Are you wondering what the next steps should be for your child’s educational journey at the end of Year 11? Are you wondering why to send them to an independent school like Bredon School when there are some great state Sixth Form colleges out there? With lots of options, choices and decisions to be made, where do you start? At Bredon School, we believe that there are many benefits to our academic, vocational and extra-curricular offer for our Sixth Form pupils, but to discover our top six, read on…
1. Top 1% in England for Value Added, 16-18 years
Bredon is ranked as one of the most successful value added schools in England by the Department for Education – demonstrating how much progress our Sixth Form pupils make between the end of Key Stage 4 and the end of their Sixth Form Studies (16-18 years), compared to similar students across England.
Bredon achieved the highest possible grades in all categories in our most recent Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) report, published in October 2018. The School was judged as ‘Excellent’ in both the quality of Pupil Achievement and Pupil Personal Development. The report also highlighted how ‘the school’s individualised approach and extensive curriculum ensures that every pupil can make progress and develop confidence and skills for the future.’
2. Broad range of Sixth Form course pathways
At Bredon School we offer a varied and engaging curriculum for Sixth Form pupils, including a range of traditional A and A/S Levels, BTEC diplomas and Cisco Industry certification. Our advanced Cisco Academy courses additionally offer a pathway of placement to an apprenticeship programme, a unique opportunity that we are very proud to offer our Sixth Form pupils.
So whether your child wants to follow a traditional academic pathway into university, follow a vocational pathway to the workplace or an apprenticeship route through our Cisco Academy, Bredon School Sixth Form can provide the opportunities and offer support throughout their education.
Our lessons are taught to small class sizes of no more than 12 pupils at a time (and often smaller), ensuring that each individual can thrive within their chosen pathway, under the guidance of their subject specialist teachers. All lessons are taught using a multi-sensory approach and always with dyslexia-friendly interventions as standard, ensuring every child is fully supported in their studies.
3. Enrichment Programme
Embedded within our Sixth Form pupils’ timetables are a series of Wainwright lectures. These Lectures are aimed to broaden pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the wider world, helping them to become more responsible and informed young people. They are designed to inspire pupils to consider their next steps in life. External speakers help pupils to gain insight into career choices, apprenticeships, working in the voluntary sector, GAP year options and many other topics besides. Past Wainwright Lectures have included talks from professionals in the Emergency Services, Armed Forces, Event Management and a Team GB athlete. Our aim is to give pupils the very best start in life by empowering them to follow their aspirations and achievements in the future.
In addition, Bredon School Sixth Form pupils have the option to take a selection of enhancement programmes, designed to assist pupils in developing their personal and social skills. Programmes include the highly respected Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Combined Cadet Force (CCF), our established Young Enterprise Programme, Community Service and the School Council.
Every year, the whole Sixth Form goes off-site to take part in a two-day Sixth Form Leadership Camp, which promotes leadership skills, supports pupils to communicate effectively and overcome challenges they may never have thought possible.
4. Award Winning Work Experience Programme
For pupils studying vocational and Level 2 courses, they have the opportunity to spend up to one day a week in a work placement setting alongside their school studies. This allows pupils to develop vital personal skills, a strong reliable work ethic and has led to many pupils being offered paid employment or apprenticeship following completion of their studies at Bredon School. It means that by the time they leave Bredon, they have a solid year of work experience to add to their CV. This unique approach has led to Bredon winning the Independent Schools Association ‘Senior School Award for Academic Excellence and Innovation’ in recognition of our work experience programme.
Furthermore, all pupils are provided with comprehensive careers support via an individual career advisor, who will have one-on-one regular meetings to support each student as they progress through the Sixth Form. This means that each pupil is supported to explore future course options, university applications and obtain practical work experience opportunities that match their career aspirations.
5. Leadership Opportunities
The Sixth Form at Bredon ensures that every pupil has the opportunity to achieve their true potential and are equipped with the necessary qualifications and skills that will prepare them for their future.
At Bredon School we recognise that challenge and responsibility are the aspects to developing great leaders. Many of our pupils aspire to be a member of the Prefect Team and take on additional leadership roles and responsibilities within our school community. The roles available include:
* Head Boy and Head Girl
* Heads of the School Council
* Head of Sport
* Head of Thomas House
* Head of Jarrett House
* Head of Sharp House
Each role comes with a great deal of responsibility and commitment, therefore pupils are expected to put themselves forward via an official application and interview process. This is excellent interview practice for university and the workplace, enhancing pupils’ professional skill set. Each role comes with responsibility and involvement in decision making which affect the procedures within Bredon School. Successful candidates are role models for the entire school community both within the school grounds and externally and our pupil leadership roles provide an opportunity to shine, work collaboratively with peers, and be an exceptional representative of Bredon School.
Those in our senior prefect positions are supported in their development by attending the ‘Senior Prefect Development Programme’ which is organised by the Society of Heads.
6. Recently Refurbished Sixth Form Study Centre
Our recently refurbished Sixth Form Study Centre holds 20 quiet isolated pods designed for individual periods of study, plus a collaborative working area, with an office at the end of the building so that academic support is always available for pupils. The design for the new quiet Study Centre is reminiscent of a library format within a Higher Educational setting, preparing our pupils for life after their Sixth Form studies.
The study area is set within a peaceful area of campus and is exclusively for use by our Sixth Form pupils, providing them with the independence and confidence needed for independent academic study in preparation for life beyond the school gates.
