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ANTHONY GELL SCHOOL SIXTH FORM ROSPECTUS 2020 — 2022

RW: How do students know what SM: I would say choose subjects that
courses are right for them? you are really passionate about, that
play to your strengths and that you
SM: Students get the chance to pick
their preferred subjects throughout may want to take beyond Sixth Form.
If you enjoy the subject that you are
SIXTH FORM STUDENT REUBEN Year 11 from a grid I produce, we give studying, you have a better chance of
WALKER SPOKE TO DEPUTY HEAD them the maximum amount of
being successful. Also, research the
STUART MCINTYRE ABOUT HOW opportunities to discuss options with courses or jobs you want to do and
STUDENTS GO ABOUT CHOOSING teachers and the leadership team so find out what subjects you need for
THE RIGHT COURSE — AND HOW that we can be sure they are on an this, and how many UCAS points you
appropriate course. It’s not just about
THE SCHOOL SUPPORTS THEM. need if it’s a University course. Often
their studies now, it’s about creating
it’s only one subject that is
a pathway that will take them on to
RW: So, what is your role in the the next stage, whether that’s compulsory, so make sure that you
school? University, a higher level compliment this with courses you
enjoy and are good at. We’ve tried to
SM: I’m responsible for organising apprenticeship or employment. help with this by introducing some
However we don’t just have courses
the curriculum, which includes applied subjects, in Psychology, Law
identifying subjects we offer, the which take two years to complete, and Science, these courses are
one of the things I am most
allocation of time for these subjects challenging, but are much more
in the timetable and working out how proud of is 8 the one year practical with less emphasis on final
pathway we now offer. I identified a
we can best serve the needs of all of exams. So for me, I would say, don't
our students both in terms of ability, small group of students who either be fixed in your choices, and be open
and what they want to do in the were not ready to leave AGS, or they to exploring the possibility of
just needed another year’s study. The
future. studying other subjects.
one year pathway option allows these
RW: How do you go about organising students an extra year to gain a RW: I ended up doing completely
a Sixth Form curriculum? further qualifications, experience, different courses to the ones I chose
SM: It's a long process, it takes at maturity and confidence before they in Year 11, and even did taster
least a year! It starts by talking to the move on to the next stage. That lessons in various subjects to help me
students in a series of assemblies and might be to continue on to the two decide what do to. Do you think this
listening to what they want – making year pathway, go into employment or is common?
sure we don’t put on courses no one enrol on an apprenticeship. Most SM: Absolutely, and we encourage
wants to do. We keep talking to importantly it gives them an extra that. Ultimately we just want the best
students throughout the year – up to year to decide what is right for them for our students, with the widest
and beyond GCSE results day. So we beyond AGS. possible range of options we can
tailor the curriculum each year to RW: I know I took a while to decide offer, so if students have changed
that particular cohort of students. It's on my choices, what advice would their minds, or subjects they want to
not ‘one size fits all,’ and that's one of you give year 11 students on how to do clash on the timetable, keep
our strengths; As a Sixth Form we are choose courses. How do they know talking to us and we’ll keep trying to
very, very flexible. find the best solutions.
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