YEAR 12

Year 12 sees a very different school experience for those returning after GCSE. This manifests itself in a variety of ways. First of all, Tutor groups are rearranged. Some pupils do not return after Year 11, new pupils come from other schools and most Year 11 tutors begin the Lower School cycle again, returning to Year 7. New groups have to be formed and assigned to different tutors, and very often, new friendships are made as a result.

Pupils are expected to register attendance at school and at lessons with a 'Swipe' card. Attendance and punctuality are no less important in the Sixth Form and tutors do follow up on problems with either. 'Swiping in' does not replace contact with the form tutor and a registration session is held each morning to monitor attendance, pass on information and work on individual or group pastoral tasks.

The uniform code is a good deal more relaxed, with pupils having the freedom to wear their own clothes, always bearing in mind that school is our 'workplace' and dress should reflect this.

Pupils will find that, unlike Lower School, not every period of the day has a lesson. Students are expected to be at school for a minimum number of hours, whether in lessons or using the private study facilities. Once this agreed minimum timetable has been agreed, students can negotiate home study arrangements: as the name indicates, this time at home should be spent on study for specific subjects.

The Sixth Form Common Room offers a social space where pupils can spend break and lunchtimes. Year 12 and 13 students who are not in lessons are encouraged to use the Dining Hall before the rest of the school breaks for lunch, enabling them to beat the rush when the bell goes at 12.20 p.m. There is a lot more freedom to leave the site throughout the day, particularly since some pupils will find themselves having to go to one of the other Pudsey Consortium schools, or another institution for all, or part, of some courses.

At the end of September, it has become a custom for the whole of Year 12 to go to Morecambe for the day to take part in a sponsored walk across the 'shifting sands' of the bay in the company of the Queen's Official Guide, who leads this expedition at certain times of the year. Money is raised for activities later in the year and for charity. The walk is followed by an afternoon and early evening out in Blackpool. A good time is usually had by all, weather permitting!

Midway through the term, Year 12 students organise a social evening for pupils in Years 7 and 8 and their parents. Activities, competitions, quizzes, games and refreshments are on offer at very reasonable prices, and there are some great prizes to be won! The evening is a non-profit making event aimed at developing team work skills among the Sixth Form in a way which allows them to contribute to the wider community life of the school.

This theme is continued at Christmas when Year 12 puts on a Christmas Party for the pupils of Milestone Special School. Each form takes responsibility for providing an aspect of the event: food, decorations, cards, gifts, games and activities, even Santa and his elves. On the day, the common room is transformed with streamers, balloons, decorations and a tree. In the afternoon, volunteers from Year 12 host their guests on behalf of the Year group. There is always a lot of fun, a lot of laughter and an enormous amount of learning.

Towards the end of the year, the annual Awards Evening is held. Parents of Year 12 pupils are invited to see their sons and daughters receive their GCSE certificates gained in the previous summer's exams. Subject awards are also distributed to students for their efforts in Year 11.

In the Spring and Summer terms the 'Understanding Industry' conference, the Higher Education Fair at Leeds University and a visit to the Open Day at York University all give Year 12 students an insight into what they might plan to do at the end of their Secondary school career. In the final week of Year 12, all advanced students spend a week preparing for the university admissions process or planning their progression into employment.

As the year continues all advanced students take modular exams in all their AS courses. All are encouraged to keep a balance between school, part-time work and social commitments. Towards the end of the year, Year 12 pupils sit the final round of modular exams, which marks the end of AS courses. They return to school to begin the A2 courses in all their subjects before the summer break. When results are published in August, pupils then decide whether to drop a subject and accept their AS grade, or whether to continue and consolidate their AS into a full A-level. For some, this is the end of their time at Priesthorpe. The extra year after GCSE will have enabled them to gain the qualifications needed to progress to a college or other training course. For others, one more year here remains, before they venture on to Higher Education or employment.

Mr S. Williams
Head of Sixth Form