Chelmsford County High School for Girls

Sixth Form

Information about the Sixth Form

The Organisation of the Sixth Form

From September 2009 there will be 15 tutor groups of students under the care of the same tutor for two years. Tutors look after the academic progress and pastoral care of those in their charge and we encourage students to discuss their achievements and their concerns with us at all times. The Tutor groups are organised vertically; in other words they comprise both first and second year sixth students. This engenders a more adult atmosphere and helps to bridge the gap between school and Higher Education or the working world.

Sixth Formers have their own facilities. There is a purpose-built Sixth Form common room with adjacent seminar rooms. Extended kitchen facilities are also provided and there is ample space in the Sixth Form block, the school library and in the Sixth Form house for private study. There is also a specialist Careers Room next to the School Library. A vital part of Sixth Form life is learning to set aside enough time for work and developing a good work pattern.

There is a dress code for Sixth Form students which ensures that what they wear is presentable, practical and appropriate.

The school day starts at 8.45 a.m. and ends at 3.40 p.m. with lunch from 12.35 p.m. to 1.35 p.m. We want to encourage Sixth Formers´ increased maturity and responsibility and so, with their parents´ permission, they can leave the school at certain times providing that they "sign in and out". This privilege will, however, be rescinded should academic progress begin to suffer.

Service to the Community

We take great pride in the ways in which so many of our students give their time and help to others and arrangements are made for everyone in Year 12 to undertake a regular commitment to some form of service to the local community. Students can choose from a wide range of schemes: for example, students work with mentally-handicapped adults; help children with learning difficulties with swimming and gymnastics or help with the adult literacy scheme. Other students make their own arrangements, consulting with the member of staff who organises the scheme, Mr. J. Moore. Many Year 13 students choose to continue with this element of the wider curriculum, often in an area which complements their career interests.

Physical Education

Physical Education continues into the Sixth Form and the Department aims to offer a wide range of activities.

Many students continue to participate in competitive sport via school teams. One of the roles of the School Games Captain is to help the P.E. staff in coaching the junior teams and there are opportunities for other sixth formers to help with clubs and activities. We have many students who compete at county level but all are encouraged to enjoy their sport whatever their ability.

General Studies

All students follow this course which prepares them for the Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS) examination and also provides skills which give breadth and balance to their Sixth Form study programme. Many students choose to continue this to Advanced Level (A2). Within the course, all students study religious, cultural and ethical issues.

PSHE

We offer an interesting and varied programme of personal, social and health education which prepares students for life beyond the school. Conferences and talks by outside speakers enhance the course.

Careers Advice

Dr. Naish, the member of staff responsible for Careers, is always available to help students with their decisions about careers choices. We have a well-structured programme of careers education based on individual discussion, outside speakers, visits and an up-to-date Careers Library. All students have a series of interviews about their choice of careers and are helped to make the best decisions about Higher Education. On average 95% of our students go on to Higher Education and a consistent success rate into Oxbridge. Increasingly, students opt for a challenging GAP year with organisations such as "A Year in Industry" or Project Trust.

Examinations & Assessment

Tutors regularly discuss students´ progress with them on an informal basis. Our emphasis is always on negotiating with students to help them to set their own targets for improvement.

During the Autumn term of Year 12, there is an evening organised to enable parents to meet the Form Tutor to help forge the partnership between school and home and also there is an initial progress review to make sure that all is well. Parents´ Evening for Year 12 is at the end of the Autumn term. This is followed by a report just before Easter. In the Summer Term, there is a Higher Education Evening which helps to keep parents fully informed of this rapidly changing area. There is a Parents´ Evening in October and a formal report is issued in February.

Further information

For further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Mrs. Julie McDonald
Head of Sixth Form