Dear Parent/Guardian

RE: Sixth Form Parents Information Evening and Sixth Form Update

I would like to invite you to the Sixth Form Parents Information Evening on Wednesday 24th September, starting at 6.30pm in the drama hall. During the evening there will be a number of presentations, giving details on assessment and tracking and outlining key dates in the next few months and an update on the transition into the new building. We will also be giving information on how you can support your son or daughter through Year 12 and there will be an opportunity to ask questions regarding any aspect of the sixth form. The evening will finish at 8pm.

Sixth Form team

We are extremely pleased to announce that our sixth form has over 60 students starting their AS studies in 20 subjects.

Our sixth form team mainly comprises our 4 mentors: Mr Simpson, Mrs Todorinovic, Mrs Hoyle and Mrs Lorenz; Mrs Tullick who is dealing with administration, Mrs Brown who is supporting students with careers and I will be monitoring academic progress and the enrichment programme.

The First Week

Sixth form life began last week with an exciting, informative and fully packed week for everyone. On September 8th we opened our doors for the first time to our sixth formers with an induction morning, welcoming them with refreshments and giving them some time to catch up with their friends and meet new students. They each met their mentors, were given their timetables and given the expectations for the week ahead.

On Tuesday, they were divided into teams of six to play The Apprentice Game, a team building exercise with students completing a number of tasks in and around central London. After a long day, two teams collected the same amount of points, and so the winning team was decided after a vote by them. Congratulations to Patty Brown, Max Monasch, Milan Radakovic. Shamir Dahghani, Nick Cook and Mllie Churms for winning the competition.

On Wednesday we ran an enrichment fair which was supported by a number of local volunteer groups, Duke of Edinburgh representatives and the World Challenge Project as well as departments in school who will run a number of leadership challenges. We are encouraging sixth formers to sign up for the leadership and enrichment activities which will be run both in and after school.

Students have been set some rigorous independent study tasks for each of their AS subjects and have the next two weeks to complete them. These have been designed by subject teachers to give sixth formers a flavour of what to expect as they begin lessons and start to tackle their AS levels. The tasks involve a mixture of research, past papers and a variety of essay questions. We have provided two study spaces and staff are on hand to advise. The students have plenty of work to get on with and have been working effectively in the time they have been allocated.

On Thursday’s 'Hit the ground running’ day, we arranged a variety of seminars to help students with all aspects of sixth form life. Sessions included dealing with time management and organisation; stress: what to look out for, how to cope and how to get help; literacy or maths master classes; and an opportunity to learn speed reading techniques.

The week ended with students continuing with their independent study tasks and being introduced to the student passport, our personalised learning and support programme preparing students for life after Christ’s. They will all develop this passport and a portfolio of evidence with their mentors over the coming year.

Study Resources

Our new building is due to be completed over the next few weeks. In the meantime we have made it our absolute priority to ensure that our sixth form students have access to all the classrooms and resources they need to succeed at the beginning of their A levels. Students have access to our main computer suite (30 computers), our library (21 computers and work desks) and 25 IPADS that have access to the internet and school systems. Each student has access to these areas and resources during independent study periods and these will be supervised by a member of staff. At lunchtime students will have sole access to the library until we move into our new building.

We now look forward to students staring their courses and building on the success of this last week. If you have any questions please email me at the school address.

Thank you

Mr Morris

mmorris@christ’s.richmond.sch.uk