Life in the Sixth Form is academically demanding and socially enjoyable. We want our A Level students to crown their school careers with two very happy and successful years. The Sixth Form at Silcoates provides an independent business-style environment, but with all the advantages of being on a school campus. Sixth Formers wear their own suits and have a highly visible and important role in the school. Students are expected to contribute for the benefit of the school as a whole, for example by welcoming and showing visitors around. They help younger pupils in the paired-reading and mentoring schemes, organise events and assist in the selection of House teams.
The wide range of A Levels on offer gives students access to every higher education course and then beyond into the career of their choice. This prospectus seeks to outline the courses available, with a summary of each subject specification, and to give an overview, in words and pictures, of the many benefits we offer to our Sixth Formers.
The Sixth Form at Silcoates offers the ideal environment for A Level students. Our Sixth Formers benefit from:
• A fully co-educational experience
• A wide range of subject choices
• Small class sizes
• A dedicated study centre
• High quality pastoral care
• Careers and university advice tailored to individual needs
• An even wider choice of extra-curricular opportunities
• And on top of all that, it’s good fun, too!
Co-Education
What is so important about the Silcoates Sixth Form Experience? One key element, to paraphrase a recent Prime Minister, is ‘Co-education, co-education, co-education!’
We strongly believe that it is best to teach boys and girls together throughout the school, and especially in the Sixth Form, so they learn to communicate clearly, cooperate in teams, solve problems and prepare for life in the real world in the 21st century. Our self-contained, beautifully maintained campus offers our students a secure, nurturing environment where they receive an all round education with an academic edge and build memories to last a lifetime.
Subject Choices
There are 23 different subjects available for study in the Sixth Form, offering a range of traditional and more modern options. Please see Page 11 for further details.
Many of these subjects continue to build on work covered during the GCSE years, but there are plenty of new options, both academic and more practical. Overall, we are confident that our curriculum offers plenty of choice to our students and that everyone will find a balance of courses to suit their individual needs. Class sizes are small and all A Level subjects are taught by teachers who are experts in their respective fields, as well as being enthusiastic and committed educationalists.
As well as their subject-specific lessons, students are given many opportunities to enrich their learning through the development of life skills such as cookery, financial management, entrepreneurship, service, leadership, public speaking and current affairs, to help prepare them in the broadest sense for their future beyond school.
The Sixth Form Centre
The focus of the Sixth Form Centre is the Study Centre. This is a dedicated area where Sixth Formers can work quietly and effectively to supplement their classroom learning. The Study Centre has library facilities and it is fully equipped with the latest computers to aid students with their wider reading and research, as well as helping them to develop the essential skill of independent learning.
The Study Centre is supervised by members of staff and by a dedicated Sixth Form Centre Supervisor who is on duty throughout the day to help maintain the appropriate working atmosphere and to offer support, guidance and advice to those who need it.
The Sixth Form Centre also includes a quiet common room and a social common room for each year group. The quiet common rooms have comfortable seating and provide a relaxed atmosphere for conversation. The social common rooms each have a pool table, a stereo, a vending machine and a television. In addition, all students have a personal locker.
The Sixth Form Centre opens at 7.30am and closes at 6.00pm, so there is ample opportunity to use the facilities beyond the normal school day, and Sixth Formers have exclusive use of the Sixth Form Centre. Refreshments are provided during morning break and the Study Centre receives daily newspapers and other relevant publications.
All in all, the Sixth Form Centre is a first class resource to help our students make the most of their talents. The Study Centre is an excellent focus for learning and the social areas help to create the friendly, relaxed atmosphere that is such a key part of Silcoates life.
This information comes from the opening pages of the current Sixth Form Prospectus. For further details about our provision for Sixth Form students, please click on the links below for both the Sixth Form Information Handbook and the full version of the Sixth Form Prospectus. The publication ‘Times Up’ was produced last year by our Sixth Form students and helps to give a further insight into what we have to offer.
