Information for students

Attendance

is very important and vital to your success

You are expected to have 100% attendance to lessons and registration and be in tutor at 8.30am every morning and arrive to your lessons on time. The Sixth Form Management Team and your Tutor will monitor your attendance. Remember that any illness affects your attendance %.

Green

95 - 100%

This is good – 100% attendance is outstanding

You will be monitored and praised by your tutor

Postcard sent home, Kool Kat given and entered into the monthly prize draw

Amber

90 - 94%

Improvement needed

You will be monitored by your Tutor

A warning will be given if you are close to 90% and an email/letter sent home to parents/carers

Red

Below 90%

You will be referred to the Sixth Form Management Team for monitoring

Letter home to parents/carers with attendance profile

Meeting with Year Manager

Improvement required – CEC Stage 1 if no improvement for two weeks. If no improvement, CEC Stage 2

If you are sick:

Your parents/carers must call the Sixth Form office on the morning of the absence

You MUST NOT make doctors/dentist appointments in school time. If this is unavoidable then a doctors/dentist appointment card needs to be shown to the Sixth Form Management Team

Students should not book driving lessons between 8.30 - 3.50pm

Attendance to registration is compulsory. Failure to attend registration regularly will result in you being placed on the CEC Policy for attendance. This could potentially lead to you being removed from the school roll. You will also receive a detention from 7.45 - 8.30am on a Thursday morning for not attending registration.

If you are unwell during the day:

Please speak to a member of the Sixth Form Management Team before leaving school. The Sixth Form Office will contact your parents/carers before you leave to make them aware. You must not leave school without permission.

Study period/lunch

It is essential that we know when you are on the school site for fire and safety purposes. If you leave the school site during a study period or over a break-time ensure you leave via the turnstile.

If you are going to be absent for any other reason, your parents will need to notify the school by emailing mmears@suttonmail.org or by phoning the school office on 02082546857.

Please note

The school does not authorise holidays in term time.

Do not book holidays after examinations in June as A2 courses start immediately after examinations.

A red slip must be completed by a parent/carer if visiting a university on a designated Open Day. Students should only attend

The Sixth Form Day

Time	Activity	Relevant to
08.30am	Registration/Assembly	Whole School
08.50 – 09.50am	Period 1	Whole School
09.50 – 10.50am	Period 2	Whole School
10.50 – 11.10am	Morning Break	Whole School
11.10am – 12.10pm	Period 3	Whole School
12.10 – 1.10pm	Period 4a	Year 13 Lessons
12.10 - 12.50pm	Lunch	Year 12
1.10 - 1.50pm	Lunch	Year 13
12.50 – 1.50pm	Period 4b	Year 12 Lessons
1.50 – 2.50pm	Period 5	Whole School
2.50 – 3.50pm	Period 6	Sixth Form Only

Subject changes

There is a detailed procedure laid down if you wish to change a subject. This can only be done before the 20th September. You should not absent yourself from lessons but should speak to Mr Brewis. You will then complete a ‘Change of Subject Form’ which includes a confirming signature from your parent/carer.

Please note:

Only Mr Brewis can agree to a change in your timetable.

Students are expected to attend a minimum number of courses each year.

You CANNOT be a member of Cheam High School Sixth Form on less than
15 directed study periods.

Open Days for universities that are academically achievable.

Subject Support

Subject Surgeries give you the opportunity to gain extra support with your studies and are a voluntary drop in session. However, if your teacher feels that you are falling behind then you will be required to attend. If you fail a KAT test, you will also be required to re-sit it.

Rewards

Community Cup

Throughout the year tutor groups will compete against each other to win the Community Cup. Points are awarded for various things including; hard work, excellent attendance, raising money for the Sixth Form Charity, making decorations and winning the weekly quiz. The tutor group in each year with the highest number of points will win the Community Cup and a day out in the summer term. Prizes will also be awarded for 2nd and 3rd.

Kool Kats

You can be nominated by your subject teachers for a weekly Kool Kat. This will be recognised in Assembly and you will be able to collect a chocolate bar from the Sixth Form Office. For every five Kool Kats you are awarded you are entered into the Kool Kat draw for a prize at the end of the year.

Other rewards

Celebration Assemblies at the end of each term

Spot prizes for good deeds and dress code

Tutee of the week

Postcards and letters home

Student of the month wins a gift voucher

Worries in School

At times there will be things that you are worried about at school. It may be:

concerns about homework and/or class work or progress in a certain subject

worries about your health

friendship/parental problems

an incident which has upset you

something that a friend has told you about or something you have seen

something that has happened outside school including comments on Social Networking sites.

You must talk to someone so that the situation can be resolved.

Some general advice is:

Problems with your course work/home work?
See your subject teacher in the first place and explain the problem. If this does not help speak to your tutor or a member of the Sixth Form Management Team or one of the Learning Mentors in the Study/Duo Zones.

Concerns about your health?
See the School Nurse. Referrals can be made via the Sixth Form Office.

Someone is being unkind or bullying you or your friend?
See your tutor or a member of the Sixth Form Management Team.

Things that have happened in or out of school?
See your tutor or a member of the Sixth Form Management Team.

Sometimes people are worried about what will happen if they do talk about something that is worrying them. Unless you tell someone the problem cannot be solved. Once the right people know the matter can be dealt with. It is also important to support friends by talking to a member of staff if you know that your friends are having problems.

Remember

If something is worrying you that you can’t solve on your own, then you need to get help. Tell your parents, your tutor or a member of staff.

Please note

All staff in the school (teachers, support/administrative staff, lunchtime supervisors plus any volunteers etc.) have a responsibility to pass on information to the right people in the school. This is to make sure that you get proper help when you need it.

Staff will not promise to keep things just between you and them but they will only tell the people who need to know. The school may then pass this information to another agency which can help you. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, the school has a policy of sharing information with parents/carers.

Contacts

If you need extra help

In the first instance please contact the Sixth Form Management Team. They are always here to help you at any time but the services below are also available to you if you want to discuss any problems or issues with another person.

Internal

School Nurse

Medical or health related issues every Wednesday lunchtime. Book an appointment through the Sixth Form Office.

School Support Worker

Our School Support Worker is Mrs Anita Murphy. Book through the Sixth Form Office.

Bereavement Counselling

Book through the Sixth Form Office

External

Useful Websites and Telephone Numbers

Organisation	Website	Telephone
South London Network for Counselling & Psychotherapy	www.counselling-directory.org.uk	0208 641 1792
IAPS	www.letsfindawayforward.nks.uk	0800 032 4207
Open Door Youth Counselling Service	www.opendooryouthcounselling.net	020 8770 4388
Citizens Advice Bureau	www.citizensadvice.org.uk	020 8770 4851
Youth2Youth	www.youth2youth.org.uk	020 8896 3675
Child Line	www.childline.org	0800 1111
Samaritans	www.samaritans.org	08457 909090
NSPCC	www.nspcc.org.uk	0808 800 5000
Bullying UK	www.bullying.co.uk	0808 800 2222
Frank	www.talktofrank.com	0300 123 6600

Study & Duo Zones

Study Zone

This area is for private, silent study.

Study Zone Rules (silent working)

There are cameras in the Study Zone

No entry if you are in incorrect dress (this includes lanyards) – no exceptions!

No eating, drinking, chewing

Silence at all times

No gaming/inappropriate use of the computers

No dropping litter

Follow instructions from staff the first time of asking

Leave by the main doors unless there is a fire drill

Mobile phones on silent

Please speak to a member of staff if you need to print more than five copies of anything

You will not be allowed entry unless you hand over your cashless card: No other form of identification will be accepted

You will be allocated a work station

Duo Zone

This allows you to study in pairs. Laptops are also available for you to use.

Duo Zone Rules (whispering only)

There are cameras in the Duo Zone

Only pairs will be allowed to study together

Talking is allowed but must be kept to whispering only

No eating, drinking, chewing

No entry if you are incorrectly dressed (including lanyards and cashless cards)

No gaming/inappropriate use of the computers

Mobile phones on silent

No dropping litter

You will be allocated a work station

Need help with homework, coursework, revision or organisation?

Speak to one of the Learning Mentors in the Study/Duo Zones

Social Zone

You have your own social zone with the ‘Hot Spot’ Café serving hot and cold food and drinks from 9am to 2pm. There is a large covered area outside for you to sit in as well. We have table tennis tables*, table football, television and an X Box*, board games* and card games* for you to use. (*To borrow these items you need to hand in your cashless card to the Sixth Form Office). This is your space to relax and be with your friends during break and lunch times. Make sure you put all your rubbish in the bins.

Social Zone Rules

There are cameras in the Social Zone

Place all rubbish in the bins provided

Leave chairs and tables neat and tidy

Do not take chairs outside

Ensure that you behave sensibly

Queue up sensibly at the cafeteria

Take care of the tables and chairs and please do not sit on the tables

Use appropriate language!

Sanctions

If you do not follow the expectations of these areas you will be asked to leave and will be banned from the area.

Exams

Most courses have a mixture of course work, portfolio evidence and externally set examinations, which count towards your final grade. Entry for an examination is not automatic; it is dependent upon your attendance and progress.

You are expected to arrive promptly, have your Candidate number and ‘Cashless’ card for identification. You must comply with the National Regulations concerning examinations.

No bags, phones or coats will be allowed into the examination room.

You are reminded that phones, I-pods and other electronic equipment are not allowed in the Examination Room at any time.

You are allowed one entry for examinations for the courses that you follow. You will be expected to pay for re-sit examinations, unless there is a significant reason when the appropriate Subject Department may make the payment.

Dealing with exam nerves

It is natural to feel nervous before an examination. The more prepared you feel, the easier it will be to conquer your fears.

Create a revision plan to help you feel in control of the process

Plan your work carefully around the topics you need to focus on. Being aware of gaps in your knowledge can create nerves, but having a plan of how you will fill these will make you feel better.

Find out what is involved in the exam:

- where and when it will take place

- how much time is allowed

- how many questions you need to answer

Think positive

Keep the exam in context - even if you do badly, there will be other options open to you

Allow yourself some fun-time each day to relax

Eat sensibly - your brain cells need energy to function well. Make sure you drink plenty of water to avoid becoming dehydrated. Dehydration makes you tired and reduces concentration

Exam tips - after the exam

It is easy to fall in to the trap of wondering how well you performed and to discuss this with your fellow students. Your time would be better spent looking ahead to your next examination:

Don’t panic - you won’t be the only student who is anxious about their answers

Don’t compare your answers with those of other students - this can create negative feelings

Have some fresh air and food and take time to relax before you start revising

Exam Stress

Feeling anxious is very normal. Nervousness is a natural reaction to exams.

Learn to recognise when you’re stressing out...

Avoid comparing your abilities with your mates...

Eat right... do not eat too much sugar!

Sleep well... Good sleep will improve thinking and concentration. Most teenagers need between 8 and 10 hours’ sleep a night. Cramming all night before an exam is usually a bad idea. Sleep will benefit you far more than a few hours of panicky last minute study.

Exercise...

Be prepared...

Panic is often triggered by hyperventilating (quick, shallow breaths)... see below

Steer clear of any exam ‘post-mortem’.

Keep things in perspective

Ask for help and support from home, your tutor, teachers and/or the Sixth Form Team

Breathing Technique

Controlled breathing will slow down the heart and stop adrenaline.

Breathe in for 7

Breathe out for 11

Focus on counting

Revision

Advice

Make a Plan
Start revision early - do not leave it until the week before
Work out how much content you have to cover and how much time you have before the exams, then draw up a realistic timetable
Don’t leave the subjects you find hardest to the last minute
Switch between subjects so that you don’t become bored with one topic
Do not burn the candle at both ends. Build in some time to do other things
Make sure you get plenty of sleep; this is when your brain organises and makes sense of what you have been learning and it will mean you are ready to start revising the next day!

Stay Focused
Find a quiet place at home where you won’t be distracted
Sit at a proper table or desk
Turn off your phone, the TV and other distractions
Have regular short breaks every hour or so to give yourself a rest
Drink water and eat healthy snacks to keep your brain ticking over
Give yourself a little treat as a reward at the end of a revision session

Revision & Exam