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Sixth Form

You can email on sixthform@driffield.e-riding.sch.uk or phone our direct sixth form line on 01377 232365. The Sixth Form currently consists of around 300 students studying a wide range of Advanced and Level 2 courses.

The Sixth Form enjoys a superb reputation both locally and nationally and many of our best features have been highlighted in inspection reports. Our most recent OFSTED report stated that:

• The Sixth Form provides students with a very good education.
• The students have excellent opportunities to develop the skill of independence.
• Very good relationships characterise the Sixth Form community.
• Provision of extra curricular activities and enrichment programmes is excellent.
• Students enjoy being in the Sixth Form and are all extremely supportive of it.

We are proud of our excellent record and the individual achievements of our students. This doesn’t happen by accident! You will receive excellent teaching and support from staff who are always prepared to go the extra mile for their classes. This encourages you to develop into an independent learner, ready to face the challenges of life after Driffield School.

Facilities

Common Rooms

Year 12 have a large Common Room used both as a working area and a social area. During study time, you may want to use the Common Room to complete assignments, read and keep on top of your work. This is an essential part of your daily routine. In the Common Room there are work tables, table football and ten new networked computers and a laser printer. Next to the Common Room there is a study room for those students who prefer to study in quieter surroundings. This room is also equipped with 8 new computers attached to the Network and a laser printer.

Year 13 has a dedicated centre with excellent adult working and social facilities. The East Canteen is open all day for Sixth Form students to buy hot and cold drinks and food which can be taken into the Common Rooms or eaten in the canteen itself.

Private Study

The school is well equipped to ensure that all you need is on-site, from the specialist resources to the staff to give you guidance and advice. The Learning Resources Centre is used by a large number of Sixth Form students during the day where you can access CD Roms, DVDs, the Internet, books and journals as well as have a peaceful working environment.

Help and Support

All students participate in a busy Tutorial programme. This naturally means that our students are kept extremely busy throughout their one or two years in the Sixth Form and perseverance, commitment to quality and determination will be essential to gain success. As well as all this, there is a great element of enjoyment in making social, academic and personal progress and if you continue your education with us, we are sure that you will enjoy your studies and progress to well deserved success in later life. We have a Head of Student Support based in the Year 12 centre who deals with all matters relating to student welfare, attendance, advice and support. Our Connexions service offers specific time dedicated to the Sixth Form where you can drop in and discuss any issues relating to your studies, career intentions or personal situation.

Dress

There is no uniform policy for Sixth Form students. You are naturally expected to wear clothes which are suitable for the environment in which you are working.

Sixth Form Committee

The Sixth Form Committee is there to represent the needs of the students. Each form group is represented and meetings of this group are called during lunch times. Through the Committee, issues can be raised to staff and suggestions made to improve facilities for all students. The Committee attends to various matters concerning day to day life and matters concerning the Common Room. It also ensures that links are maintained with the rest of the school by organising events with younger pupils.

Personal Development and Progression

Building a powerful CV and ensuring you have the edge when it comes to applying for employment or Further\Higher Education is a vital role of the Sixth Form. To help you show these additional skills, there are a wide range of Enrichment options in the Sixth Form which include General Studies; Open University Modules, Level 3 CoPE, Sixth Form Committee; Work Experience; Charity Committee; Fitness Suite; Young Enterprise, Year 7 and 10 Mentor Programme, First Aid, Subject Ambassadors and many more.

Many of our learners move on to Higher Education and we are especially proud of our students' success rate on very competitive courses like Medicine and Veterinary Science. We aim to achieve 100% pass rate at A2 every year and believe strongly that no student should spend two years on a course only to fail it. In Summer 2007, our learners gained the highest ever percentage of A-C grades at A Level with nine students gaining all A grades.

Money Matters

What is the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)?

All students applying for Post 16 courses at Driffield School to start in September 2008 will be eligible to apply for The Education Maintenance Allowance.

It is a weekly payment of up to £30 paid directly into your bank account. You can also receive a bonus of £100 in January, July and (if on a two year course) in September, January and July of Year 2. Bonuses are paid on satisfactory learning progress. Over a two year course, the EMA could be worth up to £2,900 to each eligible student.

Students only completing a one year course (eg. Level 2) will be eligible to be funded through a further two years if they move onto another course at a higher level.

Entitlement depends on an assessment of household income. These payments DO NOT effect any benefits a family might be already receiving.

There are three levels of EMA: £10, £20, £30.

For students in households with income below £20,871 per year, the full payment of £30 per week will be made. Between £20,872 - £25,521 payments are £20 per week. Between £25,522  - £30,810 payments are £10 per week. For households with income over £30,810, EMAs and bonuses will not be paid.

Payment or non-payment is decided by us based on a Learning Agreement signed by the student. This is in two parts comprising attendance and progress. Payments will only be made if a student complies fully with the terms of our Learning Agreement.

Applications for the EMA should be made BEFORE you enrol on a course. This allows for the assessment of eligibility to take place and you to have payment from September 2008. In April 2008, Application Forms will be sent to those who have requested them.

Anyone even thinking about applying to a Post 16 course MUST complete an application form as soon as they become available in April.

There is also an EMA website you can find more information on www.ema.dfes.gov.uk.

Learner Support Fund

There may be times during your time in the Sixth Form when your personal circumstances may need a temporary injection of funds to help you complete your studies.  The Learner Support Fund (LSF) is designed to help you through difficult circumstances.  The LSF may also be used to help all students with costs towards materials, courses, visits and other activities which will enhance your studies.  You can confidentially discuss your circumstances with Mr Myers or Miss Bateman.

Travel Costs

Home to school transport is organised by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council from the majority of our surrounding villages into Driffield.  There is no free transport into school for Post 16 students.  To ease this situation, most second year sixth form students and some Y12 students act as Bus Monitors for the East Riding and in return will receive a free bus pass.  Applications for Bus Monitors can be made in September, but are issued at the discretion of the ERYC and only to a maximum number per bus. There is usually the requirement for all Bus Monitor applications to be accompanied by an application for a termly travel pass.

For heavily discounted travel, students can purchase a monthly pass at £18, a termly pass at £65 or a yearly pass at £180 from the East Riding of Yorkshire Council; applications for discounted travel are available from Mr Myers or Miss Bateman in September.

Advanced Level Course

• To start an advanced programme in the sixth form, it is recommended that you have gained 5 GCSEs at grade C or above and have at least a grade C in the subjects you want to take, or in the case of new subjects, a wide range of GCSEs at C or above.
• In year 12, you will have a choice from a wide range of subjects and the majority of students will start on 4 subjects plus something from the options booklet.
• Most subjects are divided into four units of work, two units to be covered in year 12 which when examined will be known as an AS qualification. The full advanced qualification will be taken at the end of year 13. Some courses have retained their six units of work with three covered in Y12 and three in Y13.
• All advanced courses at AS or full Advanced are graded A-E as passes.
• All courses will demand some elements of written external examination.
• External examinations in all courses can be in January and/or May/June (of year 12).  For this reason, it is important that students do not take holidays where at all possible during term time.
• Students may re-sit externally assessed units, but this must be paid for by the student/parent.

Level 2 Courses

• These courses are one year courses (year 12).
• They will give you the necessary qualifications to move to an advanced course if you wish.
• They will prepare you both for life at college, further study in the sixth form or for employment.
• They will increase your self confidence, motivation, and skills in communication, information technology and application of number.
• These courses are more suitable if you have gained mainly grades D-G at GCSE.
• You will gain either a pass, merit or distinction
• You will have to put together a portfolio of evidence which will include essays, reports, research, presentations, work experience, evidence of visits to establishments which undertake the kinds of activity you are studying.
• You will need to be willing to work hard, organise a file of evidence and work in groups.Making Decisions
• In making your decisions there are many people who might be able to help you – talk to as many possible.
• Students in years 12 and 13 will be able to talk about their experiences.
• Subject tutors will give further information about course content and will provide an opinion on your ability.
• Form tutors are available to offer help and advice.
• Connexions advisors (careers) are regularly in school.  Appointments can be made to see them at any time.  They are also available to help you at parents’ evenings.
• Parents should be involved at all stages in your decision making.
• Employers can give work experience or work shadowing and offer advice on their experience of business or industry.

In making your final choice you should be asking yourself:

• What are my strengths?
• What do i enjoy?
• Who is around to help?
• Is this my own choice?
• What if my career choice changes?
• Am i happy with the choice?
• Has everyone been consulted?
• What will i need for my career?
• Have i looked into my choices enough?
• Have i any doubts?

You can talk over your choices or ask questions about any aspects of Sixth Form life by contacting Mr Myers or Mrs Stevens in school. We will try to help you as much as possible. Finally, you can browse all of the opportunities available Post 16 at Driffield School online at www.logonmoveon.co.uk. If you are not a member of Driffield School already, you can ring for an application on 01377 232365.

Here at Driffield School we are working towards equal opportunities and our students will not be discriminated against in terms of age, race or disability.  What matters is that our students are given every opportunity to develop relevant capabilities, which will then enable them to progress to continuing education, training and employment.