Transition to Sixth Form

Welcome

This summer will have been a bit different for you all given the restrictions that we are living under with Covid – 19. With this in mind we thought it would be useful if we put together a presentation of helpful information to ease the transition from Year 11 to 6^th form. If you do require any more information please read our prospectus and course guide on the 6^th form section of the school website.

Trinity has a dynamic, creative and successful Sixth Form. Housed in the Carliol Building, the Sixth Form Centre provides an ideal learning environment for young adults. The Sixth Form is a separate area and operates like a ‘college within a school.’ With around 250 students, Trinity Sixth Form is one of the largest school sixth forms in Cumbria attracting many students from other local schools and even further afield and is a tribute to the excellent work being done by both students and staff.

We currently offer students a wide choice of A Level and Level 3 BTEC courses, both academic and vocational. We provide a great deal of support to ensure that you are on courses which are appropriate to your abilities and ambitions. Whether you are currently at Trinity School or considering joining us from elsewhere, we hope that you will find opportunities that are right for you with us.

Trinity Sixth Form students also have an outstanding choice of many extra-curricular activities to get involved with, including: The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, Trinity Theatre Company, Sport, Debating, Young Enterprise and international visits to Europe and India – there are many opportunities for you to enjoy and build your skills outside of the classroom. In addition to the subjects and qualifications that are available we also offer a wide range of enrichment opportunities for Sixth Form students. Our Enrichment Programme is designed to give our students ‘the edge’ over others locally, nationally and internationally. Our aim is to help shape your character so that you can make a genuine diﬀerence to local communities and the world around you. In addition to these activities we will also help you organise a work experience placement that suits your career aspirations.

When you join us in September you will be supported by a dedicated team of pastoral and support staff in th 6^th form. We are confident that you will get access to outstanding advice at all times which will help you make the right decisions going forward.

We look forward to meeting you face to face soon but in the meantime please visit our website or give us a call for if you have any questions.

Trinity School: A Church of England School – Visions, Values and Aims

The school, a Christian foundation, is committed to the provision of an excellent education for all. We have a ‘motto’ to sum up our aims: Standards, Responsibility and Opportunity …… for All; this helps to make our vision for students clear and explicit. We promote Christian values through the experience we offer to all students. Following discussion with staff, students and governors we focus most closely on the values of community, trust, hope, endurance and compassion. These are reinforced through assemblies and Thought for the Day.

We value the uniqueness of all God’s children and make sure that we are inclusive (…for all) in our approach to all aspects of our work. We aim to provide the highest standard of education, in its broadest sense, for all of our students and we expect the highest standard of effort and conduct from students, stressing the value of hope in the belief that all students can achieve well with dedication and a positive approach. We also stress the value of endurance, dealing with setbacks, in order to achieve ambitions. We encourage all students to be responsible, taking responsibility for their behaviour towards others, treating others as they would wish to be treated, respecting those who are different to themselves, serving others both within and beyond the school community.

We seek to provide rich opportunities and encourage students to grasp these, developing their curiosity, creativity, spirituality and understanding and appreciation of the world around them. We aim to make a difference to young people’s lives, to develop an awareness and respect for spiritual and moral values, so that they, in turn, can enrich the lives of others. The biblical quotation (John 10:10) on prominent display in our Jubilee Hall makes clear our mission: to ensure that our students leave us with the values, knowledge and skills which will enable them to lead a full and fulfilling life.

At Trinity Sixth Form Centre our aims are:

To provide a first-class academic experience for all our students
To support the learning of all our students and keep students and parents/carers informed of progress
To offer students the opportunity to develop skills and confidence within school and the wider community
To enable a smooth transition to higher education and employment

What Do I Need to Know About Homework?

The aim of setting students homework is to improve the learning of all through the experience of self-study, using initiative and building up resilience. Trinity School will provide opportunities to:
• Learn independently of the teacher;
• Practise skills learnt in the classroom;
• Complete learning started in the classroom;
• Experience meeting of deadlines in preparation for Post 18 study and lifelong skills;
• Re visit past learning to consolidate knowledge in preparing for examinations

ClassCharts

All our teachers will be setting homework via an online platform called ClassCharts. Staff will post the task, deadline and additional resources on this platform to which students will have a personal log in. Staff can monitor who is therefore engaging with homework and who requires additional support. Students will receive their log in on the first day back in September. Also within the first half term we will send home personal log ins for parents and carers so that you can keep track of what homework is being set and support its completion.

Classcharts

Using the Internet

Using the school ICT facilities is a key part of the curriculum and is a valuable tool in the progress being made by all students. However, the safe usage of this tool is vital to maintain the e-safety of each individual in the school.

To assist in the protection of our students, the school uses an up to date monitoring system and firewall that monitors all traffic leaving and coming into the school. Social media is not accessible in any form using the school system and all searches are automatically checked for their content. Students are not able to access the school system using their own devices to protect against the transmission of electronic virus’ etc that could cause damage to your home system and/or the school network.

There is an expectation that an acceptable user agreement is signed by students at the start of the academic year.

Forbidden Items

At the school we take personal health and wellbeing very seriously. Therefore, the following items are forbidden on site. If any of these items are found, they will be confiscated immediately, and sanctions will be imposed:

Cigarettes/vapes and associated paraphernalia – It is illegal for anyone to smoke on or near the school site as it is a public space. Vaping is regarded as ‘smoking’ activity and is equally unacceptable
Illegal drugs and paraphernalia of any kind – this will be dealt with by the school and will include police involvement.
Knives or other sharp implements – It is illegal to carry a concealed weapon of any description in the UK. If any form of weapon is brought on site, this will involve immediate action and police involvement.

FAQs from students

What should I do if I want to change subjects?

You can change subjects on GCSE results day on 20^th August or in the first 3 weeks in September. After the end of September you will not be able to drop or change a subject. Our best advice is always to choose a subject you enjoy or are good at or need in order to pursue a particular career in the future. There are no easy subjects, you will find bits of each subject difficult over time.
What happens when I get my GCSE results in August?
What equipment do I need?

We expect all Year 12 students to have a pencil case with pens (red, green, blue and black), pencils, ruler etc, a calculator, a folder (ring binder) for each subject and lined paper where possible. Subject staff will issue textbooks and these may need to be brought to lessons. In addition you will also be issued with a school planner which you should use to record homework or key dates that relevant work such as assignments are due in.
Do I always have to wear a lanyard?
Do 6th form students wear a uniform?
How do students find their way around the school? Do we get a map?

Trinity School has a large site and it might take you a little while to find your way around but most students start to learn their way from classroom to classroom in a week or two. If you get lost – and you probably will at some point at first – there are always members of staff on corridors who you can turn to and ask for directions.

Before you join us in September, you might find it useful to look at the map of the school. It might look complicated but will start to make more sense when you receive your timetable with room numbers on. You will quickly notice that all rooms for a subject tend to be grouped together in one area of the school (e.g. all Art rooms are on the Art corridor on the first floor). This makes it easier to find your way around.
How do we pay for food in school?

You cannot use cash to pay for food in the dining hall. We will scan your thumb print or a card – which we will give you in school – at the till and the money that you spent will be taken away from your account. Come September, we might not be able to let you use your thumbprint on the machines because of stricter hygiene rules linked to the coronavirus situation. We might use cards only instead.

Your parents/carers can top up your account using ParentPay. You can also add money on your account yourself by putting coins or notes into one of the revaluing machines in school.
Do we have a break? Is this the same break for all classes and years?

You will get a break in the morning after your first two lessons of the day. During break time, you can go to the Bistro or the library or outside but we do ask that you remain on premises at break time.

Break time is normally the same for all year groups in the school, but this might be different in September if rules on physical distancing are still in place. We will let you know nearer the time.

The Year 12 lunch time is at a different time from Year 13 so that the Bistro dose not get over crowded.
Am I allowed to bring my mobile phone? If so, when can I use it and is it safe?

You are allowed to bring your mobile phone in school but it must stay switched off and placed in your bag – not your pocket – during lessons. School does not accept responsibility for any damage to your phone when in school so you might choose to not bring it in at all.

You can use your mobile phone during break and lunchtime but must not take photos or videos when you are in school. If you do not follow this rule, your phone may be confiscated and you will need to collect it at the end of the school day.

Advice from our Students

Calum Taylor (2019 Leaver)

So, I studied English Literature, Music and French at Trinity. It was a good time. I’m now at Oxford University, reading English Language and Literature. I found A-Levels rewarding, particularly because I was doing subjects that I loved. Trinity is a great place, and I was lucky to have such inspiring teachers. Their support was invaluable. A wonderful thing about sixth form is that you go through a journey, both as an individual and as an entire year group; and, in retrospect, it was an extraordinary experience to share, with people who are now off pursuing loads of exciting things. A second wonderful thing about it is, of course, Unibof (you’ll see…).
Elise Walkingshaw (2019 Leaver)

Trinity Sixth-Form is a hugely supportive community that enabled me to take part in some incredible extracurricular opportunities alongside my A-levels. I studied English Literature, English Language and History and this has led to me doing a BA in English Literature at The University of Sheffield. The EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) meant I stretched myself in different ways and discovered new skills and interests. I really enjoyed participating in the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and public speaking as well as numerous music groups and serving on the student leadership team. Throughout my time in sixth form, I always felt able to take any issues or queries big or small to my pastoral tutor who would go above and beyond to help. My visit to Auschwitz and taking part in the Lessons from Auschwitz Project is something I will never forget.
Callum Woods (2019 Leaver)

Hi, my name is Callum. I studied Product Design, Business and Law at Trinity Sixth Form. I can’t believe I am writing in the past tense – that’s how quickly sixth form goes! Time at sixth form was challenging however worth the hard work as the skills it equipped me with has supported in my traineeship at Ashwood Design Associates as a trainee Architectural Technologist. The independence that came with sixth form has also enabled me to study an accelerated part- time degree at Salford. Sixth form gives you time to think about what career you might want and which path you wish to take to achieving that. Although it gives you time to think, you can’t ponder too much as there is a lot of work to do in school and at home, so you have to be committed and with the help and support from teachers it’s achievable. The pastoral team are also great at giving advice and guidance.
Ruth Cox (2016 Leaver)

I graduated from Trinity Sixth Form in 2016, and I look back at it as an incredibly enriching and formative experience. I studied English Literature, Philosophy and Ethics, and Sociology, which led me to study English Literature and Language at the University of Oxford, before pursuing my postgraduate at Edinburgh. What I am most grateful for from Trinity was the support from teachers, who were constantly fitting me into their day to discuss further topics I was either struggling with, or that I simply enjoyed. The resources and conversations
we shared expanded my knowledge, allowed my passions to grow, and developed my critical thinking ready for adult life. I also enjoyed Trinity’s sense of camaraderie: through activities such as form quizzes, ball planning, and the Winter Cup, Trinity established itself as a place for study, but also personal development, fun, and teamwork.

Contact

We hope that this information has answered some of the questions that you may have. Please also view our sixth form page to support transition to Trinity School Sixth Form. Should you have any specific concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Trinity School.
6form@trinity.cumbria.sch.uk