By the end of their Sixth Form studies, many of our students will be preparing to leave home for the first time and live independently, possibly in distant locations. We aim to prepare students to manage their current lives and lay the foundations for managing future experiences. It is also imperative that students continue to learn about relevant real-life issues. This ensures that students have the knowledge and understanding, skills, strategies and attributes they will need for independent living and the next stage in their education or career.

Our curriculum programme is delivered over the two years that students are in Sixth Form at Quarrydale Academy through a serious of tutorials, assemblies, workshops and external visits and speakers. It is divided in to three main strands:

Health and Wellbeing: This includes topics such as self-concept, mental health and emotional well-being, healthy lifestyles, managing risk and personal safety and drugs, alcohol and tobacco usage and risks. 

Relationships: This includes topics such as relationship values, forming and maintaining respectful relationships, consent, sexual health and bullying, abuse and discrimination.

Living in the Wider World: This includes topic such as choices and pathways, work and careers, financial choices and media and digital literacy and resilience.

Information, Advice and Guidance

At Quarrydale Academy Sixth Form, we believe it is vitally important that students are well equipped to make decision about their options beyond Quarrydale. This is a process we begin at the start of year 12, continuing through to the end of year 13. To ensure students have access to all of the information, advice and guidance they need to make informed decisions about their futures, we work with a wide range of universities, apprenticeship providers, careers advisors, employers and other organisations to support and advise students when making important decisions about their Post 18 options. We aim to deliver the best support and guidance to our student by offering a broad range of opportunities and sessions that allow them to develop the knowledge they need to prepare for their next steps.

Below are just a few examples of how IAG in provided to our students:

Nottingham Trent University- Progression Programme

• The programme runs throughout year 12 and 13 and offers opportunities to discover more about university life and support with the application process.
• Student Shadowing– You will get to spend the day with a current NTU student and experience university life first hand. You'll attend a lecture and a seminar and spend a day on campus.
• Subject Master Classes – If you are still trying to decide about the future, then sitting in on these classes will help to inform your decision-making.
• Personal Statement Support– Receive support with your UCAS personal statement to help make it the best that you can for your university applications.
• Summer Residential – The chance to stay in our university accommodation, make new friends, and develop your skills for success at university.
• Library and Gym Facilities – NTU Progression members have access to the library and gym facilities at NTU.
• There is no obligation to study at NTU if you take part in the programme, but if you do choose to study at NTU, you’ll be offered support throughout your first year as an NTU student.

The University of Nottingham- Ambition Nottingham

• Ambition Nottingham is a free scheme for students in years 12 and 13 aiming provide support to students as they progress through Sixth Form and on to higher education.
• It aims to support entry to The University of Nottingham, or other research-intensive universities, by offering a range of experiences and opportunities that will help you prepare for and progress to higher education.
• The experiences include subject taster days and masterclasses, support with UCAS and personal statements and student finance.
• There will also be the opportunity to apply for a place on one of the university’s Summer School schemes.

The Sutton Trust

• The Sutton Trust aims to improve social mobility through education and has so far funded over 200 programmes to help students gain entry to the Russell group universities.
• They work to combat educational inequality and are particularly concerned with breaking the link between educational opportunities and family background, and in realising a system in which young people are given the chance to prosper, regardless of their family background, school or neighbourhood.
• They focus their efforts on three distinct areas:
  • UK Summer School Programme
  • US Summer School Programme
  • Subject Specific Programmes

Sutton Trust Summer Schools

• The Sutton Trust Summer Schools offer an opportunity for around 2000 young people each year to try university life. The one week taster courses consist not only of lectures, seminars and tutorials, but also a varied programme of social activities, to give participants an accurate idea of life as an undergraduate at a research-led university.
• Subjects that can be studies as part of the programme are wide raging and include architecture, Science, Law, Medicine and many more. The following universities host Sutton Trust Summer Schools each year:
  • Durham University                             
  • University of Bristol        
  • University of Cambridge
  • Imperial College London
  • The University of Nottingham
  • The University of St Andrews
  • UCL
  • The University of Warwick

The Sutton Trust-Subject Specific Programmes

• Pathways to Law- Aimed at students who are interested in a career in law, the programme is run at a number of universities across the country with The University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University being the closest universities to our location.
• The programme includes:
  • A range of sessions over two years at the host university, covering a diverse range of topics including choosing and applying to a university, CV and interview techniques, subject-specific revision sessions and workshops on different areas of the law
  • E-mentoring from undergraduate law students, provided through the Brightside Trust
  • Work experience in the legal sector, at leading law firms, chambers, regional firms and non-profit organisations such as legal advice centres
  • A residential conference in the summer between years 12 and 13 to give students a taste of life at university and to take part in a range of workshops, debates and lectures
• Pathways to STEM- Aimed at students interested in a STEEM career, the programme is run in partnership with the University of Nottingham.
• The programme includes:
  • A range of sessions for students, parents and teachers, including tailored education and careers advice; academic classes in STEM subjects and sessions to develop non-academic skills
  • A residential summer school
  • A work experience placement in a relevant STEM setting;
  • The assignment of a mentor

The Brilliant Club- The Scholars Programme

• The Brilliant Club exists to widen access to highly-selective universities for pupils from under-represented groups.
• The programme helps to develop student’s research, analytical, evaluation and academic writing skills, all of which are needed for successful higher education study and are skills that universities are looking for applicants to possess.
• As part of the programme, PhD tutors deliver a number of university-style tutorials to small groups of pupils, who then go on to complete a dissertation style assignment.
• The assignment is then graded as a university piece of work would be and students are invited to take part in a graduation ceremony at a university.
• The programme usually run in the Autumn term and in recent years has focussed on the areas of STEM and humanities subjects.

Summer Schools

• In addition to the Summer Schools programme that is provided by The Sutton Trust, many universities across the country offer students the opportunity to experience university life as part of their Summer residential programmes.
• University websites will contain all of the information that you need to be able to apply for a programme, applications for Summer Schools usually open in January.
• In previous years, students from the Sixth Form have attended Summer School at Northumbria University, The University of Nottingham and Durham University.

The Social Mobility Foundation

• The Social Mobility Foundation (SMF) is a charity which aims to improve social mobility for young people from low-income and underprivileged areas.
• They provide opportunities and networks of support for 16-17 year olds who would like to progress to higher education.
• The areas that they focus on are: Accountancy, Architecture, Banking & Finance, Biology & Chemistry, Business, Engineering & Physics, Law, Media & Communications, Medicine, Politics, and Technology.
• They run many programmes and Summer Schools with their partner universities which help to prepare students for university and to secure the offer of a place to study at degree level.

University Open Days

• If you are planning to go to university it is important that you attend as many open days as possible.
• Open days allow you to gather information about the university, the facilities and accommodation. They also allow you to get a feel for the teaching style, atmosphere and location of a university.
• We will be visiting the following universities for open days throughout the year:
  • The University of Nottingham
  • Nottingham Trent University
  • The University of Derby
  • Lincoln University
• In addition to these, you should also try to attend open days at other universities that you may be considering.
• If a group of students express an interest in visiting a university further afield, it is possible that we can make arrangements for this to happen.
• Open day information, including dates and booking details can be found on university websites and is also displayed in the computer area upstairs.

Subject/Career Specific Sessions

• Alongside visiting university open days, we also encourage you to attend and participate in subject and career specific events that are run by various universities.
• Last year, students attended sessions and taster days based on:
  • Sport at Nottingham Trent
  • Teaching run by Bishop Grosseteste University
  • Medicine at the University of Nottingham
  • Physics at the University of Nottingham
  • Health and Social Care at Bishop Grosseteste University

• More information on these events will be provided throughout the year.

Outreach Sessions

• Throughout your time in Post 16 we will be visited by a number of external organisations.
• These will include universities and other education providers, industry providers, student finance, one of the major banks, charity organisations, unions and individuals from a variety of professions.
• These sessions are for your benefit and provide lots of useful and informative information, therefore, you should ensure that you attend and participate in these sessions.

NCS- National Citizen Service

• Many students may have completed a four week NCS programme at the end of year 11 and will no doubt have had a fantastic time!
• For those who did not get to take part in the experience, NCS are running an additional programme in October half term that you are able to apply for.
• NCS looks fantastic on CVs and UCAS applications and is recognised by universities. It allows you to develop a multitude of essential skills, to try new challenges and to meet new people.
• NCS representatives will be coming in to school to provide more information on the October half term programme.

Apprenticeships

• For some students, university is not the only option that will be considered as a progression route after Sixth Form, and for many, apprenticeships are a great alternative.
• Throughout the next two years, particularly during year 13, we will work closely with West Notts College, Industry providers and ASK apprenticeships to ensure that students wishing to apply for apprenticeships are supported and prepared for the application process.
• Information on the types of apprenticeships available and where to find them will also be available throughout the year.

Work Experience

• For some students, work experience will be a requirement during your time in Post 16.
• This may be a requirement for some students studying Btec level three courses or may be needed for your university applications. Whatever the case, we will help you to secure relevant work experience.
• When applying to university, certain areas of study will require that you have done work experience, these include medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, teaching and social work. Ensure that you research what your course entry requirements are and plan accordingly.
• Last year, many of our students secured work experience placements at a variety of places:
  • GP work experience placements- University of Nottingham partnership programme.
  • Kings Mill Hospital- Nursing/Medicine/Midwifery/Lab work/IT department.
  • Primary School work experience-Dalestorth, Skegby Junior Academy, St Andrews.
  • Secondary School work experience-
  • Mansfield 103.2 radio station

Future Learn

• Online courses in a broad range of subject areas
• Help to support independent study skills and self-direction
• Allows students to develop knowledge beyond subject choices
• All students will complete a course that is of personal interest as part of the tutor programme

The National Collaborative Outreach Programme- NCOP

NCOP is a government funded initiative founded to help students from socially deprived areas access Higher Education opportunities and overcome the barriers to educational progress. As a school and Sixth Form, we work closely with the various strands of the programme to support our students, helping them to develop knowledge and skills for the future.

• INTO University- The INTO University team work with students from Y9-Y13 on a wide range of areas, including the development of academic and employability skills, CV and application writing and support with Post 18 progress. They are able to provide students with the opportunity to visit universities, apprenticeship providers and employers and work with students in groups and on a one to one basis.
• DANCOP- This is the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire strand of NCOP providing tailored support to schools in the area. They provide skill enhancement based sessions, Knowledge building sessions, careers advice and guidance and a wide variety of trips and visits for students.