‘Find for yourself a teacher, acquire for yourself a friend, greet everyone in a positive way’ (Ethics of the Fathers 1:6)

Pastoral Care

Our sixth form pastoral care system aims to support students so they feel safe, happy and motivated in school.

The sixth form team includes the Head of Sixth Form, two Deputies, the Sixth Form Administrator , study room supervisor and mentors.

All students are assigned a Sixth Form Mentor who will meet with mentees each week during morning registration and will always be their first point of contact for information sharing, answering queries and dealing with issues that may arise.

Throughout the academic year each student will meet with their mentor to discuss the following: Attendance, progress, issues and action points. Along with this, the mentor will discuss Post A-level and extra-curricular options, study skills, revision issues and any other important matters.

The whole sixth form team will play a part in monitoring student welfare and progress and may intervene where necessary. Monitoring takes place through academic performance, attendance and punctuality, data and teacher feedback. If intervention is required, students will often meet with the Head of Sixth Form and a plan or support be put in place.

We value the support that parents play in their child’s education and we involve parents where appropriate.

We also have the services of a school counsellor that can be used by sixth form students.

Students will be able to access our school SENCO if they have special educational needs or special exam access arrangements.

Academic Support

During the first term of Year 12, students will have transition period, where we will be supporting and training them to adapt a more independent sixth form learning style. All students will become familiar with the VESPA mindset and will have session in mindfulness. This will be complemented by guidance on note taking, revision strategies and time management. Students will also be encouraged to try out new things such as classroom attachment or volunteering in the community and primarily to adopt good habits.

Students will attend six private study sessions that are allocated on their timetable; here they make use of our excellent silent study room, with computers and workspaces at their disposal. Along with these, students will have a number of non- timetabled study periods. During these times, students are expected to take responsibility for their own learning and complete any work that will support them in their A level courses.

‘Who is wise? He who learns from everyone’ (Ethics of the Fathers 4:1)

Seminar and Workshop Programme

This programme encompasses transition and study skills workshops, career guidance and sessions on post 18 plans, university/apprenticeship applications, outside speakers and inspirational assemblies. They are key to personal development and offer students a wide range of enrichment opportunities.

Students will also attend the following:

• University and Apprenticeship Fair
• UCAS Exhibition
• Study Skills Excel
• Safe Drive, Stay Alive Exhibition
• Bank of America Insight Day

Work Experience

We are keen for students to complete meaningful work experience for five days in July for Year 12.

Work experience will help students:

• Experience the ‘soft’ employability skills that employers look for when assessing young people for future career opportunities
• Develop these skills following their work experience
• Gain an insight into particular professions to help them make informed post 18 choices, decide what course to study at university or when applying for an apprenticeship.
• Strengthen their applications to university or for an apprenticeship.

Work Experience letters will be sent out to parents during the first-term and students will be expected to have secured their work experience placement by the end of February.

Community involvement

We really hope our sixth form students will contribute to wider school life. There are many opportunities to develop leadership skills in addition to just moving out of their comfort zones, developing self-confidence, finding new interests and forming new friendships. A full range of programmes include:

• The Poland Trip
• Leadership Training
• Careers
• Israel Advocacy
• Health Awareness
• EY Foundation
• Study Skills
• Volunteering fair

Volunteering

We encourage our students to volunteer in community projects such as raising awareness of homelessness, mental health and supporting community activities in Redbridge.  We are happy to support volunteering on a weekly basis as long as this fits in with timetables are clear at that time.

Classroom Attachment

Year 12 students can spend one hour a week in lessons helping younger students. Often sixth formers choose a subject they particularly enjoyed at GCSE and find it very rewarding inspiring the younger students. Sixth formers also have the opportunity to tutor some of our lower school students, where they can listen to students read, support them in areas they are having difficulty with or help them master their time tables.

‘A good leader creates followers. A great leader creates leaders’ (Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks)

The Prefect System

Two Head Prefects, two deputy head prefects and five Senior Prefects are nominated by school staff and selected by interview. The senior student leadership team lead the student council process that runs every half term, present to parents at open evenings, meet with the Deputy Head of Sixth Form regularly and create, organise and deliver assemblies.

Heads of Department select one or two students to be their subject prefects. The role of the subject prefect is to lead lunch or after school clubs, take assemblies promoting the subject, to share their passion for the subject at open evenings and to help organise competitions and events throughout the year.

We want our sixth form students to embrace and contribute to the life of the school, both through their learning and by taking part in our range of enrichment and leadership activities. Our students really do gain so much from these opportunities – they feel good for taking part, helping others and they develop a sense of gratitude, humility and strength of character.  These opportunities also encourage our students to understand the character virtues that we promote all the time in school of kindness, courage, honesty, generosity, broadmindedness, curiosity, perseverance and reflection.