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Introduction from Director of Sixth Form
Dear Students and Parents
Welcome to our Sixth Form. At present we have 250 students who have either stayed with us from Year 11 or have joined us from other schools in West London. They, like us, believe that Gunnersbury Catholic Sixth Form has something special to offer.
Our Sixth Form is a high quality learning environment. This was recognised by the government’s OFSTED Inspection Team in December 2005, who found that
“attainment at A Level is well above the national average and improving”
“the contribution that Sixth Form students make to the life of the school community is outstanding”
“the leadership of the Sixth Form is outstanding”
“an increasing number of Sixth Formers are successful in securing their first choice university”
“students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding”
“the care, guidance and support given to Sixth Formers is outstanding”
The two principal components of our Sixth Form are our commitment to academic success and to developing the ‘whole person.’
The transfer to Post 16 education can be an anxious time for you. Choosing the right courses will be one of the most important decisions that you will ever make.
This prospectus has been designed to give you an introduction to life in the Sixth Form at Gunnersbury Catholic School and to help you to understand the range of courses and opportunities available to students in our senior section.
Our Sixth Form is part of a Consortium of 3 Catholic schools in Hounslow, the others being Gumley House and St Marks. There is a common timetable and organised travel between sites. Close contact is maintained between the schools in monitoring student’s performance.
We believe that in our Sixth Form you will receive an education second to none (our A2 Level results in 2007 were the best in the school’s history) and not just in terms of academic achievement. Students say teachers at Gunnersbury are knowledgeable, approachable and helpful. Certainly, their goodwill in giving advice and support adds greatly to the quality of our provision and to your future success.
Many parents will know Gunnersbury well, but we are always improving and making changes. The curriculum followed by students has radically changed in the last few years. As well as new AS/A2 Level examinations, we offer a range of BTEC qualifications – these are equivalent to A Levels and are worth 3 full A2 Levels. Gunnersbury is at the forefront of educational developments in the UK and we are planning to introduce further new courses in the Sixth Form for September 2008, when major changes in Post GCSE learning are introduced.
In order to ensure students can follow a wide range of course options, some classes might take place after 3.20 pm - the Sixth Form Centre is effectively open for tuition and private study from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm.
Information about the subjects that are offered in the Sixth Form is included in the Sixth Form prospectus, available at our Sixth Form Open Evening.
As always we encourage students and parents to find about as much as they can about new subjects before making final decisions about courses for next year.
Whilst we will endeavour to meet your needs in terms of subject choice, we cannot guarantee that all choices can be met. This is particularly the case for applicants who express an interest in studying a subject at Gumley or St Mark’s, where places are limited.
A £1.7 million purpose built Sixth Form centre was opened in September 2004 by Estelle Morris, MP. As well as providing 8 classrooms equipped with the latest interactive whiteboard technology, the centre has a state of the art ICT suite, a Media Studies quite with Apple Macs, private study space and landscaped recreational areas for Year 12 and Year 13 students. Much of the interior design was decided by students themselves.
The new legislative Code of Practice on admissions (DfES) is reflected in Gunnersbury’s admissions arrangements (and appeals procedures), detailed in the main school prospectus.
We are immensely proud of our Sixth Form and feel confident that, by joining us, you will work hard, enjoy yourself and achieve great success.
Mr J Doyle
Director of Sixth Form/Deputy Headteacher
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