SIXTH FORM AT FARRINGTONS

One of Farringtons Sixth Form’s key strengths is its size. At around 60 students, it is large enough to offer an impressive range of A Level subjects and allow flexibility in combinations of courses; yet it is small enough to retain the family atmosphere, individual attention and nurturing support that help to achieve academic success and personal self confidence.

AIMS OF THE SIXTH FORM:

• To enable our students to achieve their academic potential
• To develop confidence and independence
• To develop a sense of responsibility

In the Sixth Form we have small tutor Groups in order to provide close guidance throughout the two years. 

We work closely with parents and students so that should any problems arise, they can be dealt with swiftly.  Students meet with their Form Tutors on a daily basis so they can closely track their academic and personal progress.

Students begin their Sixth Form career with a team building day at Blacklands Farm in Sussex. As a Sixth Former, you will have the opportunity to gain management experience in the Farringtons Business Enterprise Scheme, test yourself to the limit in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, teach MFL in a local primary school as part of a community service project, and be actively involved in decision making through the School Council.

Our Sixth Form programme is designed to help our students develop the new skills needed to cope with study at A Level and at University. Students find they have more autonomy and more space to organise independent study as well as participating in a wide range of activities and taking up new challenges and responsibilities.

We are very proud of our Sixth Form successes here at Farringtons. We clearly have a winning formula in that we gained a 100% pass rate at A Level in 2007, with all our students going on to their Universities of choice.

Link to 2006 & 2007 University Destinations

Link to Higher Education Procedure, What to do Next and Your Grades Explained

Our Sixth Formers always look smart according to their distinctive dress code and formal rules are kept to a minimum in keeping with the student ethos at this stage of school life. The Universities are looking for well educated, well informed articulate students who achieve good grades and have that something extra to offer. We provide a programme of Extension activities through General Studies, Visiting Speakers, Cultural Visits and extra curricular courses, such as Life Drawing and the Farringtons Food & Wine Course.

There are many advantages of being part of our Sixth Form.  Students are given ample opportunities to contribute to the life of the school community and to take responsibility.  Sixth Formers are are actively involved in decision making through the School Council and they help with the running of the School by undertaking a wide variety of duties.  This gives our Sixth Formers extensive contact with younger pupils and helps to maintain the strong sense of community that is characteristic of Farringtons. 

A wide choice of A Levels is on offer at Farringtons.  These are timetabled so that  University or career choices will not be restricted by inflexible subject options. Specialist A Level teaching is in small senior groups which allows for individual attention and an intensive and enjoyable approach to learning.

Sixth Form years are also the time when girls learn to take increasing amounts of responsibility for the effective planning of their own study time.

We aim to:

• provide a range of qualifications from which our students can choose programmes that meet their needs and gain credit for their achievements
• ensure that the qualifications provided are worthwhile and valued and that students can combine academic and vocational studies appropriately and coherently
• offer scope for specialisation to support progression while at the same time encouraging more students to broaden their knowledge, understanding and skills
• encourage all students to attain a high level of key skills
• give individual help (guidance) in their choice of university courses or careers
• offer clear progression routes into higher education, employment and further training
  

Combinations of most of the following are possible :

Most Sixth Form students at Farringtons opt for 4 AS' subjects with the option of taking 3 A2 Levels in the UVI.  As well as A and AS levels, Sixth Form girls may also take one or more of the following, optional, courses :

• Farringtons Certificate in Food and Wine
• General Studies AS Level
• English as an Additional Language
  

There is also provision in the Sixth Form for a full range of extra-curricular or practical recreational and sporting activities.  

There are excellent facilities for private study for Sixth Formers, both in the Main Library and in various study rooms in the Sixth Form House.   Our common rooms also help to foster a close-knot community and provide a space for the Sixth Form to plan activities and socialise.

Sixth Formers are expected to carry out 10 hours of private study per subject each week.

A Sixth Form Booklet with detailed information about all of our A Level subjects is available on request.

Scholarships
Academic Scholarships are available each year.

The value of each scholarship is up to one term’s day fees.

Current Academic Scholars can expect their funding to continue dependent upon successful GCSE Examination results.

In the case of internal Scholarships, the awards are based upon academic performance to date, teachers’ recommendations and predicted grades for GCSEs, together with the results of an interview with the Headmistress.

For external Scholarships, a report from the Head of the candidate’s current school will be required and the judgement is based on predicted GCSE grades and the results of an interview with the Headmistress at Farringtons, if the candidate is based in the UK.

The offer of a Scholarship may be withdrawn if the candidate fails to meet the GCSE grades predicted.

Sixth Form Exhibitions
This year, we are delighted to be able to repeat the offer of ‘Sixth Form Exhibitions’ which will be given to any student who achieves the equivalent of 70 points where a grade of
A* = 8, A = 7, B = 6 etc. This award is worth 10% discount on fees during the Sixth Form.

We hope that this will encourage our students to continue to work hard to achieve the highest grades in their GCSE subjects.

Stratford House Award
This Scholarship is awarded to a Year 11 student from Farringtons, who has made a varied and valued contribution to School life. All applicants are required to write a letter (endorsed by a member of staff) and short-listed candidates will attend an interview (on school premises). The successful candidate is chosen by a small group, consisting of members of the Governing Body. The award is one term’s fees for each of the two years.

How to Apply For a Scholarship
Please complete the Scholarship Application Form and return it to the Registrar.

Careers and University Guidance
The Careers Centre is open for browsing and more serious research. It contains prospectuses from all British Universities and Colleges of Higher Education, private colleges, together with many important reference works and a video library with access to a television. In addition Sixth Formers have access to the Internet and computer programs, listing all higher education courses available in the UK.

In the Spring Term our students attend a Sixth Form conference, at which nearly all British universities are represented and where they also attend a series of lectures on university admission policy and life at university in general. At the beginning of the term students complete Centigrade, administered by Connexions (Bromley Careers Service). They receive a detailed report, suggesting suitable higher education courses, based on their interests, preferences and likely qualifications.

The Director of Sixth Form Studies, Mrs Baillie, and her team of tutors, are always willing to discuss Higher Education and careers questions and you will receive detailed advice on how to complete your application form, what universities are looking for and how to prepare yourself for interview, bearing in mind the highly competitive field of higher education. Students are also encouraged to attend Open Days, organised by universities, which enable you to make an informed choice, so that your application form can be sent off early in the following Autumn Term.

On the rare occasion that a student does not gain precisely the required grades for their University courses, the Director of Sixth Form Studies and other members of staff are available on ‘Results Day’ to offer advice and support. University destinations are available at the back of this booklet.

EXPLANATION OF GRADES

GCSE
Your grades at GCSE can be translated into points:

A* = 8 A = 7 B = 6 C = 5 D = 4 E = 3

It is generally accepted that a point score of 50-55 is the minimum standard required for transition to traditional Advanced Level studies of 4 AS subjects in the Lower Sixth and 3 A2 subjects in the Upper Sixth. Any student with less than 50 points is likely to find the traditional route challenging and maybe required to follow a slightly adapted programme of study e.g. a reduced number of subjects or studying over a longer period of time.

AS
AS courses are marked out of 300 points. The grade equivalents are shown below:

A > 240 B > 210 C > 180 D > 150 E > 120

Grades achieved in the Lower Sixth contribute to the final total at the end of the A2 course.

A2
The A2 points add up to a total of 600

A > 480 B > 420 C > 360 D > 300 E > 240

These are all considered to be Advanced Level passes. In order to assess the Advanced level equivalent of GCSE grades the following can be used as a general guide to your likely standard in the Sixth Form bearing in mind your GCSE results. Of course many students develop and mature during the two years and this guide should only be used as a general outline. It is very important to be realistic about your grades.

A2 GCSE equivalent

A A*
B A
C B
D/E C

Top universities and popular courses such as Medicine, Law and English require largely A*/A grades at GCSE and A/B grades at Advanced Level. However there are many good courses with lower grade requirements.