Sixth form life
The two years spent in the Sixth Form are an exciting and enjoyable period for those boys who have achieved qualifying success at GCSE and who wish to pursue further academic studies.
At Saint Ambrose College we maintain a Sixth Form with traditional values of excellence. In accordance with our Mission Statement, we seek to provide a structured and caring environment in which our boys can fulfil their potential. Each year, the majority of Upper Sixth boys proceed to university, with a number securing places at Oxbridge and prestigious universities across America and Europe. To achieve such academic success requires an ordered, self-disciplined determination to work hard.
We offer a wide range of extra-curricular and enrichment activities from sport to music, debating and mentoring, to ensure our young men have opportunities to develop their individual talents and interests.
There are also opportunities for foreign study visits, field studies and to attend the theatre and outside lectures. Above all, we believe that boys should be learning in a vibrant community where the Catholic faith is lived out as an integral part of their lives. We impress on our young men the importance of taking a leading role in the spiritual life of our College community and in the ‘Thursday Thought’ programme, they deliver weekly presentations to lower school forms which not only allows them to develop leadership and public speaking skills, but also encourages them to reflect on the Gospel.
We are hugely proud of our Sixth Form who are excellent role models for our younger students. As an integral part of the College’s ethos, they nurture and mentor younger students and leave our College community with the skills, knowledge and experience to embark on their many and varied futures. In the words of St Newman, we encourage our young men to believe that they are ‘a link in a chain, a bond of connections between persons”.
sixth form team
Our Sixth Form is an integral part of our College community, but nonetheless maintains a separate and individual identity. It is important for those choosing to study in our Sixth Form to understand that while they are still studying within a school environment, they will be expected to have a more adult presence around the College. This is reflected in the uniform regulations and also in the independence granted to Sixth Formers, such as self-directed study sessions and the freedom to sign out of the building at lunchtime.
Our team is led by a Director of Sixth Form, two Heads of Year and a team of dedicated tutors, supported by our Careers Coordinator, a Sixth Form Administrator and an Academic Mentor. We aim to support each of our young men to achieve to the very best of their potential and take advantage of every opportunity afforded to them. Each form group is led by an experienced tutor who will guide students in all aspects of their journey through A-Level study. Each tutor is an excellent resource with a wealth of experience in guiding young people at this vital stage in their lives.
Attendance in 6th form
When students join our sixth form, they make a commitment to themselves, their subjects and the school. We will do everything we can to ensure they meet their academic potential. The most important factor in this is attendance to registration and lessons.
Attendance in the sixth form is expected to be above 95% over the course of the year; the same as in the rest of the school. Failure to achieve this level of attendance not only puts your son’s place in the sixth form at risk, but it will also have a detrimental impact on future exam results.
On average, students drop a grade for every 10% of school lessons missed over the course of a year.
All students are expected to attend morning registration on Mondays to Fridays from 09:00 to 09:15. This tutor time is when students will get one-to-one mentoring from their tutors, attend assemblies, deliver ‘Thursday Thought’, receive UCAS and careers advice and/or take part in leadership and mentoring sessions with lower school students.
If students do not have lessons during Periods 1 and 2, they are expected to study independently or attend supervised study sessions during which they will be expected to take work, allowing them to complete homework, conduct independent research or read widely around their subjects.
Studies have shown that more than 10 hours of paid work a week results in students dropping at least a grade at A level nationally.
We would be grateful if you could bear the following in mind:
- Holidays should not be taken in term time.
- All dental/medical appointments and driving lessons should be arranged outside of lesson times. Please give prior notice of these.
- Full-time study commitments take priority over part-time work.
- Absence should be reported on the first day. Please ring the main reception and leave a message when prompted about attendance.
Students will be supported to improve their attendance and such support includes:
- Discussion with Form Tutor
- An interview about attendance with the Director of Sixth Form
- A meeting with the Head of Year and/or Academic Mentor
- After-school or Saturday detentions may also be issued
Failure to comply with this could result in them being asked to leave our Sixth Form.