Sixth Form Tutor Time Curriculum

Our Sixth Form Tutor Time Curriculum is designed to help students thrive academically, personally and professionally. It provides a structured programme that complements classroom learning, develops essential life skills and supports students as they prepare for their next steps beyond school.

Year 12 Programme

Monday: Sixth Form Briefing

Students receive key announcements, important notices, enrichment opportunities and updates from across the school community. This ensures they remain informed and engaged in the wider life of the school.

Tuesday: Academic Success

These sessions focus on developing the study skills needed for success at A Level and other Level 3 qualifications. Topics include:

• Effective independent study habits
• Time management and organisation
• Note-taking and knowledge retention
• Revision strategies
• Examination preparation
• Academic resilience and wellbeing

Wednesday: Character Education

Building on the character education curriculum studied in the lower school, these sessions address issues particularly relevant to sixth form students and young adults. Students explore topics such as:

• Leadership and responsibility
• Relationships and communication
• Diversity and inclusion
• Personal wellbeing and mental health
• Digital citizenship
• Ethical decision-making and social responsibility

Thursday: Wider Academic Reading

Students engage with articles, research, current affairs and subject-specific reading designed to extend their knowledge beyond examination specifications. These sessions encourage intellectual curiosity, critical thinking and the development of academic discussion skills.

Friday: Sixth Form Assembly

Assemblies bring students together to celebrate success, hear from guest speakers, explore current issues and strengthen the collective identity of the Sixth Form community.

Cycle 2: Careers and Work Experience

Alongside the weekly programme, students take part in a dedicated careers curriculum that helps them explore future opportunities and make informed decisions about their next steps. This includes:

• Researching career pathways
• Understanding labour market information and employment trends
• Developing employability skills
• Arranging and preparing for work experience placements
• Reflecting on experiences and identifying future goals

Cycle 3: UCAS and Next Steps Applications

Students receive tailored support for their chosen progression route through specialist programmes that may include:

• UCAS applications and personal statements
• Apprenticeship applications
• Employment pathways
• Art, drama and specialist portfolio routes
• Interview preparation
• Student finance and admissions guidance

This bespoke approach ensures every student receives guidance that is relevant to their aspirations.

Year 13 Programme

In Year 13, the tutor curriculum continues to promote academic excellence whilst placing increasing emphasis on students' transition beyond Sixth Form.

Students continue to engage with:

• Academic study skills and examination preparation
• Character education and personal development
• Wider reading and current affairs
• Assemblies and enrichment opportunities
• Careers guidance and progression planning

In addition, Year 13 students follow a dedicated programme focused on preparing for independent adult life. Topics include:

• University preparation
• Apprenticeships and employment
• Student finance and budgeting
• Managing personal finances
• Accommodation and independent living
• Personal safety and wellbeing
• Workplace expectations and professional conduct
• Building independence, confidence and resilience

By the end of Sixth Form, students are equipped not only with strong academic qualifications, but also with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to succeed in higher education, apprenticeships, employment and adult life.

Student leadership

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Leadership is a vital part of the Sixth Form experience. We believe that every student should have the opportunity to develop the confidence, resilience and communication skills that effective leadership requires. Sixth Form students also play a crucial role in shaping the culture of the school, acting as role models and helping to foster a strong sense of belonging for younger students.

To ensure all students gain meaningful leadership experience, every Year 12 student undertakes a leadership role within the school community. These opportunities allow students to contribute to school life while developing valuable skills that will support future university, apprenticeship and employment applications.

Leadership roles include (among others):

• Student Council and Head Students 

• House Captains
• Safeguarding Ambassadors
• Reading Support Mentors
• Key Stage 3 Mentors
• Sports Leaders
• House Competition Leaders

Student Council

The Student Council are a key leadership structure within the school and offers an opportunity for students to truly develop their independence and initiative. Representatives work closely with school leadership and peers to identify improvement opportunities and organise activities that strengthen the school community.

Student Council members:

• Plan and run community events and charitable initiatives

• Support all major school open events and are representatives of the school

• Lead the popular "Surprise a Teacher" recognition programme
• Represent the student body in meetings and discussions
• Develop public speaking, teamwork and organisational skills

House Captains

House Captains are central to fostering house spirit and encouraging participation across the school. They serve as ambassadors for their house and provide leadership for students in all year groups.

House Captains:

• Lead house assemblies and events
• Organise and promote house competitions
• Encourage participation and teamwork
• Celebrate student achievements
• Act as the public face of their house within the school community

Supporting Younger Students

Many Sixth Form students choose leadership roles focused on mentoring and supporting younger pupils. Through reading support programmes, Key Stage 3 mentoring and safeguarding ambassador roles, students help younger learners to develop confidence, resilience and a positive school experience.

Developing Leaders for the Future

Our leadership programme ensures that every Sixth Form student has the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the school community. Whether leading an assembly, planning an event, mentoring younger students or representing their peers, students leave Sixth Form with the confidence, responsibility and leadership experience needed to succeed in the next stage of their education and future careers.

Extra curricular and Enrichment - please rename section JUST Enrichment

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We believe that education extends far beyond the classroom. Our Sixth Form enrichment programme is designed to broaden horizons, deepen academic understanding and provide experiences that help students develop into confident, ambitious and well-rounded young adults.

Through a combination of super-curricular and extra-curricular opportunities, students are encouraged to pursue their interests, challenge themselves and prepare for success in higher education, apprenticeships and future careers.

Super-Curricular Opportunities

Our super-curricular programme enables students to explore their subjects beyond the specification, developing the intellectual curiosity and independent learning skills highly valued by universities and employers.

Subject-Specific Trips and Visits

Every subject offers opportunities for students to engage with their discipline in real-world settings.

Some experiences are close to home, including:

• Study visits to the Bodleian Library and Ashmolean Museum
• Visits to Oxford Crown Court for Criminology students
• Exploration of local places of worship for Philosophy, Ethics and Religious Studies students
• Residential fieldwork experiences for Geography students to collect data for their coursework and independent investigations
• University conferences, lectures and subject-specific enrichment events

Students may also benefit from international educational visits, such as:

• Physics visits to CERN and the Large Hadron Collider
• Academic trips to Vienna for History and Psychology students

University Partnerships

We enjoy strong relationships with local universities and regularly participate in their outreach and enrichment programmes.

Students benefit from opportunities including:

• Mathematics lectures and masterclasses at the Oxford Mathematical Institute
• Participation in Oxford Brookes University's Thinking Human Festival
• Academic conferences, taster lectures and subject workshops
• University open days and residential experiences

Many of our students have successfully secured places on the highly competitive Science Oxford STEM Apprenticeship Programme, providing valuable exposure to cutting-edge scientific research and industry.

Widening Participation and University Preparation

We regularly participate in widening access and outreach initiatives with leading universities, including programmes offered by Bristol, Exeter and UCL.

Through Brookes Engage, students receive sustained support in preparing for university, developing academic skills and understanding the transition to higher education.

A particularly distinctive element of our provision is our partnership with The Elephant Group, a national organisation that supports academically able students from state schools to access competitive universities. Through the Elephant Access Programme, students can benefit from university visits, summer schools, application support, Oxbridge and Medicine preparation, employer engagement and guidance designed to raise aspirations and strengthen applications to leading universities. 

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

Students have the opportunity to undertake the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), an independent research project on a topic of their choice.

The EPQ is highly regarded by universities, particularly the most competitive institutions, as it develops:

• Independent research skills
• Critical thinking
• Academic writing
• Project management
• Presentation skills

Independent Learning and MOOCs

Through Unifrog, students can access a wide range of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), university taster courses and extended learning opportunities from organisations around the world. These enable students to pursue interests beyond the classroom and strengthen applications for future study or employment.

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Extra-Curricular Opportunities

Alongside their academic studies, students are encouraged to contribute to the wider life of the school and develop the personal qualities that underpin future success.

Leadership Opportunities

Leadership forms a central part of Sixth Form life. Every Year 12 student undertakes a leadership role, developing confidence, resilience and communication skills while making a meaningful contribution to the school community.

Roles include:

• Student Council Representatives
• House Captains
• Subject Ambassadors
• Sports Leaders
• Safeguarding Ambassadors
• Reading Mentors
• Key Stage 3 Mentors
• House Competition Leaders

These opportunities enable students to support younger pupils, lead events and represent the student voice across the school.

Duke of Edinburgh's Award

We offer the opportunity for students to complete the Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award, a nationally recognised programme that develops resilience, teamwork, leadership and independence.

The award provides excellent preparation for university applications, apprenticeships and employment while encouraging students to challenge themselves through volunteering, physical activity, skill development and expedition experiences.

Volunteering and Community Engagement

We are currently expanding opportunities for students to contribute to the local community through meaningful volunteering experiences.

These opportunities help students:

• Develop leadership and teamwork skills
• Gain valuable experience working with others
• Support local organisations and community projects
• Build evidence of commitment and service for future applications

International Opportunities

In recent years, students have participated in fully funded educational visits to Thailand and Vietnam through the Turing Scheme. These life-changing experiences enabled students to develop cultural awareness, independence and global perspectives while working collaboratively with international partners.

Although the Turing Scheme funding has now concluded, we are actively exploring opportunities to re-establish similar international mobility experiences through future programmes, including potential participation in Erasmus+ initiatives.

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Our enrichment programme ensures that students leave Sixth Form with far more than outstanding qualifications. They develop the experiences, skills, confidence and aspirations needed to thrive at university, in apprenticeships, in employment and as active contributors to society.