Sixth Form Information Hub for September 2021 Entry

https://youtu.be/5LVykucYwiQ

Thank you to everyone who submitted a question for Mr Carter. Please see his responses below. If you have any further queries, please email admissions@kingschester.co.uk

I would love to know what extra support is available for students in terms of specific subject areas outside the normal lesson time. 
Support outside lessons happens in a variety of ways. Firstly, the nature of Sixth Form means that there is a more informal relationship that students have with their teachers and this means that teachers will be more available to Sixth Formers on an informal basis outside of the lessons – part of being in the Sixth Form is asking for this help, which will always be given. Furthermore, each department will identify students who are struggling with particular areas and put in measures to support them, whether that be on an individual basis or through a society or particular revision session. There is a wide Oxbridge programme alongside support for Medics, Vets and Dentists (the Early Applicants) and this is designed to offer specific support with the larger number of hoops required to ‘jump through’ in university application.

Do students still have to sit for entrance tests for A level places, if so, when are they held and what areas are they tested on/in?
Admission to the Sixth Form is by an interview which takes place on Wednesday 9 December 2020 and a minimum entry requirement of 7 GCSEs are required, four of which need to be grade 7 (A) and three at grade 6 (B) or above. Grade 7 (A) GCSEs are required in the four subjects that will be studied at A Level. Grade 8 (A*) is needed for Further Maths. Students are required to have a minimum of grade 4 (C) in both GCSE Maths and English Language.

Are there any scholarships available?
We do have bursaries and scholarships available, please refer to our Helping with Fees booklet for more information.

Over the past couple of years what percentage of your Sixth Form is made up of previous King’s School pupils and percentage of those who have come from elsewhere please? Also, what has been the male/female ratio.
Generally, the Sixth Form male/female ratio is well balanced. For example, this September our Lower Sixth is split almost 50/50 and our Upper Sixth has 60/40 male to female ratio.  This September, 22 external students joined the Lower Sixth.

What support is available for students with dyslexia?
We can provide additional support, to find out more about the different types of provision please contact our Director of Learning Support, Sarah Glass: sarahglass@kingschester.co.uk.

I want to be sure that students would be supported well in the King’s environment which can be perceived as quite competitive and driven, could you explain more about the nurturing side of King’s?
The House system is designed to support the pastoral side of a student’s journey through the Sixth Form at King’s and each new student will be part of a tutor group within one of the eight houses at the school. The students will have the same tutor for the two years that they are in the school and be part of the wider House community. There is a clear pastoral programme that comes through this system and there is also a specific programme called Life Skills for the Sixth Form which is led by the Head and Deputy Head of Sixth Form and, in some instance, external speakers. This deals with the wider issues of growing up and becoming an adult. Finally, the wider involvement in school life is designed to support the non-academic side of a student’s life: Music, Drama, Sport, the Prefect system, clubs and societies all encourage and support the ‘soft’ side of a students time in school.  

I would like to understand how King’s will be handling and avoiding any impact to predicted grades, if students switched schools and the teachers don’t know them very well (in anticipation of continued disruption to exams next year due to Covid). 
Part of the problem with the current situation is the great unknown nature of it and this was seen nationally from March 2020. At present, we are fully expecting exams to go ahead as normal and the government have stated that this is a priority. However, in each and every subject there is a rigorous set of tests (essays, formal and informal testing periods etc) that happen in each subject throughout the two years and leading up the A Levels. This provided the evidence that we used to make the Centre assessed Grades in line with the Ofqual recommendations. We aim to get to know all new students as quickly as possible which is why we ask for references, predicted grades, any achieved grades, interview and we also carry out the base line testing through the ALIS process at the start of the Lower Sixth.

Do you provide free transport?
Unfortunately, we don’t offer any free transport, however as The King’s School is on the Wrexham Road on the outskirts of Chester, it does have great transport links. Take a look at our Travelling to School page here.

Sixth Form Information Booklet

Packed full of all the information you need about the opportunities and support on offer in King’s Sixth Form.  

Please download this booklet to read on screen or print. 

A Level Specification 2020/21

A more detailed insight into the A Level courses on offer at King’s.

Please download this booklet to read on screen or print. 

Meet our Head of School, Mansi, who has been a student at King’s since joining King’s Juniors. 

Take a look at Mansi’s responses to some of your questions below. 

Have you achieved your objectives?
My objective throughout school has obviously been to perform as well as I can academically, which I think I have been able to do because of the teaching style. But more importantly, I like to get involved with as much as possible! Because there are so many clubs here, I never get bored and there’s always something new to try out. In particular I like to get involved with music, so I often take part in choirs and different music groups. 

Do you think Sixth Form has prepared you for the real world?
Definitely. Once you move into Sixth Form, members of staff are very appreciative of the fact that we are moving up the school, and we are treated like young adults. I have been given a lot of independence in terms of managing my personal timetable and learning techniques. We also have the Sixth Form Centre as a space to use in whichever way we think is best. Because we are encouraged to take on more responsibility for ourselves, I definitely feel prepared for the real world.

What do you like most about attending King’s School?
In one word, it would be the opportunities. King’s makes sure that there is something for everyone to enjoy – whether it’s subjects or the extracurricular activities. There is such a wide breadth of choice that you never feel like you have missed the chance to or try something out. For example, King’s offers rowing, various school trips and over a hundred clubs and societies – things I am not sure many other schools offer. Of course, King’s is also a great opportunity to meet great people! All the students from each year group get on really well together, and members of staff are always approachable and friendly. 

How did you cope with home schooling during the pandemic lockdown?
Lockdown did not affect my learning as much as I think it could have. We were very quickly given ways to engage in online learning, which I think worked really well because I was still studying a full timetable. Most of my lessons were interactive, which meant that I was still having lessons at the same time as my friends and teachers. On the whole, after coming back to school in September this year, my classes have been in the same position as they would have been if we had carried on going to school. As well as the lessons, we had daily registrations with our form tutors, so we still had access to pastoral support if we needed it.  

Meet Freja, an Upper Sixth student who joined King’s in the Lower Sixth. 

Take a look at Freja’s responses to some of your questions below. 

How do you manage your ‘free’ periods?
I would firstly say the most productive way to use your free periods is to go to the library. It’s a quiet space where you are able to concentrate and get homework or revision done.

Tell me something about the style of learning?
The style of learning is varied within different subjects. However I would say across the board it’s encouraged to be an independent learner and your note taking method is up to you. Teachers also try to vary it to help you retain the knowledge, either by worksheets, PowerPoints, doing your own presentations, or discussion. They make sure everyone gets involved.

What do you love most about being at The King’s School?
The thing I love most about King’s is that the culture in pupils is friendly and hardworking, where everyone is aiming high academically and in other interests such as sport, but are also able to have a lot of fun and laughs. I have a lovely group of friends who encourage me to be myself and I have definitely gained confidence since moving.

If you moved to King’s from another school – was it easy making the transition?
I moved school from a school in North Wales to complete Sixth Form at King’s. Changing schools is obviously quite a turbulent process as your routine is changed and you do have to put in the time to get involved and make new friends but I found that the teachers were really keen to make sure I was settled in and the pastoral support is excellent if you are having any issues. Everyone was friendly too and I have found really amazing friends who I feel encourage me to be myself.

The Sixth Form Interview Day for entry to King’s Sixth Form in September 2021 will be held on Wednesday 9 December. 

Please note interviews are throughout the day, students will only be required to attend the 3o minute interview. However, there are additional interviews for some specific subjects such as Art, Design and Technology, or Music, where you will be asked to bring samples of your work. Furthermore, the Language subjects will include some written and spoken French/Spanish/German with the teacher. 

Here you will find a list of questions you can expect on the day:

• What are your chosen A Level subjects?
• Why do you want to come to The King’s School?
• Why are you choosing these subjects for A Level?
• What are your best qualities as a student?
• What are your areas of development as a student?
• What does being a Sixth Form student mean to you?
• What do you hope to do in the future?
• Are you interested in any extra-curricular activities?

Download the questionnaire here.