Joining our Sixth Form
The vast majority of our Upper Fifth Form progress into the Bishop’s Stortford College Sixth Form, having successfully achieved the entry requirements.
Please see below for details of our well-established transition procedure, which starts at the beginning of the Upper Fifth year to support and guide pupils through the important decisions they will be making regarding their Sixth Form studies and future career ambitions.
A three-day induction to Sixth Form life is held, usually at the start of July, for all students, including those joining us from other schools in the UK and overseas.
Procedure for College Upper Fifth (Year 11) Students:
Step 1: Initial Explorations
All Upper Fifth pupils will take the Morrisby Profiling Assessment in September and October, which is designed to explore skills and aptitudes that relate to future higher education and career aspirations.
The assessment is followed by one-to-one meetings with a Careers Advisor; these meetings are geared towards considering and developing career ideas, to explore future work experience arrangements and taster courses, while also suggesting possible future A Level choices.
Pupils and parents will be invited to attend our Introduction to Sixth Form Evening in November of their Upper Fifth year. This will involve a series of presentations from the Head of Sixth Form and others, and the opportunity to attend meetings with departments and teachers to discuss the nature of A Level specifications and work styles in each subject. There will also be taster lessons in each subject in the second half of the October term so that current students can get a feel for A Level style and content of lessons.
You can also read more about the Sixth Form entry procedures here.
Step 2: Application
The College assumes all Upper Fifth students will wish to transfer to the Sixth Form, unless formal notice is given. A term’s notice is required, though wherever possible, we would encourage earlier discussions of alternative plans.
In February, the Head will make the offer of an unconditional Sixth Form place to each Upper Fifth Former on the basis of satisfactory mock exam results in January; those whose mock results are below the required level will be advised of the future requirements to be achieved if a place is to be confirmed.
Step 3: Entry Requirements
Entry to the Sixth Form will normally be conditional on the achievement of:
- Minimum of either 7 grade 6 GCSEs or 3 grade 7s and 2 grade 6 GCSEs;
- At least a 6 grade in the GCSE (or related) subject for each A Level (grade 7 for Maths and Science);
- A good disciplinary and attendance record.
Step 4: A Level Choices
Guidance on A Level choices will be given at the Introduction to Sixth Form Evening, through tutor groups and Houses, and from the Head of Sixth Form to small groups.
Individual queries will be dealt with on an ad hoc basis by the tutor, House staff or members of the Sixth Form team.
All Upper Fifth Formers are advised to consider future university and career aspirations when deciding on A Level subjects, and are encouraged to discuss their plans with the Higher Education & Careers Department.
