The Library / Resource Centre is open for study at all times during the day from 8:00am until 4:00pm, and until 4:30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays for homework catch-up clinic. Students must also obey the rules of the Library whenever you are there. Work silently, no food and drink, and use computers for research/study purposes only - not chat rooms, games, etc!  

To help students cope with the workload at Sixth Form they will have study periods when they are not timetabled for a lesson. It is vital that they make good use of this time. The successful student balances study time and social time sensibly, ensuring that deadlines are met and that all work is completed, as well as enjoying a healthy social life both in and out of school. Any unlocked room can be used for study when there are no lessons taking place in them as long as they are left tidy for lessons.

To support students in developing good habits in their use of private study time Year 12 students will find a 10th lesson for each subject on their timetable that does not have a teacher allocated. During this time students are expected to meet and form study groups with people in their class where they can help one other with homework and test each other on recent work. A room will sometimes be allocated that you can use to meet up where one is available. In DT, Art and Photography students are encouraged to make regular use of the practical rooms whenever they are free to continue your work.  

A common mistake made by many new arrivals in the Sixth Form is to think that the amount of homework set will be about the same as at GCSE - but only in 3 or 4 subjects! Unfortunately, this is not the case.  Students should expect to do an hour out of lessons for every hour in lessons. This time does not simply consist of written assignments. They might be set reading or research or to create a presentation. If no work has been officially set or if they complete it quickly then they are expected to spend time reviewing their notes, preparing for the next lesson, organising their files, reading around a topic, creating revision materials or testing one another.  

If a student misses homework deadlines they may be directed to the library for our homework catch-up clinic after school on Tuesday or Thursday to enable the work to be done so they don’t fall further behind.

If a computer is free a student may normally use it, though they must politely ask staff’s permission if a lesson is taking place in the room. Many of our subjects have considerable learning resources available on ‘Moodle’, our virtual learning environment.

We encourage student to use their own devices such as laptops and tablets for work in study areas and lessons where this is appropriate. The Sixth Form also does have laptops which are available for students to use when on site, as well as three computer rooms and computers in our library. Free WiFi is provided throughout the Sixth Form Building. We expect you to use this appropriately and within the agreed parameters. As in the learning agreement, mobile phones are not to be seen in main school and not out in lessons in either building.

Students are expected to have a lever arch folder for every subject they sit. They are not expected to have these folders on them for each lesson, but they are expected to produce them upon request from their teachers. This means that students should regularly transfer notes and worksheets to their folders.

Their folders should be organised and provide clear evidence of the work that they are doing and the progress they are making. Your teachers will complete folder checks every half-term to ensure high standards are maintained.

Student Folders must include dividers linked to units which must include: class notes, assessments and evidence of hour for hour independent hour.

All students are expected to have the following and this will be checked by tutors and teachers:

• Pens, pencils
• Ruler, eraser, pencil sharpener
• Highlighters
• Different colour pens, pencils for annotating notes, making diagrams etc.
• Subject specific equipment, i.e. calculator.