14 October 2020

Welcome to Ridgewood Sixth Form

Students and parents/carers, welcome to Ridgewood School's Sixth Form Open Evening. We hope that you and your family are well.

Our Sixth Form Open Evening is an annual cornerstone of our school calendar and is an event that both our staff and students look forward to. Due to current Covid-19 restrictions and in order to safeguard the health and wellbeing of everyone involved, we are delivering this year's Open Evening to you here, online.

We have created two videos and collated new information throughout this section of our website, to give you an insight into what Ridgewood Sixth Form has to offer. 

In addition to watching the videos and reading the information provided in this post, we would encourage you to explore our website further, especially if you are new to Ridgewood. You will be able to find out even more about our ethos and values. 

If you have any questions about Ridgewood Sixth Form after experiencing our virtual Open Evening, please do not hesitate to contact us and a member of staff will be in touch with you shortly.

- Liz Thorpe, Sixth Form Director

Our Courses

There are 28 courses available to choose from in the Sixth Form from September 2021. Courses on offer include a wide range of academic A level and Level 3 vocational courses, which can be selected to create an appropriate personalised study programme to suit your needs and future aspirations. For a full list of the subject available to study, please visit our courses page where you can access detailed information (including entry requirements) on each line of study. 

Careers

We pride ourselves on creating a learning culture and supportive environment where all students are encouraged to maximise their potential. We enact this goal through:

• Personalised support - individual help and enrichment opportunities to help with applying to university or for a higher apprenticeship or full-time job.
• Inspire Programme - throughout Sixth Form, students take part in dedicated sessions hosted by members of the Sixth Form Team and a range of visitors from across the spectrum of employment and academia.
• Interview Skills - mock interview situations and opportunities to practice public speaking in preparation for university or employment.

More information and specific examples of how we support students' future aspirations can be found on our careers page.

Internships 

Students in Year 12 will complete a week-long internship within a professional working environment and we are fortunate to have access to a wide range of internship providers from finance to the motor industry, and healthcare settings to education. We work closely with our students at all stages of the process to ensure that they are matched to the appropriate internship placement. More information and case studies from previous student interns can be found on our internships page.

Enrichment

Our unique learning environment combines high academic standards with a range of enrichment opportunities that enable our students to develop into truly rounded individuals. High profile opportunities include: our mentoring programme, Young Enterprise, Duke of Edinburgh, National Citizens Service (NCS) and MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses). More information on each of these pathways can be found on our internships page.

Our Facilities

The video below will give you a speedy tour of our school site and some of the excellent facilities that we have.

Virtual tour of the Faraday building where Ridgewood Sixth Form is based.

How to apply

• STEP 1 – Apply through our online application on the website, or alternatively contact us and we can provide you with a paper copy of the form. Applications will be open from 15 October 2020.​

• STEP 2 – All students who apply are invited to attend a one-to-one course placement meeting with a member of the Sixth Form Admissions Team. In this meeting, you will be given the opportunity to discuss your current progress, Sixth Form subject choices and future aspirations.​

• STEP 3 – An offer of a place in the Sixth Form will be issued following the meeting, if you meet our entry requirements.​

• STEP 4 – You will be able to finalise your course placement on GCSE Results Day, in August 2021, in a one-to-one course placement meeting with our specialist team of student support advisors.​

At any point leading up to this date, please do contact us us any questions or issues which you might have. 

Quick Links

Below you will find direct links to areas on our website that may be of specific interest to you. Should you have any difficulty accessing the information you require or if you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us and a member of staff will be in touch with you.

• How can I prepare for the change to Post-16 study?
• What support will I be given when applying to universities or for a higher apprenticeship/full-time job?
• Who can I go to for support with my physical, mental and emotional wellbeing?
• What will the dress code be at Sixth Form?
• What kind of facilities will I have access to at Ridgewood Sixth Form?
• Where can I keep up with any new announcement that may affect my post-16 studies?

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Thank you for taking the time to join us for our virtual Sixth Form Open Evening. We hope it has been informative and has conveyed the spirit of Ridgewood Sixth Form, that is embodied by the hard work and dedication of our staff and students. 

We look forward to meeting you in person in the future and welcoming you into our Sixth Form community.