Prospectus BLACKFEN SIXTH FORM
Welcome As Head of Sixth Form at Blackfen I welcome you. You are making very important decisions about your next steps in life and it is crucial that you make the right choices. Whether you are staying on from year 11 or joining Blackfen from elsewhere we can ensure that you will be supported throughout your academic journey in the Sixth Form. When you finally leave us we aim to ensure that you are ready to face the challenges of the wider world whether that might be continuing studies onto degree level, taking up a higher level apprenticeship or embarking on a career. The skills and qualifications we aim to provide you with will set you up for a successful and fulfilling future. The Sixth Form at Blackfen is highly successful and has moved from strength to strength as it has grown over the years. Students have an excellent choice of subjects (both academic and vocational) in a setting where they are supported and challenged to succeed through developing a growth mind-set. Our students are highly successful in securing places at a wide range of universities, including Russell Group as well as some outstanding higher level apprenticeship placements. Although gaining an academic education is our core purpose we fully believe that our students should develop their personal skills. We aim to build confident and resilient young people who will be successful in the competitive world. Students take part in an enrichment programme where they can learn new skills, participate in sport, support lower school students or contribute to local charities or within the wider community. Many students also complete on-line courses in wide and varied areas in order to compliment and enhance their programme of study. I look forward to welcoming you into our Sixth Form. Please do contact us if you have any questions. Kim Brewer Assistant Headteacher, Head of Sixth Form The Blackfen school vision is raising aspirations - releasing potential. We aim to do this in our consistently high achieving sixth form by focusing on the academic and pastoral needs of every individual who continues their educational journey with us. Our vision is founded on two principles underpinned by our school's growth mind-set philosophy. These are: 1 For every student to continue their academic journey and to achieve at the highest possible level irrespective of their starting point. 2 For every student to develop and grow personally taking on ambassadorial and leadership roles in the school and wider community. Our sixth form students have a positive and a "can do" attitude to all that they do and we all firmly believe that there is no ceiling to what can be achieved. I look forward to meeting with you as you make the choice to continue your education here at Blackfen. Matthew Brown Head Teacher
Programme of Study Students in year 12 will be placed on a programme of study dependent on their GCSE results on entering the Sixth Form. Our aim is to place students on courses where they will be most successful. There are two main routes: A Level courses Five GCSEs at grade 5 or above including English Language and Maths (additional subject specific grade requirements) BTEC courses Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above including English Language and Maths (additional subject specific grade requirements) A number of students do a combination of A Levels and BTEC courses Most students will study a total of 3 A Level/BTEC courses A few students who have very high GCSE grades can select to study 4 A levels Most Level 3 qualifications also have subject specific entry requirements. Level 3 courses are 2 years in duration. A Level examinations are taken at the end of Year 13 (Linear) BTEC examinations take place throughout the course. Year 13 Students can opt for the Extended Project qualification (EPQ) starting in the summer term of year 12 in addition to their programme of study. The programme of study for Sixth Form students also contains the following compulsory components: à Daily Community time (Tutor period) à Timetabled Supervised Study periods à Challenge days during the year à Enrichment programme à One week Work Experience (Spring Term year 12) For more information on our current courses please look under individual subject headings on our website.
Courses on offer Students will generally select three Level 3 subjects. Students can select either an A Level or BTEC route. Some students complete a combination of A level and BTEC courses. Students with very high GCSE grades can select four A Level subjects. This will be discussed with individuals where applicable. A Levels BTEC Extended Certificate (2 year Linear) (2 year course) Biology Business Business Creative Media and Production Chemistry Health & Social Care Drama ICT English Literature Law Film Studies Science Fine Art Sport French Geography History Law Maths Media EPQ Extended Project Qualification Photography Politics Psychology RS Sociology Textiles All courses are subject to availability and will only run dependent on student numbers
Welfare and Student Support Pastoral care is a key component in supporting our students to achieve academically. Students are supported in a number of ways throughout their time in the Sixth Form. All students are placed in a tutor group, this group meets daily for 20 minutes with their form tutor. In these sessions students follow a programme of activities and topics relating to academic progress and social/moral development. Examples of topics are: Study Skills, growth mindset development, driver safety education, dangers of alcohol and drugs, politics, healthy lifestyles, mental health and crime & justice. With the support of their tutor students are mentored through target setting and academic monitoring. Students also enjoy a range of interform competitions and events including: MasterChef, Carol competition, weekly quiz and sports. Year 12 students also attend a weekly PSHE session. There is a Student Support Manager available at all times as well as an external careers advisor. The Sixth Form is managed by an Assistant Headteacher (Head of Sixth Form) and a deputy Head of Sixth Form. Parents are fully encouraged to play a part in their child’s academic journey and are expected to attend parent information evening and student review evenings. There is regular communication with parents through Sims in touch (email) and text messaging. Students use ’Teams’ for daily messages and teaching resources.
Universities: Anglia Ruskin University: Biomedical Science (BIMM University Filmmaking Bournemouth University: Biomedical Science Canterbury Christ Church University: Operating Department Practice; Law with Criminology; Applied Criminology and Forensic Investigation; Marketing; Cardiff University: Law City, University of London: Law LLB; Data Analytics and Actuarial Science (with Professional Placement); Sociology; Business Management Keele University: Nursing (Adult) King's College London, University London: History Kingston University: Pharmaceutical Sciences (Foundation); Primary Education (QTS); Crimino logy and Forensic Psychology (4 years full time including sandwich year) London Metropolitan University: Airline, Airport and Aviation Management London South Bank University: Adult Nursing (with Foundation Year); Physiotherapy; Biomedical Sciences Loughborough University: International Business (with placement year) Medway School of Pharmacy: MPharm (Pharmacy) with Preparatory Year Queen Mary University of London; Mathematics Ravensbourne University London; Cyber Security, User-Experience and User-Interface (UX/UI) Design; Animation (Four Years with First Year Level 0) Royal Holloway, University of London; Management with Human Resources (Year in Business) St Mary's University, Twickenham: Communications, Media and Marketing (with Placement Year) The University of Law; Law University for the Creative Arts: Comic & Concept Art University of Bath: Business with work placement University of Brighton: Interior Architecture; Business Management with placement year; Business Management with Marketing and placement year University of Chichester: Counselling Psychology University of Essex: Nursing (Adult) (Including Year Abroad) University of Greenwich: History and Sociology; Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status; Computer Science; Primary Education Studies (2 Year Accelerated Degree); Accounting and Finance University of Kent: Law; Accounting and Finance with a Foundation Year; Accounting and Finance; Law; Psychology with a Placement Year; Spatial and Interior Design; Criminology; Physics with a foundation year (4 years) University of Nottingham; Geography BSc; Criminology University of Portsmouth; Criminology with Psychology; Sport Management University of Reading: Business and Management (Marketing) with Year Abroad; Law; Consumer Behaviour and Marketing with Placement Year University of Southampton: History; Psychology; University of Surrey: Psychology; University of Surrey: Law; Accounting and Finance University of Sussex: Law; Accounting and Finance (with a professional placement year) University of the Arts London: Hair, Make-up and Prosthetics for Performance University of Westminster, London: English Literature; Business Management; University of Wolverhampton Biomedical Science Wrexham University: Applied Sport and Exercise Sciences . Destinations 2023 Careers and Progression We are proud of the diverse range of destinations our students pursue. Whatever this may be university or higher level apprenticeship. Whatever route our students wish to pursue there is support available at all stages. In Year 12 students take part in a ‘next steps’ challenge day where they are introduced to the University application process. This is followed in the Spring Team with a ‘next steps’ information evening for parents/carers. We encourage students to attend ‘Skills for London’ event for students to look at possible careers and apprenticeships and regularly invite outside speakers in from a range of careers and industry. Year 12 students are fully supported to apply for taster courses, insight days and virtual work experience as well as preparing for attending university open days. In the Summer Term we arrange a trip for all students to Sussex University where student ambassadors from the university show our students around the campus and talk to them about student life, this is followed by a series of UCAS workshops to start preparing University personal statements. Students are registered to Unifrog to support them with the application process for university or apprenticeships In early September of Year 13 further workshops are held to support students in completing their UCAS application form. Students wishing to pursue an apprenticeship route are assisted with searching and applying for these posts and will be given a one to one mock interview. Students can request a careers interview with our independent careers advisor at anytime during the year. All students will complete at least one online course during their time in the Sixth Form. These courses are offered by some of the top universities in the country and are really helpful in preparing students for university courses or for specific careers. All year 12 students complete a one week work experience placement. Students are encouraged to seek a placement that will not only challenge them but will help them gain experience in a field related to their future career. The EPQ (extended Project Qualification) is taken by a large number of students as an additional qualification in Year 13. This is excellent preparation for degree type research projects and highly regarded by University admissions tutors. .
Current Enrichment Activities · Mentoring · In-lesson support · Link Students · Volunteering / Charity work · Blackfen Library volunteering · Reading mentors · Wider Reading · On-line courses · U18 Football Team · First Aid Qualification · Deaf Awareness course · Drama / School production Additional Activities · EPQ · Sixth Form Leadership · Charity events · Sutton Trust Summer Schools · London Taster Course programme · Work Experience programme · Mindfulness · CPR training · Sussex University trip · UCAS Workshops · ‘Skills for London’ event · Day Trips · Residential Trips Enrichment All students in year 12 are required to complete an enrichment programme. They have to plan their programme of activities and keep a record (log book) of completed activities:
Address Blackfen Sixth Form Blackfen Road Sidcup, DA15 9NU Contact Tel 020 8303 1887 Email sixthform@blackfen.bexley.sch.uk Website www.blackfenschoolforgirls.co.uk
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODA2Njk=