Joining the Sixth Form

At the end of Year 11 you make a voluntary decision to return to school to further your education. The Barry Sixth Form, in considering your academic needs, makes a decision to accept you or not. Being accepted is a two way process and you will be required to approach this new stage in your career with a sense of responsibility and commitment. All lower Sixth students will be asked to accept our basic rules.

You will have more freedom in the Sixth Form to devise your own study programme. You will be offered the opportunity to follow new one-year courses to supplement your studies and you are expected to work independently in reading around your subjects. This is not an optional extra but a basic requirement that will enhance your performance.

To encourage the development and maturity of pupils in the Sixth From and to enable you to achieve the maximum benefit from your Sixth Form careers, certain targets, apart from academic ones, will be set. These targets will include:

Helping with School and House duties

(for example, being involved in all school functions, acting as Form Prefects to Years 7 and 8 and assisting in all House activities).

Helping others

(for example, being involved in charity work and helping in the Reading scheme in the learning Support Department).

Taking part in extra-curricular activities

(for example, School Council, sports or musical activities, Duke of Edinburgh Schemes).

Participating in work experience

Activities relating to these targets will be recorded on University and job application forms and in Records of Achievement.

In social terms, you will be given the opportunity to relax with your friends in the common rooms. You must, however, be disciplined about your use of this time as misuse of it can easily become addictive, with little work being attempted outside lessons. It is useful to remember that the more you do in school the less of a burden your homework will become.

It is important to recognise that you are required to attend school regularly and remain in school from 8.40am until 3.25pm.

The Sixth Form has its own Council with elected representatives. The Council acts as a forum for all matters concerned with the welfare of the Sixth Form and it also arranges social functions.