Two new A levels will be offered from September 09, to add to those published in the prospectus: Applied Science and Government & Politics.

An overview of both subjects can be downloaded by clicking on the links below. Alternatively, please contact the sixth form office.

Head of Sixth Form

Mr Neil Baxter, the Head of Sixth Form, Miss Rogers, Head of Year, Mr Peter John, Head of Year and members of the Senior Management Team, have a course consultation meeting with all students before they enter the sixth form in order to help them to make the right choices. This also gives students and parents the opportunity to discuss any questions they might have. Throughout your time in the sixth form, Mr Baxter, Miss Rogers and Mr John will be available to offer advice on your studies and your future, and to listen to your concerns. They each have an office in the Sixth Form Centre and are the normal points of contact for parents of sixth formers.

Tutors

Students will be in tutor groups. The role of the sixth form tutor is to be concerned with the welfare and academic progress of their students. Tutor groups meet as a whole, but there will also be regular individual tutorials at which your academic progress will be discussed. Tutors pay particular attention to your attendance (our expectation is 100% attendance) and will have regular feedback from your subject teachers.

A feature of Balcarras Sixth Form is our system of progress reports. In the first term students negotiate target grades with their subject teachers. Progress grades are then published each term. This gives students and parents a clear and current record of academic progress.

Teachers

Your A level teachers will probably be your most important contacts. After all, you are coming to the sixth form for academic success. They will advise you about your progress, as well as reporting regularly to your tutors and, of course, your parents. They will also be a useful source of information about careers and degree courses in your chosen area.

Administrative Support

Mrs Helen Woodford provides administrative support for sixth form staff and students.

Careers and University Advice

Progression to university is the goal of most students. Towards the middle of Year 12 the futures course is dedicated to university choices and the UCAS system. In addition to this, Mr Baxter, Miss Rogers and Mr John will be available to discuss applications with students. The first half-term of Year 13 is when UCAS applications are written and sent (the deadline is 7th December but early applications are advisable). All students use the electronic application system which makes the whole process paperless and quick.

Information about grants, loans and fees will be available to parents and students - an information evening will take place in September. The Head of Careers and Connexions (the careers service) will continue to be an important source of advice to individuals about careers and university courses.

Reports and Parents Evenings

Communication with parents is something we value. At the beginning of Year 12 an information evening is held for the parents of all new sixth form students. In addition to the termly progress reports, there is also a full written report in Year 12 and in Year 13. There are also parents’ evenings in both years. Students are expected to attend these meetings alongside their parents.

The Sixth Form Committee

There is an active sixth form committee, composed of Year 12 and Year 13 students who are elected in the autumn hustings. The committee meets regularly, discussing issues affecting student welfare, uniform, accommodation, and most importantly, planning social events! Recommendations are made directly to the Head of Sixth Form and changes often result.

What is an A-Level?

In Year 12 students complete AS courses which are equivalent to half an A level. Students generally choose four AS courses (general studies AS will be taken in addition to these). Some students, who have been particularly successful at GCSE, choose to study 5 AS subjects in Year 12. Each course is taught for nine hours per fortnight.

An AS plus an A2 equals an A level. In Year 13 students will normally progress to A2 courses in three of their Year 12 subjects. In some cases students may complete four A2 courses and gain four A levels. Students therefore leave with either four full A levels, or three A levels plus an AS, as well as AS or A2 general studies.

Two subjects can be taken as either single or double awards - applied business and health and social care. A single award results in one full A level and a double award results in two full A levels.

Assessment

Each AS course and each A2 course comprises either two or three units of work. These are usually assessed through examinations, coursework or a combination of the two. Assessments will take place in January and June of Year 12 and January and June of Year 13.

A2 courses will be slightly harder than AS courses. This is so that over the two years students will be working up to A level standard and the progression from GCSE level will be eased. In all courses grades A to E will represent a pass.

A levels offered at Balcarras

Twenty-seven A levels are available. Information on each, including the titles of the AS and A2 units, can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.

Choosing your AS courses

When choosing your courses consider your academic strengths: which are your best subjects? You should select subjects you enjoy studying. Many students consider which AS or A levels they will need for higher education or for their future careers.

With four AS courses available to you in Year 12, there is an opportunity to maintain a fairly broad curriculum. For example, you may wish to take a language alongside three science subjects or a science alongside three ‘arts’ subjects. The universities and employers will welcome such breadth.

Progression to A2

Progression into Year 13 is not automatic. It is dependent upon AS examination results, and in some cases a few students will have only been offered a one-year stay in the sixth form from the start. Students will need a pass grade (A-E) in at least three AS levels (not including general studies) in order to progress to Year 13.

Most students, however, following four AS courses in Year 12 will usually progress into Year 13 to take three A2 levels. The decision about which course to ‘drop’ will be made after results are published in August. This decision will made on the basis of discussion between students, parents and teachers.

Starting in September 2009 Balcarras will be offering the AQA Baccalaureate.

Alongside your academic subjects there will be a number of other courses on your timetable:

General studies

For two hours a fortnight all students will follow a general studies course leading to an AS level - equivalent to half an A level. Details are in the brochure.

Futures

This course offers a number of elements:
• Preparation for higher education: choosing the right course, UCAS applications, money management, getting accommodation.
• Alternatives to higher education
• Starting a career, taking a year out.
• Study skills and tips for achieving success at A level, including note taking, essay writing and time management.

Guest speakers

The whole of Year 12 comes together once a fortnight to listen to a variety of interesting and informative guest speakers.

Sixth Form Games

Every Wednesday afternoon, all Year 12 students take part in a sporting activity. This is a compulsory part of the curriculum and the aim is for every student to do some form of physical exercise which they enjoy. Each student selects from a wide range of activities, which varies from term to term. A number of competitive options are available including netball, hockey, football and rugby, and training or inter-school fixtures take place during this time. More recreational options have included body conditioning, the gym, power walking, golf, trampolining and badminton.

Extra curricular activities

Students participate in a wide range of extra curricular activities, including: The Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young Enterprise, the paired reading scheme, People and Planet, National Bar Mock Trial, World Challenge, debating and inter-school sports matches.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award

Sixth form students are encouraged to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. Many will already be involved, and will wish to progress to the Gold or Silver Award. Others, who wish to take part for the first time, will be welcome.

Young Enterprise

The success of the Young Enterprise scheme at Balcarras has been exceptional. Students have formed their own companies, producing and selling a range of goods. Each business is judged on their trading activities, the quality of their production and their financial record keeping and performance. Attendance at a trade exhibition, producing a company report and giving a presentation to a panel of judges complete the competition. The current team have a broad portfolio of business enterprises which they hope will lead to success.

The paired reading scheme

Year 12 students are invited to take part in the paired reading scheme run by the learning support and English departments. Students are given training by the learning support department and then paired with a Year 7 or Year 8 pupil. The student and the pupil arrange times to meet and the sixth former helps the Year 7 with reading and literacy. This proves to be extremely rewarding for both.

The Sixth Form Prom

Each year, as Year 13 draws to a close, the Sixth Form hold a Prom for all the upper sixth students. This is always a wonderful celebration and a fantastically enjoyable event for all the pupils involved.

During the rest of the year a number of informal parties take place organised by the students themselves. These are not overseen by the school and there is not a staff presence. If parents permit students to attend they must ensure that they are in school punctually the following morning, ready to work hard and achieve their best.

Private study

Developing good study habits is the most effective way to academic success in the sixth form. Most students will have about one hour a day private study time. Both Year 12 and Year 13 students have purpose-built, fully supervised, private study facilities, which are equipped with ICT workstations. In Year 13, once good habits have been developed, students have greater discretion in how they use this time. We see the effective running of the private study system as being the key to maximising academic success. All students who wish to apply to Balcarras Sixth Form must be committed to using study time effectively.

The key skills qualification

A significant feature of the new post-16 curriculum is the development of key skills. The three key skills of communication, application of number and information technology have been identified as vital for students entering higher education or careers at 18. By completing your A level courses you will gain key skills in these three areas.

The sixth form is based in its own purpose-built centre. The facilities are outstanding - with science laboratories for sixth form courses, as well as the information technology and business suites. There are twelve classrooms. Most sixth form teaching is based in the block - though some subjects like art and design technology take place in other parts of the school, taking advantage of specialist facilities.

In September 2004 we opened a superb new extension to the sixth form block, which included a high-spec drama studio, Year 13 private study room, and another ICT suite. Sixth form tutor groups are all based in the sixth form block. There are two large study areas, with study carrels for you to work at. These are used for supervised private study in both Year 12 and Year 13. Another extension was completed in January 2009, which saw a significant increase in the size of the common room and the Year 13 study room , as well as the addition of a conference room and a sixth form shop.

The common room is well equipped for use by students at break and lunch. The kitchen has a fridge, a microwave, a kettle and a toaster. There are video and hi-fi facilities as well as sofas and soft seating for socialising in. In addition, the school dining room opens five minutes early for sixth formers at lunchtime.

The Idea

When the sixth form was being planned, there was much consultation with students, parents and governors about uniform and dress-code. There were some strong views: a number wanted a uniform the same as the rest of the school, others wanted no dress code at all. However, the consensus view was that the uniform should be different from the rest of the school and should allow a little flexibility.

The design

A number of sixth formers were involved in agreeing the design. A feature is the sixth form logo - which appears on the polo shirts and sweatshirts.

The uniform

• Black or brown shoes
• Smart black or grey trousers or smart black or grey skirt
• Balcarras sixth form polo shirt - red, ash grey, or royal blue
• Balcarras sixth form sweatshirt - black or royal blue or plain black v-neck jumper
• Belts should be black, grey or brown.

Training shoes, jackets or coats may not be worn in the sixth form.
Jewellery and make-up should be subtle.

Please see Mr Baxter if you are unsure about any item.

Buying uniform

The sweatshirts and polo shirts are available from The Famous of Cheltenham.

Making your choices

You must choose the FOUR AS and A level courses for which you wish to apply. Please read the brochure for guidance on combining courses.

See below to view the current pick-up points.