Sixth Form Handbook 2020 Low.Pdf
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A warm welcome to the Sevenoaks School Sixth Form, whether you are new to the school or moving up from Year 11. You are joining an exciting, demanding, international community. For everyone, entering the Sixth Form is a significant Welcome move. This diverse group of over 400 students enables a variety of rich relationships to flourish, while everyone’s perspectives are challenged and broadened. The IB Diploma Programme allows each student to specialise in his or her chosen areas, and provides opportunities to develop independent work habits and personal interests, and to contribute to Sevenoaks School’s rich history of service by getting involved in activities serving the community. All this will help provide a foundation for life beyond school. You will be given more detailed information during your first days here at Sevenoaks, but we hope this handbook will give you an idea of the ethos, opportunities and responsibilities that await you as a member of one of the UK’s largest independent school Sixth Forms. from the Sixth Form Sixth Form Divisional Heads, left to right: Paul Harvey, Lizzie Seetharaman, Matt Edwards (Head of Sixth Form), Vanessa FitzGerald 4 team 5 Welcome from the Your School Captains first few Welcome to the Sixth Form at Sevenoaks School. There are some incredible opportunities waiting for you – this is a time for you to explore any and all of your academic and co- curricular interests, form great friendships, and add to a vibrant school community. From debating and Model United Nations to the Sennocke Consort choir, rugby and rock climbing, there will be plenty to do, both inside and outside of the classroom – manage your time, days and everything will fall into place. We’re sure you’ll find enough to keep you busy – busy doing the things you enjoy. Good luck! Theo Duke and Sachi Gwalani, You are treated with School Captains, Summer 2020 a greater sense of at individuality and independence. Sevenoaks You will have lots of questions when questions; ask your tutor, your teachers, you arrive at Sevenoaks, such as how to fellow students, the Upper Sixth in your find classrooms, contact staff, or join in tutor group, the Head of Sixth Form or with activities. Divisional Heads, everyone! You will find them more than willing to help. This is to be expected, and although there is a great deal of information in this You will also find plenty of information on booklet, you do not need to remember it the school intranet, Firefly. all. It is important that you keep asking 6 7 Frequently Asked Questions What happens on the first day This first day is to get you used to the I don’t know anyone at Sevenoaks What does my tutor do? of school? campus and one another. You are a large School. How do I make friends? Sixth Form and we are keen to get you Tutors monitor your academic progress You should have received information mixing as soon as possible! Don’t worry about this – we deal with lots and general welfare. Each tutor has about Induction, but all you really need to of new students each year; about a third responsibility for small groups of both remember is: come to the Pamoja Hall on What if I want to change my IB choices? of the Lower Sixth are new to the school, Lower and Upper Sixth Form students. Thursday 3 September in uniform and with and everyone is new to this exciting and Tutors get to know you well and can offer a pen at 09:00, if you’re new to the school, On the afternoon of the first day, we get vibrant Sixth Form, so you’ll find plenty of all kinds of advice and support throughout and at 09:30, if you’re currently in Year 11. all the staff you need to speak to in one people keen to make friends. In the first your time in the Sixth Form. You will have place, so you can discuss appropriate few weeks of term we arrange various lunch with your tutor on the first day and The Sixth Form leadership team – changes with them. The changes may not events, such as the Freshers’ Ball, to help they will give you your timetable and Dr Edwards, Ms Seetharaman, Mrs all be possible, but we will do our best to boarding and day students mix and get to other important information, and talk you FitzGerald and Mr Harvey – will explain accommodate you. know each other. through everything you need to know. how the rest of the day will develop. 8 9 Academic A TYPICAL LOWER SIXTH TIMETABLE Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Matters 08:30 Register, tutor meetings, assemblies Private Private 09:00 Lesson Lesson Lesson Lesson We run a two-week timetable, so lessons will study study vary between Week A and Week B, but this Private Conversa- Private 09:55 Lesson Lesson Lesson gives you an idea of the pattern of the week. study tion class study 10:50 Break Private 11:15 Lesson Lesson Lesson Lesson Lesson study ‘Friday 4’ 12:10 Lesson Lesson Lesson Lesson Lunch lecture 13:05 Lunch Private 14:20 Lesson Lesson Sports Co- study Sports Private curricular 15:15 Lesson Lesson study • Every day begins with registration with your tutor. • On most Tuesdays and Thursdays you have assembly. • All Sixth Formers do sport on Tuesday and Saturday afternoons. • Thursday afternoon is dedicated to Service, CCF (combined cadet force) or a creative activity. Like your sporting activities, this counts towards the CAS (creativity, action, service) component of the IB. • Once a fortnight, the Lower Sixth attend a talk by a visiting speaker in the Friday Period 4 slot. These talks cover a wide variety of topics of relevance to young adults from general well-being to Higher Education advice. • Private study periods are spent working quietly in the Library. • Language conversation classes and optional lessons such as music and drama are arranged during study periods. • The official school day ends at 16:10 and many students will then be involved in a variety of co-curricular activities such as sports practice, play rehearsals and student-led societies. 11 You’ll be able to study the subjects you love in meticulous detail. Private Study Periods and Homework regular routine at home or in your boarding Perhaps the most obvious difference house. As a guide, you should be working between the pattern of work in the Sixth for two to three hours each evening. Your Form and earlier stages of school is tutor will be able to help you organise the necessity for students to develop a work diary managing your weekly The Academic Routine independent study habits. schedule. One of the most important aspects of You will generally be set assignments over Private study periods take place in the any student’s life in the Sixth Form will a longer period than you have encountered Library, where pupils are supervised and be academic progress. Establishing a previously. Each week, you will be set up everyone gets on with work in silence. committed and effective pattern of work to four hours of homework for each HL The school will do everything to support will be the first priority. In the first half subject and two hours of homework for your academic endeavours, but a large part of the Michaelmas term, your tutor and each SL subject. teachers will offer plenty of advice on how of your success will come down to the way to develop good study habits. You will need to combine appropriate use you manage your own time. This is what of private study periods at school with a makes Sixth Form work so rewarding. 12 13 Pastoral Matters PASTORAL CARE Just as important as your academic progress is your general welfare. If, for whatever reason, you are not happy at school, you are unlikely to perform to the best of your ability in the classroom or take a full part in the activities that will make your Sixth Form years so rewarding. Refer to the next page for guidance on who is responsible for monitoring your academic progress, and who you can turn to if you Your tutor is your have worries or problems or just need first port of call for someone to talk to. all aspects of your school life and you should make full use of them. 15 Just as important as your academic progress is your Your Tutor available to discuss any problems or worries you may have. Just send an email general welfare Your tutor will be an extremely important to book a time or drop by their offices in part of your Sixth Form career. Tutor groups the Sixth Form Global Study Centre. meet every morning. Your tutor closely monitors your academic progress, and The Pastoral Deputy Head your teachers will consult your tutor if there are any concerns. Your tutor will also The Pastoral Deputy Head, Miss Tebay, go over your grades and reports with you has overall responsibility in the school for before they are sent to your parents. He every student’s personal welfare. Through or she drafts your university references regular meetings with the Heads of Sixth and will continue to act as your referee Form, she is consulted and advised of after you leave. students who have problems. She is also available to talk to any pupil who Equally importantly, your tutor is has any concern. When her door is open, responsible for your day-to-day welfare. just drop in.