STUDENT HANDBOOK 2011-12 - Bishop Thomas Grant School

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HOW HARD DO YOU NEED TO WORK You should expect, on average, to spend about five hours per week, per subject, on self-study at home or in the LRC. Remember, being in a Sixth Form is a full-time job and it must take priority in your life. There is a big difference between Sixth Form courses and GCSE level work. You really need to keep on top of your studies from the very start and always take the advice of your teachers. There is a tendency for some students to ‘take their foot off the accelerator’ after GCSE’s. Do not let that happen to you during Year 12. GRADES, TARGETS, REPORTS AND PARENTS’ EVENINGS GRADES Grades at A Level are different from those at GCSE A Level pass grades range from A* to E BTEC grades are Pass, Merit and Distinction TARGETS When you begin your Sixth Form courses, you will be given a target in each of your Sixth Form subjects. The target is worked out by using a system called ALIS (A Level Information System). This system uses GCSE results to project what a student gaining certain GCSE grades is statistically likely to achieve in any A Level / BTEC course. If you are not happy with the target, it unfortunately cannot be changed; this is because it is based on your past performance. However, you can beat your target. It is also worth remembering that your predicted grade for your university application is based on your performance up to the end of Year 12, not on your target grade. REPORTS A report will be sent home to your parents/carers at the end of every half-term. This will comment on your attitude and progress towards your individual subject targets and your achievements in your assessments. Your attendance and punctuality for each half term will also be recorded. Your Form Tutor will discuss your report with you and you will identify strategies for improvement. PARENTS’ EVENINGS Parents’ Evenings are considered to be one of the most important parts of every student’s development. We expect Sixth Formers to come with their parents. Even though you are Sixth Formers, you are still dependent on the support of your parents. It is very important that they understand how you are progressing, so that they can help you as effectively as possible Year 12 Parents’ Evening: Tuesday 13 December 2011 Year 13 Parents’ Evening: Thursday 15 March 2012 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Essentially, Core Religious Education (one compulsory period per week) is an opportunity for you to reflect upon a variety of issues and questions linked to religion, morality and spirituality. The blend of topics and activities allows you to engage with subjects that you may not 18
ordinarily come across in the course of your formal AS / A-Level / BTEC studies, whilst in the Sixth Form. Core Religious Education allows you to explore your own beliefs across a wide range of issues. It encourages you to develop skills of confidence and communication in a relaxed, friendly and supportive environment. Your group will meet once a week and you will take part in discussions and debates. You will explore issues of concern to all major world religions, whilst being firmly rooted in Catholic tradition. This time is not for indoctrination but rather for the opening up of listening, discussion and reflection. PSHCE/CAREERS You will have one period a week of PSHE/Careers. This is a full programme of activities and events comprising outside speakers who will address key, contemporary and pertinent issues, such as university preparation, interview skills, careers, substance and alcohol abuse, personal financial management, health issues, personal safety, charity work and gap year activities. Careers guidance throughout Years 12 & 13 is prioritised and aims to help you to make informed career choices. Application to Higher Education and degree courses is actively encouraged and fully supported. You will have the opportunity to attend a Higher Education Conference at the end of Year 12, where you can get detailed information on courses and universities, as well as attend master classes on various degree courses. The timetable for the PSHE/Careers programme at BTG will be generally as follows: YEAR 12: 1 st half of Autumn Term: Study Skills 2 nd half of Autumn Term: Stress Management & Exam skills Spring Term: Speakers from businesses and HE establishments Summer Term: UCAS preparation and application YEAR 13: 1 st half of Autumn Term: UCAS application & student finance 2 nd half of Autumn Term: What happens after school? 1 st half of Spring Term: Citizenship 2 nd half of Spring Term: Life skills ACADEMIC MENTORING The Academic Mentoring programme will provide an opportunity for you to gain help, support and guidance during your career in the Sixth Form. The programme is designed to provide help with a range of different aspects of life in the Sixth Form, including individual target setting, coursework planning and management, time management and career/university applications, as well as the crucial area of deciding upon, and following, the learning strategies which best suit you as an individual. In this way, it is hoped that you will use it as an opportunity to help you to improve the standard of your work. The programme is designed to follow a similar format to that in Higher Education. Students are referred to the Academic Mentor through the pastoral system or you can self- refer. In the meeting, your mentor and yourself will raise and discuss issues concerning your progress, your learning and study, the standard of work, celebrating your successes and finding 19
Page 1 and 2: BISHOP THOMAS GRANT SIXTH FORM Proc
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS Staff list 4 History of Bi
Page 5 and 6: MISSION STATEMENT “INSTAURARE OMN
Page 7 and 8: 5.Bishop Thomas Grant accepts no re
Page 9 and 10: out-of-school appointments. This is
Page 12 and 13: DRESS CODE Through our dress code w
Page 14 and 15: The Common Room is an area where yo
Page 16 and 17: The school supports local, national
Page 20 and 21: ways of helping you with problems.
Page 22 and 23: 5. To line manage the Senior Prefec
Page 24 and 25: If your host school subject teacher
Page 26 and 27: COUNSELLING From time to time stude
Page 28: Bishop Thomas Student Hand Book BIS

STUDENT HANDBOOK 2011-12 - Bishop Thomas Grant School

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