St Ivo Academy

It is my pleasure to welcome you to our prospectus for St Ivo Academy Sixth Form. The core aim of the academy is to help students to achieve their very best. For those of you about to embark on post-16 study, this means helping you to achieve at the highest standards in your chosen subjects and to prepare you for the next stage in your career, be it university, vocational training, apprenticeship or employment. Whatever your long-term goal, you can be assured that you are joining a sixth form with a strong and established reputation for academic success, pastoral support and opportunities beyond the classroom.

A good sixth form education is not simply about the subjects you study and the grades that you achieve, although there is no escaping their central importance. There is also a wealth of opportunities for you to get involved in the wider life of the sixth form and to develop additional skills. I have been really impressed by the leadership qualities on show in the sixth form and by the vast amount of community leadership opportunities and fund-raising work that takes place here at St Ivo. The sixth form offers many enrichment opportunities; these enable students to take part in new activities or to take part in visits locally, nationally and even internationally. It is the combination of all these elements that makes our sixth form such a dynamic place and make us and the wider community proud.

The decision about what to study at sixth form is an important one. I am confident that St Ivo Academy Sixth Form can offer you the range of courses, quality of teaching and enrichment opportunities to make for a stimulating and fulfilling two years which will prepare you for the next stage in your life.

We are all happy to discuss your choices with you and to show you how our sixth form operates.  We look forward to welcoming you.

Tony Meneaugh

Principal, St Ivo Academy

St Ivo’s Sixth Form combines a strong academic record with an outstanding pastoral support system, ensuring students thrive both academically and personally.  Our tutorial programme is a key strength, offering daily informal contact with tutors to guide and nurture students in making wise choices.  Tutors are specially trained to support tutees across a wide range of areas from academic and personal development to university applications, career preparation, and general wellbeing.

Our programme includes:

• Fortnightly one-to-one meetings with tutors to discuss progress, career planning, independent study, and pastoral issues.

• Regular tracking points throughout the year to review educational and personal development, assessing predicted grades, work ethic, homework and organisational skills. Tutors and students use this information to create personalised action plans, all recorded on Bromcom.

• Mock exam periods: one for year 12, two for year 13.

• Parent/carer evenings: two in year 12, one in year 13, with additional consultations as needed.

• Personal development sessions covering topics such as driver safety, sexual health, mental wellbeing and financial management.

• Information on gap years, studying abroad and working overseas.

• Close liaison with universities including Cambridge, Oxford, Anglia Ruskin, and Lincoln, who contribute to our advice and guidance programme.

The sixth form team includes our assistant principal, head of sixth form and a deputy head of sixth form, form tutors, and a sixth form administrator, all dedicated to supporting student development.  Throughout sixth form life, students are encouraged to take responsibility for their learning and personal growth.

Key Staff

• Mr Patrick Braybrook: Assistant Principal, Head of Sixth Form
• Mrs Clare Webster: Deputy Head of Sixth Form
• Mrs Helen Parks: Careers Lead
• Mrs Helen Kay: SEN/D Link
• Mrs Tracey Reagen: Sixth Form Administrator

All staff can be reached by emailing office@astreastivo.org

Sixth form students have their own purpose-built newly refurbished sixth form centre called The Keep which is typically open from 8am-5pm daily.

The Keep includes a common room for socialising with two pool tables, the understudy for quiet work, and two silent study rooms.  Some departments across the school also have specialist sixth form rooms that are dedicated to level 3 study.

We have a brand new sixth form café which is only accessible to staff and sixth form students.  The café offers a range of hot and cold drinks and food throughout the day and a welcoming informal environment to sit and socialise and work.

Sixth formers enjoy open access across all ICT suites, the resource centre, and the school canteen (which can be accessed outside of break and lunch times).  We are lucky to be able to use the nearby recreation centre which offers excellent sports facilities.

Sixth form life offers more than just lessons, with a wide range of clubs, societies and enrichment activities to explore interests and develop new skills.  From sports and music to debating and student-led societies, these opportunities are a fun way to connect with like-minded people and make lasting friendships.

Sixth form students benefit from small class sizes, of typically 5 to 15 students.

We have excellent transport links to St Ivo Sixth Form including bus routes and the guided bus.  The guided bus route provides a large cycle path to neighbouring villages.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

All students wishing to join St Ivo Academy Sixth Form must meet the minimum grades required for their chosen subjects.   Offers are based on predicted grades, which can be reviewed if actual GCSE results are higher.  Students who do not meet the predicted grades must meet with the sixth form team before starting.

GENERAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• A minimum of five GCSEs at grade 5 or above, including English and mathematics (some subjects may have higher requirements).
• Students who do not achieve grade 5 in English or mathematics may need to retake the subject (exceptions considered for narrowly missed grades).
• Level 3 subjects usually require at least a grade 5 in that subject at GCSE, with some requiring grade 6 - check individual subject pages for details.

Oversubscription

If a subject is oversubscribed:

1. Places are allocated to students with the highest grades in that subject.
2. Ties are broken by the highest overall GCSE average.
3. If still tied, the highest average in English and mathematics is used.

Students must select subjects using the subject block sheet on the sixth form website to avoid timetable clashes.

The St Ivo Sixth Form prospectus can be found here: https://www.astreastivo.org/prospectus/