Bushey Meads Sixth FormBushey Meads Sixth Form

A Centre Of ExcellenceA Centre Of Excellence

WelcomeWelcome

• Ms Weddle - Assistant Head Ms Weddle - Assistant Head teacher in charge of Key Stage 5teacher in charge of Key Stage 5

• Ms Smallwood – Head of Sixth Ms Smallwood – Head of Sixth FormForm

6th form

Sleepless Sleepless nightsnights

Panic!Panic!

The stress!The stress!

Help is at hand…Help is at hand…

The Sixth Form TeamThe Sixth Form Team Assistant Head teacher in charge of Key Stage 5 – Ms Assistant Head teacher in charge of Key Stage 5 – Ms

WeddleWeddle Head of Sixth Form – Ms SmallwoodHead of Sixth Form – Ms Smallwood Assistant Head of Sixth Form – Mrs Hoskins Assistant Head of Sixth Form – Mrs Hoskins EPQ Coordinator – Mrs NealeEPQ Coordinator – Mrs Neale Learning Mentor – Mrs MillerLearning Mentor – Mrs Miller Key Stage 5 administrator – Mrs CraneKey Stage 5 administrator – Mrs Crane Based in the Sixth Form Centre in order to provide Based in the Sixth Form Centre in order to provide

day to day support and guidanceday to day support and guidance

A-Level is an IcebergA-Level is an Iceberg A-Level is a massive A-Level is a massive

jump in independent jump in independent learning.learning.

It is closer to It is closer to University learning University learning than it is GCSEthan it is GCSE

There is no spoon-There is no spoon-feeding going on. feeding going on.

Think of your A Level Think of your A Level course as an Iceberg. course as an Iceberg. The lessons are the The lessons are the small but defining part small but defining part above the surface but above the surface but the important weight the important weight and depth are under and depth are under the waterthe water

The Lessons

Independent Work

EPQ

An independent project based on a student’s personal interests

A stand alone AS qualification. The only AS qualification with an A*

grade Develops the skills of research, follow

through and completion Highly regarded by universities and

employers alike

EPQThis term students will: Develop a title / theme/ idea for their

project Complete initial research

Next term selected students will: Complete research

After AS exams selected students will: Finalise projects / products Present their projects to an audience

How to be a How to be a successful 6successful 6thth Form studentForm student

What do I do if something goes What do I do if something goes wrong?wrong?

Student one.Student one.

‘‘I worked really hard on my Spanish I worked really hard on my Spanish homework. It took me hours! When homework. It took me hours! When the teacher had marked it and gave the teacher had marked it and gave it back to me, he said it was only a D it back to me, he said it was only a D grade. I can’t believe it. I got an A at grade. I can’t believe it. I got an A at GCSE. Why is it so hard? Maybe I GCSE. Why is it so hard? Maybe I should just give up…should just give up…

STOP!STOP!

Negative self talk will not do you any Negative self talk will not do you any favours! Yes, AS level is really tough. favours! Yes, AS level is really tough. However, at this level, you will only However, at this level, you will only really begin to learn by making really begin to learn by making mistakes. It’s a common error. As mistakes. It’s a common error. As new 6new 6thth formers, you don’t know how formers, you don’t know how to be successful yet.to be successful yet.

THINK!THINK!

Don’t think of negative feedback as Don’t think of negative feedback as evidence of failure. See it as an evidence of failure. See it as an opportunity.opportunity.

You have to keep going. Yes it’s You have to keep going. Yes it’s painful, but, learning is a journey. At painful, but, learning is a journey. At this level, the road can be a little this level, the road can be a little bumpy.bumpy.

Success StoriesSuccess Stories Ella – ex-Bushey Meads studentElla – ex-Bushey Meads student ResultsResults

– Media Studies – A*Media Studies – A*– English - BEnglish - B– Fine Art – A*Fine Art – A*– Destination.Destination.– Birmingham University to study EnglishBirmingham University to study English

How did she do it…?How did she do it…? Ella was a classic Bushey Meads student. Ella was a classic Bushey Meads student.

Good results at GCSE and ideal to study 4 Good results at GCSE and ideal to study 4 AS levels.AS levels.

However, she struggled with exams at However, she struggled with exams at every turn. She revised hard but every turn. She revised hard but something was missing on the day of something was missing on the day of exams.exams.

She had many disappointments. However, She had many disappointments. However, she just kept going.she just kept going.

Ella has gone on to be successful because Ella has gone on to be successful because she has developed the tools to deal with she has developed the tools to deal with difficult situations.difficult situations.

Success storiesSuccess stories Nikhil. Another classic BM student. His A2 Nikhil. Another classic BM student. His A2

predicted grades were good, enough to secure his predicted grades were good, enough to secure his place at University but he needed to turn those place at University but he needed to turn those predictions into results.predictions into results.

Nikhil panicked and was convinced he would Nikhil panicked and was convinced he would never be able to attain his target grades.never be able to attain his target grades.

So he employed a range of strategies to ensure So he employed a range of strategies to ensure success.success.

He targeted students’ who he could work with. He He targeted students’ who he could work with. He created revision sessions. He worked in the study created revision sessions. He worked in the study centre and worked at Watford Library.centre and worked at Watford Library.

He also managed to raise over 3,000 for his He also managed to raise over 3,000 for his travels abroad. After all, all work and no play…travels abroad. After all, all work and no play…

What can I do?What can I do?

Be pro-activeBe pro-active Re-write my notes after lessons.Re-write my notes after lessons. Re- work my essay responses/ ideas so Re- work my essay responses/ ideas so

that I understand themthat I understand them Speak to my teachers, asking where I Speak to my teachers, asking where I

can improve.can improve. Cut negative self talk.Cut negative self talk. Be honest – am I really working at the Be honest – am I really working at the

level I need to be at?level I need to be at?

PerseverancePerseverance

It is hard to do something difficult.It is hard to do something difficult. It is easy to give up when the going It is easy to give up when the going

gets tough…gets tough…

But learning to cope But learning to cope with difficulty, to with difficulty, to become become independent and independent and adaptable is a vital adaptable is a vital part of education.part of education.

AS Level HistoryAS Level HistoryHow to be an How to be an

Independent LearnerIndependent Learner•ReadRead: Improve your Contextual knowledge – Use : Improve your Contextual knowledge – Use books, the internet, textbooks and books, the internet, textbooks and documentaries to improve documentaries to improve your knowledge of your knowledge of the the topics we are studying. topics we are studying. •Respond to feedbackRespond to feedback - have a 2 - have a 2ndnd go at go at mock exam mock exam papers – can you improve, papers – can you improve, do do you know what you need you know what you need to do to improve?to do to improve?•Talk to Learn Talk to Learn - Can you talk for 30 seconds on why Hitler - Can you talk for 30 seconds on why Hitler got into power or why Suez ended in disaster for Britain?got into power or why Suez ended in disaster for Britain?•Create -Create - Create a spider diagram of each unit to help Create a spider diagram of each unit to help consolidate your knowledge or make a list of subject specific consolidate your knowledge or make a list of subject specific language you should use in your work. language you should use in your work. •Ask –Ask – If you don’t understand, then ask! If you don’t understand, then ask!

Use the Extranet – there is a whole world of useful information on there…including the weather!

Intervention & AssessmentIntervention & Assessment

Settling in CheckSettling in Check– Early October, all teachers asked to Early October, all teachers asked to

make a judgement on how students make a judgement on how students have started the course.have started the course.

– All concerns interviewed by 6All concerns interviewed by 6thth form form team. team.

Intervention & AssessmentIntervention & Assessment AssessmentsAssessments

– 3 Assessments over the academic year. Can be 3 Assessments over the academic year. Can be viewed on the Learning Gatewayviewed on the Learning Gateway

22nd Nov 201322nd Nov 2013 13th Feb 201413th Feb 2014 99thth May 2014 May 2014 Mock Examinations: WB Jan 13Mock Examinations: WB Jan 13thth Results to parents: Results to parents:

77thth Feb Feb

Consultation EveningConsultation Evening– 1212thth Feb 2014 Feb 2014 – Report 4Report 4thth April 2014 April 2014

What can Parents do to help?What can Parents do to help?

Support your son or daughter:Support your son or daughter:– Ask them about their courses – Ask them about their courses –

encourage them to talkencourage them to talk– Ask them about homework – why aren’t Ask them about homework – why aren’t

they doing any?they doing any?– Provide them with a place to workProvide them with a place to work– Check the Learning GatewayCheck the Learning Gateway

Student Session Attendance Summary

Student Lesson Attendance

Mrs Crane : 020 8955 8801 Mrs Millar : 020 8955 8851