Watford Grammar School for Girls. SIXTH FORM PROSPECTUS 2016: Life in the Sixth Form

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1 Watford Grammar School for Girls SIXTH FORM PROSPECTUS 2016: Life in the Sixth Form

2 Welcome to the Sixth Form Prospectus for Watford Grammar School for Girls. This booklet is intended for Year 11 pupils who wish to stay on into our Sixth Form, and for those who wish to join us from other schools in Year 12. Entering the Sixth Form is a very exciting time; pupils are encouraged to study independently and they are also looking ahead to life beyond school, considering a range of options open to them and, by the end of Year 13, most will have made plans for the next steps of their education or career path. Being in the Sixth Form also provides many opportunities for girls to take on positions of responsibility within the school, such as supervising younger girls and running school clubs and societies. Girls are also encouraged to take leading roles in the work we do in the wider community, notably with the many charitable activities undertaken by the school. The Sixth Form girls are the senior pupils in the school and act as role models for the younger pupils. Sixth Form pupils aim high; they are expected to work hard and achieve their best. You will have to learn to be very good at organising your time and ensuring that all reading and homework tasks are completed on time and to a high quality. This will include taking responsibility for your own learning, reading widely around your subjects and ensuring that you seek help and support from teachers for any issues that may arise. You will have lessons and private study periods built into your timetable. You are expected to use private study periods for in-depth reading and personal research. It is expected that you will spend a minimum of five hours study for each subject being studied, and many pupils will spend more than this. You will be expected to attend school regularly and to be punctual to school and to lessons, as well as meeting assignment deadlines. I am certain that you will find the Sixth Form a rewarding and inspiring time, when you will study the subjects you love whilst preparing for the your chosen career or the further course of academic study that awaits you after school. Mrs. Clare Wagner Headmistress

3 Why Study at Watford Girls? We are immensely proud of the students who pass through our Sixth Form. Nearly all our Sixth Formers progress to Higher Education. Details of the destinations of last year s leavers can be found at the end of this booklet. We have a thriving, highly successful Sixth Form of over 400 students. Many of our Year 11 pupils choose to join Year 12 at WGGS and there is great demand for the places available to external applicants. We are able to offer a choice of 28 A level courses and each academic department has an established record of high achievement at this level Owing to the excellent, highly commended academic teaching and the wide range of extended curriculum opportunities, our students go on to become proficient and confident Women for Tomorrow s World. Pastoral Care and Teaching Excellence You will be allocated a tutor group when you join Year 12. Your tutor will remain with you for two years and will be responsible for your care, guidance and welfare. In addition there is an Assistant Headteacher (Head of Sixth Form) and Heads of Years 12 and 13, who are also available to help and guide you.

4 The school is very proud of the excellent examination results achieved at Advanced Level. This is due to a commitment by the staff and students to hard work: working together in partnership, each student s potential is fulfilled. Tutorial time helps you evaluate your progress, set targets and enable you to gain as much as possible from the school community and from your time in the Sixth Form. The school has an excellent record of students gaining university places. Inspiring, challenging and sensitive academic teaching, tailored to individual needs, is complemented and supported by comprehensive provision of advice and guidance, so as to ensure that each student makes an appropriate choice of higher education course and university. Personal Education and Guidance The Personal Education and Guidance Programme is delivered in General Studies lessons. The aims of the programme are: To support your learning and to develop your independent study skills; To widen your educational experience beyond A Levels; To encourage the development of wider key skills; To provide careers education and guidance; To prepare you for application to university, college, employment or training. The programme includes lectures by visiting speakers, presentations by staff and activities undertaken in tutorial groups.

5 Independent learning Throughout the Sixth Form you will be encouraged to take increasing responsibility for your own learning and to improve your skills in research, planning and evaluation. These are the key to success at A Level. The Sixth Form has a dedicated building with common rooms and private study facilities. You may also make use of the school library and the Food Factory coffee bar in private study periods.

6 Careers and Higher Education Guidance In Year 12 you will undertake a programme which includes Higher Education Related Learning and FACE (Focus and Action on Careers and Employment). The programme includes FACE week: an opportunity to participate in work experience placements appropriate to your aspirations. This will prepare you for making applications to University, Art College, Music Conservatoire and for gap year placements and employment. You will receive guidance on writing a CV, completing an application form, writing an effective personal statement for your UCAS form, and preparing for interviews. The programme culminates in our Face the Future event: an afternoon of practice interviews given by visitors from various professions, colleges, businesses and other organisations. Many of our visiting interviewers are alumnae who return to support the Sixth Form in their preparations for life after Watford Girls. You will also receive appropriate guidance to assist with preparation for any university admissions tests. If you choose to apply for Art Foundation courses, the Art Department will play an active part in helping you to complete application forms and to assemble your portfolio.

7 Extra-Curricular Activities Many subjects arrange for students to attend enrichment activities outside school such as lectures, visits, study days and field trips. Year 12 students help to run a large number of thriving clubs for junior girls. Sixth Formers also act as Study Buddies for the younger girls to help support their learning. The Sixth Form also has its own very active societies such as the Government and Politics Society (GAPS), and Medical Society. You are encouraged to set up new societies for yourselves and the younger students to reflect your current interests. The school also takes part in national and regional competitions and initiatives, like the Science Olympiads, Maths Challenges, Bank of England Target 2.0 Interest Rate Challenge, Young Enterprise, and a variety of subject based essay competitions. Many Sixth Form girls take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. Our thriving Music Department offers a wealth of activities popular with the Sixth Form such as Senior Choir, the Joint Schools Orchestra, Big Band, and various Chamber Ensembles.

8 Year 12 girls arrange a Christmas Party for the elderly in the local community. This is an opportunity for you to develop leadership and teamwork skills. Year 13 are also engaged in charity work for the local community; one of your flagship events will be the promotion of our annual Harvest Festival.

9 Physical Education There are, in addition to timetabled Physical Education sessions, a great many clubs, teams, practices and activities available to the Sixth Form. In addition, you will be encouraged to help with junior activities such as lunch time sports clubs. As well as competing from district to national level in a wide range of sports, there is also the opportunity to take part in displays and performances, and to take advantage of the facilities at the school s Fuller Life Health and Fitness Centre.

10 Expectations and Responsibilities. We encourage you to develop a 'personal package' of activities, using academic and nonacademic opportunities to develop your skills and attributes as you prepare for university study and future careers. The Sixth Form students wear a uniform distinct from the rest of the school, reflecting their position as senior members of the school and young adults. You will have the opportunity to apply for the position of School Prefect or Subject Prefect towards the end of Year 12. The senior team will be made up of the Head Girl, three Deputy Head Girls, the Sports Captain and the Music Lead. They are supported by a team of seven Senior Prefects. How to apply The deadline for application is 9 th December The application form can be found on our website

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12 HIGHER EDUCATION PLACES ACHIEVED 2015 Students in the 2015 Upper Sixth continued their studies at the following universities/colleges. Subjects in parentheses indicate joint degrees or combined courses. Anthropology Archaeology Architecture Art & Design Biochemistry Biology Biomedical Sciences Bioveterinary Sciences Business & Management Chemistry Classics, Ancient History Dentistry Development Economics Education Engineering English Environmental Science Finance & Accounting Geography Geology History of Art History Law Liberal Arts Mathematics Media Medicine Modern Languages Music Neuroscience Nursing, Midwifery Nutrition & Dietetics Optometry Pharmacy Philosophy Physics Physiotherapy Politics Psychology Radiography Religious Studies Sociology Sport Science Durham(2), Manchester, Sussex Southampton Nottingham Lancaster, Loughborough, Middlesex, Nottingham Trent, Southampton Nottingham Essex, Exeter, Nottingham(2), Reading, RHUL Bradford, Coventry(2), QMUL, Sussex Bristol, RVC Birkbeck, Liverpool, Manchester Oxford Bristol, Swansea Cardiff, KCL(6), Manchester(2), QMUL LSE, SOAS(Music) Birmingham(Politics), Bristol, Kent, Leeds, Nottingham, RHUL, Sussex Birmingham(Sociology) Cambridge, City, Imperial, Loughborough(3), QMUL, Surrey, Swansea, UCL Birmingham(Philosophy), Durham, Essex(Drama), Exeter, KCL, Leeds(Sociology), Oxford, Sheffield, UCL(2), Warwick Leeds Aston, City, Coventry, Reading Cambridge(2), Durham, KCL, Southampton Birmingham Courtauld Institute Birmingham, Exeter, Nottingham, Oxford, QMUL, RHUL Aston, Cambridge, Coventry, Durham, KCL, Manchester, Southampton, Surrey Winchester Bristol, Kingston, Leeds, QMUL, Warwick(2) Boston USA, Leeds College of Art, Nottingham, Nottingham Trent Buckingham, Cardiff, Imperial(2) Birmingham(English), Bristol, Manchester(Business & Management), York Brunel, Durham, Southampton Central Lancashire, Glasgow, KCL, Manchester KCL, UEA Coventry, Reading Aston, Anglia Ruskin Manchester, Medway School of Pharmacy, Nottingham, Reading Cambridge, Nottingham(Sociology), Oxford(Politics & Economics) Birmingham, KCL Birmingham, Nottingham(2) Aston(Economics), Edinburgh(Philosophy), LSE, Nottingham, Warwick(3) Keele(Forensic Sci), Leicester, Liverpool, Nottingham, Sussex City KCL(2) Coventry(3), Durham, Leeds(3), Loughborough, Southampton, Sussex(2) Bournemouth KCL King s College London LSE London School of Economics QMUL Queen Mary, University of London RHUL Royal Holloway, University of London RVC Royal Veterinary College SOAS School of Oriental & African Studies UCL University College London UEA University of East Anglia