LOWER SIXTH
Welcome
This is an exciting time in your education and we are very pleased that you have
chosen to continue your studies with us at King Edward VI Five Ways Sixth Form.
This is a warm and thriving community, where Sixth Formers and staff work together
to ensure every student has the best possible experience. Our aim is to provide
students with the opportunity to reach their academic potential, exercise their
independence and develop personal strengths.
The Sixth Form Team
Mrs Ryan - Co Director of Sixth Form Head of Year
Mr Turner - Co Director of Sixth Form Head of Year
Mr Middleton – UCAS Co-Ordinator
Ms Handley – Sixth Form Manager
Lower Sixth Tutors and Rooms
Please complete
Tutor
Form
Room
Tutor
Key Dates
Date
Event
Form
Room
Personal Responsibility
We want you to immerse yourselves in the rich curriculum in Sixth Form and to
deliver academic work of outstanding quality. We also want you to develop
excellent working and learning habits which will stand you in good stead, not just
during your A Levels but throughout your time at university and your work place
careers thereafter.
You will find that you are given much more individual responsibility for your
academic development and progress. Whilst this can be challenging at the start of
the Lower Sixth, it is crucial you develop a positive, ambitious and self-disciplined
attitude from the very beginning. Think well in advance, plan your free time, ensure
you know when your deadlines are due and when you will complete your work. If
you do this, you will be able to take full advantage of the extra-curricular activities
available at school, as well as maintaining your interests and hobbies outside of Five
Ways.
The most successful students are those who learn quickly how to organise
themselves and their time the best, and who have the discipline to stick to
their plans.
Target Grades
Target grades are produced for each subject based upon your GCSE results. These
are only target grades are they do no limit, or indeed guarantee, the grades you can
achieve.
If you work hard and have aptitude for a subject, you may exceed your target grade.
If you do not work hard, you may not reach your target grade.
UCAS Grades
Your target grade is not your UCAS grade. Your UCAS grade will be based upon
your performance in Lower Sixth exams in conjunction with other academic
evidence.
Monitoring Progress
Approximately every term, each subject will produce IAGs which get sent to
parents/Carers. These provide feedback on your effort and attainment.
Generally, subject teachers become concerned about your progress in their subject
when you are regularly working at two grades below your target grade.
This may result in:
• A conversation with your subject teacher about the subject and how you are
working.
• Additional work being set, to help develop your understanding of a particular
part of the course.
• Compulsory attendance at workshop or catch-up sessions for a set period of
time.
• Being assigned a subject mentor to work with you for a set period of time.
Parents or Carers may also be contacted via phone or email, or asked to come into
discuss your progress with your form tutor, subject teachers or one of the Sixth
Form team.
EXAM ACCESS ARRANGEMENTS
ALL STUDENTS
Please ensure that the attached access arrangements form is returned to Mrs Ryan
in the Chowen Centre to enable any arrangements that have been utilised in past
exams
Achieving Success
At Five Ways, we expect you to attend school every day, arrive at school on time
and attend all timetabled lessons.
You will need to be prepared for your lessons by completing all homework tasks set
and doing additional independent work to give you a deep understanding of your
subject.
In return, your teachers, who are experts in their subjects, will deliver well-planned
lessons and give you regular and detailed feedback to ensure you achieve your
academic potential.
A Levels are designed to be challenging and there will be occasions when you are
finding a topic difficult to grasp, despite lessons and independent study and the
support of your classmates. At this point it is vital you get support from your subject
teacher, by either using departmental workshops or arranging a meeting with your
teacher to go over the work.
Top Tips for Success
• Stay organised and use a diary of some sorts to ensure you meet deadlines.
• Invest in stationery. You will need at least one ring binder for each subject and
dividers. As your notes get heavier, you may want to have just one folder (with
dividers to separate each teacher) that you bring to school and then file your
notes in the subject folders on completion of a topic.
• Actively manage and remove any source of distraction – phone, computer,
music etc. Even friends!
• If you are likely to miss a deadline, discuss this with your subject teacher
before it is due in – they are much more likely to be sympathetic.
• Be totally clear on what you are expected to do – ask your teacher if unsure.
• Take pride in your work and its presentation.
• Take responsible risks and don’t be afraid to fail. ‘Failing well’ is one of the
most valuable and effective ways to progress.
• Don’t just focus on the mark or grade on assessed work. Carefully read any
feedback provided and use it to ensure your work is even better next time.
• Take advantage of the help available to you. Ask teachers for help, use
workshops and revision sessions, or ask for a subject or pastoral mentor.
What To Do When Things Go Wrong
Life in Sixth Form is exciting and rewarding, but it can also be extremely busy and
tiring. Everyone will have good days and bad days and sometimes teachers’,
parents’ and even your own expectations can be difficult to handle.
You really must seek help, guidance and support if you are feeling under pressure.
Open and honest communication is important to your health and happiness: wellbeing is more important than anything else, even your academic progress!
Where To Get Help
• Parents, family and friends are all there to listen to your concerns and offer
advice if wanted.
• Your form teacher is usually your first point of contact in school.
• Subject teachers can offer advice on their subject or other concerns you may
have.
• Any member of the Sixth Form team listed earlier is happy to listen to your
concerns.
• Academic or pastoral mentors can be provided.
• Other people available in school to help you include:
Support
Ms Handley
Mrs Ryan
Mr Turner
Mr Middleton
School Nurse
School Counsellor
How to Access Them Where they are based
Private Study
Making use of your non-contact time in school is the key to academic success.
Places you can work during non-contact time are:
• The Pavilion
• The Main School Library
• The Sixth Form Yorke, Resources and Burgess
UCAS
During the Lower Sixth it is important you begin to think about what you would like to
do after your A Levels. Most students at Five Ways go on to university, either
straight after the Sixth Form or after a gap year.
To help you select a course every student has a one to one interview with the
school’s careers advisor.
You need to research different courses and institutions, with the aim of knowing
where you would like to apply in the upper sixth.
Before you go on holiday in the summer term at the end of the Lower Sixth you must
hand in a draft personal statement to your tutor.
Extra-curricular Activities
Five Ways has a diverse range of activities for you to get involved in. it is important
you take full advantage of these opportunities for you to get the best out of Sixth
Form life – not just because it looks good on your UCAS application!
Many activities are listed in the school calendar and include:
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Sports clubs
The school gym
Music
Drama
Duke of Edinburgh
The leadership programme
Mentoring
House activities
Enrichment
Sixth Form students at Five Ways have plentiful opportunities for enrichment during
their time here. A normal school year offers chance for foreign travel, representation
of the school in elite sports, music and drama and a range of societies and visiting
speakers. Our provision of off site study leave allows students to pursue work
experience allied to their intended career pathways or to undertake voluntary work.
Our expectation that all students will undertake the EPQ in addition to their three A
Level subjects also massively broadens students' super-curricular knowledge and
develops key skills of autonomous study of the kind that they will need at university
or in later life.
EPQ
The EPQ is an independent research project. It is a formal, external qualification that
you will complete over year 12 and the beginning of year 13. You will be graded for
it like any other A Level (A* - U) and it will be part of your UCAS reference.
It can take the form of any of the following:
A dissertation or an investigation: This is a written response to your own question or
hypothesis. This is the most common choice for the EPQ and the most similar to an
undergraduate dissertation.
A performance: You will develop an original performance. This could be anything
that you will perform, for example it could be musical, sport based, or dramatic.
An artefact: In this project, you will create and develop an artefact. These have
ranged from a model of a combustion engine to a fictional story about the impact of
the Wall Street Crash.
Belonging to A House
The four houses are: Barker, Dobinson, MacCarthy and Roach – named after
previous heads of the school.
All students are put into a house, with family members being in the same house.
House Captains are responsible for fostering a good house spirit and for organising
many activities throughout the school year.
Registering Each Day
Each student is given a lanyard and they need to swipe it when they arrive each
day. If you forget your lanyard you will need to register yourself on the screen in
reception .
You will also need to attend form period with your tutor and get registered there. You
must register with your tutor first when there are other assemblies such as Sixth
Form or house assemblies.
Punctuality
You are expected to be in school by 08.35hrs every morning even if you have a
study period first thing.
If you miss time in lessons, it is your responsibility to see your subject teacher that
day so you can catch up the work missed.
Signing Out
Students must ensure that they have accurately swiped in and out during the day
using their student id cards
If you are leaving school at 15.35hrs you do not need to swipe out using your
lanyard.
If you are leaving school for an appointment, you will have completed the online
contact form (see below) and then you need to see Ms Handley who will sign you
out.
Requesting Planned Absence
If your require time away from school for medical appointments that cannot be
scheduled outside of the school day, or personal occasions, this needs to be
requested prior to the event via the school website.
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Go to KEFW.org
Find the contact tab
Scroll down to request leave
Click on link and complete form
Unplanned Absence
If you are unable to get to school because of illness or an unforeseen event, please
get your parent or carer to contact school before 09.00hrs by either:
• Emailing absence@fws.kefwbham.org
Uniform
Business dress is expected from all students at all times.
Smoking/Vaping, Alcohol and Illegal Drugs
Sixth Form students are not allowed to smoke/vape in school and this extends to the
area immediately outside of the school gates. Please remember your responsibility
to younger students in promoting the right type of role model for them and healthy
living.
Alcohol must not be brought into school or consumed in school.
The possession, consumption or selling of illegal drugs is a criminal offence and will
be treated as such.
University Open Days
In the summer term you may wish to visit prospective universities on their open
days. You are allowed three school days away from school to visit and you need to
request this absence from the school website in the usual way.
Driving Lessons and Use of Cars
There is no space on site for Sixth Form student parking. It is important to have
regard for the local community who will, not unsurprisingly, object to their driveways
or gateways being blocked by non-residents’ cars. In the interest of maintaining
good relationships with the local residents, we do ask that students are courteous
and considerate when using the local area. If students do drive to school, we
request that they provide Ms Handley with their car details.
Work Experience
Students have the opportunity to use the last week of the Summer Term as their
work experience week or a reading week.
Top Tips for Surviving the Sixth Form from Upper Sixth Students
I wish I had …
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Kept on top of notes and had a tidy folder
Caught up missed work
Got involved in house competitions
Made more effort to get to know new people
Asked teachers and the pastoral team for help
Got more involved in extra-curricular activities
Respected and appreciated Chowen a bit more
Worn my lanyard to avoid the nagging
Taken up the offer of a locker
Tried harder in end of topic tests, as a back-up to end of year exams
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Not messed around in free periods
Asked for help when I started to get stressed
Completed work experience
Kept on top of deadlines and stayed organised
Not left EPQ to the last minute
Not left UCAS personal statement to the last minute
Revised for end of year exams earlier
Made revision notes as I went along
Not tried to do so many things
Relaxed and enjoyed it a bit more
Conclusion
There are many challenges in the progression from GCSE to A level study and we
aim to make the transition as smooth and as successful as possible. The Sixth Form
is a vital stage in the transition from being a GCSE pupil to a university student.
The benefits and rewards of a successful Sixth Form career cannot be overstated
and we aim to support, encourage and inspire all of our students so they can all
reach their full potential. The demands are greater than GCSE but the rewards can
be much greater too.
We value the relationships built with our Sixth Form students, parents and carers
and hope and expect that the two years spent in the Sixth Form will be rewarding
and enjoyable.
The Sixth Form Team