy Day Secondary School 8:45am – 9.10am Registration - compulsory 9.10am – 10.10am Lesson 1 10.10am - 11:30am Lesson 2 (including a 20 minute breakfast) 11:30am – 12.30pm Lesson 3 12.30pm – 2.00pm Lesson 4 (including a 30 minute lunch break) 2.00pm – 3.00pm Lesson 5 3.00pm End of Academy Day or co-curricular begins
Exams
All students will sit a 2 year course and complete A Level exams at the end of Year 13. There
are no AS exams. Most students joining us will complete 3 A Levels. Students are set targets
in sixth from; these are called ALPs and are based on the scores students achieve at GCSE.
There are some modular exams for other qualifications.
Support and guidance and wider opportunities
Students have access to support and guidance through the programme run during registration
time and global learning sessions. This gives students access to careers, university application
support, work experience and PSHE. As well as this students are offered a range of
opportunities to improve their profile when applying for the next step. This includes work
experience, Oxbridge and Russell group university residentials, mentoring and leading
younger students, university summer schools, Duke of Edinburgh, STEP preparation, sports
leaders, first aid training, GCSE resit support and guidance, Nuffield science residential
opportunities and charity events.
Dress Code
At KSA it is expected that sixth form students adhere to the dress code to set a good example
to younger students. Students who arrive at the Academy inappropriately dressed will be
asked to go home and change.
• Male Students Female Students
• Black, Grey or Dark Blue suit – other Trouser/skirt/dress suit (skirts and
colours can be worn but must fit the dresses should be knee length and not
business model (Jackets or tailored lycra/t-shirt material and trousers must
jumper should be worn at all times) be tailored, not jeans or leggings. Can
• Black / Brown shoes be cropped but must be tailored and
not floaty or denim/legging material.
• Smart shirt colour of your choice
Colours can be worn but must fit the
• Smart tie colour of your choice (no business wear model.)
character ties) Black/brown shoes (heels below 5cm) –
• Smart black belt optional not trainers or plimsolls.
• Dark coloured socks Smart shirt of your choice (no T-shirts
• Identification card (this will be issued or chunky-knit jumpers)
to new students) to be worn with a Smart small black belt optional
blue KSA lanyard Dark coloured socks/neutral or dark
tight’s optional
Identification card (this will be issued to
new students) to be worn with a blue
KSA lanyard
For Clarification – No jeans and no plimsolls/trainers. Coats should not be worn in the school
building during the day. Outfits worn should be suitable to be worn to a job interview.We ask for the support of parents in this matter because conflict over this issue is an unnecessary distraction when learning and progress are our key priority. We will be applying this dress code rigorously and students deemed inappropriately dressed will be asked to go home and change. E-Safety Policy Please see the website for the most update copy. E-safety guidelines are regularly updated due to the nature of technology. As a member of the Sixth Form you are expected to keep up to date with these guidelines and adhere to them. Mobile Phones Sixth Form students are only permitted to use mobile phones during study lessons, break and lunch time in the designated Sixth Form phone areas. In line with the whole school policy students should not use their phones in corridors, the restaurant or in classrooms in the main school building. In the sixth form centre, they should be using phones to aid their work and not to play loud music or make social media videos. Students who are not able to follow this policy will lose their phone for the remainder of the day.
Attendance policy Student responsibilities and rights Students are expected to be present at morning registration and attend all lessons punctually. If students are absent they need to phone the academy by 8.30am and leave a message on the absence line explaining the reason for absence. Students should make every effort to make medical / dental appointments out of school hours. It is also expected that students make appointments for issues like driving lessons in their own time, though additional experiences such as music exams or driving tests are accepted as legitimate reasons for absence. Leave of Absence New regulations from the Department for Education regarding term time holidays came into force on September 1st 2013. In summary the Principal may not grant any leave of absence during term-time except for exceptional circumstance. Parents will be referred to the local authority for unauthorised absence and may be fined a fixed penalty notice. Parents / Carers should apply in writing if there is an exceptional circumstance they wish the Principal to consider. Where attendance is below 96% or punctuality is below expectation. Students who are late twice or more in a week will go onto punctuality report to their form tutor. Letters will be sent home when attendance drops below 96% to inform parents of the attendance rate. Where attendance falls below 96% students will have a meeting with their tutor or Head of Sixth form to target improvement and if this persists, parents/carers will be asked to attend a meeting and students will be put on report. Unsatisfactory attendance can invoke the School and Sixth Form Behaviour Policy. Fifth Lesson To ensure that you develop academic study habits, there is a ‘fifth lesson’ study period added to your timetable. This means that for every subject, 1 hour will need to be spent working in the library or study rooms completing the independent work that has been set. This will be given to you by your subject teacher. You will be expected to identify when you will complete the study time and attend that session each week. Non-attendance will be treated in the same way as truanting a lesson. Home studies Home studies are not an automatic right. These have to be earnt and come into effect from October half term. You will need to have attendance above 96% and be on track to achieve your ALPs target to be given these. They can be removed from you if your attendance drops, you fall behind in your subjects, or you behave inappropriately in school. These will be reviewed on a termly basis and so may be removed in the middle of the year if attendance, behaviour or academic performance falls.
Behaviour policy
Where behaviour is below the expected standard and/or students fail to fulfil the
conditions set out in the Sixth Form Contract the following procedures will occur:
1. The student will receive a verbal warning from the Head of Sixth Form. This will be
recorded.
2. A letter will be sent home to parents after discussion with the student. This will
represent a formal written warning.
3. A phone call home to parents after discussion with student if issues continue.
4. A letter sent home. This will constitute a final written warning. There will be a meeting
with parents and student. Targets will be agreed and the student placed on a report
for a fixed period.
5. If the student breaks the conditions/fails to adhere to the report and the Sixth Form
Contract, there will be a discussion about whether continuing with Sixth Form studies
is the appropriate course of action and the academy may decide to withdraw the
student from any or all of their sixth form courses.
In the case of serious breaches of the Consistency Framework it may be necessary to respond
by placing the students directly at stage 2, 3 or 4.
Homework
We have high expectations relating to homework and students learning independently.
Students who fail to complete homework on time will have a same day 1 hour detention after
school. Students who persistently fail to complete homework on time will be expected to
attend supervised study with Sixth Form staff on a Tuesday evening 3-5pm.
Use of Microsoft Teams
As a Sixth Form, we will be using Teams as our main way to share resources with our students.
Students will be added to the relevant subject team and staff will upload relevant information
through this channel. It will also be the main way we set and collect homework.
We envisage a blended learning platform that allows students to access work they miss due
to absence and be an area they can use as part of their revision. As we go through the year,
it is expected that the platform will be encompassed into the teaching style at KSA.
We try to minimise the number of lessons that staff miss but there are times when this is
unavoidable. Students will be able to access teaching material during the allotted lesson via
Teams so their learning is not disrupted.
Booster sessions/Co-curricular
After school booster sessions are run by subject staff on a rota after school. You will be given
the updated rota in September. These sessions are run to support the learning of classwork
and are a valuable opportunity to seek individual support from staff.Organisation of work
It is your responsibility to organise your time and school work so that you can do the best you
can. Staff will guide you and support you with this. You will need to ensure that your
folders/books are taken to every lesson and are ready to be shown to staff when requested.
We encourage you to take pride in your notes and keep on top of revision for each subject.
Coursework Policy
Introduction
Coursework has been greatly reduced in the new specifications. However, where it still exists,
there is a need for students and staff to have a clear policy on the procedure that should be
followed.
The following outlines the policy that staff and students need to adhere to in relation to post
16 coursework:
1. When the coursework is set, clear deadlines will be established for the students.
2. All final A2 coursework must be completed and handed in by Friday 12th February
2021. This date is there to support staff in their attempt to collect in coursework in
sufficient time. If some individual subjects need to move their deadline because of
their specification requirements then they will notify the Head of Sixth Form in
September. The subject teachers will inform the student of the deadline and will
manage the extended deadline.
3. Individual subject teachers will allow drafting within the regulations of the
examination board. The dates for these stages must be adhered to unless there are
extenuating circumstances.
4. Students who do not meet the draft deadline will have a phone call/letter sent home
by the subject teacher. It will inform parents of the overdue work, the missed
opportunity to have work checked and clearly state the date of the next draft (if
applicable). Subject teachers must inform the student’s tutor and the Head of Sixth
Form. The student will be placed in Supervised Study by the subject teacher at this
point.
5. If a student misses the final draft deadline, they must have a letter sent home by the
subject teacher alerting them to the fact that if the final deadline is not met, students
may be withdrawn from the course and warning them of the implications of dropping
a subject. Subject teachers will inform the Head of Sixth and tutor. The student will
be placed in Supervised Study by the subject teacher and the Head of Sixth will
intervene at this point.6. Having followed this procedure, any student failing to meet the final coursework
deadline may be withdrawn from the course subject to any extenuating
circumstances.
All Applied subjects and BTEC courses, with more regular coursework throughout the year,
will manage their own deadlines but will adhere to the same process regarding informing
tutor and Head of Sixth Form of missed deadlines and contacting home if deadlines are
missed.
Mock exams and end of year assessment
Mock exams take place in both year 12 and 13.
In year 12, they will sit their first mock exams in February/March. These will indicate their
current progress. At this point, if students are not achieving in line with expected progress,
several steps can be put in place to support them including supervised study sessions,
monitoring reports or after school study sessions.
Year 12 also sit an end of year assessment in each of their subjects. The result of this will
determine if they are able to continue their studies in year 13. We know from experience that
students who do not achieve at least a D grade at the end of year 12, do not go on to achieve
a pass at A Level. If they have not met the expected grades at this stage (after intervention
throughout the year), we will support them in finding a suitable alternative course to study.
In year 13, they will sit mock exams in December and then again in March. This will ensure
that they have a true reflection of what they can achieve in the summer exams. After each
round of mocks, if students are not achieving in line with expected progress, several steps can
be put in place to support them including supervised study sessions, monitoring reports or
after school study sessions. It may be necessary to adjust entries for exams and courses if
students are not passing these mock exams.
Academic and pastoral support for our students
We know that working with young people that at times, they struggle with their focus and
completion of work to their best ability. We work tirelessly to support our students during
their time with us. As a basic outline, we follow the stages below but, at times may skip stages
if we deem it appropriate
Class teacher – in class intervention; contact with home
Form tutor – pastoral support; liaising with subject teachers and head of Sixth Form, use of
punctuality reports; mentoring; contact with home
Head of Sixth Form - additional pastoral support; liaising with subject teachers and form
tutors; use of academic monitoring reports; use of supervised study sessions; take away home
studies; after school required sessions; mentoring; contact with homeAssistant principal/ Vice Principal - additional pastoral support; liaising with Head of Sixth
Form; use of academic monitoring reports; use of supervised study sessions; take away home
studies; after school required sessions; mentoring; contact with home
Careers advisor – in school 3 days a week to support students with finding work experience
and next steps in their journey.
School nurse – available via drop in and appointment for 1-2-1s about mental and physical
health concerns
Leadership opportunities
Head boy and Head girl – Year 13
Job Description
To attend all open evenings and 6th form events
Run the student council
Promote house and school ethos
Liaise with students across the school
Organise charity events
Make speeches promoting the school
Show visitors around
Application
If you wish to run for Head boy/girl you must provide the following:
A formal letter of application, addressed to the Head of Sixth Form, which explains
why you believe you will make a good Head girl/boy and links to the following;
o How you have supported the ethos of KSA so far in your time with us.
o How you will continue to support the ethos of KSA
o The specific contributions you will make to the life of KSA
o Your personal qualities.
o Your style of leadership.
o How you will promote yourself as a positive role model for peers and younger
students.
Applicants who have been successful at the shortlisting stage will be invited to interview with
members of the Senior Leadership Team and 6th form team.
Academic/Pastoral mentoring
As a student in our sixth form you will be expected to organise an hour per week of academic
mentoring during Year 12. This can take the form of working with a form group, listening tostudents read, working in the primary school or mentoring students. There will be a 2 day
course for some students who select mentoring as their option.
Work Shadowing
In Year 12 you will be expected to organise a work shadowing placement for 1 week. This will
take place during June/July. The careers advisor will support you with organising your
placement and ensuring that you have a suitable and purposeful experience.
Parking permit
In order for students to park in the car park, the Academy requires details of their vehicle
including registration number and a copy of their driving licence, which can be copied at
reception. You need to be aware of the speed limit which is 5miles p/h and to be respectful
to other users and be aware of pedestrians. Students park at their own risk, therefore the
Academy does not accept any responsibility for theft or damage to their vehicle.
16-19 Bursary
Kettering Science Academy 16-19 Bursary Fund is designed to help and support any student
who faces financial barriers to participation in education and training, such as the costs of
transport, books and equipment.
Bursaries will be directly linked to Free School Meal eligibility, attendance, behaviour and
academic performance and may be paid at regular intervals throughout the academic year.
Please also be aware that bursary funding is limited and that bursary awards are subject to
funds being available at the time your application is received and assessed.
You can collect a Bursary form from the Sixth Form at any point in the year but we encourage
applications before Friday 25th September to guarantee consideration.
The Bursary Scheme Explained
The scheme is divided into three parts:
1. 16-19 Guaranteed Bursary
Under Government regulations, a guaranteed bursary of £1,200 a year will be awarded to:
Young people aged 16 and 17 in care;
Care leavers aged 16, 17 and 18;
Young people aged 16, 17 and 18 who are in receipt of income support. This may
include, for example, young people who are living independently of their parents,
those whose parents have died, as well as some teenage parents.
Disabled young people in receipt of Employment Support Allowance who are also in
receipt of Disability Living Allowance.2. Discretionary Bursary
Kettering Science Academy students who are not eligible for the full Guaranteed Bursary may
apply for a Discretionary Bursary dependent upon individual circumstances, if they reside in
a household where they or their parent(s)/carer(s) are in receipt of any of the following:
Free School Meals
Income Support/Universal Credit
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance/Universal Credit
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an
annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) that does not exceed
£16,190.
The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
Disability Living Allowance/Personal Independence Payments
Working Tax Credit “run-on” – the payment someone may receive for a further four
weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit.
3. Additional Help
Students who are not eligible to apply for a Guaranteed Bursary or a Discretionary Bursary
can also apply for help for course-related expenses (proof of income or hardship will be asked
for). Applications for additional help will be considered on an individual basis and are
dependent upon available funds at the time they apply. To potentially receive this
additional help student MUST have filled out the bursary form first.
Conditions for receiving 16-19 Bursary payments
If you are eligible for a 16-19 bursary payment, this will normally be paid into your bank
account in regular instalments throughout the academic year. To qualify to receive a payment
for a particular week, however, you must fulfil the following requirements:
Attend the Academy every day, unless you have been given permission for home
study.
Attend all lessons and registrations punctually.
Attend every assembly and every mentor session that you are required to attend.
Attend timetabled lessons.
Complete all class work and homework set as well as meeting all deadlines.
Notify reception/6th form if you are absent (on the day or in advance), giving the
valid reason.Appendix 1:
KSA Sixth Form Subject Drop Request Form
Name:……………………………………………………………… Form:………………………
We understand that A Levels are hard work and sometimes to be successful in other subjects, one
must be sacrificed. However, this is not a decision to be taken lightly and this form is to ensure you
have thought long and hard about the consequences of your actions. We recommend that you
discuss your options with your subject teachers, your fellow classmates and your parents before you
come to your conclusion.
Which subject do you wish to drop?.....................................................................................................
Please add you reasons below:
Subject teacher 1:
name…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
I agree it will be in their best interest to drop the A Level.
Signed………………………………………………
Subject teacher 2:
name…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
I agree it will be in their best interest to drop the A Level.
Signed………………………………………………
Parent /Guardian
I agree it will be in their best interest to drop the A Level.
Signed………………………………………………
Student signature……………………………………………………………….
Date…………………………
Head of Year
I agree it will be in their best interest to drop the A Level with immediate effect.
Signed…………………………………………………………………………………………
Date………………………….Appendix 2:
Kettering Science Academy – Sixth Form report: SAMPLE
Name: ______________________ Form: _____
I am on Report to (named member of staff and agreed meeting place and time)
This report was issued on: ________________
Number Target: I will…
1 Attend registration and lessons on time
2 Display appropriate behaviour, tone and attitude at all times
3 Remain focused and on task (without phone out or in use)
About being on report:
I understand why I have been given this report
I will take this report to all of my lessons and give it to my teacher
I know it is my responsibility to look after this report
I will show my report as agreed to (agreed member of staff/time/place)
I will show my parents this report each evening, so that they know how well I have
done
I know that if I do not meet my targets, further action will be taken.
Signed: _________________________Date:___________
1 2 3 4
Exceeding Meeting Developing Below
Expectation Expectation Towards Expectation
ExpectationMONDAY
Lesson Target 1 Target 2 Target 3 Comments /
Initials
Form 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
time
1
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
2
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
3
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
4
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
5
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Sixth Form team
signature:
Parent/Carer
1 2 3 4
Exceeding Meeting Developing Below
Expectation Expectation Towards Expectation
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