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SUCCESS FOR LIFE
'Pupils make consistently strong progress in most subjects in the main school and the Sixth Form' Ofsted 2018
'Progress in the Sixth Form is strong in both applied and vocational subjects' Ofsted 2018
'The students were charming and very engaged and participative - a real pleasure to meet.' Schools & Colleges Liaison Advisor (South West) - The University of South Wales
'Our daughter will always look back at her time in Denefield as a very special time...' Parent
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Sixth Form
Welcome from the Director of KS5
I am delighted to welcome you to Denefield Sixth Form. In this section of the website, there is an opportunity to find out more about our Sixth Form and the members of staff with specific responsibilities at KS5. I hope that it will encourage you to apply; you will find all the documentation relating to our application process at the foot of the page.
Denefield Sixth Form is an inspiring learning environment. We have high standards of student conduct and our students behave excellently both in and out of lessons. We have a strong culture of engagement, encouragement, and effort. It is our belief that students should be treated with the dignity of adults and Denefield Sixth Form is founded upon respectful relationships; students can expect to build strong bonds with their peers and members of staff alike. The typical Denefield Sixth Form student is conscientious, ambitious, and engaging. Students are dedicated to their studies, both in timetabled lessons and in independent study sessions. Lessons are taught by subject specialists who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and expertise. Students are supported through their studies by staff who care personally and are ambitious about each student’s future. Staff provide a safe but challenging environment for students to learn in, ensuring that there is suitable independent work, extension tasks and wider-reading available to supplement the content covered in lessons. We offer an inclusive curriculum that enables students to choose both traditional A level courses and vocational BTEC courses at Level 3.
At Denefield, we recognise that what happens in the classroom is only half of our purpose and we also provide opportunities for personal development through our Success for Life programme. It is our belief that qualifications + CHARACTER = Success for Life. We benefit hugely from being a school based Sixth Form; students are fully integrated into the lower school, and there are many opportunities for students to take leadership roles. Community service is an important part of our extra-curricular offer and students relish the opportunity to be involved in the wider community. The variety of leadership opportunities students are exposed to enable them to strengthen applications for employment, apprenticeships and university courses. Although students have greater independence as they move into post-16 education, we benefit from the structured support that having a school base can afford. Students are expected to complete a full working day, with timetabled independent study and community service and tutorial sessions. The rationale behind this is the belief that a focused working day allows students to live rich and varied lives in their own time. Through our unique tutor programme, and in assemblies, students gain access to impartial careers advice, learn more about current affairs and develop their CHARACTER. We are very much a destinations-focused institution. Students get a weekly opportunity to explore their futures and potential careers in more detail; we use a platform called Unifrog to support students with apprenticeships, employment, and university applications. Most of our students go to university after Sixth Form. This year, we are expecting 65% of our students to attend university, whilst 40% of these students have applied to Russell Group universities. Students get dedicated support from their tutors and the Sixth Form Leadership team. They are guided through each part of the process and supported in preparing personal statements and for interviews. We have a Russell Group that is directed by Mr Peacock, where students are guided through the application procedure to the top higher education institutions in the country. The number of students applying for apprenticeships has increased in the past three years and we provide expert advice and guidance for this pathway, with a strong record of successful applications amongst our student body.
Denefield Sixth Form students are role models for younger students, and their standards of dress are an important part of the culture of our Sixth Form. We are a Sixth Form based on a school site that has high standards of dress as a part of their values and ethos, and we expect Sixth Form students to lead the community by example, reflecting these standards. We have a dress code that stops short of a prescriptive uniform, with the aim to have a smart appearance that allows a degree of personal expression. The behavioural expectations of Sixth Form students are outlined in the Sixth Form charter and the school’s behaviour and discipline policy.
I am fortunate to work with dedicated colleagues who are passionate about providing support to everyone in our care. Contact details for the members of the Sixth Form leadership team can be found below.
Sixth Form Leadership Team
Mr A Binnington: Assistant Head - Director of KS5 – abn@denefield.org.uk
Mr M Peacock: Deputy Head of Sixth Form – mpk@denefield.org.uk
Mrs J Levey: KS5 Student Manager – jly@denefield.org.uk