The FUS Sixth Form Community
All of our Sixth Form students are encouraged to become active members of the school community. This takes many forms and includes:
- Leading charity events within the school
- Becoming members of the Sixth Form Student Leadership
- Speaking at and supporting school open evenings and information evenings
- Mentoring students in main school
- Generally acting as role models for the younger students
Student Leadership
Students have the opportunity to become part of the Student Leadership Team. Positions include Head Students, Deputy Head Students, Charity Lead, Sports and Social Events Lead and International Student Liaison Lead. The programme enables students to develop valuable skills as well as influence decisions and initiatives within the sixth form.
Enrichment Programme
Students can engage in a wealth of enrichment activities to enhance their applications to university or employment. All year 12 students have two hours of enrichment on their timetable every fortnight. Current options include cooking, arts and crafts, money management, sport, film club, psychology of learning and IT skills.
Participation in these activities helps develop confidence and skills such as communication, responsibility and leadership. We also offer options such as short online courses (MOOCS the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).
All students in year 12 will also undertake a week-long work experience placement at an organisation of their choice.
Transition to Sixth Form
We understand that the journey from lower school student to sixth former can be a challenging one. It is a big step and we have put in a place tutor programme that offers support and guidance to help you with the transition process. There is an expectation to make the most of your independent study hours and your tutors will help you with this.
During the application and enrolment process, you will be encouraged and given great advice and guidance to ensure you are making the right choices. The enrolment and induction process is designed to ensure you have a smooth transition and a successful introduction to sixth form life.
EPQ
We offer the Extended Project Qualification within the Sixth Form to eligible students. This additional qualification provides students with the opportunity to show university tutors and employers that students have more than just the standard qualifications to offer. The EPQ requires students to select an area of interest, then plan research, conduct a project and then present the findings to an audience of non-specialists. It is an ideal way to develop skills and get ‘university ready’.
A range of staff mentors work with students and guide them through the process to ensure they can make the most out of the opportunity.
Pastoral Care
Ferndown Upper School have a fantastic team that handle pastoral care for students, full information can be found on our main school site. We are lucky to benefit from a dedicated Sixth Form Pastoral Manager who is available for drop ins or appointments with students to support them with their wellbeing.
Safeguarding
Full information on safeguarding for students can be found on our main school site.
Dedicated Sixth Form only study areas
We have a dedicated Sixth Form Study Centre; this area is supervised all day from 8am until 5pm by our Study Centre Manager, who ensures all students have a silent space in which to develop positive study habits and make progress in their courses. The area is fully equipped with computers, a central printer for the students to use as well as charging points for students own laptops.
Additionally, the sixth form team are based within the Study Centre creating a dedicated hub in which the students can feel cared for and supported.
Other Facilities
Students in the Sixth Form have use of a newly located and designed common room, featuring comfortable chairs, casual work areas and entertainment such as a foosball table. Sixth Formers also have use of the Sixth Form café, Café No. 6 which allows them to buy range of treats such as smoothies, milkshakes, paninis and other snacks exclusive to sixth formers.
Open Access Wi-Fi
Every Sixth Form student at FUS can bring their own device from home and connect to the dedicated Sixth Form Wi-Fi in school. This allows them to use email and browse educational Internet when not in an ICT suite.