How do Sponne Sixth Form meet the 16-19 study programme requirements?
All sixth form establishments that are funded by the ESFA have to ensure that they meet the criteria set out in the government’s 16-19 study programme guidance. The criteria, and how we meet them as a sixth form, are all detailed below:
All students must follow a structured study programme
Sponne is an accessible sixth form. We offer 30 Level 3 courses, which include a wide variety of A-levels including 6 vocational courses. Additional qualifications such as Extended project qualification and core Maths are also offered.
All study programmes require students to complete a minimum of 580 hours of planned activities per year, including qualification and non-qualification activities.
Students must complete a minimum of three Level 3 qualifications, in addition to the tutor time programme, core PSHE, a one-week work-related learning placement at the end of Year 12, alongside supervised study and independent study periods.
Students who have not yet obtained a GCSE grade 4 English or Mathematics are required to continue to work and obtain these qualifications.
Students who wish to study at Sponne but have not yet obtained a grade 4 in their English or Mathematics GCSE are required to attend timetabled lessons to help support them in gaining this qualification. These resits take place in November, with a second chance in January each year.
All students must take part in some form of work-related activity that will enable them to develop critical employability skills needed for real working conditions. These should be meaningful non-qualification activities and should take into account their needs and career plans, as well as prepare them for adult life more generally.
All Year 12 students are required to organise and take part in a compulsory week of work-related learning during the final term of Year 12. Students spend tutor time and study periods investigating their placements to ensure that they are searching for placements that will allow them to develop skills and have experiences that link to their overall career goals.. All students have access to a database to aid their search and their work-related learning will be recorded and monitored on Unifrog
The tutor time programme and PSHE provision are both well structured and comprehensive. Examples of curriculum topics include mental health and wellbeing, road safety, radicalisation, extremism, managing personal finances, effective revision strategies and preparing for post 18 life to name but a few.
Sponne Sixth Form runs a business networking event in the summer term for Year 12 students, where students can talk to people from a variety of careers and backgrounds.
We run a post-18 day in the summer term, whereby students attend talks from universities and alternative post-18 options.
Alongside this, further careers support and guidance is available when we attend the UCAS Exhibition and students also have the opportunity to attend any individual open days and apprenticeship fairs, as well as having access to an independent careers advisor.
In order to prepare for applications, students start to complete their personal statements in the summer term of Year 12 on Unifrog. Students are given a lot of advice from universities on this and follow a process of ensuring this is checked by teachers, tutors and Sixth Form Team.
We offer a variety of leadership opportunities for our students within the sixth form. The Sixth Form Student Leadership Team is a group of students who take on responsibility within our community. Their roles include focuses on wellbeing, environment, extra curricular and charities . This group of students all apply for their positions and are interviewed by the Sixth Form Team, and they are involved in decision making for the sixth form community alongside the Sixth Form Team.
Students are encouraged to participate in the lower school community
Our sixth form students also work to benefit our community through their enrichment work. Students undertake mentoring in subject lessons, reading mentoring with Year 7 students or lower school form time and helping in enrichment clubs.
