Sixth Form / Sir Bernard Lovell Academy

SBL Sixth Form

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The sixth form centre

It is the intention of everyone involved in delivering the Post-16 provision at the Sir Bernard Lovell Academy that your study should be an enjoyable and worthwhile experience, not only in academic and vocational achievement but in the continued development of you as an individual.

We are fortunate to have a dedicated modern sixth form centre, exclusively for the use of Post-16 students. This excellent provision will be also supported by our partnership with the other centres within the Wellsway Multi Academy Trust to enhance the choice of courses and enrichment activities available.

Wherever you look you will see that ‘learning pays’. Qualifications and experiences are increasingly necessary for employment in all walks of life. Within the sixth form centre we have designed an exciting and broad Post-16 curriculum to enable you to equip yourself for employment, higher education and life.

At the Sir Bernard Lovell Academy you will be taught by experienced teachers who know you and your preferred way of working. You will be assigned a personal tutor who will guide and support you through your studies, including your applications to university, apprenticeship or employment. This will be supported by regular reports to parents highlighting your areas of success and areas for further development.

I hope that you will join us by continuing your studies in the Post-16 centre at the Sir Bernard Lovell Academy.

D Clompus
Director of Sixth Form

More information

Post-16 options: how to avoid understandable confusion (Pdf, 124kb)
Changes to A levels from 2017: information for parents and carers (Pdf, 609kb).
Take a look at this year’s Sixth Form prospectus (Pdf, 420kb)

Five great reasons to join the sixth form

High expectations

Sixth Form is about freedom, responsibility and opportunity, in many ways you get out of it what you put into it. Our Sixth Form has high expectations and aspirations and expects students to have them too. We will encourage you to have an open mind and to think critically as you learn and progress. You will be expected to play a full part in the academy through community service.

Excellent progression

Young people are increasingly required to make complex decisions about their future at an earlier age than ever before. There is a comprehensive programme of careers education and IAG in place that gives you the chance to fully explore possible progression choices. In the sixth form we ensure that all students are supported to achieve their goals. In 2018 all Year 13 leavers progressed to university, further education, apprenticeships or employment.

Support for your progress

We don’t just expect success at SBL, we actively support you in achieving it. The secret of success is developing the ability to study and plan work effectively. Not all students will find this easy, but there is ongoing support available from Personal Tutors and teachers that know you to help you achieve your full potential.

Something for everyone

The Sir Bernard Lovell Academy is part of the Wellsway Multi Academy Trust; this significantly increases the opportunities available to you both in terms of the courses on offer and in terms of the expertise that the schools have. This includes the newly built engineering facilities at the IKB Academy.

It’s not just work, work, work

At SBL we want you to be academically successful but also to have fun. You will have the opportunity to be involved in a range of activities ranging from school productions to helping in the school community, running charity events to completing your Duke of Edinburgh silver award. As a sixth form student at SBL you are also entitled to a discounted membership to the school gym.

Entry requirements

We welcome all students of all abilities and pride ourselves on excellent outcomes.

For Level 3 qualifications you will need a minimum of five GCSEs at grade 4 or above including maths and English; to study A Levels you usually need a grade 5 or 6 in the subject you want to study or a similar subject.

Our one-year Access to Level 3 programme will allow you to achieve the equivalent of five GCSEs including English and maths. Minimum entry requirements are five Grade 3 GCSEs.

For more information please our courses section.

Pathways

We are an inclusive Sixth Form and offer four pathways, academic, vocational, mixed and Access to Level 3 to suit all abilities.

Here are some examples:

Academic: A Level maths, physics and computing could lead to a degree in engineering.
Vocational: BTEC and CTEC Public Services, Health and Social Care and Business for a higher apprenticeship, employment or university.
Mixed: BTEC Health and Social Care and A level Sociology or Psychology, as above.
Access to Level 3: BTEC Business and Enterprise and CTEC Health and Social Care to lead to Level 3 courses.

If you require more information please contact us tel: 0117 456 5900 or email: post-16@sblonline.org.uk

See our courses section for detailed information about the wide range of subjects we offer.

Take a look at this year's Sixth Form prospectus (Pdf, 420kb)

Our courses

Being part of the Wellsway Multi Academy Trust enables us to offer a very wide range of subjects while remaining a small, school-based Sixth Form.

Level 3: A Level

Art and Design: Photography (Pdf, 188kb)
Art and Design: Fine Art (Pdf, 248kb)
Art and Design: Textiles (Pdf, 645kb)
Biology (Pdf, 80kb)
Business (Pdf, 81kb)
Chemistry (Pdf, 79kb)
Computer Science (Pdf, 245kb)
Design and Technology: Product Design (Pdf, 208kb)
Drama and Theatre Studies (Pdf, 386kb)
Economics (Pdf, 310kb)
English Language and Literature (Pdf, 329kb)
English Language (Pdf, 421kb)
English Literature (Pdf, 403kb)
French (Pdf, 248kb)
Geography (Pdf, 230kb)
German (Pdf, kb)
History (Pdf, 490kb)
Mathematics (Pdf, 246kb)
Mathematics (Core) (Pdf, 377kb)
Mathematics (Further) (Pdf, 249kb)
Music (Pdf, 305kb)
Physical Education (Pdf, 364kb)
Physics (Pdf, 308kb)
Psychology (Pdf, 305kb)
Religious Studies: Philosophy and Beliefs (Pdf, 248kb)
Sociology (Pdf, 651kb)

Level 3: vocational

BTEC Applied Science (Pdf, 150kb)
BTEC Engineering (Pdf, 154kb)
BTEC Public Services (Pdf, 211kb)
CTEC Sports (Pdf, kb)
CTEC Business (Pdf, 214kb)
CTEC Health and Social Care (Pdf, 213kb)

Level 2 (Access to Level 3)

BTEC Business and Enterprise
CTEC Health and Social Care
CTEC Information Technology
CTEC Sport and Physical Activity

Students achieving a grade 4 or lower in maths or English will need to retake.

Access to Level 3 courses flyer (Pdf, 784kb)

More information

Take a look at this year’s sixth form prospectus (Pdf, 766kb)
Changes to A levels from 2017: information for parents and carers (Pdf, 609kb)
Sixth Form prospectus (Pdf, 420kb)

Application forms

We offer a wide range of courses at the Post-16 Centre. Take a look through this year’s Sixth Form prospectus (Pdf, 420kb) to help you choose the right course for you.