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6th Form

Curriculum Intent

“To do and be of our best”

Stuart Bathurst is a Catholic Sixth Form which is inspired by the Catholic tradition and holds at the centre of our ethos and academic philosophy, the dignity and uniqueness of each person. As a Catholic Sixth Form, we are a community which is built on faith, hope and love and as such we embrace and celebrate Gospel values and live them out through all areas of our academic and pastoral curriculum. We actively celebrate diversity amongst all our students and staff, and through high quality teaching and learning, we seek to nurture the gifts of each individual and enable each student to achieve their full potential.

Stuart Bathurst Sixth Form through its curriculum offer and extensive enrichment programme, lives out our mission statement to full and all students and staff are called to:

“To bear witness to the Gospel values

and act always with a steadfast determination to do and be of our best”

Our Sixth Form curriculum and enrichment programme coupled with CIEG and UCAS Support Programme, prepares every student to access a university course or a professional career and all students are supported in seeking higher education, training or employment. Stuart Bathurst Sixth Form’s understanding of ‘professional’ includes all careers requiring a serious, professional attitude supported by commitment to achieving academic or specialist qualifications. It prepares students for adult life and provides them with the skills, experience and qualifications necessary to access the opportunities it offers. As well as building knowledge and skills, the Stuart Bathurst Catholic High School Sixth Form curriculum, through its design and implementation, intentionally develops the Jesuit Pupil Profile whereby students are enabled to develop and embody the values by becoming:

Grateful for their own gifts, for the gift of other people, and for the blessings of each day; and generous with their gifts, becoming men and women for others.

Attentive to their experience and to their vocation; and discerning about the choices they make and the effects of those choices.

Compassionate towards others, near and far, especially the less fortunate; and loving by their just actions and forgiving words.

Faith-filled in their beliefs and hopeful for the future.

Eloquent and truthful in what they say of themselves, the relations between people, and the world.

Learned, finding God in all things; and wise in the ways they use their learning for the common good.

Curious about everything; and active in their engagement with the world, changing what they can for the better.

Intentional in the way they live and use the resources of the earth, guided by conscience; and prophetic in the example they set to others.

Our curriculum has been designed to allow all students who come to us with a range of skills and personality traits, as well as the body of knowledge, to function effectively and ambitiously as responsible adults in modern British society. Through our non-academic curriculum including General Religious Education and enrichment programme, students are encouraged to explore concepts and truths about the world, discovering their creative self, applying acquired knowledge and participating in extra-curricular and faith based enrichment activities, whilst exposure to the school’s full curriculum gives our students the opportunity to develop academic excellence, emotional maturity and cultural capital.

Stuart Bathurst Catholic Sixth Form offers students access to a broad curriculum that reflects the needs, interests and aptitude of our diverse community. Students are able to select a programme of 3 or 4 A levels from a broad range of GCE A Level, Applied General, Technical and BTEC qualifications. With the introduction of a Level 2 pathway (where/when appropriate), Stuart Bathurst Sixth Form is an inclusive and forward thinking community which lives out the Gospel values and recognises the dignity of the human being The curriculum extends to a wealth of enrichment activities which prepares students for a university course or professional career. This includes a programme of careers guidance including assistance with preparing CVs, personal statements and UCAS applications, which supports progression to next steps – no one is left behind. Visits to universities and participation in academic workshops and masterclasses, encourage students to aim for courses most closely matching their career aspirations and aptitudes and allow students to explore first hand what is beyond Sixth Form study.

The Sixth Form curriculum offer is reviewed annually and in doing so, it continually reflects the expertise of our teaching staff and the needs of our current cohort. Students are encouraged to explore course choices through a comprehensive transition programme including taster week sessions, induction days and university master classes.

Working in partnership with universities such as Aston Medical School and the University of Birmingham, our Sixth Form students enjoy support in applying to the Pathways to Health Care Programme (Aston Medical School) and the Routes To The Professions Programme at The University of Birmingham. Each year our students are successful in securing places in these highly sought after courses, and in doing so are better prepared to achieve their ambitions and aspirations to join the professions.

Our Sixth Form offer prepares all students for a university course or professional career and all our students are guided in making the right choice with support from Connexions and the Sixth Form team. With a new Level 2 offer when appropriate for the cohort, the Sixth Form is able to take a more inclusive approach to our student profile.

All students are encouraged to remain numerically literate with the offer of Core Mathematics, whilst students who achieved less than a Grade 4 either GCSE Mathematics and/or English Language, are enrolled in GCSE lessons which are characterised by high quality teaching to ensure equality and justice, and to allow them to access these vital qualifications in preparation for working life.

The curriculum blocking system is created in response to student choice through the application process and every effort is made to satisfy demand within the constraints of teaching resources, whilst maintaining course viability and sustainability. Students are guided in their choices at interviews with senior staff and offered support in matching A level subjects with career aspirations. The taught curriculum is enhanced by information and guidance provided by pastoral and academic staff members of the Sixth Form team and a great emphasis is played on providing enrichment and extra-curricular opportunities to allow students to develop as spiritually aware young people with a sense of social responsibility. Alongside this, students enjoy opportunities to develop employability skills through the Barclays Life Skills Programme and planned Work Experience alongside their academic programme.

 

Curriculum Model 2021 – 2022

Year 12 – Level 3 Pathway

Block A

Block B

Block C

Block D

Block E

Mathematics

Business

Sociology

 

Business

English Literature

Psychology

Chemistry

Health and Social Care

Religious Studies

History

Computer Science

Biology

Digital Media

Media Studies

 

IT

Core Mathematics

Physics

Sports

English and Mathematics GCSE is placed in a block to ensure student access.

Year 13 Level 3 Pathway

Block A

Block B

Block C

Block D

Block E

Mathematics

Business

Sociology

English Lit

History

IT

Business

Physics

 

Chemistry

Digital Media

Health and Social Care

Religious Studies

Biology

Computer Science

Media Studies

 

Psychology

Sports

Core Mathematics

 

English and Mathematics GCSE is placed in a number of blocks to ensure student access.

Pastoral and Enrichment Programme

Year 12 and Year 13 have 30mins per week in collective worship in the school theatre/online, this provides the opportunity to come together as one community united in faith, values and vision. All students participate in this act of worship and take on responsibility for planning and delivering assemblies which reflect their cultural and faith identity. In addition, students are presented with guest speakers which introduce and educate them on themes that are current in the political and social landscape of the world in which we live.

All students in year 12 and year 13 experience 25mins each day – Monday to Thursday – with their form tutors where in addition they are led through a Core RE programme of study which develops their ‘whole’ person, socially, morally, spiritually and culturally and are given the opportunity to review world events and current affairs. One hour per week is dedicated to General RE – all students are enrolled in this.

Our young people are confident and feel able to express their beliefs in a safe environment which respects the individual and their contribution to their school, local and global community.

In non-contact time, students are enrolled in a private study programme and voluntary work, either based in school or in the wider community – being of service to others is integral to our ethos and sense of shared social responsibility.

Supporting the faith life of the school is a commitment which is expected of all our staff and students and Sixth Form students in particular play a significant role in this aspect through leading on acts of worship, speaking and singing at masses and leading our younger community in collective worship.

Work Experience

Our vision here at Stuart Bathurst Catholic Sixth Form is to provide opportunities for students in Year 12 to develop key skills and become better equipped to make positive contributions to society in the future following their academic education.

UCAS states that two thirds of employers look for graduates who have experience and not simply the qualifications alone. Our work experience placements allow our students time to refine soft skills such as communication, team work, problem solving, motivation and time management; which are essential to have in the workplace and are highly valued by employers.

Any students wishing to pursue a career in medicine, nursing, care work, law or education will most certainly need work experience in these fields to stand out from other graduates and by securing placements at appropriate professional environments, our students are able to observe first-hand the challenges and privileges of working in the vocational professions.

Work experience placements help shape students futures and increases their knowledge of an industry or sector, inspiring them to pursue those careers as they progress through education and then in the workplace. Work experience placements enable students to make informed decisions regarding their future career choices and introduce them to a wealth of experience and guidance. It can help students to focus their learning when they come back into school and drive them on to succeed and shape their future.

Work experience is an invaluable part of our curriculum offer and enhances the life experiences of our young people, giving them to confidence to seek out the top professions and gain the knowledge and skills to become more than they are and truly 'do and be of their best'.