Alongside subject lessons, we offer an extensive range of enrichment activities. From our portfolio of courses designed to enhance study skills, to employability sessions and our Personal Development Programme, the Sixth Form offering is designed to promote skills for life and a wider understanding of the world.
Our Personalised Learning team is also on hand to provide specialist learning provision to support additional academic needs through a variety of one to one and small group sessions and programmes.
What opportunities are there for further enrichment?
The Extended Project Qualification
The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is a level 3 qualification that is graded in the same way as an A level and is worth slightly more UCAS points than an AS. It is available to all Y12 students. You complete it by yourself – it is not a taught qualification. You choose what you study. Mr Castel is the Extended Project Coordinator and he talks about how you might get started with an EPQ and how you will be supported in this qualification.
Stretch and Challenge
Stretch and Challenge is an optional course taught for an hour a week in a timetabled lesson. The course teaches the skills of critical thinking:
- The ability to read carefully and critically
- How to analyse and evaluate
- What makes a coherent argument
- Flaws in arguments
- Precision in the selection of evidence presented to support points
- Precision, clarity and facility of writing
Stretch and Challenge is particularly helpful for those students who plan to apply to the most competitive universities. However, it is a course that will help anyone to improve their thinking and writing skills. There is no external examination but the course ends with a test of learnt skills.
Core Maths
We offer Core Maths to all Year 12 Students as an additional Level 3 Mathematics qualification alongside their A Level and BTEC choices. This is an option that is particularly attractive to students studying subjects with significant Mathematics elements such as Sciences, Economics, Geography, and Psychology.
The Early Entrant Programme
If you are considering making an early entry for a competitive university/course, such as Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry and Vet Med, then we provide you with the support you need to make the best possible application.
From choosing the right A levels; making the right course choice and university choice; wider reading and super-curricular studies; work experience support; writing your personal statement; making your UCAS application; support for aptitude tests and submission of written work; preparation for interviews and support following the decision process.
For Medics we provide support for reflection and showing your commitment to the vocation, and also practice MMI preparation. Throughout the year we are supported by experienced teaching staff used to support these kinds of applications, as well as ex-students and other contacts to provide practical guidance.
View Mrs Lane’s Early Entrant Presentation here.
Extra-Curricular Sport
We believe that it is important for all students to take part in some kind of physical recreation during the school week. The school enjoys a considerable reputation on the games field, and at Sixth Form level there are excellent fixture lists for athletics, cricket, lacrosse, netball, rugby, soccer and tennis. In addition, a wide range of other team and individual games and sports are available to Sixth Form students on a more social basis for an hour on Wednesday afternoons. Miss Ostinelli tells you more about the fantastic facilities and sports opportunities available to you at St Bart’s.
How does St Bart’s Sixth Form prepare me for the wider world?
Enrichment and Progression
All students benefit from a programme of talks and activities that are designed to prepare them for the world of work. They have software and staff support to research careers and identify university and apprenticeship opportunities.
Alongside this, students are given opportunities within their timetable to pursue meaningful work experience or volunteering opportunities each week. Towards the end of Year 12, students are also able to take 5 days off timetable for a more sustained period of work experience.
Careers
Careers advice is available to all Sixth Form students throughout the school year. At St Bart’s we work with a number of supporting organisations on a regular basis such as the Education Business Partnership West Berkshire, Adviza, The Careers and Enterprise Company, STEM and Young Enterprise. The school is a very active member of the West Berkshire Careers Network.
In Year 12 & 13 we focus on:
- Self assessment and action planning
- Post 17/18 options (including alternatives to Higher Education)
- UCAS research, applications and completing personal statements with support from tutors, House staff, Head of Sixth Form, Mrs Lane, Year Leaders.
- UCAS Higher education conference at Bristol University
- Use of careers software (e.g. Unifrog, Careercompanion)
- Careers interviews with Adviza Personal Adviser
- Mock interviews and employability skills
- Gap Year opportunities
- Self employment and voluntary work
- Guest speakers
- Apprenticeship opportunities; a number of sessions for students who have chosen an alternative route to university.
We are very fortunate to have Mrs Amanda Gill, a Level 6 qualified careers Advisor, at the school who is provided as part of our contract with Adviza. Students can request an appointment and Mrs Gill also attends parents’ information evenings. Appointments are held in the careers office which is situated in the corridor as you enter school through the main student entrance between the Wormestall and Patterson blocks.
How does St Bart’s Sixth Form support me?
A Supportive Environment
The House system is a key feature at St Bart’s. All students belong to one of the four houses: Curnock, Davis, Evers and Patterson (named after former students who lost their lives in the First World War) and each House has a designated Sixth Form Leader with an overview of students’ achievements and targets. In addition to their subject teachers, all students also belong to a tutor and tutor group (which is made up of both Year 12 and Year 13) providing support every step of the way.
Tutor Time
At St Bart’s, each student has a tutor; the teacher guaranteed to see you face to face every day, Monday-Thursday, who will be with them every step of the way, right alongside the Sixth Form Team. Each day of our fortnightly timetable offers something different in Tutor Time.
Activities include: Debate, PDP, Tutor Project, assemblies, the opportunity for mentoring KS3/KS4 students.
Personal Development Programme
Our Personal Development Programme builds on KS4 experience, and continues its development of the three core themes:
1. Health and Wellbeing
2. Relationships
3. Living in the Wider World
All young people need support and guidance as they develop the skills and understanding necessary to make a success of sixth form studies and their future preparation for the world of work and higher education with UCAS/job applications and financial awareness. Likewise, they need an opportunity to discuss the most important and relevant issues of the day which impact on their lives, from environmental concerns, to issues of morality, social exclusion and equality. This programme combines all of these elements to help our young people understand their place in the world..
Each week, students engage with a different topic from the programme, led and facilitated by the Tutor. An additional weekly enrichment session offers insight and advice from guest speakers across sectors such as business, sport, charity, politics and the arts. Two, day-long workshops, one at a Higher Education conference, and one to explore business and enterprise issues, offer in-depth focus on these key topics.
Personalised Learning
Personalised Learning provides a specialist learning provision to support additional academic needs through a variety of one to one and small group sessions and programmes. Students access Personalised Learning when additional educational needs are identified through their application and formal assessments. Ms Hale, SENCO, tells us about the Personalised Learning team.
Bursary Fund 16-19, 2023-24
The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund is money provided by the government for schools to support disadvantaged students to overcome financial barriers to participation in education.
A bursary is money that you, or St Bart’s on your behalf, can use to pay for things like trips, books, equipment, transport and lunch. For more information on eligibility and how we can support your application, please visit our student Hub
Bursary Fund Guidance Information 2023-24
To apply to the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund visit our Bursary Application System
