Year 12 Information
Tel : 01527 872375
sixthform@northbromsgrove.worcs.sch.uk
NBHs6th
@NBHS6thOfficial
North Bromsgrove High School Information 2015/2016
Year 12 Handbook
September 2015
I am delighted that you have chosen to continue your studies with us, and look
forward to working with you to ensure you access the best pathway for your future.
Whichever path you choose, obtaining the best possible grades in your subjects is
vital this year.
It is so important that you take responsibility for your own success straight away.
Therefore keeping up with work set, and asking for help when you have difficulty
should ensure you have a greater chance of achieving the grades you want.
Decide now that you are aiming high and commit yourself to hard work. The Sixth
Form Team are here to help and support you with the transition to becoming an
independent learner and reach your potential.
This handbook will hopefully serve as a guide to the basic expectations and key
information for students/parents/carers for Year 12 study.
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact the Sixth Form
Team as listed below. For further ease of reference there is a flow chart of
communication to assist any enquiry you may have.
I look forward to helping you make this a fantastic year.
Sarah Figg
Sixth Form team
Miss S Figg
Mr D Gleave
Miss H Skate
Head of Sixth Form: Senior Teacher
Dean of Students
Head of Year 12
Year 12 tutors:
Mr D Gleave
Mrs A Davidson
Miss D Price
Mrs J Evans/Mrs N Haley
Year 13 tutors:
Mrs K Mann
Miss S Chater
Mr R Williams
Mr M Horton/Mr J Holt
Contact details:
Email: sixthform@northbromsgrove.worcs.sch.uk
Tel: 01527 872375
Sixth Form Life – The Essentials
Sixth Form Day
Please note there is a slight change to the timetable from September 2015.
Tutor time is now moved to 10.30 to 10.55 each day
Time
Period
8.30
8.45
8.50 – 9.40
9.40 – 10.30
10.30 – 10.55
10.55 – 11.15
11.15 – 12.05
12.05 – 12.55
12.55 – 1.35
1.35 – 2.25
2.25 – 3.15
Briefing
Warning bell
Period 1
Period 2
Tutor Time/Assembly
Break
Period 3
Period 4
Lunch
Period 5
Period 6
Personal Tutor Time/Assembly/Academic Coaching
Each morning students will meet with their personal tutors for 25 minutes. Personal
tutors will provide pastoral care and guidance and support academic achievement
and transition into sixth form life through our Academic Coaching programme.
Independent study
Positive routines are vital in sixth form and the key to success will be managing study
time out of lessons. It can be difficult to adjust to a reduced timetable of 3 subjects
and managing study; there are no ‘free’ lessons.
Out of lessons students should be working independently for 4-5 hours per subject
per week. This can take place in any of the suite of study rooms, the Library, the
Dining Hall or in any area of the school pre-arranged with subject staff – wifi is
available across the whole site.
Settling into a study routine will be essential for those wishing to enter Further or
Higher Education. These skills will also be valuable for the world of work.
Independent study might consist of:
 Teacher set tasks, essays, research
 Revisiting/rewriting class notes to consolidate learning from the start
 Wider reading – reading around topics/subjects to develop understanding or
reading ahead
 Completing past examination papers/questions
 Preparing a presentation
 Watching a documentary or DVD related to your subject/topic and making
notes
 Reading a newspaper article relevant to your subject – some broadsheets have
sections dedicated to for example scientific or technical developments,
sociology and media, literature
Progress Reviews
A progress Review is sent home each half term which will indicate how students are
performing against target and also their efforts during half term. Dates of these
reviews are on the up to date calendar on the school website.
If a student is 1-2 grades below target, subject staff, personal tutor and student will
use Academic Coaching sessions to establish a way forward.
All Year 12 students are placed on a trial which starts on Monday 7 September and
ends on Monday 28 September. Students, parents/carers will be invited to discuss
success and areas of concern and a way forward where necessary. We are
committed to ensuring students achieve and being open and realistic about future
pathways.
Enrichment Activities
Enriching student life in sixth form is crucial to complement learning and develop skills
that universities and employers value, such as initiative, resilience and responsibility.
In Year 12, students will allocate at least 2 lessons per week specifically for them to
participate in whole school opportunities and enrichment activities. For example:
College duties and competitions, mentoring, Prefect duties, curriculum support,
sports clubs, Duke of Edinburgh and work experience. Students will identify their
chosen activities with their personal tutor and this will become part of their 600 hours
study.
Honeycomb and OurSchoolsApp
All sixth form students are required to have access to an Electronic Learning
Plan (ELP), which consists of their programme of study, timetable and all sixth
form information. For this we use Honeycomb and OurSchoolsApp. Therefore
it is vital all sixth form students use both Apps.
Honeycomb is our electronic planner which is used to:
 Identify programme of study (PofS)
 Access independent study
 contact students
 for students and staff to monitor completion of tasks
OurSchoolsApp is an innovative tool to improve sixth form – parent
communication, by allowing us to cascade information rapidly to parents,
quickly and easily. Using the system has been designed to be simple – both
for the sixth form and the parents. Below is a brief guide on how to use the
system, and to give some pointers on the sorts of information you could add.
Free download at App Store or Google Play
Windows phone and desktop version also
Work Experience
All Year 12 students will organise and complete a work experience placement in the
final week of the summer term. The purpose of this is to develop skills and gain
experience in fields of employment that they may wish to pursue. University admissions
departments and employers also wish to see evidence of experience to support,
where possible, chosen areas of study. Personal tutors will contact placements for
initial feedback and employers will be asked to complete a report for the students
own record.
Attendance
Attendance is a crucial factor in determining success in academic studies. Students
are expected to attend at least 600 hours of timetabled classes, exams, academic
coaching sessions, personal tutor time and enrichment over the course of the year.
This expectation has to be met to become a full time student and is expected of all
students nationally at sixth form level. If you experience difficulty meeting this standard
due to unforeseen personal or medical circumstances you must inform your personal
tutor. Miss Figg or Miss Skate will also be informed to offer the appropriate support and
guidance.
Punctuality to lessons is an important habit and both attendance and punctuality are
commented on in all references. If a student is late for lessons more than three times
in any given half term, subject staff will raise this issue with a student and pass their
concerns to the relevant personal tutor.
Absence
Please telephone the Attendance office on the first day of absence. Year 12 students
need to bring a note from their parents to confirm their reason for absence on their
return to school
Family holidays
Because full attendance is such an important factor in a student’s success and to
meet the 600 hours requirement to study full time A levels, we strongly advise that
parents do not arrange holidays in term time and students are not permitted to
arrange independent holidays in term time.
Part Time Work
Whilst we recognise that many students start part-time employment whilst studying,
and that this can offer financial and personal work experience, it can also have a
negative impact on your studies.
We strongly recommend students:
 Work no more than 8 hours a week, preferably at weekends
 Do not undertake work that is unduly tiring e.g. that involves working late at night
affecting concentration or attendance the next day
 Are always available for timetabled or other commitments in sixth form
 Where a clash of commitments occurs, sixth form takes priority
Dress Code
The code is smart office wear, separates or a suit. Smart wear is required and
expectations have been updated after consultation with Sixth Form Council, parents
and staff. This now means:
A dark suit and tie for male students with white or pale coloured shirt;
Smart dark suit (skirt and jacket or tailored trousers and jacket) with pale coloured or
white blouse or dark dress for female students;
Formal footwear for all.
Denim, trainers, leggings, UGG style boots and hoodies are not acceptable.
Cars/Motorcycles
Students should only park in the bays at the far end of the car park, near the gate.
These are limited in number. Parking elsewhere is not permitted. Additional parking
is available in the bays on School Drive.
Study Rooms and Lockers
It is up to students to ensure that these facilities do not deteriorate. Clothing and
other belongings should not be left in the Sixth Form Centre overnight. There are
lockers available in the School. Students requiring a locker should ask at reception.
16-19 Bursary
Our policy for the administration of the scheme is available on the school website.
For any further information about the scheme please contact the relevant personal
tutor.
Examinations
When Year 12 students have completed AS examinations in unreformed subjects
they return to Sixth Form to follow the Year 13 timetable. Students will continue with
all courses at this time and make decisions as to A2 courses following examination
results in August. Reformed A Level subjects (see below) will have end of year exams
and students return to Year 13 after these take place.
Reformed A Level Subjects (September 2015)
Art and Design
Business
History
English (Lang and Lit)
Sociology
Computer Science
Physics
Psychology
Biology
Chemistry
For each subject a students is studying you can find useful information on the
following websites:www.aqa.org.uk
www.edexcel.com
www.ocr.org.uk
www.wjec.co.uk
On these websites you will find details as to specifications (syllabus) and schemes of
work. There are past papers and mark schemes available, especially on the AQA
website. Edexcel have an online order form to download past papers (small charge
may apply).
Examination Dates
The main examination period is in May and June. May for AS and June for A2
exams. Coursework will be ongoing and Departments will have highlighted dates for
drafts and completion via The Registry to allow for formative assessment to be
conducted.
GCSE English Language and/or Maths retakes
If you have not gained a C grade in English Language and/or Maths you are
required to retake these qualifications. Students will have at least one lesson a week
for each subject and will be expected to complete significant independent study to
ensure success. The students will be considered Private Candidates for these exams
and will therefore need to complete the relevant documentation, as advised by the
Examination Officer. The opportunities to retake will be in November as well as June
and therefore students will be expected to enter themselves and attend all
lessons/revision sessions until at least a C grade is achieved.
Exit Interviews
Students who wish to terminate A2 study at any point in Year 12 before courses have
ended, have to complete an Exit Interview. This process is straightforward and only
happens in a minority of cases. Students meet with Head of Sixth Form to discuss
their intentions to enable the following:



We legally have to report on destinations for every young person who leaves
us, whether that be for university, further training, apprenticeship,
employment or relocation.
Examinations costs need to be explained and recovered. If a student fails to
complete any A level course and has been entered for the examinations, the
student has to pay these costs.
All relevant resources need to be returned
Timetables and Coursework
Once timetables have been agreed a copy of students’ timetables will be sent
home to parent(s)/carer(s) together with an overview of the assessment calendar for
all courses which will include details of coursework deadlines.
Should there be any amendments; students will be informed in good time.
Coursework Deadlines for AS Examinations
Draft Submission
Final Submission
Product Design 3D
Research and Design
Design Development
Making
19 October
30 November
18 February
Evaluation and Testing
23 April
Draft Submission
Final Submission
Textiles
Research and Design
Design Development
Making
Evaluation and Testing
19 October
30 November
18 February
23 April
Draft Submission
Final Submission
Art & Design, Fine Art and
Photography
Unit 1 - Sketchbook
29 January
Draft Submission
Final Submission
Food Technology
Research and Design
25 September
Design Development
Making
Evaluation and Testing
Complete Submission
16 October
18 December
29 January
26 February
Draft Submission
Final Submission
23 October
30 November
5 February
N/A
N/A
16 November
15 January
4 March
2 March (Provisional)
23 March
Media, Film and Drama
Film – Film Analysis
Film – Productive Piece
Media
Drama – Concept
Drama – Exploration
Notes and Theatre
Review
Draft Submission
Final Submission
Health & Social Care
Unit 2
Unit 3
27 November
26 February
Science
Chemistry
Biology
Physics
AS/A2 Music
Harmony Exercise 1
Essay 1
Harmony Exercise 2
Essay 2
Harmony Exercise 3
Essay 3
Practice Composition Due
Harmony Exercise 4
Essay 4
Assessed throughout the year
Draft Submission
Final Submission
Monday 28 September
Monday 12 October
Monday 19 October
Monday 9 November
Monday 23 November
Monday 7 December
Friday 11 December
Monday 14 December
Monday 11 January
AS/A2 TPE
Oral Assessment
Practical Assessment
w/b 18 January
18 March
Please note:
If a subject does not have coursework, deadlines are not required.
The Registry
All coursework, formal assessment essays and Personal UCAS Statements will be
handed into The Registry.
Deadlines for each subject are overleaf
1. Coursework pieces (drafts and final submissions) are handed to The Registry.
2. A student signature is required.
3. Staff collect relevant coursework from The Registry by 4pm on the day of the
deadline.
4. Non submission by the deadline results in a U grade and a letter outlining the
issues failure to comply with the deadline causes.
Expectations & Formatting:
 All work must be printed – memory sticks or emails directly to staff are not
acceptable unless specifically specified by staff and sent via The Registry.
 Work that is printed or moving image needs to be in a specified format e.g.
wmv, jpeg etc whatever applies. It is up to the student to check each file
works and opens, otherwise if staff cannot open the file a U grade will be
awarded
Special Considerations:
Extensions to deadlines will only be given by a Faculty Leader in certain
circumstances. These comply with examination board requirements and are listed
below:
 temporary illness or accident/injury during the time frame of the assessment,
accompanied by a Dr’s note
 bereavement during the time frame of the assessment
 domestic crisis arising during the time frame of the assessment which has been
shared with personal tutor/Head of Year/Head of Sixth Form
 participation in sporting events or other competitions at an international level
which hinder the time frame of completion, e.g. representing country at an
international level in football or hockey
Learner enrolment agreement:
Sixth Form Commitment:
We agree to provide:
 A curriculum offering a range of learning opportunities, including enrichment
opportunities;
 Teaching and independent study tasks to support your academic progress
 A Personal Tutor who will support you and act as an Academic Coach to ensure
you make the transition to A level study;
 Staff who will help you understand the expectations of A level study;
 Regular progress reviews for you to act upon;
 Parental reports on progress;
 Information on post-18 pathways; UCAS information, Apprenticeships and
general career information
Student Commitment:
You agree to:
 Attend all personal tutor times, assemblies, Academic Coaching sessions,
timetabled lessons, examinations and enrichment activities – at least 600hours
across the academic year
 Complete all independent study tasks 4-5 hours per week and lesson tasks
 Meet coursework deadlines issued by staff through The Registry
 Make effective use of study periods should they fall in the sixth form day, by using
the Quiet study Room, Library, Dining Hall
 Inform and seek advice from subject staff or personal tutor if you have any
difficulty with any aspects of your studies
 Keep subject folders organised
 Accept a shared responsibility with others in the sixth form for good conduct in
school and for careful upkeep of sixth form areas
 Meet the smart dress code
 Accept a general responsibility for acting as a positive ambassador of the
learning community for Lower School students
 Adopt a sensible, mature approach with all staff
Parent/Carer commitment


I/We support the expectations and guidance as outlined and agree with the
standard of attendance.
I/We will confirm receipt of all progress views and communications and
endeavor to support my/our child achieve.
Key dates
Term Dates :
AUTUMN TERM 2015
TED DAY – Thursday 3 September 2015
Term starts: Friday 4 September 2015
Half term: Monday 26 October 2015 – Friday 30 October 2015
TED DAY – Wednesday 18 November 2015
Term ends: Friday 18 December 2015
SPRING TERM 2016
Term starts: Monday 4 January 2016
TED DAY: Tuesday 19 January 2016
Half Term: Monday 15 February 2016 – Friday 19 February 2016
Term ends: Wednesday 23 March 2016
TED DAY: Thursday 24 March 2016
SUMMER TERM 2016
Term starts: Monday 11 April 2016
Half Term: Monday 30 May 2016 – Friday 3 June 2016
TED DAY: Friday 8 July 2016
Term ends: Friday 22 July 2016
Other key dates
Friday
Monday
04 Sep
07 Sep
Friday
Wednesday
Monday
Friday
Friday
Thursday
Monday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Friday
Monday
Tuesday
Monday
Thursday
11 Sep
24 Sep
28 Sep
23 Oct
18 Dec
14 Jan
08 Feb
24 Feb
17 Mar
18 Mar
24 Jun
27 Jun
28 Jun
18 Jul
18 Aug
Y12 – Term Begins
Y12 three week trial starts
Y12 Expectations Evening
Y12 ALIS test
School photographer
Y12 trial ends
Sixth Form Progress Review issued
Sixth Form Progress Review issued
Sixth Form Parents’ Evening
Sixth Form mocks
Sixth Form mock results issued
Y12 UCAS Convention - Worcester Uni (provisional)
Sixth Form reports issued
Y12 Birmingham University open day (provisional)
Sixth Form bridging activities
Y12 return to A2 studies
Sixth Form Work Experience begins
A Level results day
The
Learner
CARE & GUIDANCE
SEN
ATTENDANCE
CURRICULUM
Behaviour & Safety
Inclusion
Attainment
LAC
Holidays, illness or
medical
Subjects and
lessons
FORM or
PERSONAL TUTOR
CLASSROOM
TEACHER
College Tutor for the
student
As per student
timetable
HEAD OF YEAR
SENCO
Year 12: Miss H
Skate
Mrs S Duggal
ATTENDANCE
SUPPORT
Mrs K Middleton
SUBJECT LEADER
Teacher in charge of
subject area
Year 13: Miss S Figg
Dean of Students :
Mr D Gleave
HEAD OF FACULTY
Teacher in charge
subject or groups of
subjects
HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL
Miss S Figg
ASSISTANT
HEADTEACHER
(PASTORAL)
Mr A Smith
DEPUTY HEADTEACHER
Mrs S Schofield
HEADTEACHER
Mr D Hadley-Pryce