Benfield School has an expanding Sixth Form, currently there are 140 students on roll, with an average pass rate of 95%. We provide a high standard of teaching along with a wide variety of ‘A’ level courses and also cater for students working at Level 1 and Level 2. Consequently almost every student wishing to progress on to college or university does so. Students receive excellent support and guidance through a high quality PHSE programme. We have a stimulating environment for our students to work in with all the necessary resources to enable them to achieve their full potential, along with an activities calendar which enables students to visit universities and countries all over the world. Benfield Sixth Form provides a well balanced learning experience to all of its students. Ofsted said: “The sixth form is very successful in providing the students with a stimulating and relevant curriculum and in meeting their wide ranging needs”.

Life in the Sixth Form

We hope that our pupils will continue their education and offer Years 12 and 13 a combination of courses: A and AS Level courses; Vocational courses at Foundation; Intermediate and Advanced Level; and Enhancement courses such as the Community Sports Leadership Award. Some courses are delivered in collaboration with other institutions.

As young adults out Post-16 students do not have to wear a school uniform and they have their own common room and study area. A student committee organises trips and fund raising activities.

Post-16 students all enjoy small teaching groups, high quality teaching, familiar and caring staff, sound careers and guidance advice, excellent study facilities, easy access to ICT facilities and the Open Learning Centre, free community courses, individual attention from the Excellence Challenge team and personal help with applications to University and employment.

Aiming High

It is our aim to help all of our pupils to achieve their full potential and we use several strategies to do this, including involvement in the Hi-Pact programme which introduces Year 10 pupils to University life and Higher Education; Easter School for Year 11 pupils preparing for GCSE/VGCSE examinations; an ACE week which focuses on making decisions post-16 and holding intensive revision sessions for Year 9 the weekend before they take their National Curriculum tests.

Other activities involve target-setting, a mentoring system, study skills lessons, and booklets to help prepare for examinations. A Record of Achievement is produced in Year 11 during Personal and Social Education lessons which summarises each pupil’s achievements and experiences since Year 7.

Our commitment to continuous development as an organisation is detailed in our School Improvement Plan.