2. Introductory talk
Subject information stands
General information stands
• Admissions
• Careers & University guidance
• Oxbridge Preparation
• Enrichment
PROGRAMME
3. WHY CHOOSE THE IHS SIXTH FORM?
A tailored curriculum and timetable unique to your
individual interests
An aspirational, coeducational atmosphere where
students are responsible for their own successes
The Orbit Programme, designed to help you enhance and
demonstrate your skills and accomplishments
Excellent university preparation and progression to your
first choice
Expert teaching staff working with you to fulfil your
potential
4. ACADEMIC AND PASTORAL PROVISION
A tailor-made, bespoke timetable
• 3 A Levels
• 3 A Levels & EPQ
Small class sizes to foster a ‘tutorial-style’
approach
Formal and informal pastoral support
5. CHOOSING YOUR A LEVELS
WHAT ARE YOU GOOD AT?
• Typically you will need a Level 7/A grade at GCSE
WHAT ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT?
• What will maintain your interest over the next two years?
THINK ABOUT YOUR FUTURE
• What are the university entry requirements for the courses
you may wish to study?
UNSURE?
• Consider a broad spread of A Level subjects (‘facilitating
subjects’)
FOCUSSED ON ONE COURSE OR CAREER?
• Choose the most appropriate A Levels
• Talk to teachers and sixth formers
6. THE ORBIT PROGRAMME
Bringing together all
that our Sixth Form
students do outside of
their A Level
curriculum, giving them
opportunities to
enhance and
demonstrate their skills
and accomplishments.
7. SKILLS FOR LIFE
EVERY MONDAY
• MOOC
• EPQ
• Current Affairs
• Cookery
Valuable skills for life
Useful for university personal statements
Important for job applications and interviews
8. ENRICHMENT
Enrichment opportunities every day
An emphasis on academic enrichment
• Model United Nations
• Debating
• Medical Society (MedSoc)
VOLUNTEERING
Helping the school community
Subject Ambassadors
Sports Coaches
Mentors
9. CAREERS AND UNIVERSITY GUIDANCE
Oxbridge, Vet/Med Programme
• Interview preparation
• UKCAT/BMAT/LNAT preparation
Programme of careers speakers and guidance
• Employability skills – PWC
• Apprenticeship speakers and information
University Open Days and UCAS Fairs
University Taster Courses and Workshops
University Admissions staff visits
Work experience and voluntary work
10. UNIVERSITY APPLICATIONS
YEAR 12
University Open Days
Visits from universities
Careers Fair
YEAR 13
September/October: Personal Statements finalised
Early October: Early applications submitted
November: Pre-interview testing incl. UKCAT etc.
December: All UCAS applications submitted
11. UNIVERSITY ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Top universities make offers based on three
predicted A Level grades e.g. AAB
We are confident in our predicted grades: Realistic
yet aspirational
100% of our Year 13s last year had their university
offers confirmed post-results
Unrivalled support from staff on results day
Head on JCQ committee representing ISA
13. STUDENT EXPERIENCE
Form Leaders programme
Subject Ambassadors
Speakers
Trips, conferences, visits
The Sixth Form Escape
World Challenge
Sixth Form Ball
Social events
Enrichment throughout the year
14. NEXT STEPS
CURRENT IPSWICH HIGH STUDENTS
No application needed for entry, you already have an offer
Friday 2nd November: Scholarships and Bursaries deadline
January: A Level subject choices confirmed
APPLICANTS FROM OTHER SCHOOLS
Friday 2nd November: Orwell Scholarship and Bursaries
deadline
December: Individual meetings with Mr Hastings
January: A Level subject choices confirmed
15. FINANCIAL AWARDS
ORWELL SCHOLARSHIPS
Friday 2nd November deadline
BURSARIES
Friday 2nd November deadline
ELLISTON AWARD
State school applicants and current recipients of
bursaries from Independent Schools
Guarantee at least one award per school
31st January 2019 deadline
16. TIPS FOR THIS EVENING
DO
Talk to teachers and students about your options
Read the A Level Courses booklet
Take notes
Talk to staff on our Admissions stand
Visit our Enrichment stand to find out more
Have a tour of the school
DON’T
Be swayed by others – what is best for you?
Feel that you need to decide tonight
17. THANK YOU
Mr Rob Hastings
Director of Sixth Form
r.hastings@ipswichhighschool.co.uk
Editor's Notes
OC - Thank you for coming
An extra special welcome to those who are coming from other schools, particularly if this is your first time at IHS, I really hope you enjoy your visit.
Intro self – background and expertise
Intro Rob - background and expertise
Start by introducing our SF and what we can offer
Then we will focus on what happens after Sixth Form – for the majority, progression to university
Then the Head girls will speak
Then we will close by talking about how to get the most out of this event.
Talks to introduce our sixth form, it’s unique features and strengths
Head girls will talk of their experience at IHS and particularly the Sixth Form
Then, the really important part – the opportunity for you speak 1:1 with teaching staff from each of our academic departments to discuss A Level (and Pre-U) courses, your interests and to start to think about your choices. The stands will also be manned by students who take the A Levels themselves – do ask for their opinion too.
We encourage you to visit our Admissions stand to find out more about entry and financial awards for Sixth Form and the other stands which will demonstrate more about Sixth Form life including our careers and university preparation.
Please do speak to staff and students for a real insight into what our Sixth Form has to offer
Use your A Level booklet – stand locations, course descriptions – section for notes in the back.
This region is fortunate to have many excellent schools but in my view our school and Sixth Form is truly unique.
Our students and parents choose our Sixth Form for many reasons including,
Our academic and pastoral provision
This region is fortunate to have many excellent schools but in my view our school and Sixth Form is truly unique.
Our students and parents choose our Sixth Form for many reasons including,
Our academic and pastoral provision
A flexible approach to A Level studies – 3 or 4 A Levels depending on ability and interest, additional EPQ, AS Levels such as Classical Greek and the option to take Further Mathematics. Additional AS can be taken over 1 or 2 years.
- Constantly evolving A Level/Pre-U options: to match interests and aspirations of our sixth formers. E.g. Chinese (Mandarin) and Dance added this year.
Our small class sizes allow us to encourage discussion and debate and mirror the ‘tutorial-style’ approach seen at top universities – so that our students are well prepared for this in the future.
As a GDST school, our teaching staff have the support and expertise of the Girls Day school trust. They are passionate about education and driven to get the most out of each and every student in the Sixth Form.
The benefits of girls only education are well-documented, at Sixth Form this is even more important and effective.
GDST pupils taking degrees in medicine = 5x the national average for girls
Girls 2.5x more likely to take A Level physics at a girl’s school rather than co-ed
GDST pupils undertaking a language degree = 2x the national average for girls
We have full-time Learning Support, academic support from tutors and an Assistant Head (Well-being) with responsibility for all pastoral support and safeguarding. On top of this, I have never worked anywhere where the staff are so passionate and motivated to get the most out of their students. They build key working relationships with girls in our sixth form and act as mentors who truly care about each and every individual.
We nurture without spoon-feeding. We find out what makes our girls tick, where their strengths lie and what learning style works best for them and adapt our approach to get the best out of them - bespoke
As part of the GDST we are committed to providing financial assistance to bright, talented girls, whose families are not in a position to pay full fees. We extend this provision even further in the Sixth Form to allow as many girls as possible to benefit from this transformative phase of education.
Combination of awards.
Mixture of awards can be given.
Our calendar of events in the Sixth Form is packed with everything from university visits and tasters to and GDST-wide conferences.
In the autumn term…
In the sprint term we will be holding an annual ‘Sixth Form Escape’ I’ll come back to that in a moment
And in the summer term…
Our Sixth Formers take a key role in the organisation of our Festival for Year 9 students from across the country – Multitude. A really great chance for them to understand how a festival runs and get real life work experience.
BESPOKE and individual and tailored.
BESPOKE and individual and tailored.
BESPOKE and individual and tailored.
3 predicted grades only
3 predicted grades only
Our calendar of events in the Sixth Form is packed with everything from university visits and tasters to and GDST-wide conferences.
In the autumn term…
In the sprint term we will be holding an annual ‘Sixth Form Escape’ I’ll come back to that in a moment
And in the summer term…
Our Sixth Formers take a key role in the organisation of our Festival for Year 9 students from across the country – Multitude. A really great chance for them to understand how a festival runs and get real life work experience.
Enrichment -
82 Enrichment choices
Creative and Performing Arts
Sport - coaching qualifications
Duke of Edinburgh
EPQ
Local community
We encourage all of our sixth formers to be responsible for their own time management and to take a mature approach to their studies. They have a smart dress code and are expected to be ambassadors for the school and mentors to younger girls.
As part of the GDST we are committed to providing financial assistance to bright, talented girls, whose families are not in a position to pay full fees. We extend this provision even further in the Sixth Form to allow as many girls as possible to benefit from this transformative phase of education.
We offer the Orwell Scholarships on the basis of ability, potential and qualities necessary to make a contribution to life in our sixth form and beyond. These scholarships are worth up to 50% of school fees and the deadline is 31 October.
The GDST offers bursaries for girls entering Year 12. Bursaries are means tested by the GDST centrally and take into account income and resources. They are awarded on a sliding scale – if a family’s income and resources are less than £85,000 they may be entitled to a bursary. Maximum bursaries (100%) may be awarded to those students whose family income and resources are less than £35,000. the deadline is 31 October.
Our new incentive, our Elliston Awards are awarded to students joining us in our Sixth Form from state schools in the region. These awards are awarded to the value of 50% of school fees and are part of the GDST’s commitment to providing a GDST education to the brightest and best.
Students can apply and hold a combination of awards such as a 50% scholarship + a 30% bursary.
If you are interested in any of this financial support I encourage you to speak to staff at our Admissions and Financial Support stand in the room behind me.
The focus of the evening after this talk is A Level choices… so we wanted to offer some advice on choosing these…
Ms Carlin and I are now happy to answer questions from the floor…
OC - Thank you very much for attending tonight. I would welcome further questions individually and please do take the time to speak to other staff, parents and sixth formers.
We would love to hear any feedback you have on the sixth form, this event or the school in general so please do email us…
We do encourage you to go up to the Sixth Form suite and have a look…