Learning for Life in a Community where All can Excel St Albans Girls’ School Sixth Form
‘St Albans Girls’ School is part of ATLAS Multi Academy Trust, ensuring outstanding educational provision through challenge and the promotion of excellence’ 1 STAGS SIXTH
PROSPECTUS 2023 Making the right choices at Post 16 is crucial to ensure the best possible future prospects. We are very proud of our outstanding learning environments, with our distinctive ethos, highly professional standards and commitment to ensuring a first class education for our Post 16 students. Across the ATLAS Trust We recognise and value the individual, which our broad range of learning opportunities demonstrates, and we strive for excellence in all that we do. STAGS Sixth is warm and friendly where the atmosphere encourages success. We have a clear expectation that students want to be here to achieve their best and take an active part in the wider life of the school. Students will become part of the welcoming, hardworking and supportive learning community. Students receive a personalised education which is both demanding and rewarding and through the excellent care and guidance offered, they will be given every opportunity to progress towards their future goals, develop their individual talents and flourish. We look forward to warmly welcoming you into the STAGS Sixth and invite you to visit us during the school day. Margaret Chapman Executive Headteacher 2 Welcome Message from our ATLAS Multi Academy Trust Executive Headteacher PROSPECTUS 2023
3 STAGS SIXTH Sixth Form performance is consistently in the top 5% of schools nationally Your Next Step... Through our robust provision and exciting enrichment offer, we aim to provide a STAGS Sixth experience that students will never forget. STAGS Sixth is more than comprehensive assessment preparation but a fantastic opportunity to develop leadership, aspiration and ultimately, dream building. What do you want your next steps to include? Together, we can forge a path for you that prepares you for the world of work through next steps opportunities for your learning and skills acquisition. Our approach to academic and pastoral balance at STAGS Sixth ensures that students are given the opportunity to develop and demonstrate attributes fundamental to their next steps. The spacious STAGS Sixth Centre provides a lively yet focussed environment for learning. The Silent Study Area directly complements the common room making sure that students have spaces to collaborate and quietly prepare. In addition, our new STAGS Sixth Cafe provides the opportunity to meet other students with similar goals and interests. Through our Blended Learning programme, Students are able to develop 21st century literacies including research, editing, computing and presentation skills across all subjects preparing them for the world of work where all of these skills transcend industries. There are subjects, clubs, groups, enrichment opportunities and trips to engage and ignite the imagination of every Sixth Form student. When we refer to development, we mean the effective progression of every element of STAGS Sixth students. This includes academic skills, pastoral support, wellbeing and health awareness, leadership opportunities and the nurturing of avocation, interests and friendships - as well as a love of learning - that will last a lifetime. We look forward to warmly welcoming you into STAGS Sixth and invite you to visit us during the school day. Paul Kershaw Head of School Welcome to STAGS Sixth! Our aim, always, is to ensure every student journeys through Sixth Form with the support, enrichment and independence required for the wider world. We offer a plethora of opportunities, through our Step-Up programme as well as our enrichment offering and our whole school leadership opportunities. The STAGS values run through everything we do across the Sixth Form, as well across the whole school. Sixth Formers play an integral role across the school, being role models for all students, engaging in charity events, championing for climate change & embedding equality, diversity & inclusivity through everything we do. Our Sixth Formers are ambassadors for the STAGS ethos of passion & dedication, and they take this beyond STAGS into the wider community. We are STAGS Sixth. A community for all. Sally Ann Taylor Assistant Headteacher KS5
PROSPECTUS 2023 4 An emphasis on Excellence... ‘Guidance and support is superb, not just for the students but also for the parents too!’ - YEAR 13 PARENT We provide a supportive learning community that maximises academic potential and develops leadership. Expectations are high at Sixth Form and GCSE success informs Post 16 targets. Our commitment to you is: To provide quality learning opportunities through excellent specialist teaching in diverse environments To ensure a wide choice of subjects and courses to meet your individual personalised learning goals giving you every opportunity to become a leader of the future To provide comprehensive educational guidance and emotional support at this crucial period of your education To ensure diverse and stimulating Sixth Form opportunities and experiences including our well established Super Curricular programme and Student Leadership To arrange a wide variety of opportunities, beyond formal studies, to meet and exchange ideas with other students and adults from the local community To support you in your preparations and planning for university applications, higher apprenticeships and future career opportunities To ensure that you are aware of the full range of career, apprenticeship and higher education options available to you when you leave STAGS SIXTH The Step Up Programme focuses on personal development, wellbeing, future steps, financial stability and study skills to benefit both students' experiences of Sixth Form education and to prepare them for their future lives. Students are engaged and inspired through a bespoke Careers programme with external speakers, universities, employers and a wealth of opportunities to meet the developmental needs of all Sixth Form learners Step Up Programme
5 STAGS SIXTH Curriculum Choices The Year 12 and 13 curriculum is designed to provide an opportunity for students to deepen and extend their focus on chosen subjects at A Level. Students opt for three A Level subjects with the exception of Further Maths which is taken as a fourth option. The Sixth Form enriches students' experiences and prepares them for the transition into the next phase of their education and lives. Supported Study is timetabled across both year groups to give students the facilities and protected time to undertake independent learning, research and consolidation. Students also have the option to undertake a Level 3 Maths in Context (Core Maths Level 3) qualification or, a Level 3 EPQ project to enhance their A Level offer and research an area of interest, whilst gleaning insight integral to the planning, drafting and implementation of graduate projects and dissertations. It is recommended that students taking Science A Levels or Geography - without A Level Mathematics - undertake Core Maths to complement their study. The Enrichment Options for students to select in Year 12 include Sports Leadership, Language Leaders, Debating, Forensic Science, Level 2 Food Hygiene Certification, Arts Award, iDEA Award, Level 2 Certificate in Fundamentals of Financial Services, Music and many more. Healthy lifestyles are also promoted including through the Games sessions. As students transition into Year 13, they are given the time and flexibility required to hone their examination skills, read around their subjects and prepare for Post 18 education and options through specialist workshops and 1:1 support. The Sixth Form intent is to prepare and guide students for their next steps when they leave school for the last time, whether that be to University, Apprenticeships, Further Education College or employment. We support our students so that they can achieve the best grades possible, gain vital employability skills, experience a wide range of enrichment activities, participate in the wider school life through leadership opportunities and to be prepared for life after Sixth Form.
PROSPECTUS 2023 6 Supporting Learning ‘The Sixth Form here at STAGS is an exciting place to be: lots to do and lots to learn!’ - YEAR 13 STUDENT Inspiring and encouraging learners is at the heart of all that we do. We offer an excellent quality of learning from subject specialists who are highly trained across our breadth of subjects and courses. Each learner is stretched and challenged at every step of their individual learning journey, with aspirational yet achievable targets set for all. We offer many fantastic opportunities for all of our students at Post 16, such as visits to Oxbridge and other universities, as well as master classes for particular subjects and a range of external speakers through our Speaker Programme. We welcome into school visitors from a broad range of universities and employers as well as apprenticeship providers. These run alongside our extended super-curricular programme and we ensure that all students are well prepared for application and interview. We recognise that Post 16 students are maturing into young adults, which is why we involve the student in every stage of their Sixth Form education. Students meet their teachers at least three times a year for a progress review and together set targets and explore how these can be achieved. In addition, there are subject evenings with parents so that progress is monitored and any issues can be quickly remedied. We aim to nurture individuals who are confident, aspirational and proud of who they are, and our positive Post 16 environment encourages this growth. In addition to their chosen subjects, students also participate in the Step Up Programme, which covers a wide range of activities and issues from social, health and citizenship, road safety, resilience and employability skills to personal finance, the vitally important study skills to make the jump from GCSE to A Level. Personal development is supported by expert form tutors led by a highly experienced pastoral team.
7 STAGS SIXTH Student Life... Students are fortunate to have dedicated Sixth Form social rooms; the Coffee shop serves a vast array of hot and cold food and drinks during the day and provides a place for students to relax and enjoy each other’s company. The Sixth Form study rooms are supervised and enable a silent area dedicated to independent study and supported by the use of ICT resources. There is also a group study room for more flexible learning. Independent study outside of lessons ensures that the highest academic standards are aspired to and met. STAGS Sixth Form dress code offers students the flexibility of personal choice within a framework. We encourage smart, stylish dress which promotes self-confidence, commitment and pride, setting a positive example to younger learners.
PROSPECTUS 2023 8 ‘I left my old school for STAGS. I’m so glad I made the Leap! Nice teachers, great lessons and I have made lots of friends too’ - YEAR 12 STUDENT Taking on Responsibilities... We have a real sense of community and purpose in the sixth form and the extensive leadership and extra and super curricular opportunities we offer are very important to us and our students. We believe that being a Sixth Former is about more than achieving academic success. We want you to develop self-confidence, independence and vital life skills such as leadership, communication, team working, and management of your own learning. We offer many sporting activities; from membership of sports teams and leading clubs for younger students to the study of Level 3 Sports Leadership. There is the opportunity to fully participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award, and many of our Post 16 students take part in the expeditions and visits that we run annually to foreign climes. Alongside our sports, we are very proud of the range of extracurricular and expressive arts opportunities that are available for our Sixth Formers, including many different orchestras and choirs, Dance and Drama productions. For example, involvement in the Young Engineers Scheme, achieving the Gold Crest Award and participating in Young Enterprise offer extensive opportunities to flourish. There are so many varied extra-curricular activities to inspire and aid students to support their chosen career paths. ‘Regardless of their different starting points, all students make outstanding progress’
9 STAGS SIXTH FORM Enrichment Opportunities… Contributing to the Community Teachers have high expectations and know their subjects very well. My son is inspired by the quality of engaging teaching’. PARENT Super curricular activities enhance a student’s chance of acceptance onto a competitive degree course and/or employment. These activities will develop a variety of skills that will benefit students in the future. Sixth formers have an extensive range of activities to choose from which range from the academic activities with additional qualifications to those opportunities to learn a new life skill. Our choices include; EPQ, Arts Award, Sports Leadership, Foreign Language Leaders Award, Financial Studies, Debating, Forensic Science and Food Skills. We encourage all of our students to make contributions to the local, national and international communities and as a result they are regarded as leaders by younger people in the school. All students are encouraged to take on positions of responsibility and become actively involved in whole school events from Open Evening to supporting clubs and extra-curricular activities, from charity fund raising to volunteering. Our students are always active and fully embrace the ethos of the STAGS community. As young adults, the students choose how to reach their own leadership goals: they may choose to be a House prefect, House Captain or Head student, at the pinnacle of student leadership. There are many other roles across the school; for example many students mentor younger people. They can choose to be a youth counsellor in our Harmony programme; mentor a student who is suffering from emotional, social or behavioural difficulties, or support a student in lessons. Other roles include Sports Captains, Charity Captains, Social Action Captains and Eco Captains. In addition, Sixth Formers lead Student Parliament and are actively involved in fundraising, making their own decisions and developing the confidence to take responsibility in a variety of situations and local community events. We are very proud of the various charities that our Post 16 students choose and support every year, as their contributions are always significant.
PROSPECTUS 2023 10 Joining Us ‘My teachers really know me which enables them to tailor their teaching and learning’ - YEAR 12 STUDENT We welcome applications from both internal and external students to join our mixed Sixth Form. Students already attending STAGS will have the opportunity to discuss their Sixth Form options as part of their Year 11 progress monitoring. We also encourage students unfamiliar with STAGS to visit to explore our facilities and discuss their course choices. If you wish to join STAGS Sixth Form, please complete an application form, available on the website or from the Sixth Form Team. Successful applicants will be offered places conditional upon GCSE results. Applicants are invited to Induction Days in July to speak to their subject teachers, collect summer tasks and to meet other students. After examination results are published, final course choices are confirmed at enrolment day. We welcome visits to our school throughout the year, in advance of applications to our Sixth Form from October. Please feel free to contact us and arrange a visit; we are always proud to show our Post 16 learning community in action. Developing Confidence for Future Success… All students are encouraged to meet their full potential. We have outstanding support and advice to offer our students, from the highly effective Post 16 team. We work closely with Universities, Apprenticeship and Careers providers and maintain our strong local and national links with a variety of businesses to ensure access to a range of advice and experiences throughout the year. We encourage students to volunteer in their spare time and fully participate in work experience opportunities. We believe that it is vital to educate young people about the challenges and expectations of employment today in an innovative and rapidly changing global economy. Our Post 18 Next Steps week is an enjoyable and exciting educational journey through the various options open to students. All avenues are explored: university graduates visit the school; entrepreneurs and professionals offer their advice; businesses offering apprenticeships visit us, and volunteers and travel experts explain the nature of other options too. Students visit a UCAS fair to learn about the University system, which is followed by a day focused solely on university applications and writing personal statements if this is the chosen pathway. A parents’ information forum provides a valuable insight into the post 18 experience. We offer targeted, specialist support and guidance for students applying to study medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, law and for those applying to Oxford or Cambridge, as the application process is different to other courses. Specialist colleagues and external experts meet students and help with their applications, prepare them for interview and offer support and advice as needed. ‘Post 18/Next Steps’ week really helped me. Not only did I decide what I wanted to do, but I understood how to get there’ - YEAR 13 STUDENT
STAGS SIXTH FORM SANDRIDGEBURY LANE HERTFORDSHIRE ST ALBANS AL3 6DB TEL: 01727 853134 EMAIL: STAGSSIXTHFORM@STAGS.HERTS.SCH.UK www.stags.herts.sch.uk An Outstanding Specialist Business & Enterprise Academy
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