We meet on a weekly basis, in the Main Hall or the Middle School Hall when the Main Hall is not available.  The assemblies begin at 8.30 a.m. and involve both Year 12 and Year 13.

Attendance

This is expected to be exemplary!  You register with your teacher, Lesson 1 in the morning and Lesson 5 in the afternoon.  If you arrive late you must sign in and you will be recorded as being late.  If you have a Study Period at Lesson 1 or 5, you must register with Vanessa who is situated outside the Sixth Form Office.
You should telephone the School on the morning of your absence to notify teaching staff.
When returning from any absence, you should hand a letter in to the Finance Office.  We will contact your home after three days unexplained absence.  If you know you are going to be away for a medical appointment, interview, a field trip, School visit, etc, then please inform your tutor and subject teachers well in advance.  We are looking for an attendance record of greater than 95%. 
Attendance figures are always included on School references for employment and universities: EMA payments are also reliant on a 100% attendance record.
If you have to leave School for any reason during the day, for example for a hospital appointment, you must sign out and back in using the sheet outside the Sixth Form Office. 

Careers and Higher Education

Options need to be discussed with your Tutor throughout your time in the Sixth Form.  Relevant material is available in the Learning Resource Centre; prospectuses may be borrowed from here.  You can arrange a Careers interview with Kirstie Barter, our Connexions officer, or alternatively with Mrs Hilary Hampton, both of whom can be found in the Learning Resource Centre (LRC).  A formal programme of Higher Education and Careers Guidance starts in September of Year 12 through various assemblies and enrichment..

Commitment

It is essential that students are committed to their studies if they are to achieve success.  It is important you show this commitment by attending lessons, using study time appropriately, and completing work set to the best of your ability.  Right time, right place summarises things nicely! 

Communication

Effective communication between all involved in the School will help it to run smoothly.  You will find that making an effort to communicate openly with your tutor, subject staff and peers will encourage good working relationships.
The Head of Sixth Form relies on passing important information to you via the Study Room Whiteboard, which should be read regularly, and through your tutor.
Periodically, Sixth Form Newsletters are produced.  These contain important information and have a reply slip on them to help ensure your parents actually have an opportunity to read them.  Any problems encountered at School will be relayed by letter home and parents will be invited in to discuss your progress, with your teachers and yourself. 

This follows on  from the Junior Sports Leaders Award (JSLA) lower down the School and is available for students to follow.  It operates during the Wednesday afternoon parallel to the Sixth Form PE lessons.

There are Internet capable computers available in the study area next to the Sixth Form Office.  There are also machines in D72 and the Learning Resource Centre which are available for Sixth Formers to use during study periods, providing they are not being used for timetabled classes. 

These are used when staff need to inform tutors that you are not achieving as well as you should, for instance missing coursework deadlines.  Your tutor will then discuss these problems with you, pass details of the action taken to the Head of Sixth Form and, if there are serious problems, you will be referred to your House Mentor for 4 weeks of mentoring to help support you and get you back on track.  Also your parents will be informed by letter and may be invited into School to discuss your progress with you and your teachers.  Whilst we always seek to be positive, we are keen to ensure that high levels of achievement are maintained.  Failure to do so will result in you being advised to seek an alternative place of study.

Database

Please inform your tutor, in writing, of any change in personal circumstances, for example a change of address or telephone number.

Deadlines

These should be made clear whenever a piece of work is set (you should ask if they are not).  For some subjects, deadlines will be short term, perhaps a day or so, while for others they may be much longer, perhaps a week or more for essays and months for project work.  You need to plan your time carefully to meet these.  Missed deadlines increase pressure on you and may prevent you achieving your target grades.

Dress

In the Sixth Form you are asked to dress sensibly, as appropriate to a workplace and in a manner suitable for senior members of the School.  We trust you to appreciate the more flexible nature of Sixth Form dress while recognising your responsibility to present both yourselves and the School in the best possible light.  Where students are inappropiately dressed they can expect to be sent home to change without prior warning.

Driving

We recognise that passing your driving test is one of life’s important achievements and that the test must be taken at whatever time is specified so absence for driving tests is authorised.  However, driving lessons must be arranged so that they do not interfere with any lessons or meetings these are your priority.

Enrichment Sessions

These occur five times a year, over a double lesson in place of Sixth Form PE on a Wednesday afternoon.  A variety of topics is covered in these in these sessions such as Sexual Health, Drug Awareness, Fair Trade, Safe Driving and Writing a UCAS Personal Statement. 

Examination Certificates

Certificates from public examinations are collected at the Presentation Evening held in December.  We cannot send them through the normal post.

Holidays
You should not take these in School time as this will disrupt your studies. In extenuating family circumstances, authorisation may be granted by the Head of Sixth Form if notified in writing well in advance. All time taken off for holidays will be recorded as unauthorised absence.

Home Learning
You should be doing at least four hours’ homework per week for each AS subject and six hours for each A2 subject.  Double AS/A2 courses obviously require double that time.  The extra work and background reading will only enhance your chances of success.
House System

All Sixth Form students are part of this with Devizes students remaining in the same house and external students being allocated to a house.  Make use of the opportunities that are offered to you through this system such as leading events and/or being involved in assemblies. You are seen as a role model for other pupils in the school

Industrial Projects/Work Experience

All Sixth Formers should make the opportunity to organise some work related activity that builds on previous experience and contributes to their application to Hoigher Education.  Students taking vocational courses will spend time in the work place as necessary for their couse. 

Jobs

See part-time employment.

Learning Resource Centre (LRC)

This facility is open for you to consult/borrow books.  There is a bank of 15 computers here which you are free to use, providing they have not been pre-booked. Quiet is expected in the Learning Resource Centre.  Your behaviour should be an example to younger students who are also using the facility.  Food and drink should not be carried through or consumed in the LRC.  You are also reminded that you shuold not walk through the LRC when there are classes in progress.

Learning Strategies Department

If you have a specific or moderate learning difficulty, please make sure that you alert your tutor/ Head of Sixth Form so that they can organise any support you may need.

Lunch

Meals are served in the Lower School Dining Hall and lighter snacks are available from the Sixth Form Vending Room throughout the day and hot snacks served at break time. You are also free to use the Leisure Centre or eat in town at lunchtime. Fish and chips/hot food should not be brought back into the Sixth Form Block!

Medical Appointments

Please make such visits, for example to the doctor or dentist, outside of School hours. If a visit in School hours is unavoidable ensure that you sign in and out and provide prior written notification to tutors/teachers.

Mentoring

Mentors will be available for you to see if you feel you need extra support. Each House is allocated a mentor. You can refer youself by asking The Head of Sixth Form or your Tutor to make you an appointment. You may also be referred to a mentor if your teachers/tutor/Head of Sixth Form believe you would benefit from extra support. The mentoring process takes 4 weeks and usually consists of one meeting per week during VTG time where you will set targets for yourself and assess your progress over the 4 weeks.

Minibuses

The School minibuses have forward facing seats, each with its own seat belt which must be worn when travelling. All drivers of the minibus have completed a course of training.

Mobile Phones 

Newsletter

Every term the School Newsletter is distributed through registers.  The Newsletter contains a wide variety of information to keep everyone up to date with what is happening at Devizes School and should be taken home for parents to read.  Any Sixth Form activities should be recorded in the Newsletter do the rest of the School know what the Sixth Form are doing.  

Noticeboards 

You should read any notices posted by the Head of Sixth Form on the Study Room Whiteboard when you arrive in School every morning. Get to know the purpose of the other different notice boards and look for items that concern you.  Consult with one of the Sixth Form Team if you want to use a display area.

Open Days 

We take Year 12 students to the UCAS convention at Bath University in March and to one other nearby university for their Open Day in April.  If you are at all interested in Higher Education, you should attend these days and also organise visits of your own independently. Look out for the dates for Open Days on notices in the Sixth Form Area, and consult university websites for details of Open Days.

Outdoor Pursuits

We encourage you to participate in as many of these as possible. Watch out for news of skiing, Duke of Edinburgh Award and other trips.

Outstanding Achievement 

This is recognised by teaching staff who notify your tutor and Mr Evans.  A postcard is then sent home to acknowledge your success.  You will then receive a raffle ticket from Mr Evans and will be entered into a draw for a £50.00 Curry's voucher (one for year 12 and one for year 13) at the end of the year.

Parents' Evening

A Consultation Evening for both Year 12 and 13 will take place in November, so please check your calendar. This is for students’ benefit, so you are expected to come along with your parents.

Part-time Employment

You are at an age where you may well want the financial independence that such employment can provide. The right sort of job will help you to demonstrate reliability and responsibility, and give you very important experience of dealing with members of the public. However, you have chosen to stay in School to improve your future prospects and it is important, if you are to achieve your target grades, that the time spent in employment does not limit your achievement at School.  Evidence has shown that part-time employment in excess of ten hours per week has a progressively negative impact on student achievement: this is the maximum we expect you to do per week.

Personal Stereos/ipods/MP3 Players ETC

The Sixth Form have the privilege of using personal stereos in the Sixth Form Area and the LRC.  They must not be worn elsewhere in the School.  Please keep the volume to a sensible level.  If it disturbs others, it is likely to be damaging your ears! The Sixth Form CD player is ONLY for use in the Common Room.

Peer Mentoring
There is an opportunity for year 12 students to be trained as Peer mentors and be paired up with a lower school pupil to mentor for the year. This is a valuable opportunity and should be considered seriously. Being a mentor is an important role and will help you develop important skills which will benefit you in the future. Photographs

All Sixth Formers are photographed at the start of term 1 in September but there is no obligation to buy these photographs. A Year 13 leavers’ photograph is taken each May.

Physical Education

Devizes School became a Sports College in September 2004 and our new slogan is “active body, active mind”. Students have the opportunity to take part in the timetabled PE afternoon on Wednesdays unless they have a doctor's certificate to cover injury. Students are given the opportunity to choose the activities they wish to take part in and are able to swap activities termly. Participation in these activities also broadens references for students and enables them to demonstrate teamwork and leadership skills.

Planning 

You will need to do this well if you are to manage your workload efficiently. You are strongly advised to sit down at the weekend to look at the week ahead and allocate specific times for each task that needs to be tackled. You will always need to leave a 'cushion' of some free time in order to accommodate the unexpected. An essential tool, to help you plan your time, is the Student Planner which will be available at a nominal cost at the start of the year.

Presentation Evening 

This event takes place in December.  The previous Year 13 are invited to return to collect their exam certificates, Certificates of Achievements and celebrate sporting success.  Current Year 13 students who have been awarded Certificates of Achievements are also invited to attend.  Awards are presented by a guest speaker. 

Problems

If you encounter problems with your work, you should discuss these with your subject teachers and your tutor so that difficulties can be resolved quickly and effectively. You should not simply avoid the issue.

Prom

This takes place before Year 13 go on study leave and is organised by the Sixth Form Committee who raise funds thorough organisation of parties and events over the year.  It is open to both Year 12 and Year 13 to attend. 

Publicity

We are proud of our Sixth Formers. Tell us about your achievements in and out of School so that they can be included in the Newsletter. Alternatively, write your own article about the last theatre trip or university visit you went on; universities look very favourably upon this type of contribution to School life!

Recycling

There are recycling bins available in the Study Room, Common Room and the Vending Machine Room for paper and cans, please use them.

Registration Time

It is essential that you are registered twice a day. Once in the morning with your subject teacher for Lesson 1 and again in the afternoon with your subject teacher for Lesson 5. If you have a Study Period during these times you must register with Vanessa who is situated outside the Sixth Form Office. It is your responsibility to make sure you get registered.
Reports

A full report is compiled for parents in the spring for Years 12 and 13. Examination results will be issued after the January and June examination periods.

Re-sits 

Re-sits for AS and A2 courses will incur charges for examination fees, currently around £13 for AS/A2 and £17 for a vocational AS/A2. These are payable by the candidate. Students not fulfilling the requirements of their courses, or of the Sixth Form, may also be required to pay examination entry fees.

Results 

Examination results are released on a Thursday in mid-August, with GCSEs a week later. Arrangements for posting or collection are announced well in advance. Students relying on 'A' level grades for entry to Higher Education are advised to come in to School on results day so that we can help them to deal with any problems.

Senior Students/House Captains

Four students are elected by staff and Sixth Form students to present the public face of the Sixth Form and Devizes School. Their responsibilities include being a role model for younger pupils in their house, leading House and Tutor events, representing the School at various events, giving presentations to prospective Sixth Formers and attending lower school assemblies to inform them of Sixth Form events. Their tenure is from March of Year 12 to March of Year 13. This is a post of significant responsibility with substantial commitment of personal time, but is certainly something for all students to aspire to.

Sixth Form Area

The upper floor of D block is almost exclusively yours. Please treat it with respect and keep it in a tidy state so that it can be enjoyed by all.

Sixth Form Committee

The Committee organise social events, fund raising activities, and liaise with staff regarding improvements to the Sixth Form environment.  Their biggest event is the Sixth Form Prom held at an external venue.  This is a formal occasion and you should dress accordingly; it is THE social event of the year, for staff and students alike! (Year 12 and Year 13.)  The Committee is made up of four key Year 13 members who put themselves forward and are then interviewed for their chosen role.  (Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer.)  There are also other members from both Year 12 and Year 13 who help run it from June to June.  Meetings are held weekly and minutes are posted on the VLE.

Spotlight

If, for some reason, you prove unable to manage your study time or workload effectively, you will be placed on Spotlight and will be expected to sign a timetable in the Sixth Form Office every time you are free. This measure rarely needs to be used but has proven useful in re-establishing effective study routines.

Staff Absence

When staff are absent, you should go to the normal room for your lesson. If staff know they are going to be absent, work will be set in advance. When absence is unexpected, work will usually be brought to the room by another member of the department.

Study Leave

Students and parents will be informed of the specific dates of study leave, which inevitably takes place in Term 5/6. For other exams or re-sits, only the morning session prior to an afternoon exam will be granted as study leave. In Year 13, the principle of Home Study is introduced. In consultation with parents and tutors, students may opt, where their timetable allows, to study at home for two sessions per week. However, you must still be in school for tutor period at 10.10 am if you nominate a morning.

The management of your study time is your responsibility, operating within certain restrictions. In Year 12, for Terms 1 and 2, students stay on site during lesson time.  In January, providing individual students have demonstrated an appropriate level of application to their studies, greater flexibility is introduced.  In Year 13, students manage their own study time. However, if you go off site you must sign out and back in using the sheet outside the Sixth Form Office.  This is essential to Fire Safety Regulations. Inappropriate use of study time will be reflected in poor academic performance and will result in individual students losing the freedom to manage their own study time (see Spotlight).  In study lessons, you are expected to use the Quiet Study Room provided, or the LRC, working in a way which does not disturb others. Snack food or drink may be consumed in the Study Room and you will work most effectively by seating yourself so that you can work independently.

Target Grades 

Following discussion with your teaching staff these are set in Term 1 and become the benchmark by which you are monitored for the rest of your time in the Sixth Form.

Teacher Training Days 

Advance notice of these is always given in the Newsletter. They are not always the same as those in the Infant and Junior schools.

Tests and Examination 

Departments set tests as they think appropriate, throughout their courses. Failure to achieve appropriate results, a lack of commitment to work or high level absence could result in your being dropped from the subject and subsequently asked to leave the Sixth Form. External examinations occur on the dates set by the examination boards. These occur at intervals during AS/A2 courses. Timetables for all examinations are published well in advance and posted on main notice boards in the Sixth Form Area. You should always look carefully for any clashes and report them to the Examinations Officer.

Timetables

Your individual timetable can only be changed through proper process and after full consultation with staff, particularly your tutor and the Head of Sixth Form.

Tutors

Your tutor is your daily point of contact and should be kept fully informed at all times.  The tutor is the first person to approach if your parents have a query about your schooling and tutors will contact your parents if they have concerns to discuss.  You will meet your tutor every day in tutor period from 10.10 - 10.30 am.

These are compiled by your Tutor, using comments from subject staff, when you make applications for Higher Education, training or employment. Your Tutor will discuss the reference with you before it is sent and a copy is kept in your file. You should make your Tutor aware of any activity you participate in out of School.

Vending Machines

They are available for light snacks and drinks. Responsibility for appropriate disposal of associated waste lies with individuals. Use the bins provided!  The management of these machines rests with the Sixth Form and the profit from their operation directly benefits Sixth Form students.

VLE 

Virtual Learning Environment - this is the name of the in school IT network, for which you will need a username and password to gain access.

This is valued and will be mentioned in any reference. Your help will always be sought and appreciated at open and information evenings, a variety of public events and with a number of different organisations and charities. There will be opportunities to help younger pupils with their reading, in lessons, with sports and with other activities. These opportunities are important, both for those you help, and your own personal development, demonstrating that you care and can take responsibility.

 Mr G Evans Head of Sixth Form, Miss N A Cottrell Assistant Head of Sixth Form

DEVIZES SCHOOL SIXTH FORM
an achievement orientated place of study