Sixth Form Supplementary Information
2 Welcome to your Sixth Form Contents Introduction ............................................................................................. 2 Support for UCAS and Oxbridge Applications ................................... 3 Departmental Activities ..................................................................... 4-11 External Support ............................................................................... 12-13 Becoming More Socially Aware . .......................................................... 14 Sixth Form Committee . ........................................................................ 15 Sixth Form Social Life and Wellbeing ................................................. 17 Alumni Comments ........................................................................... 18-19 ‘Outstanding’ Sacred Heart Sixth Form – Ofsted Report 2017 . 20-21 1
Your Sixth Form Introduction As you enter your final GCSE year, now is the time to start getting excited about your next steps in education and your pathways to higher education and the world of work. Our Sixth Form benefits from the uniqueness of a Sacred Heart Education. The philosophy championed by our trustees (the Society of the Sacred Heart) permeates our Sixth Form just as it does across Years 7-11. This emphasises the importance of relationships, recognition of the individual, building social awareness and the importance of standing up for others. Kindness and responsibility to one another are at the heart of this. We combine a passion for the education of young women with our commitment to ‘High Performance’ learning. We have a strong reputation for academic excellence but we also highly value the performing and creative arts. We educate the whole person At Sacred Heart Sixth Form, we combine passion for the education of girls and young women with a commitment to world class excellence, to equipping our students for the challenges of 21st century life. Our Sixth Form programmes of study provide a variety of pathways to suit individual talents and interests. You will find here outstanding teaching - generally delivered in small classes - and exceptional pastoral care. Our staff are prepared to give generously of their time and expertise to support you in achieving the very best that you are capable of, leading to outstanding results for all. This booklet outlines some of the opportunities you can benefit from beyond the day-to-day work of the classroom. Your time in the Sixth Form will fly, but if you make wise choices, you will have the opportunity to build a strong foundation for all that you want to do and achieve in the future. 3 2 Support for UCAS & Oxbridge Applications We provide expert careers advice and we work closely with universities who come in to provide workshops on writing personal statements and presentations on how to choose and prepare for the most suitable tertiary pathway or destination. Further help to enhance your UCAS applications and personal statements is provided by personal tutors and one-to-one support from expert external advisors and joint school conferences and lectures. Interview practice is also provided. Every student meets individually with either the Head of Year or the Head of Sixth Form to check through UCAS applications before these are sent. We also have a member of the Sixth Form team who leads on early entry applications for Oxbridge, dental, medicine and veterinary courses to ensure that students are matched with recent Oxbridge and medical graduates as mentors. Our Janet Erskine Stuart Programme (open to all students) offers enrichment through a variety of outside speakers and weekly discussions on a range of current affairs topics. We also encourage early entry applicants to participate in the Lumina Course at Harrow School in the summer term which provides activities for preparation, as well as UCAS conferences and preparation we can offer through St Paul’s Girls’ School and the West London Partnership, as well as the Emmaus Catholic Schools’ Partnership.
DRAMA • Up to ten theatre trips a year to the West End, Off West End and fringe theatre shows • Donmar Warehouse Theatre Design workshop as part of the annual Theatre Design Festival • Practical workshops with Frantic Assembly, Complicite and Punchdrunk Theatre focusing on devising and movement • Collaborations with The Bush Theatre and The Lyric Hammersmith actors and directors • In Year 12, three full-scale production performances to an audience and two in Year 13 DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY • Museum and gallery trips across London; site visits and product analysis trips • Graduate design shows; DT leadership opportunities; internal and external workshops Department Activities ART • Numerous museum and gallery trips across London • Overseas Art trip (previous trips include Amsterdam and Barcelona) • Internal and external art competitions BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS • Lecture and events from the Royal Economics Society • Visit to the Bank of England • Trips to business organisations, museums and theatre productions • Business and Economics guest speaker talks (previously included Mark Carney, Cherie Blair and Levi Roots) • Barclay’s Skills workshops CLASSICS • Annual classical civilisations study day at the British Museum, tailormade to the A-Level syllabus • Lectures and events from the Classical Association • Lectures and events run by ‘Classics for All’ - linking us with other Classics depts. in local schools • Numerous gallery and museum trips in London and beyond • Cambridge University Classics masterclass • Established links with the University of Roehampton – one of the leading UK universities for Classical Studies 5 4
GEOGRAPHY • SHHS Geography Ambassadors • Year 12 field trip to Margam Discovery Centre (Wales) • Membership to the Geography Association & Royal Geographical Society • Student Eco Committee • Internal conferences related to geo-political events such as COP26 • External Events such as the London Transport Museum’s ‘Green Skills Hackathon and St Benedict’s Eco Conference • ‘Ask the Geographer’ careers event such as ‘Women in Sustainability’ HISTORY & POLITICS • National Archives visit • Holocaust Survivor Talk • Lessons from Auschwitz course and visit to Auschwitz • Berlin Trip • Houses of Parliament visit • Supreme Court visit • Question and answer session from the local MP ENGLISH • Residential trip to Stratfordupon-Avon for Years 12 and 13 this September, including a half day workshop on Richard III with the Royal Shakespeare Company; visits to Shakespeare’s birthplace, house and grave; a backstage tour of the RSC theatre; and an evening performance of a play at the RSC theatre • A -Level revision conferences on core texts in both Year 12 and 13 • Peer mentoring programme to support Year 11s using your own recent experiences of doing GCSEs • A ccess to MASSOLITA-Level online video courses, to aid revision and understanding, produced by leading university academics • Theatre trips for both core texts and other interesting productions in partnership with the Drama department • Subscriptions to E-magazine and English Review to support and aid wider reading around the subject • Peer support programme for Year 12s supporting students in KS3, a wonderful community service • Dystopia reading club • Mindfulness Journaling Group • One-to-one support from KS5 subject lead for researching and applying to study English at university 6 7
MATHS • Seminar/talks held at St Pauls’ School throughout the year, including STEP and MAT support sessions • Workshops/lectures at UCL • Maths masterclasses at King’s College, London • Exam skills workshops ensuring students are equipped with all necessary skills and knowledge to tackle the new A-Level specification • Subscription to ‘Integrale’ website which provides students with video tutorials and extra resources for preparation • KS5 enrichment programme includes Sixth Form students supporting Year 7 students in lessons • Workshops led by Year 12 and Year 13 to mentor and support KS4 students • Subscription to ‘Integrale’ website which provides students with video tutorials and extra resources for preparation MODERN LANGUAGES (FRENCH & SPANISH) • London Centre for Languages and Culture study days • Links with university summer schools • British Film Institute study day • Film Club • Alumni network (visits from SHHS students who pursued a language at university) • Subject Ambassadors supporting KS3 students in their learning MUSIC • Links with the Royal College of Music - lunchtime recitals and talks • Southbank and Barbican concerts • Study days with other local school music departments • Other subject-related visits • Opportunity to work with ensemble groups/rehearse and direct music events PSYCHOLOGY • Visit to Freud Museum in North London with Sociology and RE departments • Visit to the Bethlem Hospital Archive to examine patient histories and documents related to the treatment of the mentally ill • Speaker from South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust to talk about university and careers in psychology • Opportunities to attend expert panels for exam preparation 8 9
PHYSICAL EDUCATION • Duke of Edinburgh Gold and Silver Award • Sports Leadership opportunities within Hammersmith & Fulham • Certificated coaching awards in a range of sports • Year 12 ski trip to Austria • Links with University College of Football and Business • Extracurricular opportunities including membership of our school’s Senior Rowing Team at Fulham Reach Boat Club RELIGIOUS EDUCATION • University study days • Opportunities to support in RE lessons with Year 7 pupils • Year 12 students run Philosophy Club for Years 7 & 8 • Links with St Mary’s University Bioethics department • Study days with exam boards • LASAR – science and religion conference • Opportunities with CAFOD to apply for ‘gap year’ activities and placements abroad SCIENCE FACULTY: BIOLOGY, PHYSICS, CHEMISTY AND BTEC APPLIED SCIENCE • Iceland Trip • Biology in Action • Evening Lectures • Medical talk in school from Imperial College • Imperial Mentoring Programme • Summer School Imperial College • Big Sister Programme • STEAM Careers day • BAE apprentices • Physics in Action • Chemistry in Action • A-Level Chemistry Live • Biomedical Engineering talk in school • STEM Imperial Potential Programme • Regular outside speakers invited in to speak about their scientific field • Science Club • Visit to a local laboratory SOCIOLOGY • Visit to the Old Bailey Crown Courts • Visit to Freud Museum in North London with Psychology and RE departments • Opportunities to attend expert panels for exam preparation 10 11
External Support SacredHeart has established awide range of linkswith external organisations to support careers education and guidance; to deepen your experience of learning at A-Level and enrich your applications for university or higher level apprenticeships. HIGHER EDUCATION/CAREERS • Careers and UCAS advice from experienced external advisors including Universities and Careers Consultants • Lumina Programme, Harrow School • Visits to Oxford and Cambridge • UCAS and tertiary institution workshops and presentations delivered by Bath University • Higher Education Conference, mentoring and interview practice at St Paul’s Girls’ School • Careers Insight Days • Sutton Trust • Social Mobility Foundation • Imperial College Summer Schools • Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust Work Experience Programme ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT • London Sixth Form Debating Association and Debate Mate • Kings College London K+ programme (multiple subjects) • Oxbridge/Russell Group academic enrichment opportunities • Speakers for Schools • LSE Pathways to Law, Banking and Finance • Oxnet (LCLC and UNIQ) • Unifrog platform to support UCAS and Post 18 pathways • Additionally, departments have their own links with subject specific areas of enrichment 13 12
Becoming More Socially Aware by Sharing Your Gifts and Talents OUTREACH WORK • Nazareth House – volunteering with the elderly in a care home setting. Very good for aspiring medics • Austin Forum – volunteering at language classes, meeting and greeting and serving refreshments. Good for language students • Local feeder primary schools, opportunities for placements • Lourdes, Westminster Archdiocese pilgrimage • National Citizenship Service (NCS) • MIND • The Cardinal Hume Centre LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES • Head Girls and Deputy Head Girls (with responsibility for separate Key Stages) • Sixth Form Senior Prefects • House Captains • Wellbeing Ambassadors • Senior Student Council Representatives • Diversity and Inclusion Ambassadors • Subject and Careers Ambassadors • High Performance Learning Ambassadors • LRC (Learning Resource Centre) Ambassadors • Kairos Ambassadors Sixth Form Committee Quite separate from School Council, the Sixth Form have their own student committee. This committee discusses a range of things such as how to further improve facilities for sixth formers or any areas of provision that could be strengthened. It discusses and helps plan various Sixth Form social activities and events. At Sixth Form we take your views seriously and your committee will report directly to the Senior Leadership Team. The Committee can also present to governors about how its working and the issues being raised. 14 15
Student Well Being and Social Life There are a number of Sixth Form social events through the year. The Head Girl team organises an event to welcome Year 12 in the first half-term of Sixth Form. There is an established tradition of going iceskating before Christmas and Year 13 mark end of their time at Sacred Heart with the annual Leavers’ Ball. We organise both an offsite and onsite induction and team building day for Year 12; and a Year 13 event to mark the beginning of our senior students’ final year in the school. Sixth Form residentials and retreats help to establish good relationships and develop life skills. In addition to the three trained school counsellors, a weekly support group for students who would like help in managing their wellbeing, is run in school by a qualified psychotherapist. For broader support we have a dedicated Pastoral Support Manager and also a long-standing relationship with the charity MIND, which works closely with our Senior Wellbeing Ambassadors. Our Chaplaincy provision lies at the heart of the school and has an open-door policy to support our Sixth Formers throughout their time here. 16 17
Alumni Comments See below correspondence received from those who have recently left our Sixth Form. “I am so grateful for all my teachers whose support has meant everything for both my results and my growth as a person here at Sacred Heart. My classes are some of the happiest memories I have of this school and I am jealous of the new Year 12 students who have two years ahead of them.” “At my time at Sacred Heart I found that the teachers genuinely care about you both as a student and a person. I always got the impressions that they were rooting for me at every hurdle. I am incredibly grateful for the individual support I received at Sacred Heart - it was truly invaluable.” “I know that I was applying to sixth form to further my education. SHHS did more than I could have asked for; not only was my education advanced but also my view of life. What I have gained in the last seven years, I could not have gained elsewhere. The support has been there from the start, when I said I wanted to apply to Oxford University - the lack of self-belief quickly disappeared however, with teacher support from personalised sessions with an Oxbridge teacher; the friends I have made and the outcome to show. I have to thank SHHS for everything.” “The last seven years have flown so quickly, filled with amazing memories both by teachers and friends. Staying for sixth form meant that I could continue staying in an environment that I was already comfortable and familiar with, which helped me achieve the grades I did.” “As a school that values both academics and the creative arts, I’ve been able to grow as a musician and student. My best times at this school have been when I’ve been encouraged to achieve beyond what I’ve ever hoped to do. This couldn’t have been done without help from the staff who guide every student towards realising their fullest potential. One of the best elements is the sense of community: every individual is sure to feel included and their achievements noticed. I wouldn’t have ever developed my artistic talents without feeling believed in. Sacred Heart has truly nurtured me and I wouldn’t be the same woman without our community. Thanks!” “Sacred Heart has always helped you to achieve the best grades and improve on your own self- belief. From being a shy student who lacked selfconfidence, the bond I formed with teachers built on my selfbelief and helped me to achieve whatever I wanted to achieve.” “During my time at Sacred Heart I have been able to achieve so much. The support network of teachers, friends and pastoral team have helped me whenever I needed it. I have been allowed to dream whatever I wanted because I know the environment I have been in, will encourage me and aid me in achieving anything, SHHS is a place where young women can never have a dream that is ‘too big’ 18 19
Ofsted ‘OUTSTANDING’ For our Sixth Form, Sept 2017 “The sixth form opened in 2013. It is now outstanding.’ “Leaders in the sixth form are extremely effective. They have high expectations for their students. They know their students very well as individuals. They set demanding targets for the students and carry out regular reviews of their progress against these targets. Outcomes for students are improving year on year.” “Leaders constantly review the 16 to 19 study programmes to en-sure that they meet the needs of their students. For example, the school changed the business course to a vocational programme. Outcomes in this new programme last summer were exceptional.” “Students’ attendance in the sixth form is above national averages and their punctuality is exceptional. Students benefit from the excellent quality of support from their teachers, who encourage them to arrive on time.” “All students have personal careers interviews. They are given excellent support with applications. Last year, 92% of students progressed to higher education.” “Teachers share effective practice to support their students’ learning. Science staff developed support booklets for students who were struggling with some of their work. The students in science made excellent use of these booklets and improved rapidly. Similar booklets are now being developed in other subjects to accelerate students’ progress.” “Leaders provide a wide range of enrichment opportunities for students. All students contribute to work in the community, supporting younger pupils, and international charities. Sixthform students say they really enjoy these opportunities to become one of the school’s ‘responsible citizens.” “Teachers give students very clear guidance on keeping safe. Topics covered in lessons include the dangers of radicalisation and child sexual exploitation. Students say they feel very safe in school and the local area and are well prepared for life after school.” “Most students remain in the school to progress from Year 12 into Year 13. The school offers A-level courses and one vocational course in business. Those students who struggle with subjects are given excellent additional support by the teachers. However, the few students who are unable to cope with the demands of A level are given appropriate support in finding alternative courses. Pupils make excellent progress in the sixth form, and their outcomes in public examinations continue to improve every year.” 20 21
SacredHeart SIXTH FORM | HAMMERSMITH 212 Hammersmith Road, London W6 7DG Headteacher: Mrs S O'Donovan Tel: 020 8748 7600 Email: info@sacredh.lbhf.sch.uk www.sacredhearthigh.org.uk
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