Tara’s Story Studied: A-Level Business, History and Psychology September 2016 September Previous school: Mark Rutherford Lifeat The Bedford Sixth Form Next destination: Leicester University When I started at The Bedford Sixth or have any questions. A-Level study Welcome from the Head Form, I knew I wanted to eventually is certainly a step up from GCSE. Welcome to the September 2016 In June we recruited another study Law at university. My cousin For instance, in History we don’t edition of Life at The Bedford great team of Student works in law and I used to attend look at basic events but rather at the Sixth Form. The summer term Ambassadors who did an events with her, which is where my personalities of key figures. proved, as always, to be an excellent job in supporting our interest began. extremely busy time for both new student ‘Welcome Day’. We have regular sessions with a our students and staff. More than 350 applicants joined Although the Sixth Form offers Law one-to-one tutor and I have had the us for a day of team building and as an A-Level, I chose to study a opportunity to go on revision trips, We had more students than subject taster sessions. combination of Psychology, History including one to Cambridge for ever taking their AS exams this summer and this year our As always, our students have and Business, which has given me Business. I’ve also had lots of support students have produced some also been busy outside of the skills I need. I have now been from staff with my UCAS application; outstanding results with many the classroom with many accepted to study law at Leicester my personal statement was checked six of them now confirming their participating in subject related University. times to make sure it was just right and university places. It has also trips. Some highlights: a what universities wanted. been another fantastic year for Sports trip to the University All of the subject teachers are very our Diploma students who had of Bedfordshire, a Biology Field good at what they do and their their results in June and have Trip to the Sanger Institute, knowledge goes above and beyond had a head start in securing their UCAS Convention, an Art trip the basic curriculum. They are also further study places or chosen to Barcelona and Shakespeare’s very approachable if you need help career. On behalf of all the staff Globe Theatre. at The Bedford Sixth Form I would like to wish them all well. I hope that this newsletter gives you a taste of what The Bedford Following the summer term Sixth Form has to offer. Don’t exams our first year students had forget you can keep up with all a very full ‘Life after The Bedford our latest news by following us on Sixth Form’ programme, which Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. involved a range of progression Term Dates workshops, talks from external speakers and university visits. Autumn Term 2016 Summer Term 2017 Our UCAS Parents’ Evening was well attended and many Induction Week and Bridging Lessons: Monday 18 April - Friday 30 June 2017 Paul Clarkson Tuesday 6 September –Thursday 8 September 2016 of our students have been Head Half-term: The Bedford Sixth Form Monday 12 September - Friday 16 December 2016 Monday 29 May - Friday 2 June 2017 researching university courses Half-term: and developing their personal Monday 24 October - Friday 28 October 2016 statements over the summer break. Spring Term 2017 Monday 9 January - Thursday 31 March 2017 Half-term: A-Level Results 2016 Monday 13 February - Friday 17 February 2017 In 2016, The Bedford Sixth Form achieved a 97% pass rate with 16% of those being at the top level A* or A. Contact us to find out more The Bedford Sixth Form For more detailed results please visit: about our exciting variety of Bromham Road Bedford MK40 2BS trips and enrichment activities www.bedfordsixthform.ac.uk/results-and-destinations on 01234 291291 or Telephone: 01234 291291 [email protected] [email protected] www.bedfordsixthform.ac.uk Life after The Bedford Sixth Form NEWS ‘Carousel Day’ is part of a week of activities designed to give current students insight into ‘Life after The Bedford £4,000 when you study at The Bedford Sixth Form* Sixth Form’. The day gives students the opportunity to talk about applying to university through UCAS and to The Bedford Sixth Form recruits from a wide catchment and we know that coming to a new place of study listen to speakers on their varying career paths from brings with it additional costs. Nursing to Public Relations. We want more people to benefit from this first class sixth form experience, so in addition to our wide range Our alumni are studying a broad range of subjects at of student support packages our charitable trust is generously supporting a new Academic Excellence some excellent universities across the UK and others are Bursary Scheme. The purpose of the scheme is to ensure our highest-performing students are not distracted already working in industry. by having to look for work to meet travel and other costs. This is therefore not means tested. *Students who have achieved this summer (or who have achieved previously) eight GCSEs A*-B including English Language and Mathematics, with at least four GCSEs at A* or A, will automatically qualify for a bursary of £4,000 over their two-year programme. Staff Focus – Simon Hardie (Head of English) You can find more information about the scheme here: www.bedfordsixthform.ac.uk/bursaries What do you teach? Fast developing talent Business student to join MBDA I teach English, but over the years I’ve had the pleasure of teaching many other subjects including drama, film, citizenship and music Students demonstrated their Ethan Sinclair has been accepted on technology! talent for Art & Design at their to the prestigious Higher Business Apprenticeship 2016 scheme with end of term Creative Showcase. What were you doing before you joined the Sixth Form? There was a varied display of MBDA, a defence company who supply equipment to the Armed Forces. I worked at Redborne Upper School where I was part of the English different mediums of art, which department leading A-Levels, and part of a year team looking after exhibited the talent of our Ethan, who has taken an alternative 300 Year 10s. students. route to A-Levels, was studying a Business Camtech at The Bedford Sixth Form. He What are your areas of expertise? will attend the University of Hertfordshire Fairy tales and their retellings and Gothic literature and poetry. and the programme offers him significant funding support during his course of What do you enjoy most about working at the Sixth Form? study, as well as a salaried position at The students. This is a great place to work: a quirky building, a hard- MBDA. working and dedicated bunch of colleagues, great resources. But in Kirsty Maidment, teacher of Business the end, it’s all about the students. Studies, commented: “Ethan is a great student, he has taken an alternative route to A-Levels, which he found to suit his preferred method of study and has proved to be very willing and enthusiastic. I really wish him the best of luck in his future career; it is an NUS Cards excellent starting point.” As a student at The Bedford Sixth Form you will be able to apply for a NUS Extra Card. The NUS Extra Card The science behind sport entitles you to offers and discounts across a variety of retailers including cinemas, restaurants, clothing and In June our AS-Level PE online retailers for just £12 for 12 months. If you would and Sport students had the like to apply for a NUS Extra Card then visit Student opportunity to visit the Sports Services or order online at www.nus.org.uk Department at the University of Bedfordshire. As well as a tour of the campus, the students were able to talk to tutors at the University and try the ultrasound kit used to monitor cardiovascular health. Thank you to everyone at the University of Bedfordshire for making this an informative session for our students. AND DIPLOMA SUBJECTS @thebedfordsixth /bedfordsixthform @bedfordsixthform.