Sixth Form Update - Spring 2
I hope you are well and are looking forward to this Easter break and the promise of some Spring weather! This term was especially short but there has been much to celebrate none-the-less…
Tier 1-3– Year 12 Students
We were really proud of how students in Year 12 responded to the support in place as we introduced them to our Tier 1-3 support system last term. We also appreciated the parental support and recognition that this is about help rather than hindrance and wanting the best for your children. With the emphasis very much on support (the academic and pastoral as well as the subject-specific and the more holistic), it’s been heartening to see students recognising this and being so actively involved in taking a lead on their learning and future successes. With Data 2 and Mock Results in, whether students are supported as a Tier 1, 2 or 3 student has been reviewed and suitable communications with students and parents had. Please recall the below…
The majority of students are working terrifically well – as individuals and collaboratively. Our aim is to ensure that every student experiences success and have as many choices as possible in the future.
Charity and Community
We were really pleased to receive recognition from the Salvation Army for our recent fundraising efforts – see below. We dovetail with the main school on charity and community events but complement this with some Sixth Form-specific initiatives.
This fundraising was a direct result of excellent student leadership initiative and the quiz and sports-event (based on College lines) which was so well-organised and so-well received by Year 12 and Year 13 alike.
March 16 saw our Culture Day and this proved to be another community success – with students representing a range of the different heritages which help make our Sixth Form a diverse and vibrant place. In particular, students shared their culinary heritage with others and raised nearly £100 in to the bargain - with UNICEF the beneficiaries of Student Leadership efforts.
We are also so pleased with the number of students who are involved in the Gold DoE programme. As you know from previous, this involves all sorts of developmental opportunities and some 40 Year 12 have this week headed off on their Gold Training Expedition. We will update with pictures and a write-up on their return.
Finally, we were pleased to be a part of the school’s commitment to charity in the recent Red Nose Day events. It was lovely to see so many so actively involved in what has become over the years a huge national dedication to helping some of the most needful.
Student Leadership
As the charity and community initiatives attest, Student Leadership thrives in the Sixth Form here at NLS. As Year 13 prepare to leave NLS (after the Easter Break there are only a handful of weeks left), Mr Boyes (who takes a lead on whole-school Student Leadership) is succession-planning. So, the process for 2026-27 was launched this term and students have submitted their applications for consideration. A careful selection process will follow and students are offering presentations and being involved in interviews before the final appointments are made.
While the most high-profile roles are perhaps those of Senior Student Leaders (normally what is effectively a Head Boy and a Head Girl), there are lots of terrific opportunities for students to be involved in Assistant Senior Student Leader roles.
Working under the Senior Student Leaders, we have representation for these areas:
- Careers
- Charity & Community
- Digital Literacy
- Eco and International
- Equality & Diversity
- Sport
- Transition
Where these roles will be filled by existing Year 12, there are other opportunities for the incoming Year 12 too as well in other year groups: this is all part of a valuable experience which supports the development of our future leaders and key post-holders.
As part of our Y13 Leavers process, we will celebrate all the great work undertaken by the existing post-holders – led by Jimmy and Amelia, they have done so much for the whole school community.
New Year 12 Interviews
March saw the next phase of our on-boarding process for those students who will be the new Year 12 in September. We are incredibly proud to be again so popular with students who are existing NLS ones but also those who will be New to North Leam.
Interviews took place in the last 2 weeks of this term. It was really interesting to meet prospective students and to hear of their aspirations. Conditional Offers are issued today (Friday) and should be with students soon. It’s important these are carefully read. The offer contains all the Next Steps details – including information on the Induction Day in July and the Enrolment Process on G.C.S.E. Results Day.
Student Rewards
For efforts in tutor time, across lessons and in school in general, students are accruing many rewards points in Sixth Form – which is great to see. With their College affiliation noted, here are the Top 10 in each year:
Year 12
| Student | College |
|---|---|
| Teagan Smalley | Manor |
| Daisy Golding | Manor |
| Toby Ventress | Manor |
| Meredith Caudwell | Croft |
| Sofia Yim | Binswood |
| Josh Lee | Blackdown |
| Kushpreet Kaur | Park |
| Dan Connell | Manor |
| Sophie Jarvis | Croft |
| Harry Brittain | Manor |
Year 13
| Student | College |
|---|---|
| Avneet Reyat | Binswood |
| Catherine Newsome | Park |
| Ben Foley | Manor |
| Ewan Douglass | Blackdown |
| Alicja Nastalek | Blackdown |
| Kabistan Mathivathanan | Manor |
| Archie Penton | Croft |
| Annabelle Wykes | Blackdown |
| Dhruv Mehta | Manor |
| Sophia Flaig | Croft |
Tutor Time, Assemblies and P.S.H.E Curriculums
Assemblies most recently have focused on data reflections and this has linked in with a Tutor Time focus (for both Year 12 and Year 13) as to what needs to happen academically and pastorally for students to feel supported and to enable success.
Beyond that, Year 12 have focused in Tutor Time on securing Work Experience placements so vital to applications for their Next Steps destinations and Future Pathways – please see previous communications as to how to support with this. Year 13, meanwhile, have focused on planning for their departure from NLS – not just their academic planning and Next Steps actions but also on important things like Prom, Yearbook, Leavers Hoodies, Last Day Arrangements – again, please see previous communications.
Elsewhere, the P.S.H.E programme has added to this holistic, child-centred provision with its attention to Relationships and Intimacy (Year 12) and Unhealthy Relationships (Year 13).
Extra-Curricular and Enrichment
We are really pleased with the commitment shown by students (and staff) to extra-curricular opportunities. The DoE Gold candidates completed their Training Expedition in the depths of the Peak District, honing mapping and team skills as well as developing their own personal endurance.
A perhaps more sedate opportunity saw the Literature A-level students recently enjoy a performance of one of their set texts: Othello. Going to London is always a great experience but it’s especially enjoyable when with your peers and to see one of the great plays!
Thanks to all those who organise these opportunities and well done to those who get so actively involved
Online Safety Newsletter
A reminder our website contains a variety of online safety information within the Safeguarding tab. Recently, we added the March Online Safety Newsletter which contains information on a variety of areas – it is linked here also: March Online Safety Newsletter
Upcoming Events and Calendar
- Year 12 Work Experience First Deadline – March 31
- Practical Examinations in Art-based Subjects – Late April onwards
- Year 13 Study Leave (with caveats so see Parent Letter) – May 8
- Exam Season begins - LINK TO EXAM SCHEDULE
If you have any queries at any point, please do make contact via the usual communication sources.
On behalf of myself, the Sixth Form Team and the school, have a terrific Easter Break.
S A Taylor
Senior Assistant-Head-teacher (inc. Head of Sixth Form).