Joining the 6th Form

Making A Fresh Start

We take pride in the way staff and students welcome newcomers to the Sixth Form. We realise this can be a daunting experience and every effort is made to support the transition. Many new Sixth Formers go on to become Prefects or Heads of School within nine months of joining the school. A Year 12 student who was new to the school summed up her experience:

"Changing schools is always a traumatic ordeal. Usually, at the age of eleven, everyone has to adjust to a new school, but at sixteen it is entirely the student's choice.

Towards the end of Year 11, I felt that I would benefit from a change of environment. Looking at the subjects available at my current school, I found the choice was limited. This made me decide to look at other schools in the surrounding area for Sixth Form. Coming from a co-educational grammar school, I wanted to stay in the same environment and decided to look at Waddesdon as I knew that Waddesdon had a very good reputation.

On looking around the school and hearing views from previous students and the new Headteacher, I was extremely impressed and decided this was where I wanted to be. I applied to the school, had my initial consultation and in between waiting for my exam results, I attended the Sixth Form Induction Week. This week was very beneficial and allowed new students an insight into the school's life. We also had numerous taster lessons to ascertain which courses would best suit. My place was confirmed upon receiving satisfactory examination results.

Nerves set in prior to the start of term, and then the big day arrived. I need not have worried. Both students and teachers welcomed me into this new environment and made me feel at home. I soon settled into a structured routine and started to enjoy my school life and studies. The mutual respect between students and teachers is plain to see and I consider this to be one of the main strengths of the school. The facilities that Waddesdon has to offer are of a very high standard and enable students to reach their full potential.

I am now at the end of the first term and am so glad that I made that initial decision to change. I now enjoy coming to school and have never looked back."

Admission Number

Governors have determined that the published admission number for the Sixth Form is 40 places – this is the number of places which will be available to applicants who are not currently on the school roll. The figure has been determined with regard to the staying on rate for pupils already at the school and the historical number of places which have been awarded to external applicants. In determining this number, Governors are also mindful of the planning obligation agreement imposed as a condition of gaining planning consent for the most recent building. This required the Governing Body to give an assurance that they would not seek to grow the school. However, if courses are not full we can take and do take additional external candidates.

Entry Requirements

Entrance to the Sixth Form is on the basis of suitability to undertake the academic or vocational courses being provided. The school will arrange personal consultations with potential students to advise on course availability and course suitability and to set down the expectations of embarking on a Sixth Form course of study.

In determining whether a place can be offered, the decision will be based on the academic requirements of the course being applied for. In making this determination the points scale set down below will be used. Points are calculated by taking the GCSE results in Mathematics and English Language using the upper line, and then adding points for the next FOUR best GCSE results in other subjects using the bottom line.

In addition students will be expected to have obtained a minimum of B grades at GCSE in the subjects (or associated subjects) they wish to study at Advanced Level.

GCSE Results

Mathematics & English Language	32	28	24	20	12	6	4	2
	A*	A	B	C	D	E	F	G
Other subjects	16	14	12	10	6	3	2	1
	A*	A	B	C	D	E	F	G

Course Points Guide

With 120 points or more a student should consider taking five AS subjects or an equivalent combination of AS level and Advanced VCE‟s.

With 100 - 119 points we would recommend a student to take four AS subjects or an equivalent combination of AS level and Advanced VCE‟s.

With 90 – 99 points we would recommend a student to take three AS subjects or an equivalent combination of AS level and Advanced VCE‟s

With between 80 and 90 points students can only be considered on advanced courses where they can demonstrate exceptional talent in the area they wish to study and have achieved the required course entry grades as set down on the next page. Students will be expected to provide documented evidence of exceptional talent at their personal discussion about course suitability. This would normally be provided by the previous school.

Below 80 points: It will be the policy of Governors NOT to offer places to students who achieve below 80 points.

Application Process and Timescale

An application form can be obtained from the school. The closing date for applications each year is 1st June. Applications received after this date will only be considered once applications have been processed for those applying within the prescribed timescale.

Offers of places will not be made until the outcome of GCSE results are known and the onus is on applicants to advise the school IMMEDIATELY their results are known

Oversubscription criteria

In the event of receiving more external applications which fulfil the entry criteria than places available, the single over-subscription criteria will be that of distance. Places will therefore be awarded according to the proximity of the student’s home to the school measured by the shortest distance. This is to be a straight line to the Founder’s stone from the nearest boundary point of the student’s home.

Right of Appeal

Where a Sixth Form applicant has been refused a place at the school, parents will be advised of their right to appeal against the decision of the Governing Body to an Independent Appeal Panel convened by Oxford Diocese. The right of appeal will apply to students currently attending the school but seeking entry to the Sixth Form and also to external applicants.

Equal Opportunities

In dealing with applications for admission, Governors will have full regard to equal opportunities legislation.

Named Contact

All initial enquiries about admission to the Sixth Form should be made to Miss McIver, Head of Sixth Form at Waddesdon School. Additionally, further information about this policy, including information about the appeals process, can also be obtained from the Clerk to Governors, Mrs Norma Knight, by contacting the school.

The Application Process

All students, internal and external, will need to complete an application form for a place in the Waddesdon Sixth Form. Applicants should be aware that the school does have expectations of all its Sixth Form students. These form part of the contract all students and their parents sign on admission.

The decision students are about to make will have a profound effect on their future - it should only be taken following careful consideration of all the options. Students need to talk to as many people as possible: parents, teachers and, if possible, current Sixth Form students.

The Introduction to Sixth Form Evening, for all parents and students who are interested in finding out more about the Sixth Form at Waddesdon is held during March.

We would appreciate an early return of the Sixth Form application forms so that we can gauge the level of interest in the various courses on offer. Later applications will, of course, continue to be accepted. Consultations will be arranged for all applicants and their parents to discuss the choices made.

No formal offers of a place will be made until the GCSE results have been announced. Offer letters will be sent to students on the following day by first class post. The Governors’ Sixth Form Admission Panel will meet on that date to review those students who narrowly missed the points score or those with specific abilities and needs.

External applicants will need to ensure they notify the school on GCSE results day about whether the required points and grades have been met. This can be done by fax, e-mail, telephone or visit; staff will be in school to answer queries.

Offer letters will be sent by first class post the day after GCSE results day to the successful candidates. The criteria to be applied will be as set down within the policy (see previous section).

Late applications will be considered after the applications received within the timescale.

Parents who are unhappy with the school’s decision not to admit their son/daughter have the right of appeal.

Sixth Form Enrolment

This occurs just before the school term begins in September between 9am and noon. Students who have been accepted into the Sixth Form meet with a member of the Sixth Form team to discuss and confirm their chosen subjects. It is highly recommended that all students attend, but enrolment can be completed by phone or email if a student cannot attend. Please let us know in advance if this is the case.

Induction Day

Term begins for Year 12 Students with an Induction Day at 8:30am on Thursday 6th September 2012. All students are expected to attend. Timetabled lessons will commence on Friday 7th September 2012.

Sixth Form Foundation Week

This takes place from Monday 25th June to Friday 29th June 2012. It is a full timetabled week of lessons in school and is considered to be the first week of students' Advanced Level courses. All potential applicants are expected to attend. Teaching will begin and work may be issued in some subjects for completion over the summer break.

If a student wishes to change subjects after this week, he/she must find out what the summer work is in advance of September. Students who cannot attend foundation week should ring the school to find out if any summer work has been set. This is a VITALLY important week and has been introduced to try to bridge the gap between GCSE and AS level study.

Sixth Form Resits

The school does not offer GCSE resit examinations apart from English and Mathematics which take place during the Sixth Form: Successful Learning Study Programme. Students who wish to resit are recommended to approach Aylesbury College where evening classes in the core subjects are normally available.

All AS/A Level courses follow a modular format and students are entered for the appropriate module at the appropriate time. Should a student wish to resit a module to improve their grade the student will be asked to pay the entry fee.