2. www.icknield.oxon.sch.uk 2
“I get in to school, head to the Sixth Form
block, swipe through the door and get my
Chromebook out of my locker. I’m looking
forward to Geography first thing. I spent two
hours reading about the geographical origins
of HIV last night to prepare for my class, and
found a great resource that I want to show my
teacher and my classmates.
First, though, I need some extra breakfast.
Toast and a cup of tea in our kitchen should do
it …”
3. www.icknield.oxon.sch.uk 3
• A different setting to the 11-16 school
• Certain privileges alongside some clear expectations
• Negotiating privileges and expectations over the next twelve
months with our student leadership team, some of whom
will be the first sixth form students at ICC.
4. www.icknield.oxon.sch.uk 4
“I am finding my Geography class fascinating. The
approach seems slightly different in the Sixth Form.
The class is much smaller; there are only twelve of us.
We operate a ‘flipped classroom.’ Miss Hamilton
provides us with some reading and resources, and
expects us to find more beyond these. We have
worked hard to develop our research skills. We have
to come to class with the knowledge to contribute.
Then, in class, we discuss and debate the issues we
have come across. Miss asks us really tough questions
that make us think; we have to be on our toes to make
sure we are able to answer them – or how else will we
put together the essay that will be set for homework?
…”
5. www.icknield.oxon.sch.uk 5
• A clearly planned, thought-through sixth form pedagogy
• National A-Level reforms from 2015
• Planning year 2014-5 – quality assure curriculum based on
principles above.
6. www.icknield.oxon.sch.uk 6
The majority of our teaching staff have worked in 11-18 institutions in
recent times. In September 2014, we have recent experience of
teaching the following A-Levels:
• Maths
• Further Maths
• English Literature
• English Language /
Literature
• English Langauge
• History
• Geography
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• French
• Spanish
• Psychology
• Philosophy & Ethics
• PE
• Music
• Sociology
• Media Studies
• Critical Thinking
Whilst there will always be training needs, these needs aren’t significant.
7. www.icknield.oxon.sch.uk 7
“I decided to opt for English Literature, Geography,
History and Philosophy & Ethics. My best three count
in my UCAS application, but studying four subjects
gives me a broader curriculum. I am also completing
an Extended Project Qualification. Each week, I have
eighteen lessons and seven study periods.
In Year Eleven, I was given lots of advice and guidance
to help me to select my A-Level subjects. My final
choices were based on my strengths as well as a
knowledge of what the Russell Group universities are
looking for.”
8. www.icknield.oxon.sch.uk 8
• The 24 UK universities in the Russell Group receive
the largest research grants. They tend to be at the
top of university ranking lists in the UK.
• There is huge competition to study at these
universities.
• We will work with our students to provide a
curriculum that maximises their chances.
• They identify a list of ‘facilitating subjects’, a Premier
League of A-Levels if you like, that they want their
undergraduates to have studied:
Maths Further Maths Chemistry
Physics English Literature Biology
History Geography MFL
Ancient Languages
• We will be able to offer all except for the last of these.
9. www.icknield.oxon.sch.uk 9
Our expected curriculum offer:
Maths French Physical Education
Further Maths Spanish Art
English Literature Biology Computing
English language Physics Music
Geography Chemistry Design Technology
History Philosophy & Ethics Economics / Business Studies
Psychology Sociology plus Extended Project
Qualification for all
10. www.icknield.oxon.sch.uk 10
“I’ve got a study period now. I’ve got lots of reading to do for each of my
subjects. I bought the core textbooks for each subject so I can make my
own notes in them. I have worked really had to develop my independence
since being in the sixth form. I’m going to work in the study room. Our
Head of Sixth Form is based in our sixth form block too - it’s useful having
such good access to them. I want to have a quick chat about some
anxieties I have with regard to juggling my studies with my job waiting
tables at the Fox & Hounds. Yesterday, I had a monitoring meeting with my
mentor. We decided that I am mostly on track, but that I need to increase
the proportion of my time I spend on reading extra sources in History.”
11. www.icknield.oxon.sch.uk 11
• Lending scheme
• Head of Sixth Form to be employed– pastoral role is very important in
sixth form
• Mentoring programme (Leadership Team or possibly people from the
community)
12. www.icknield.oxon.sch.uk 12
“Lunchtimes in the Sixth Form block are great.
You always find a few people in the quiet study
area, because we are all focused on getting
those grades, but there is a really good social
buzz too. We’ve got a darts board and a little
snooker table and, now that the weather is
getting better, our outdoor tables at the back are
a godsend!”
13. www.icknield.oxon.sch.uk 13
• An early view of what a new Sixth Form block at Icknield might look
like:
• Again, we will work with our current students over the coming
months to design the new sixth form space.
15. www.icknield.oxon.sch.uk 15
“Straight after school, we have a
planning session for our full World
Challenge in The Granary in
Watlington. Many of us are taking on
the challenge after our final exams in
July 2017. I went to Morrocco on a
World Challenge when I was in Year 9,
but this time, we have to plan it and
run it ourselves. I am learning so
much about organisation through
doing this – my Mum tells me I’m
going need these skills at university
without her to tidy my room and do
my washing!”
16. www.icknield.oxon.sch.uk 16
We will establish a broad extra-curricular programme for our Sixth
Form students. Early plans include:
• Duke Of Edinburgh Gold Award
• Full World Challenge
• Local, National, International Charity
• Amnesty/Fairtrade/MUNGA
• Gym membership/swimming – Belfry, e.g.
• Watlington Primary School/Nursery/Care Home – volunteer work
• Charity Committee working on Local, National, International
Charities
• Social/Events Committee
• Public Speaking/Debating
17. www.icknield.oxon.sch.uk 17
“In the evening, there is a presentation
and workshop with, Mike Nicholson, the
Director of Undergraduate Admissions at
the University of Oxford. He is working
with me on my UCAS application. He is
helping me to understand what the
Russell Group Universities are looking for
in their applications.”
18. www.icknield.oxon.sch.uk 18
• We need to provide more than academic teaching.
• We will provide other guidance, for example, an awareness of
financial management, current affairs, careers guidance and
citizenship.
• We plan to deliver this through a mixture of lessons, seminars,
visiting speakers and tutorials.
19. www.icknield.oxon.sch.uk 19
Why open a sixth form at Icknield Community
College
We are living in a time of a changing educational landscape. Some
benefits of changing the age range of the school include:
• Raise levels of aspiration across the whole school.
• Provide a post-16 option with significantly shorter transport
distances and costs.
• Provide continuity of education by removing one of the school
transitions for students.
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What will we do next?
• Exciting and rare situation in which we can create a sixth form from
scratch.
• Continue to speak to other sixth form providers, admissions tutors and
our current staff and students to finalise our approach.
• Open an informal consultation on Monday 9th June that will run for four
weeks.
• Invite our governors to decide whether we proceed following this
consultation.
• Run a second, formal, consultation in September.
• Present our proposals to Oxfordshire politicians. They will decide
whether we can go ahead with our plans.
• Run our Sixth Form Open Evening in November 2014.
21. www.icknield.oxon.sch.uk 21
What can you do to help?
• Speak to your children about the possibilities of post-16 study at
Icknield Community College.
• Contribute to the public consultation. This can be done by emailing
your views to sixthform@icknield.oxon.sch.uk , leaving a comment on
the comment cards at the front, writing a letter to Lisa Best at the
school address or registering your opinions on the consultation web
address which will be added to our website by Monday.
• Communicate with us at every opportunity with your views or questions
about our proposals.
• My email address is jamesbarringer@icknield.oxon.sch.uk and my
phone number is 01491 612691 ext 266.
22. www.icknield.oxon.sch.uk 22
Questions?
You will see at the front there are some cards for questions. Please leave
your name and contact details and we will respond.
Please be aware that we may not have immediate answers to your
questions. They may require research or discussion first.
