SIXTH FORM STUDENT GUIDE 2018

STAFFORD 

GRAMMAR 

SCHOOL 

Sixth Form 

Student 

Guide 

The Prep School The Senior School The Sixth Form 

Ages 4-11 Ages 11-16 Ages 16-18

Sixth Form Student Guide 

CONTENTS: 

Introduction ......................................................................... 3 

Keeping Up-to-Date.............................................................. 3 

Mission Statement ............................................................... 4 

Common Rooms ................................................................... 5 

Signing in and out ................................................................. 5 

Study Periods ....................................................................... 6 

Homework ............................................................................ 6 

Uniform and Appearance ..................................................... 7 

Behaviour ............................................................................. 8 

Sixth Form Games ................................................................ 9 

Help ...................................................................................... 9 

Cars ..................................................................................... 10 

Part-time employment ....................................................... 10 

Careers Advice .................................................................... 10 

Curriculum .......................................................................... 11 

Outline of the Lower Sixth ................................................. 12 

Outline of the Upper Sixth ................................................. 13 

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education ............. 14 

Opportunities ..................................................................... 16 

Reports and Grades ............................................................ 25 

UCAS ................................................................................... 26 

Apprenticeships .................................................................. 27 

2


Introduction 

Now that you are part of the Sixth Form, things change. This guide has been designed to 

help you adjust to these changes and to enable you to understand what the Sixth Form 

involves. 

What is the purpose of the Sixth Form? 

Quite simply, it is to give you the chance to make choices in your life. 

Reaching your potential in your academic studies will give you greater flexibility in your 

choice of higher education or employment. You will have far more control over your 

learning but don’t be daunted as you can ask for help at any time. In the small classes you 

will be treated differently. Your sixth form tutor team and your teachers are keen to 

encourage and support you. 

Taking on responsibilities is part of a broader education which we believe is vital for all our 

students. As mature young people, you will be expected to support the staff in the daily 

running of the school and in a variety of areas where you have expertise or wish to develop 

it. 

Privileges go hand in hand with responsibilities. You are the only year group who can sign 

out and leave the School premises at lunch time. You have your own Common Rooms and 

the responsibility to keep them clean, tidy and in perfect condition. You have study time 

and towards the end of your Sixth Form you may be able to study at home. 

Be careful not to take on too much: balance your commitments. 

Our aim is to give you as many opportunities as possible to develop your academic and 

personal potential: it is up to you to make the most of these opportunities so that you can 

look back on your Sixth Form experience with satisfaction and look forward to a successful 

degree or apprenticeship. 

Keeping Up-to-Date 

You can follow @StaffordGrammar on Twitter and Facebook to receive regular updates and 

see what pupils are doing throughout the week. 

https://www.facebook.com/StaffordGrammar/ 

3


Mission Statement 

We exist to provide a grammar school community of happy, confident and caring individuals 

who achieve their full potential. 

We provide: 

 

 

 

Small classes 

A disciplined, well-ordered environment 

A range of options at GCSE, AS and A-level 

We have: 

 

 

 

A warm and friendly atmosphere 

Time for every child 

Dedicated staff 

We will: 

 

 

 

Recognise individual success 

Develop self-confidence through involvement 

Keep parents informed of their child’s progress 

By these means we will continue to achieve academic and personal success. 

4


Common Rooms 

When entering the Sixth Form here at Stafford Grammar, you will find yourself blessed 

with your very own Common Rooms. You have a purpose built suite of rooms in the new 

building. The large Common Room has a large kitchen, with a tiled floor area, for drinking 

and eating. You will also be able to relax and work in this room. There are also two work 

rooms – one for quiet discussion, the Amber Room, and one for silent study, the Red 

Room. University information is in the Amber Room and the Red Room includes your 

tutors’ office. 

You have a responsibility to treat your Common Rooms with respect. If any accidents 

happen, you must report them to a tutor immediately. If there is any damage, you must 

take responsibility. As young adults preparing to go to university or the world of work, you 

must keep your Common Rooms clean and tidy. The Common Room Committee, which is 

separate from the prefect team, organises and runs the Sixth Form Centre. 

Above all, this is your very own haven from the rest of the school – it’s up to you to retain 

this privilege. 

Signing in and out 

As a Sixth Former, you have the privilege to roam more freely, but the School still needs to 

know where you are. Registering takes place at 8.50am, and it is vital that you are both 

punctual and quiet, or else face the wrath of your Sixth Form tutors! During lunchtimes you 

may leave the school grounds, but you must sign yourself out and in again – don’t rely on 

one person to sign out a large group of you. The book can be found in the School Office and 

outside the Head of Sixth Form’s Office. If you are late for registration, you MUST sign in 

too. 

If you are away for any reason, help yourself to an Absence Form (to be found outside the 

Head of Sixth Form’s Office), tick the relevant box, get it signed by a parent and return it to 

your tutor as soon as possible. 

As you begin to investigate to which universities or apprenticeships you may want to apply, 

most institutions will offer ‘open days’ for you to look round – you are permitted to attend 

a maximum of three days during term-time, and do try to look at as many as possible either 

at weekends or during holidays. 

Many of you will be learning to drive in the Lower Sixth, but this is no excuse to be absent 

yourself from school! Driving tests may be unavoidable (just remember to sign yourself 

out), but lessons should not be organised during the school day. 

5


Study Periods 

In scrutinising your Sixth Form timetable, one of the first things you may notice (and 

certainly one thing you will be looking forward to) are your ‘study periods’, lessons where 

you are given the freedom to study as you see fit. However, before you begin making 

hedonistic plans of an hour and ten minutes of pure unadulterated laziness, your work is 

constantly monitored by your teachers and good grades come from well-motivated 

students. Use this study time wisely. The encouragement afforded by the Red and Amber 

Rooms to catch up (or even get ahead!) with your work-load is, believe it or not, a blessing 

in disguise – the freedom allocated to Sixth-Formers puts time-management in your own 

hands, which in turn requires a considerable amount of self-discipline. You may even find 

you choose to go to the Red Room or the Library in later months! 

Homework 

All students are set homework. 

In the Sixth Form students can expect to undertake a minimum of five hours per subject 

per week of independent study. 

A Sixth Form Planner is provided for each student and we advise that all homework should 

be recorded in this. 

6


Uniform and Appearance 

Out of the burgundy and into the blue! With the new attire comes a considerable amount of 

respect and admiration from the younger pupils, itching to get into your shoes! 

Boys: For all you lads, uniform comprises a plain navy blue suit, white shirt, burgundy school 

tie and black shoes. Earrings and other facial piercings are not permitted, and hair should be 

kept reasonably short – we also expect any facial topiary to be well and truly pruned, so get 

that razor going! 

Girls: For the girls, a plain navy blue suit, white blouse and black shoes are all you need. The 

heel of your shoes can even (gasp!) be higher than the previously regulatory two inches, but 

do remember that you will have to teeter around the not-very-stiletto-friendly school 

grounds and stilettos are not allowed in the Science labs – be sensible, think of all those 

stairs and your poor ankles. Also, as something to bear in mind when choosing your suit, try 

and find a skirt that’s not “too long or too short” – this may seem like a daunting task, but 

between five centimetres above or below the knee is a good guideline. A plain navy-blue 

tailored suit with either a skirt or straight leg full length trousers. You are also allowed to 

wear make-up and jewellery ‘in moderation’ – just aim to look your smart and professional. 

A full and up-to-date list of school uniform and PE kit is available from the Parents’ page 

of the school website. 

7


PE Notes 

 

 

 

Earrings and watches must be removed 

Notes must be provided if pupils are to be excused from lessons. Serious medical 

conditions or injuries are the only acceptable reasons for non-participation 

PE staff must be notified if there is any medical condition which could affect a pupil’s 

participation 

A locker is available for each student in the sixth form centre. Bags should be stored in bag 

racks when possible. They may be left neatly in registration rooms. Bags left unnecessarily 

around school will be confiscated and the owners punished. Wherever possible, personal 

belongings should be stored in lockers. 

Behaviour 

As the oldest pupils in Stafford Grammar, you set the example for the rest of the school, so 

make sure you both appear and behave accordingly, both on and off school grounds. You 

are a walking talking advertisement for SGS; thus any foul language will not be tolerated, 

and smoking or drinking alcohol during the lunch hour could lead to immediate suspension 

or worse. You have been warned! 

In dealing with the younger pupils, be firm with the unruly ones if needs must, but always be 

fair, and look out for who may need your help, support, or just a friendly word. Your 

responsibilities may also stretch to showing visitors and prospective pupils around Stafford 

Grammar – but if you see anyone at all from outside the school, make sure you welcome 

and guide them to where they need to be. This may sound like the usual lectures dished out 

by your elders, but these are maximum Brownie-point scoring opportunities, and if you act 

with trustworthiness and maturity, staff will treat you with respect. 

8


Sixth Form Games 

PE lessons are compulsory for all Sixth Form students and take place from 2.35pm to 

3.50pm on Wednesday afternoons. Different options are available in each term: 

Fixtures against various schools take place mainly on Wednesdays with occasional Saturday 

fixtures. If selected, you are expected to play. Colours and Half Colours are awarded to 

students who show commitment to training and matches, above average performance and 

representational honours. 

You will be required to wear correct school kit, remove jewellery and arrive promptly for 

lessons. If you are unable to take part for any reason, you must provide a letter in advance 

for the Head of Sixth Form. There is an opportunity for you to assist with coaching younger 

pupils and teams at lunchtime and after school practices. In some areas this could lead you 

to coaching or umpiring qualifications. 

Help 

Never be afraid to ask for help. Whether your concern is a problem with your A level 

subject or not enough time to do all the things you have promised to do, share your worries 

as they will not go away unless you act. Speak to your tutors or your subject teachers. You 

can always speak to one of our School Nurses too. 

9


Cars 

Driving to school in your car: your parents sign a letter detailing your registration and 

showing they give permission for you to use your car to and from school and at lunch times. 

There is a speed limit of 10 mph on site and you are expected to drive very carefully as 

pupils can easily run out of buildings without looking. If you do not drive responsibly the 

School can withdraw its permission for you to park on site. 

Driving is the single, most significant thing you do. 

Be sensible: don’t take more passengers than there are seat belts. 

Be sensible: don’t show off by driving fast or dangerously. 

Be sensible: don’t ask for a lift when there isn’t room. 

Part-time employment 

Experiences out of School are valuable in developing skills as well as increasing your 

finances. There must however, be a word of caution: the prime purpose of these two years 

is to gain the best possible A level grades. Some students do take on more than they can 

reasonably cope with. 

Don’t let your paid work interfere with your academic work. 

Careers Advice 

You will have access to careers advice and Mrs Hollinshead organises any interviews with 

careers services and the Armed Forces. They all take place in school. 

10


Curriculum 

In the Sixth Form most students study four AS levels in the Lower Sixth and most Upper 

Sixth students continue three courses to the full A-level. 

A full list of available A-level courses available in the Sixth Form can be found in the sixth 

form prospectus. 

In the Upper Sixth some students opt to do an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), which is 

an extended project on a topic area of your choice. You will be allocated a Project 

Supervisor, however, it is down to you to manage and plan your project. It is the 

independent nature of this qualification which can be so appealing to universities and future 

employers. 

Each week all Sixth Form students will attend a tutor period which provides a variety of 

opportunities including; study skills, gap year advice, target setting and review, pantomime 

rehearsals, university advice, UCAS application support, apprenticeship application support, 

interview preparation, driving safety, health and first aid at university, getting work 

experience, e-safety, relationship advice, alcohol and drug abuse, student finance, student 

debt, interview and assessment centre preparation, teamwork activities, leadership tasks, 

food for university, careers advice. We also arrange many guest speakers from industry, 

university and support organisations. 

Sixth Form games are compulsory for all sixth form students and take place on Wednesday 

afternoons. Different options are available each term and include: football, netball, rugby, 

hockey, badminton, basketball, tennis, zumba, fitness gym, running. 

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Outline of the Lower Sixth 

Finding a balance 

The trick at the beginning of the Lower Sixth is to organise your time effectively so you can 

keep up with the demands of your A level courses, cope with your new responsibilities and 

involve yourself in extra-curricular activities. It is not an easy balance to achieve and you 

should seek guidance from your teachers, tutor, Head of House or Head of Sixth Form if you 

are struggling. 

Pantomime 

During the latter half of the first term, it is your chance to be involved in the Sixth Form 

panto. Participation is expected, whether as script writer, director, performer, costume 

maker or curtain mechanic! The whole thing is loads of fun! 

Other events 

Around Easter time, prefects are elected. Other prefects will be added to the first group 

during the year and these are chosen by the staff. Shortly after Easter, the Head of School 

and deputies are elected by staff. 

Mock examinations take place in January and external examinations for AS levels may 

happen in May and June. Find out your own schedule! It is important to work hard 

throughout the year because you will not get the grades you are looking for if you leave 

revision to the last minute. 

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Outline of the Upper Sixth 

The journey through UCAS and Apprenticeship applications 

During your summer holidays you may have sorted out what you want to study or where 

you want to work. If not, then the first term will be a busy one. Decisions about your future 

are important and so there is a team of experienced tutors to support and spend time 

talking to you. Most of the first term is spent organising your choices, writing personal 

statements and talking to your reference writers. There is also time for advice on interview 

techniques as well as feedback from students who have been on Open Days and interviews. 

If you are applying for Medicine, Veterinary Science, Dentistry, Nursing, etc. we will help you 

to prepare for your Multiple Mini Interviews by way of a series of mini mock interviews in an 

assessment centre style event. There will also be mock interviews tailored to your individual 

needs for a variety of university courses and apprenticeships. The Preparatory School Head 

will set up mock interviews for any students applying for Primary School Teaching. We also 

invite several universities into school to run a series of mock interviews which students can 

sign up for. 

There will also be an opportunity for you to complete an Extended Project Qualification 

(EPQ) during the autumn and spring terms. 

Duties and Responsibilities 

The prefect team work with the new Lower Sixth and train them in their duties. School and 

House responsibilities are passed over to the Lower Sixth during the year so that you can 

concentrate on your studies. 

Academic work 

You will have final A-level examinations in May and June so don’t take on too many things. 

Ensure that paid work does not interfere with your academic commitments. It is important 

to work consistently throughout the year if you are to get the grades you need to go to the 

university or apprenticeship of your choice. 

13


Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education 

This programme is designed specifically to meet the needs of students who will soon be 

going away to college and university. It may include the following topics: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Study skills 

Exam preparation 

Handling examination stress 

Nutrition and food hygiene at university 

Sexual health 

Money management and budgeting 

Drugs & Alcohol 

As the programme can be fairly flexible, requests for other topics can easily be 

accommodated. 

Self-appraisal 

We use a self-appraisal system throughout the Sixth form. You benefit from assessing your 

efforts in relation to your performance and setting yourself realistic targets. Filling in your 

self-appraisal sheets in as much detail as possible also enables your tutors to monitor your 

progress and to support you in achieving your targets. The sheets are also used by tutors 

for your reports as well as for references such as UCAS or part-time employment. 

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Study Skills 

In the Sixth Form we recognise the importance to students of having a greater freedom and 

individual control of learning. However, there is a difficult balance between such freedoms 

and maintaining the disciplined approach needed for success in the very demanding ‘world’ 

of A-Levels. You will receive a number of tutorials that are designed to help you with: 

 

 

 

 

Time management and organisation: You will have many more demands on your 

time, both in and out of school, and it is vital that you can balance these effectively. 

Planning: You need to plan your work schedule carefully, different departments 

operate in different ways. 

Taking effective notes: A vital element for successful A-level students is to keep files 

of notes in each subject. Although the content of files will vary from subject to 

subject they should include; lesson notes, other notes given by the teacher e.g. 

articles or worksheets, assessed work such as essays, exercises, write-ups of 

practicals, etc. 

Learning and Revision: Examinations and tests come thick and fast in the Sixth Form 

and it is vital that you develop learning and revision strategies that are suitable for 

you. You cannot afford to leave everything until the last minute. 

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Opportunities 

Participating in a wide range of experiences is also a vital part of the Sixth Form. Your 

involvement will enable you to develop the skills necessary for life. Universities and 

employers have said that they place `teamwork’ skills in the very top section of their skills 

list. If you have an idea for an activity (either one-off or weekly) let us know. 

House Committees 

As a Sixth Former, you are still very much part of the House and this is where you can 

demonstrate sound leadership and motivational skills. You will have the opportunity to be a 

form manager, encouraging the pupils in your care to be involved in a wide range of House 

and School activities. New House committees are chosen in the January and February of 

your Lower Sixth year and those who have shown an interest, initiative and good 

organisational capabilities will certainly be considered for a position on the committee. 

Duties 

You will be asked by the Head of School to volunteer for one or two duties a week. There 

are a number of areas to monitor at either break or lunch time. Your job is to check that 

pupils are behaving properly and sensibly. This may mean asking them to tidy up in the 

canteen, pick up litter or leave the classroom and play outside. Prefects will be on hand to 

support you. 

Never underestimate the effectiveness of House Points! 

Prefects 

What do we look for in a prefect? 

 

 

 

 

 

Reliability: turn up for duty on time, every time. 

Responsibility: if you volunteer you keep your word. 

Good manners and politeness at all times: even when annoyed by cheeky pupils! 

Ability to keep control when challenged: learning when to call for support from staff. 

Sensitivity: if a pupil is looking sad or is sometimes alone – tell someone or do 

something to help. 

How are prefects chosen? 

Prefects are initially chosen by a democratic system. Every member of the Lower Sixth, the 

Upper Sixth Prefects and the staff vote for those Lower Sixth Students who, in their opinion, 

have the right qualities. The first group become trainee prefects. If all goes well, they 

become full prefects and usually the staff select a few more deserving students. 

16


The Head of School and Deputies are chosen by the Headmaster and staff for a number of 

qualities including their commitment to the School and their ability to lead and organise 

their peers. 

Form Managers 

One of your responsibilities will be to act as a Form Manager to one of the forms in your 

House lower down in the school. Although differing from form to form, you will be expected 

to attend the form period every Tuesday or Thursday and generally interact with the group, 

perhaps helping to organise House activities and assemblies and such-like – a lot easier with 

little Year 7s rather than a Year 10 class with an attitude, it has to be said, but take the 

initiative and gain their respect. It makes prefect duties much easier when you know and 

can talk to the would-be troublemakers! 

Pause, Prompt, Praise Tutors 

The English department runs the Pause, Prompt, Praise scheme to help Year 7 pupils 

improve their reading skills. This scheme is only successful because of the commitment 

shown by the Lower Sixth form volunteers. You work in pairs as tutors to a specific Year 7 

pupil. For ten minutes every day, for six weeks, you take it in turns to listen to your tutee 

read. It is remarkable how the Year 7 pupils respond and gain in confidence. In the past, 

tutors have clearly enjoyed the experience and taken pride in the progress which “their” 

pupil has shown. There are also opportunities to support Year 7 pupils who have been 

chosen for the able, gifted and talented reading scheme. 

Parents’ Evenings and Events 

One way in which Sixth Form students are given the opportunity to broaden their 

experiences and take responsibility is by helping out at Parents’ Evenings and other events. 

This may sound a little boring but, in fact, most students thoroughly enjoy their first 

experience of helping and often volunteer for a second or even third time! 

Greeting parents at the door, looking after them and making sure the teachers do not allow 

a queue of parents to build up require tact and diplomacy. Dealing with adults you do not 

necessarily know can be a little daunting but provides excellent experience in developing 

‘people skills’ and gives you the opportunity to show how polite and charming you can be. 

The parents are always very impressed by your sophistication and are thrilled to think that 

their little angels will grow up to be like these delightful young people in navy suits. As for 

the teachers, we obviously know you slightly better than the parents, but you earn lots of 

Brownie points with us by keeping us supplied with tea and coffee. Needless to say, tuition 

in the vital skills of tea and coffee making is provided for those students who need it! 

17


The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme 

You will be encouraged to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme which 

involves community service, hobbies, physical recreation and a major expedition. The 

award develops character, initiative, teamwork and personal skills. The Scheme is managed 

and co-ordinated by a team of dedicated SGS staff. The Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award is a 

prestigious achievement and can be very helpful later when you are applying for university 

places or employment. Full details will be made available to all Lower Sixth students early in 

the Autumn Term. 

Activities within the Scheme can be very time-consuming and you must consider carefully 

whether you would be able to cope with these as well as the pressure of A-level courses. 

Sixth Form students who have already completed Bronze and Silver Awards will always be 

admitted. Those joining our Sixth Form from other schools will be considered on merit and 

consideration will also be given to any who had special difficulties when they were younger. 

Other activities undertaken by Sixth Formers such as Young Enterprise, School Blog, learning 

to drive, Community Service Projects and Sports can all form part of your involvement in the 

Award Scheme. 

If you are not selected to enrol for the Gold Award, you may, instead, attempt silver in your 

Lower Sixth and, if successful, you may begin gold in the following year. Please remember 

18


that you have until you are 26 years old to complete a Gold Award and most colleges and 

universities run schemes so it is not essential to complete everything by the time you leave 

school. 

Young Enterprise 

You will be given the opportunity to take part in the Young Enterprise programme. 

What does it involve? 

You will: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

set up and run your own company over one academic year 

elect a board of directors 

raise share capital 

market and finance a product or service 

take part in a public trade fair 

take part in a presentation evening 

present a report and accounts 

Medical Society 

Each year budding Medical Students lead our Medical Society and organise medical experts 

to speak to the Medical Society Members. It would be your role to attract members, contact 

guest speakers and set up mini-lectures and presentations. We normally aim for at least one 

event each half term. 

Other Societies 

Students are given the opportunity to set up and lead a society of their choice, on a similar 

theme to the Medical Society. You could set up a Debating Society, Law Society, Film 

19


Society; it is entirely your choice. If you wish to drive an idea forward all that you need to do 

is to ask the Head of Sixth Form for permission. The rest will be up to you. 

School Blog 

Are you interested in journalism? Then become part of the School Blog team. You can 

become the editor; write articles; take responsibility for collecting and checking articles; 

design the art work or organise the advertising and finances. 

Volunteering in the Community 

Students regularly volunteer in local nursery and primary schools, local hospices, special 

educational needs schools and residential care homes. 

Many of our students organise regular volunteering at Stafford Preparatory School; this is a 

great opportunity as it is right next door to the Sixth Form Common Room and can therefore 

be squeezed into study periods. 

Volunteering has always been about helping other people but do you realise how much it 

could help you? Volunteering can give direction and focus to your career. In this world, you 

will need much more than paper qualifications for university as you need to demonstrate 

that you have shown initiative and that you are an effective communicator. All universities 

have volunteering organisations and many companies promote volunteering as well. 

All students have the opportunity to achieve ‘Volunteering in the Community’ awards as 

recognition of their commitment. 

20


Sports 

The Inter-House polyathlon takes place during term time and Houses compete for the Inter- 

House Polyathlon Cup. 

Girls: Netball, Rounders, Athletics 

Boys: Football, Cricket, Athletics 

Mixed: Hockey, Badminton, Tennis, Cross-Country 

Annual Sports Day 

External Matches 

Boys and girls play matches in all major sports against other schools, both independent and 

maintained. 

The boys play football, rugby and cricket in a variety of age group competitions. 

The girls play netball, hockey, tennis and rounders at U12, U13, U14, U15, U16 and U18 

levels. 

The school competes in Stafford and District leagues and tournaments in netball, hockey, 

badminton, tennis, rounders, football, rugby, swimming, cross country and athletics. Pupils 

have the opportunity to attend District and County trials in most of these sports. 

Most matches take place after school, with some Saturday morning fixtures. Parental 

support is always welcome. 

When selected to represent the school after school or at weekends we would expect this to 

come before other commitments 

21


Music 

Music is an integral part of school life. Tuition is offered in a wide range of instruments from 

visiting teachers and we boast excellent extra-curricular activities. With Concert Band, 

Orchestra, School Choir, Recorder Group, Percussion Group and numerous chamber 

ensembles, there are opportunities for pupils with any musical interest to perform. Our 

ensembles perform regularly both in school and in the local community. There are also 

opportunities for soloists to perform in our concerts. 

Individual Music Tuition 

Stafford Grammar School offers tuition in the following: 

 

Recorder, Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Clarinet, Saxophone, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double 

Bass, Trumpet, Cornet, French Horn, Euphonium, Trombone, Tube, Classical Guitar, 

Electric Guitar, Percussion, Drum Kit, Keyboard, Classical Voice, Musical Theatre, 

Piano and Theory and other lessons upon request. 

Music Ensembles 

Brass Group 

Choir 

Flute Group 

Percussion Group 

Saxophone Group 

Theory Lessons 

Wind Quintet 

Chamber Choir 

Concert Band 

Orchestra 

Recorder Group 

String Quartet 

Big Band 

String Orchestra 

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Pupils should check the Music Department noticeboard to see which day of the week a 

particular ensemble is held. Our ensembles are involved in many concerts throughout the 

year both in school and outside school. Our school performances include Christmas and 

summer concerts, Christmas and Easter services and our annual Music Festival. 

We aim to stage a musical theatre production at least every two years and we have a 

number of opportunities for pupils to perform in the local community and in local theatre 

and concert halls. Pupils are encouraged to develop through the music examination systems 

of the major colleges of music. They are also encouraged to join one of the many County 

Music Groups that Staffordshire has to offer. 

23


Drama 

Drama plays an important part in the extra-curricular life of the school. We aim to stage 

several major productions each year and all students are welcome to get involved. 

Rehearsals take place directly after school and often on Sundays. There are also regular 

evenings of Drama and Music, usually at the end of the Christmas and Summer Terms. 

Students have taken part in some fantastic recent musical productions including ‘Little Shop 

of Horrors’, ‘Into the Woods’, ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘Sister Act’. 

Evenings theatre visits are organised and open to all pupils. 

Individual and pair peripatetic LAMDA tuition is available from Grade 1 to Gold Medal in a 

variety of disciplines for all Year groups. 

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Reports and Grades 

Effort and Attainment Grades will be given 

 

 

Lower Sixth : October, December, Easter. 

Upper Sixth : October, December, Easter. 

Reports will be given 

 

 

Lower Sixth :February 

Upper Sixth : September (after AS results), January 

(This information can alter with changes to examination dates.) 

There will also be Mock Examinations after Christmas in the Lower and Upper Sixth and a 

Mock Results Day in January. 

Parents’ Evenings occur once a year. However, your parents are welcome to contact the 

School at any time if they have concerns or questions. 

Why is it relevant to Sixth Form? 

Your entry into Sixth Form life will probably be the first time you will have the opportunity 

to organise your own study periods around the demands of your subject teachers, extracurricular 

activities, House responsibilities, duties etc. 

The apparent freedom of being in the Sixth Form needs to be handled with care. The 

pressure of completing work to the required standard in time to enter for examinations in 

June should not be underestimated. Those who cope best with this pressure are those who 

work consistently hard from the word go. It is all too easy to get into bad habits. 

For example, don’t assume that late work is acceptable just because few teachers give out 

immediate detentions to Sixth Form. If you often hand your work in late or you often arrive 

late for your lesson you will get poor effort grades even if the work itself is of a reasonable 

standard. If you think about it you cannot be making a satisfactory effort if either of these 

two criteria apply. Handing in late work is extremely irritating for your teacher who will 

mark more efficiently and fairly given an entire set at once and who has many other classes 

to teach. Late work does not allow your teacher to give prompt feedback to the class and 

destroys continuity of your lessons. Late arrival disrupts or delays teaching for the rest of 

the group. Arriving five minutes late for every lesson in just one subject loses 10 hours 

spread over the year (and that assumes just 30 teaching weeks per year). 

In your working life you will find that few people tolerate sloppy timekeeping, so start 

developing good organisational skills now. Learn to prioritise in order to complete all work 

on time and once it is finished don’t forget to hand it in! If you are already good at this sort 

of thing then keep up the good work. 

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UCAS 

You’ve no doubt heard people talking about UCAS and probably haven’t got a clue what 

they are talking about. So, here goes! 

UCAS (the abbreviations stand for Universities and Colleges Admissions Service - 

www.ucas.com) is the organisation you have to go through if you wish to apply for entry to 

a university in this country. So when we talk about a UCAS programme we are talking about 

getting you prepared for applying to university. This is a lengthy procedure and you will 

have to do a lot of the work on your own with guidance from your Sixth Form tutors. Much 

of the work will be done during form period so it is in your interest to make sure you are 

there in the right place at the right time! 

The UCAS guidance programme takes almost two years and right from the start of the 

Lower Sixth you ought to be taking the opportunity to research the possibilities available to 

you. The more organised and self-motivated you are the easier you will find the whole 

process. When you have some free time go to the Amber Room and use the careers 

guidance books to open your eyes to the possibilities. Go to the computer room and use 

the Internet to find out more about universities and their courses. Visit places you might be 

interested in. Talk to people and get their ideas and help. 

Here are some questions you might like to ask yourself to get you going: 

Do I want to go to University? (not “Do my parents want me to go to University?” ) 

 

 

What do I want to study? (there is a huge range of courses available out there, not 

just those related to what you have studied at school) 

Where do I want to study? – city centre, modern campus, London, not too far from 

home, as far away from home as possible? 

The Procedure 

 

 

 

September onwards – begin to think about possible courses. Do research. 

March onwards – by this time you should really be getting organised. Attend the 

Higher Education Fair. Go to Open Days at universities. Speak to your teachers and 

check you are likely to get the grades required for entry to the course you want to 

apply for. 

May/June – start work on your Personal Statement and have a fair idea of what you 

want to apply for. You will be interviewed by the person who will eventually write 

your reference. They will want to know about your provisional courses and your 

plans for the future. They will also want to know what you have achieved in the past 

so they can write about you the person. 

26


 

 

September of the Upper Sixth – complete your application very early in the term so 

that you can then concentrate on your academic studies. Early applications are 

looked upon very favourably by some universities! 

Post-application – this will involve Open days, interviews, acceptances, rejections, 

excitement, disappointment! You will also be given advice on life as a student, 

applying for financial assistance, accommodation etc. Most importantly of all 

though, keep working – there’s no point doing a brilliant application and knowing 

exactly what you want to do if your schoolwork is going to suffer as a result. You will 

need the grades to get you the place! 

Apprenticeships 

More students are now considering apprenticeships as an alternative to a straight university 

degree. 

There are growing opportunities to apply for Higher and Degree Apprenticeships and we 

ensure that students receive the same extensive personal support as they would when 

applying for a university degree. We will support you through the application and interview 

preparations. 

Former students have had success gaining places on apprenticeships with Rolls Royce plc, 

Jaguar Land Rover plc, and on Legal Apprenticeships. 

Find out more information at: 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-and-degree-apprenticeships 

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SIXTH FORM STUDENT GUIDE 2018

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