Expectations at the Post 16 Centre

You are in the Post 16 Centre voluntarily, but there are certain expectations of you in terms of attendance, punctuality, attitude and behaviour that are outlined below:

Academic Work/Deadlines

It will become apparent to you very shortly after you enter the Post 16 Centre that the work you are given and they way in which you are expected to handle it are different to your previous experiences. It is vital that you appreciate these differences quickly and adapt your methods to them. 

• The main difference is that you will be given more complex tasks to complete in a longer period of time. Dealing with these demands requires effective personal organisation.
• Members of staff who teach you will provide you with a deadline for completed work to be handed in. As this may be one/two weeks ahead you will need to keep a diary where you list such dates. This will help you prioritise your work commitments each week.
• It is essential that you keep to work deadlines. Once you fall behind in your work it is very easy to get "bogged down" with a backlog of assignments that will become very difficult to clear.
• If you are struggling with deadlines it may help to talk to your form tutor. They can help you with the time management and could have a word with your teachers about easing the pressure; this is much more positive than simply failing to hand in work on time.
• If you are finding your work difficult to do, please seek help from the member of staff concerned. This is nothing to be worried about or ashamed of; few if any can expect to get through Post 16 courses without struggling at some time. Your teachers are there to help you and will regard your request for assistance as the mark of a responsible and mature student.
• Failure to hand work in on time or to produce work to the required standard will cause serious concern to those who teach you. If you are in this situation you should expect some action to be taken which seeks to help you get things right.

Study Periods

Study periods are an integral part of your courses; for most Post 16 students they take up 20% of the timetabled week. Plan to use them well.

• You are expected to work during study periods in one of the following:
• A Departmental 6^th Form study area (e.g. Art)
• A study area in the 6^th Form Centre
• The ICT study area
• You should not be found wandering around the school during the academic working day unless you have been given permission / been requested to do so by a member of staff.
• If you find it difficult to work in study periods at school it is important that you organise your workload to make them more profitable. Consider the following types of work:
• Note taking; writing up/summarising notes.
• Planning essays/carry out research.
• Reading/researching from books not available at home.
• Completing work under timed conditions – the division of the school day into 50 minute lessons should make it easier to work within set times.
• All students must sign in and out during their study periods.
• No musical equipment other than personal stereos are permitted in study areas.
• It is your responsibility to ensure you have work to do during study periods.

Equipment

The minimum you will need is a folder for each subject you are studying and a plentiful supply of pens and paper. Each subject area will have its particular requirements including books and equipment that you should obtain. 

Attendance

You must attend all lessons. The only justification for non-attendance is illness or personal or domestic emergency. During absence, contact should be made with school by telephone or letter at an early stage, to explain the cause of absence and to request work. If attendance falls below 90% you are unlikely to be successful. Parents will be contacted.

You must not arrange driving lessons or routine medical and dental appointments during lesson time. These may be arranged during study periods, by negotiation with form tutors. You are expected not to arrange holidays during term time (the dates are in this planner). 

After absence it is your responsibility to consult teachers about missed work and the re-scheduling of deadlines for the completion of assignments.

Planned Absence

It is essential to keep your form tutor informed of events that will prevent you from being in registration or class. Such events will include departmental excursions and field courses, open days, job and higher education interviews, driving tests and essential medical visits. 

Longer periods of planned absence, for example, work experience, should be negotiated with form tutors and/or the Head of Post 16 education.

Likewise, planned absence should be negotiated with subject teachers, both out of respect and to enable them to set you work, if appropriate. 

Holidays

All Post 16 courses are relatively short and a great deal crammed into them. We cannot, therefore, condone holidays taken during term time. Holidays, like casual absence, if taken during term time will damage your long-term prospects. If parents are organising a holiday when your course is running, please make every effort to find alternative arrangements.

Consultation Evening (called Parents Evenings in Years 9-11)

You will find that Consultation Evening occur during the year. Parents are warmly invited to attend these occasions. Students are also expected to attend whether the parents are available or not. After all, as Post 16 students, you will wish to take a mature, adult interest in your progress and welcome the opportunity to discuss your development with subject staff. 

Punctuality

You are required to be punctual for morning registration, for assemblies and for lessons, and to register in the afternoons. If you are late for registration, report to PA Block in order to sign in.

Staff Absence

Where possible, you will be informed of absence in advance of lessons. 

In the event of a subject teacher being absent or unavailable, students should check with the Head of Department to see if any work has been set. It this is not possible, the group should wait a period of 20 minutes to allow the teacher time to arrive. The session will then count as a study period.

Conduct

16+ students are seen as role models by younger pupils. It is essential that we convey the right kind of message to the rest of the school, and that we offer the kind of example that the younger students would want to imitate. Conduct consistent with the maturity of a 16+ student is expected at all times, both on or near the school premises. 

Uniform

There is no formal uniform in the Post 16, but you are expected to attend school wearing an acceptable standard of dress. Football shirts, tracksuit bottoms, skimpy clothing, clothing with offensive slogans, ripped jeans etc are not suitable. Most students work in an office environment and your choice of clothes should reflect this. 

Security/Security Passes

In order to distinguish Post 16 students (who are not in uniform) from unidentified visitors, all Post 16 students must wear visible Minster College security badges.

For reason of security, caps are not allowed on the Minster College site. 

No Smoking Zone

The Post 16 Centre and the Minster College site is a no smoking zone.

Motor Vehicles

Many of you will wish to bring a vehicle to school either regularly or occasionally during the Post 16. We are happy for you to do so provided that you adhere to the published rules and regulations. These involve proof of documentation including motor insurance and completing a registration form. You will be issued with a pass which must be displayed. All vehicles must be driven in a responsible manner and drivers must adhere to the College rules – see Mrs Gray for details. 

Mobile Phones

We accept that Post 16 students want to bring their mobile phones into the College. As long as the phones are used at sensible times and in an appropriate way, there should not be a problem. However, the potential for conflict does exist so the following common sense rules apply:

1. Mobile phones will be switched off during lessons. No attempt will be made to answer or use them.
2. No-one will send text messages to another student whilst lessons are under way. No abusive messages will be sent.
3. Students are asked not to use their phones whilst they are walking about the Main School where different rules apply.
4. Students are responsible for the sensible use and security of their mobile phones.

Lines of Communication

It is absolutely vital that clear lines of communication in the Post 16 Centre are maintained at all times between Head of Post 16, form tutors, subject teachers and students. Information to students and staff is normally transmitted through the following channels: 

• Tutorials and registration periods
• Weekly Post 16 Bulletin
• Notice boards in the Post 16 Centre

It is the responsibility of the individual student to make sure that he/she is in the right place at the right time to receive all the necessary communications. 

Part-Time Work

Many students wish to have a part-time job in order to provide extra money and a degree of independence. Teachers are sympathetic to such arrangements but these should not be excessive and ideally should be restricted to weekends. Working more that 10-12 hours on part-time jobs will lower your final grades. Study must be given a priority and all outside interests need to be managed so that they do not encroach on academic performance.

Study Outside Lessons

You must work at home and in your non-contact time in college to support your studies. Remember that in addition to "official" homework there is always valuable extra reading to do. In Advanced courses we and the examination boards assume that students will read around the subject to broaden their knowledge. This is essential to obtain the best possible grades. It is expected that students in the Post 16 Centre will spend the equivalent of at least one hour studying outside lessons for every hour in lessons. 

Examinations, Monitoring Progress and Reports

Examinations for Post 16 students occur throughout the year. Progress will be monitored and discussed with students by form tutors and subject teachers on a termly basis. In addition there will be regular consultation and regular electronic reports.

Students will be counselled as to their best options for Year 13. This may include dropping particular subjects, re-sitting an exam in a particular subject in September, beginning Year 12 again or leaving the Post 16 Centre. 

Students considering leaving a course at any other time during the year must first discuss the matter with the Head of Post 16 education as a matter of priority. Subject teachers wishing to remove a student from a course must do likewise. No student will change or drop courses without the appropriate paperwork having been completed and with the agreement of the Director of Post 16 education.

Parents/carers will be informed of significant changes resulting from discussions with students. School Responsibility

In return for meeting these expectations, the school will ensure that facilities are provided which allow students to both study effectively and to socialise.

Quality teaching will be provided along with a well resourced library, an enrichment programme which allows students to experience subjects outside the academic curriculum, and a system of pastoral care which allows easy access to a named form tutor and the Head of Post 16 education.

Student progress will be carefully monitored, and regular feedback will be made available to students and parents. There will be ongoing careers guidance which is geared to entrants both to High Education and employment at the end of the students’ time in the Post 16 Centre. 

Personal Student Contract

Once the student has read and understood the expectations they will be asked to sign and date a contract agreeing to support Minster College in its aim to ensure their personal success.

A Tutor will countersign and date the contract.