About Us
Ifield Community College is a purposeful and inclusive Sixth Form, aiming to inspire students to approach studies with the independence, ambition and drive in order to achieve personal and academic success.
We engage and inspire our learners through high-quality teaching. We spur our students to high achievement and to develop skills important throughout life.
The expectation is that students make a positive contribution to the Sixth Form; inspiring, supporting and helping each other to succeed, whilst working proactively with all staff and peers to achieve personal goals.
When you join the ICC Sixth Form, you become a valued part of the school and wider community based on respect and consideration for all.
Meet The Team
Progress Mentors
Our Progress Mentor groups allow collaborative and supportive relationships to develop between Year Groups. You will meet your Progress Mentor on Tuesdays & Fridays during registration where they discuss important issues and provide support activities throughout the year. Your Progress Mentor will assist your future applications to university or employment.
Ask me about:-
- Advice and effective methods for studying in & out of lessons
- Tips to enhance your progress and development
- Aspirations, ambitions and targets
Additional Support
If you have an identified learning difficulty and/or disability, you may be entitled to additional support. This could include: help in and outside of class; the loan of specialist equipment you may need to complete work; support with making special arrangements for taking exams; support in accessing our facilities.
Attendance
All students are full time students. Sixth Form courses are demanding and move at a pace far faster than GCSEs. Students will make good progress if they attend all lessons and use study periods effectively.
Students are required to attend morning registration with their Progress Mentor (Tuesday & Friday) and attend all of their timetabled lessons. College hours are 8.30am to 3.00pm.
Mentor time/assembly | 8.30-8.55 |
Period 1 | 8.55-9.55 |
Period 2 | 9.55-10.55 |
Break | 10.55-11.15 |
Period 3 | 11.15-12.15 |
Period 4 | 12.15-1.15 |
Lunch | 1.15-2.00 |
Period 5 | 2.00-3.00 |
Sixth Form students may leave the college outside of lesson time. For health and safety reasons, they must use their college ID card to sign out at reception, and sign in again when they return.
Students are expected to maintain 95% attendance. Should lesson attendance fall below 90% we withhold the right to withdraw students from Sixth Form courses.
Unplanned Absence:
We expect Sixth Form students to be in school on time, every day. If there are any issues preventing students from attending, parents/carers must phone or email the Sixth Form Team before 08:30am.
- Sixth Form absence line: 01293 420508
- Sixth form absence email sixthformabsence@ifieldcc.co.uk
Students must communicate with teachers to complete missed work from a period of absence.
If students become unwell during the day and are unable to continue in school, please see Mrs Lambert (or if unavailable, medical room) to collect an orange sign out slip to take to reception.
Planned Absence:
Students who request time out for hospital appointments or any other urgent absence should fill in a “Sixth Form Absence Request Form” and return it to the Sixth Form office for approval. Year 12 students are expected to be in college during and after the examination period throughout the summer term. Students will not be permitted holidays during school term time.
External appointments must not be made for college hours. This includes lessons, private study, Mentor time or enrichment sessions. It is therefore expected that the following will be booked for out of college hours:-
- Doctors
- Dentist/Orthodontist
- Opticians
- Driving lessons
- Part-time paid or voluntary work
- Training for part-time work
Courses and Examinations
Students’ enrolment on courses is at the discretion of the Sixth Form Team and is subject to students meeting specific entry requirements.
Students are required to take an initial subject baseline assessment, taken within the first 2 weeks, to evaluate their suitability for their chosen courses. Students who fall below the baseline assessment may have to choose an alternative course.
Each course provides bridging work for students to complete over the summer before joining to prepare students for their subjects. This is found in the Sixth Form section of the school website. Any students changing courses during the year will be expected to complete this bridging work and any missed content.
Progress is shared with students informally at regular intervals via lessons. Current grades are formally shared with parents and students three times across the year, one in each term.
At the end of the first year of study, students are required to sit an internal examination for each of their subjects (vocational courses, A-Level English/Maths have an external exam).
Students will have a meeting with the Sixth Form team to discuss progress before starting the second year of study. Students’ progression into the second year of study is at the discretion of the Sixth Form Team and is subject to students meeting the Sixth Form expectations outlined in the contract and handbook.
Should a student fail to complete a course due to persistent absence, missed deadlines or absence from exams, they may be liable to repay any costs associated with their course entry. As a guide, a typical A Level examination entry costs £50 and an A Level examination entry costs on average £90. Vocational subjects cost considerably more – between £90 and £140 depending on the course studied.
Independent Study
Students will have additional time on their timetable when they are expected to study independently. They are expected to use this time productively and not for other purposes.
Students are expected to plan study time to ensure they complete one hour of independent study for each timetabled hour of lesson (13 hours a week independent study).
We recommend students prioritise study as follows:
- Specific tasks (homework) set by the teacher
- A directed task set by the teacher
- Complete tasks / research in preparation for the next lesson
- Continue / complete a piece of classwork or coursework
- Retention, Revision & Application activities
- Recap lesson content from the day’s lessons (Study Capture)
- Revise work completed in a previous topic
- Create / use revision resources – e.g. Flash Cards, Mind Maps, Question Cards, Learning Mats etc.
- Attempt past exam paper/questions
- Type up and expanding on notes taken in class
- Re-draft a marked piece of work
- Extension tasks to Deepen Subject Mastery
- Research into a topic of interest or area related to your subject
- Read a specific text or journal related to your subject
- Viewing online lectures / podcasts related to your subject area
- Complete a MOOC (massive open online course) in your subject area
Students should plan and keep a record of what work they have been asked to do and ensure that it is completed by the set deadline. Late work may not be marked.
Should independent study be of concern, it will be at the Sixth Form Team’s discretion to implement supervised study sessions and remove a student’s opportunity to leave school during the school day.
Sixth Form Study Areas
As a place of education, the overriding aim of Sixth Form is to provide students with the opportunity to achieve academically, so they can fulfil their ambitions.
When in the school building, the expectation is that students are studying, both inside & outside of timetabled lessons. When not in timetabled lessons, Sixth Form students have the option to work in our dedicated Sixth Form study areas or at home. This allows students to study in an environment that best suits their needs.
The primary purpose of our Sixth Form Study Area is to provide students with a place to work. The college comprises of several study areas exclusive to Sixth Form, each offering a slightly different environment for students to work independently, as outlined below:
• Silent study room – A space for students to work without noise. This is a classroom-sized area furnished with computer stations and desk space.
• Group Study Room – A larger double classroom space for students to work in groups where they need/want to communicate. Computers and double tables for group work are provided. The intention is that students do not settle into this room for socialising, and they must have work in front of them to study.
• LRC – A quiet study area with 60 computer stations. Occasionally, a lower school lesson is timetabled in the LRC. It is at the teachers’ discretion whether Sixth Form can continue to use spare space during timetabled lessons.
• Sixth Form Centre – Within the corridor of the Sixth Form Centre, seats are available for students to gather for short periods. Noise should be kept to a minimum. The intention is that students do not settle here for whole periods, but for shorter 10-minute breaks between studies.
• Sixth Form Meeting Rooms / Offices – These are located in the Sixth Form Centre and are for staff use only. Students are asked to respect that staff may be using them and keep noise levels to a minimum if in proximity.
• Sixth Form Music rooms – We have 3 soundproof music rooms located in the Sixth Form Centre. These are for music students only. If Sixth Form music students wish to use them, see Miss McThredder or Mrs Lambert.
• Courtyard – We provide a covered outdoor space for Sixth Form students to study. This is located between the canteen and the Performing Arts area, furnished with seated tables and available throughout the day.
Our Code of Conduct is designed to ensure a productive working environment for all students. Students should abide by the following at all times:
- Use study areas as allocated to complete independent study
- Keep noise levels to a minimum to allow others to work (one area is dedicated to silent study)
- Use computers for study and Sixth Form related activities only
- Treat the furniture and computer equipment with respect
- Tidy up after using an area and leave workstations ready to use
- Put all the rubbish in the bins provided
- Be respectful of others at all times
Misuse of Study Areas, vandalism of any college equipment or inappropriate use of technology may result in students being banned from study areas or asked to leave the Sixth Form permanently.
Dress Code
The aim of the Dress Code is to empower students to explore smart dress wear that reflects who they are as individuals whilst looking and feeling confident and professional.
Uniform expectations:
Students may be asked to go home and change if their appearance is deemed to be in breach of the dress code.
Should they have a genuine reason for being unable to adhere to the dress-code on a given day, they must see Miss McThredder or Mrs Lambert who will decide on the best course of action.
For safeguarding reasons, students are expected to always wear their lanyard and ID pass visibly around their neck during the college day. This is used to sign in and out of school and identify students who are not in the same uniform as Years 7-11. If students forget or lose their lanyard or ID pass, they must see a member of the Sixth Form Team.
You will be required to wear formal clothing when representing the school.
Sixth Form Success and Concerns
Staff will regularly log a record of how students are performing against expectations on Go4Schools.
The Sixth Form has a slightly different process in to years 7-11. Staff will enter codes for the following:
6S: Sixth Form Success awarded for positive events in lesson, Sixth Form or the wider school community
6C APP: Appearance Concerns around dress or not wearing ID lanyard visibly
6C ATT: Attitude Concerns displayed towards facilities, staff, students or wider community
6C DLINE: Deadline Concerns regarding, directed tasks, coursework or independent revision
6C PROG: Progress concerns in a subject
6C PUNC: Punctuality Concerns to lesson or Mentor Sessions
6CMMS: Missed Mentor Session Concern, where students have not arrived for registration (Tuesday & Fridays only)
Should students consistently and achieve Success logs for meeting Sixth Form expectations, they will be recognised and rewarded.
Students who fail to consistently meet Sixth Form expectations and are regularly receiving concern logs are placed onto a tiered Sixth Form monitoring and support process. This is a system aimed at supporting students to overcome challenges. If students choose not to engage, their place at Sixth Form may be at risk.
Serious behaviour concerns that risk the safety / well-being of others or bring the Sixth Form into disrepute will result in students being asked to leave the Sixth Form permanently. This includes possession of alcohol or illegal drugs on site or the surrounding local areas.
Use of ICT / Mobile Phones and MP3 Players
Students may use mobile phones, laptops and headphones the Sixth Form Study Areas.
Mobile phones and headphones are not permitted on the corridors at any time.
Mobile phones must be switched off during lessons and headphones removed.
Students may bring their own laptop to use in lesson at the teacher’s discretion. If a student needs to use a laptop in lesson for access arrangements, please let the Sixth Team know so they can liaise with teachers.
Food
The Sixth Form Centre and Courtyard provides appropriate areas for students to consume their own food. Students are also expected to set an example to younger students whilst maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, students should not bring energy drinks, fast-food or takeaways to the college site.