1. May 2013
Dear Parents and Carers
Given the recent parents’ evening and the start of exams, we do not send a report home this
half term, but (for the parents of Year 12 students) we will send a final report before the end
of term. For the parents of Year 13 students, this is my final letter home and I’d like to take the
opportunity to thank you for all your support both for the College and most importantly for your
sons and daughters during their time with us.
As I finalise this letter, the first AS level and GCSE exams
are about to start and A2s follow shortly thereafter.
Students and staff are working exceptionally hard to
ensure they are as prepared as possible for maximum
success and those completing vocational courses or
coursework alongside exams are busy ensuring all
criteria have been fully met in order to maximise
marks. I’d like to thank the students and staff who
came in for Easter revision sessions and the on-going
workshops that are taking place in this busy period,
including the week following half-term in several departments.
During the exam period, students are welcome to revise
in college and to seek support from their teachers as
necessary.
Any parents who have not yet signed up for the Parent
Portal are encouraged to do so, either by ringing college
(0161 287 8000) or emailing (parentfeedback@osfc.ac.uk)
in order to obtain a new registration code. Students’
exam timetables are available on the portal for parents’
information. It is our intention to use this more extensively
next year, so we would particularly encourage the parents
of current Year 12 students to register in order that we
can provide you with more information this way.
Included at the end of this letter is a ‘dates for diaries’
list for both parents and students giving term dates,
exam results dates and so on.
PARENTS’ LETTER

2. Thanks to all parents who recently attended our H.E. Information
Evening, covering the applications process, finance issues and
so on. For anyone unable to attend but interested in the
information provided, the presentation can be accessed via
http://www.osfc.ac.uk/parents/next_steps.asp. Parents of
Year 13 students who are planning to progress to university will doubtless already be aware of
the majority of this information and can (via their son or daughter) review their status via
www.ucas.com, which has ‘UCAS Track’ covering individual situations both prior to and from
results day onwards based on grades obtained and options available. There is also support available
in college on results day and in the following days. Students are advised to check their individual
status and follow the guidance on UCAS Track, seeking support from college staff as needed.
Related to planning for university, it is worth noting a recent news story highlighting the
importance of having a degree in terms of future employment. The story can be found here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-22268809. With a number of students (& parents)
wondering about the value of a degree given the position with fees and concerns about unemployment,
it is helpful to read of a more positive outlook, albeit university will not be the preferred option for
everyone, and we have a range of support available for students who want to pursue alternatives
to higher education. We have been pleased that the number of applications to university this
academic year has held up well, contrary to the national picture.
Current Year 12 students who are in receipt of the bursary need to complete an application in
order to confirm continued eligibility for the next academic year. Students will receive an email
with instructions after the May half term break and will need to return the form to the Bursary
office before 5 July 2013.
In addition to Easter workshops, we have also had some further upgrades to the college estate
completed over the recent break, including a new multigym with excellent equipment and a new
Business Studies study area, including a new PC-equipped class area. All our study areas are being
very well used at present and we urge all students to ensure they are using study periods fully in
these last few weeks and over the exam period.
The upgrade to the multi-gym has been funded through our parental donation scheme and, with
public sector funding as it is, this additional support is invaluable in helping ensure we continue
to provide the excellent resources and support highlighted as being so strong in our recent Ofsted
report (about which, more overleaf). Parents of current Year 12 students are therefore gently
reminded that we welcome your donations of £25 (or any voluntary contribution) each academic
year and these can be made any time from now until the start of the next academic year, via
ParentPay or on the Year 13 enrolment day (Wednesday 21 August), when a finance desk will be
available in college for payments by cheque or cash.
Upgraded multi-gym

3. As mentioned in my previous letter, our Ofsted inspection report has now been
published and full details can be found via the college or Ofsted websites. We
sent letters at the time the report was published to all students and those parents
whose details we have via the Parent Portal, but provide a summary here for any
parents who have not yet heard about the outcome. The College received a rating of ‘Good’
overall, which is very pleasing in the context of the new inspection framework. Key strengths
highlighted included:
Outcomes on GCE A Levels are higher than in similar colleges
Progression to higher education, including prestigious universities, is strong
Teachers are enthusiastic, motivated and have high expectations of their students.
They provide extensive support and encouragement and pastoral support for meeting
students’ personal needs is highly effective
Accommodation and specialist resources remain at a very high standard and provide a
stimulating and vibrant learning environment
The Regional Science Centre is excellent
Students on BTEC courses are successful
Students benefit from a welcoming environment that encourages learning
Links to parents are very strong and comprehensive information about students’
progress is available, enabling parents to support students’ progress
Enrichment opportunities are many and varied across the College and within curriculum
areas. These enable learners to develop additional skills, confidence and expertise and
to learn about a wide range of opportunities
Students gain significantly from trips, visits, specialist guest lecturers and a wide range
of enrichment activities, all of which broaden their horizons
Students enjoy their work and report that the College community is harmonious and
tolerant and that it engenders equality of opportunity and they feel very safe
The College’s partnership working to support the development of its curriculum is
highly effective, especially its collaboration with local schools
We were very pleased with the recognition of these significant strengths. We acknowledge also
that there were areas that need to improve. We had already identified these areas prior to
the inspection and have been working hard this year to ensure these are effectively tackled. It
was particularly pleasing to receive a set of January exam results in March (the week after the
inspection) which were stronger overall than the previous year’s results and considerably so in
the small number of courses where improvement was needed. We are optimistic for further
improvements in our overall results this summer and have already seen a considerable further
increase in our retention rate this academic year (which measures the percentage of students
who remain on all the courses for which they enrolled).

4. Staff and students work extremely hard to ensure strong outcomes for all students and I am
pleased that the inspection team recognised an extensive range of strengths, including our
determination to fulfil our inclusive mission and the fact that students achieve stronger outcomes
in our A level courses than the high national average for sixth form colleges, many of which are
more selective than OSFC in terms of entry requirements.
We were delighted to formalise our excellent working relationship with the University of Huddersfield
recently, having been approached by the University with the offer of joining their ‘CUSP’ scheme
(the ‘College, University, School Partnership’).
As one of a select group of partners, we will
benefitfromadditionalsubject-specificlinksand
opportunities and all students at OSFC who apply
to the University of Huddersfield and meet their
published entry requirements will be guaranteed
an interview. We look forward to developing an
already strong working relationship further as a
result of this new partnership.
The PE team also led our highly successful
ski trip to Switzerland over the Easter break.
Students were extremely complimentary
about the quality of the resort, the skiing
and snowboarding experience and variously
commended the trip overall as ‘amazing’,
‘faultless’ and ‘fantastic’, with many hoping
to repeat the experience next year.
Continuing the theme of good news, we have
recently had some strong sporting successes;
our girls’ football team was one of only eight
college teams nationally to be picked to play in
a Team 19 event at St George’s Park, the brand
new £105 million national football centre. This
was a reward for their continued success having
already secured the North West Colleges’ League
title. Our men’s basketball team reached the
‘Final Fours’ of the England National Schools
Under 19 conference and managed to finish 4th
in the country overall. Our men’s first XI football
team competed in the Oldham Schools’ finals
at Boundary Park, losing to Crompton House in
extra time after a hard fought encounter. Many
congratulations to all involved and thanks to the
fantastic staff in the PE department who give a
great deal of their own time to these extra-
curricular opportunities.
Jayne Clarke and Prof Tim Thornton
OSFC Girls’ Football Team
OSFC Men’s Basketball Team
Easter Ski trip to Switzerland

5. We are extremely proud of our Young Enterprise
team who won the Oldham and Rochdale finals
and did themselves and the college proud in
the Greater Manchester finals this week. The
broader skills and experience these students
acquired as a result of their involvement with
this scheme will be invaluable as they progress to
university and into employment. Special mention
should be made of Hanifa Begum who won the
Student of the Year award at the local finals.
Another award-winning student is Robson
Dodd who was the runner-up in the Rotary
Club of Oldham Student of the Year awards
this month. These awards seek to acknowledge
students who are making a significant
contribution to the community whilst
maintaining high standards in their personal
lives. Robson’s youth project work in planning
and helping run the ‘Melting Munch Café’
was acknowledged to be an excellent example
of such community work, earning him a
certificate and £100 of vouchers from
the Rotary Club.
Although as exams approach we have fewer trips
and visits, there have nonetheless been a good
number of these since my last letter home. Our
Duke of Edinburgh Expedition Skills students have
undertaken a number of hiking and camping trips
(including one in the most recent snow!), Maths
students have visited Manchester University to
participate in lectures and workshops related to
Maths degrees, Health and Social Care students
visited a local nursery and the Printworks Cinema
to watch a film related to a unit of study and
Drama and Theatre Studies students visited the
Royal Exchange Theatre to watch their excellent
production of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. We have
hosted French exchange students following our
students’ visit to France and similarly, 14 Spanish
students came over and enjoyed two days’ work
experience in our primary schools in addition to
various visits in the region.
French exchange and OSFC students
visit Liverpool
Robson Dodd with Ray Coverley
President of the Oldham Rotary Club
Young Enterprise team

6. Our Oxbridge Group had a visit from students at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge to discuss life
and courses at Cambridge University. A2 Geography students visited various locations around
Manchester conducting observational field work. Female physicists had an introduction to the
world of engineering hosted by Diodes Zetex Semiconductors in Chadderton.
A2 Geology students visited the Ingleton Waterfalls and White Scar Caves and Leisure and Tourism
students visited Old Trafford Stadium and Museum to study promotional material. Special mention
should also be made here of our Travel and Tourism students who led a ‘Quizeoke’ event, raising
nearly £800 for the Christies Unit at Oldham hospital. Year 12 Travel and Tourism students have
visited Manchester City Centre, Salford Quays and a number of other visitor attractions conducting
field work for a course unit.
Business Studies students visited Cadbury World
to support their ‘Business Marketing’ unit, GCSE
Science students visited Jodrell Bank, including
a lecture in the planetarium and a tour around
the telescope, and Chemistry students have
competed in the Royal Society of Chemistry
Schools’ Analyst competition at Manchester
Metropolitan University, which links to both
AS and A2 Chemistry. In addition to helping
support their studies, I’m sure you’ll agree
these various experiences give students a
broader experience during their time at college
and many create memories that will stay with
students throughout their lives.
Three of our English students had a fantastic
journalism experience recently, writing almost
the entire ‘Active Oldham’ supplement of the
Oldham Chronicle. Joseph Bray, Eleanor Drinkwater
and Christian Jacobs gave up a large chunk of
their Easter break to work with the Chronicle
team in developing this new supplement. We are
very grateful to the Oldham Chronicle for providing
this opportunity and it is now planned that this
will become a regular enrichment opportunity
for future students.
Fund raising for Christies
Travel and Tourism in Manchester
Female Physicists visit Diodes

7. Returning to the focus for most at present, details of exam leave arrangements have been given
to students and are available via the parent portal. We continue to run lessons up to the final
exam date in each subject in order to give as much input as possible.
Our Dance students will provide an evening of entertainment as a break from revision on
Wednesday 22 May, when our Annual Dance Showcase is presented in our Theatre at 7pm,
raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Care. Tickets are available from the Sports Hall reception
priced £4 for adults and £3 for concessions.
Lessons for Year 12 students re-start on Thursday 6 June and we then have just over four weeks
of preparatory work for Year 13. It is crucial that all students attend during this period. A final
report for Year 12 students is sent home at the end of term. All students are advised to use the
summer period productively, combining a well-earned break with volunteering, work experience
and (for Year 12) visits to university open days as appropriate.
I wish all students the very best of luck over the exam period. I know it can be a very difficult
period for the whole family, but am equally sure that everyone involved recognises the
importance of securing the best marks and grades possible. We will continue to do all we can to
support with this process.
As ever, please contact us either via your son or daughter’s Personal Tutor or by email at
parentfeedback@osfc.ac.uk if you wish to provide any feedback or raise any concerns. We look
forward to continuing to work with our current Year 12 students and their parents and to seeing
our Year 13 students again on Results Day. We wish them the very best of luck for their future
plans.
With very best wishes,
Jayne Clarke
Principal
Highly Commended 2010-2011
Principal: Jayne Clarke, BA(Hons), MA (Ed)
Oldham Sixth Form College Union Street West Oldham OL8 1XU
Tel:0161 287 8000 Fax:0161 650 1100 E-mail:principal@osfc.ac.uk Website:www.osfc.ac.uk

8. Dates for diaries
Thursday 6 June -
Lessons recommence for Year 12 students
Friday 5 July -
Term ends
Friday 5 July -
Deadline for Bursary re-enrolment
applications
Thursday 15 August -
Results Day - A level results emailed 8am,
AS results 12 noon. Support available in
college 9am-2pm
Wednesday 21 August -
Y13 enrolment day (for current Y12 students)
Thursday 22 August -
GCSE results day
Monday 2 September -
Lessons start for Y13 students (current Y12)