Parents’ Welcome Evening

1. Parents’ Welcome Evening

2. At Ashton Sixth Form College… Our vision is… • To be an outstanding college and pursue excellence Our mission and core values include… • A focus upon learners • To inspire learners, enrich lives and foster a love of learning

3. College success Another really good year at the college... • Record numbers of students stayed on course and achieved – our highest ever!

4. Headline results – A Levels • Our A Level pass rate is 99% and has improved this year • Many students achieved high grades on A level programmes • Over 70% of students achieved A*-C grades on A level programmes • So.... high pass rates and high grades were achieved across A level programmes

5. Headline results - Vocational • Excellent vocational results across all levels / programme areas • The majority of students on our level 2 and level 3 vocational Diploma, Extended Diploma and Certificate programmes achieved Merit, Distinction or Distinction* grades • So… high pass rates and high grades were achieved across all subjects

6. So we have a lot to celebrate! • Our results are the best ever • We had a very good Ofsted report – we are officially a good college with many outstanding features (and bucking a national trend of “down-grading”) • We have beaten every single college in the country to become the BTEC College of the Year • We have been awarded the Investors in People Gold Award for our people management and people development strategies – we invest in our staff so that both staff and students reap the benefits • We have been chosen to be the northern link for Pembroke College, Oxford.

7. Monitoring progress • We take your son/daughter’s GCSE grades and use them to predict what they should expect to achieve on completion of their course if they were the average student at the average college • This will be their National Average Grade (NAG) and your son/daughter will be expected to perform to that grade as a minimum • But we don’t think your son/daughter is the average student… and we’re not the average college!

8. Monitoring progress • Your son/daughter’s target grade will be agreed with their teachers • Nobody will have a target grade less than a D on A level • These are set to provide stretch and challenge and ensure our students achieve the very best they possibly can

9. Monitoring progress • Subject Progress Reviews with teachers • Monitoring interviews with Senior Tutor • Target setting and monitoring • Reports to parents containing academic and effort grades, attendance and punctuality • Contact home by Senior Tutors where needed • Parents’ Consultation Evening

10. Aiming High • We use an on-line tracking tool called ‘Pro-Monitor’ • mark book • attendance & punctuality • formal assessment grades • record of progress meetings and interviews with students • any concerns flagged • commendations • Pro-Monitor is used by staff, students andparents • Once per term, there will be a formal review period where students will be told, and discuss, their effort grades, attendance and progress grades and negotiate action plans. • We want students to be pro-active in using the system and to take control of their learning and progress.

11. The Sixth Form experience…what’s it all about? • Enjoy • Achieve • Enrich • Aspire • Progress Students don’t ‘fall into’ sixth form

12. How? Student 3 way partnership College Parents

13. For students • Full attendance – to all lessons, tutorials, support sessions, ALS support (if appropriate). - Ensure absences are fully authorised before 8.50am - Produce appointment cards/hospital letters • Keep part-time jobs to a maximum of 10 hours per week • Complete all set homework - a minimum of 3 hours per subject per week (A-Level students) or 10 hours per week (vocational students) • Early preparation for examinations • Participate in the Enrichment programme • Listen out for, take up all appropriate opportunities

14. For parents… • Support and Encourage • Check …. Nag • Use college systems - authorise absences - Liaise with tutors/subject teachers where appropriate

15. For college…. • Support at ASFC has been rated highly by OFSTED • Personal, academic, careers and ALS support have been deemed highly effective • Our role in relation to our ‘Learner’ adults

16. Progression to the next academic year • At least 90% attendance • Good effort grades & behavioural record • Good workrate • Attendance at, and preparation for, all exams • Successful completion of all the year’s coursework • Passing at least 3 AS’s (grade E or above – some require grade D) • A recommendation from Heads of Department

17. College Counselling Service Chaplaincy Senior Tutors ALS Ashton XL Support At ASFC Supervised study Aspiration schemes Student Peer Mentor Service Careers Guidance Programme Careers & Connexions advice Well stocked Library/LRC

18. A Success Story … Jonathan GCSE Score: 7.7 (A / A*) Course: 5 A Levels Minimum Target Grade: AAAAA Attendance: 97% Grades: A A A*A* A* (Computing, General Studies, Maths and Further Maths, Physics) Destination: Mathematics at Cambridge University

19. A Success Story … Dinesh GCSE Score: 5.80 (A’s, B’s & C’s) Course: 3 A levels Minimum Target Grade: CCC Attendance: 98% Grades: BBC (Biology, Chemistry and ICT) Destination: Pharmacy at Liverpool John Moores University

20. A Success Story … Catherine GCSE Score: 4.6 (mainly Cs) Course: BTEC Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Minimum Target Grade: MMM Attendance: 96% A Level Grades: D* D* D* Destination: Performing Arts / Musical Theatre at University of Central Lancashire