Hills Road Sixth Form College

Shaping your future

Thank you for your interest in Hills Road Sixth Form College.

You’ll find that Hills Road is a busy, vibrant, exciting community of young people. With new social and study facilities on campus, we know you will have two fantastic sixth form years and then leave us brilliantly prepared for your first choice destination and ready to take your place in the world. Whether it's environmentally, socially, creatively or economically, we want Hills Road students to be part of shaping a brighter future.

You’ll discover that Hills Road is a half-way house between school and university or employment. We’re focused on helping you grow into adulthood and helping you secure your future goals. And we’re very much looking forward to meeting you and helping you on that journey, starting with your application to join us as a Hills Road student.

There are many services available at College for practical, academic and emotional support for our students throughout their time here. Making the step up to Advanced level is a challenging one wherever you go and our dedicated support teams are ready and willing to help you every step of the way. 

Dedicated tutorial support and guidance 

Every student has a dedicated, specialist tutor who works with them throughout their two years. This will be your go-to person for help and advice who will be walking alongside you for your Sixth Form years. 

Your tutor will work with you to make the process of transition to College as smooth as possible and will work with you on developing the skills you will need to take your learning and progress forward.

Student Services Team

At the centre of the College is Student Support. The team is here to provide you with the answers to any questions you might have about College life. Our friendly staff are here to help you if you’re feeling unwell, unsure, or if you just need someone to speak to. The Student Services team also work with students to support their attendance at College and contact home if there are any concerns.

Study and SEND support

The Study Skills team provides a range of support, including assistance for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. We have a welcoming atmosphere and a suite of rooms available for one-to-one work and group study space. Qualified staff carry out assessments for exam access arrangements and offer appropriate follow-up support, including supporting students in using assistive technology. We also offer quality online resources, including podcasts. Make sure you share with our Study Skills team how we can support your needs. Students with Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP)will have a key worker from the Study Skills team.

Supported Independent Learning Service (SILS)

We recognise that not all students can adjust to the demands of advanced learning as quickly as others. Our Study Skills team offers timetabled supervision and support for students finding the expectations for completing independent study outside lesson time challenging. The team works with students to help prioritise their learning more effectively so they feel more confident and able to complete their studies. SILS is also on hand for more specific support offering guidance on organisation, time management, exam technique and revision.

Subject support for learning and extension

All departments and subjects offer opportunities to support and extend your learning beyond the classroom. Often these opportunities are provided as lunchtime ‘surgery’ slots, used to diagnose, challenge and support your understanding further.

Disability

The College is committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities and recognises that a disability can affect people in different ways. We encourage you to make relevant staff aware of your needs so that full and appropriate support can be provided.

Bursary Fund

Financial support is available for 16-19-year-olds, find out more at www.hillsroad.ac.uk/bursary-fund

Wellbeing

Our Wellbeing team are here to listen to anything that may be troubling you. Whether you are feeling stressed and anxious about managing your time and workload or apprehensive about the changes ahead, our Wellbeing team is here to support you

In-house Counsellors 

Our in-house Counsellors, Jane and Gitte are professionally trained and experienced in listening to young people. As the college counsellors, they are used to talking to students about a range of issues and any information shared with them is confidential. A typical course of counselling lasts for six weeks, and the sessions last up to 50 minutes each.

Careers

One of the most important things we do as a Sixth Form College is to help you to decide on your career goals and then to support you in fulfilling them.

As a specialist sixth form college, all of our careers staff are post-16 specialists, dedicated to providing you with the very best advice about your next steps, whether you are considering traineeships, higher education, apprenticeships or any other pathways.

In most cases, your journey with our careers department starts straight after October half term.

The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

At the heart of our study programme is the requirement for every student to develop and realise an Advanced level project entirely of their own devising.

Delivered in Year 12, the EPQ offers the chance for you to gain real independence, resilience and maturity as an Advanced level learner while pursuing any topic of your choosing. From staging a fashion show or designing a carbon-neutral house to researching ground-breaking cancer therapies or beginning the novel you’ve always wanted to write, the Extended Project presents a fantastic opportunity both to pursue your interests and to spread your wings.

Enrichment

All students in Year 12 undertake Enrichment as part of their study programme, and there are over 70 activities to choose from!

Skills and talents develop in different ways, and they are not always related to your A level subjects. It could even be that you find a new talent or skill through Enrichment that you would like to turn into your Extended Project. Perhaps the budding entrepreneurs amongst you will develop your business ideas and insight with Unloc, a social enterprise organisation that the College works in partnership with, or maybe choosing Debating will encourage you to start a political commentary blog. Whatever you decide, Enrichment is your chance to try something new!

Here’s just a taster of what you could get involved in:

• Active: Dance, DofE, Sports
• Community: Ambassadors, Social Action, Volunteering
• Creative: Ceramics, Drawing, Garden Design
• Languages: Chinese, French, Film Italian
• Music & Performing Arts: Choirs, Drama, Orchestras
• Thinking: Criminology, Debating, Philosophy

Performing Arts: What performances could I be part of? Our most recent performances include Legally Blonde, Sister Act, Sweeney Todd, West Side Story, A Matter of Life and Death, Twelfth Night, Spamalot, Gormenghast, Metamorphosis, The Street of Crocodiles, The Trial, Measure for Measure, Under Milk Wood.

Music: which groups could I join? Symphony Orchestra, Wind Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra, Folk Roots Group, Instrumental Award Scheme, College Choir Chamber Choir

Sport: which teams can I join? Badminton, Basketball, Cheer, Cricket, Football, Hockey, Netball, Rowing, Rugby, Table tennis, Tennis, Volleyball! In fact, we have 37 teams you can join!

Clubs and societies

There are over 40 different clubs and societies students can join, and if there isn’t one that covers your interest, you could start your own!

The College has many established groups from LGBTQIA+ and debating to music theatre and horror, but if you think something is missing, then we encourage you to set up a group to support your interests, no matter how niche they may be. The vibrant diversity of our students means you are likely to meet someone with similar interests to help get your new activity off the ground.

By bike

The bike park for the College is located at the back of the College. Please use Purbeck Road to access bike parking. 

By train 

The College is a 10-minute walk from the train station. You may be able to receive a discount for travelling to and from the College. 

By bus 

Many students travel to the College by bus with routes that travel to and from the city centre and surrounding villages. Subsidised bus transport is available, please visit www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/post16edtransport for more information and restrictions.

Financial support for transport costs 

Financial support may be available for transport for those students who meet the criteria for the 16-19 Bursary Fund. Students are asked to apply to the College directly in such cases.

By car

There is no student parking at the College.

Restricted Mobility 

Due to the nature of the site, access to some areas of the College is limited. Wherever possible, given prior notification, adjustments will be made to facilitate individual needs. A site plan can be requested from the Main Reception by calling 01223 247251. The plan indicates lift locations, accessible toilets, those entrance doors which have level thresholds to enable access for wheelchairs and wheelchair routes throughout the College.

Further information about accessibility is available at www.accessable.co.uk/hills-road-sixth-form-college

AcSEED: Emotional wellbeing and mental health support award

In 2018, the College was accredited with the AcSEED award for emotional wellbeing and mental health support. AcSEED promotes the adoption of best practices in supporting the emotional wellbeing and mental health of young people in schools and colleges, and Hills Road was the first school or college in the region to have received the award.