Meopham School Sixth Form Prospectus

Welcome to Meopham School

Mr G Prebble, Headteacher

Meopham School is a vibrant and inclusive rural school with a clear focus on aspiration and success. Our Sixth Form ethos creates a supportive and inspiring climate for success where our students are trusted, valued and nurtured as young adults. We offer an environment rich in learning where positive relationships underpin the positive culture.

In April 2023 Ofsted awarded Meopham School a ‘Good’ grading, We were particularly proud of the following in our inspection report:
"Pupils are proud to attend this inclusive and positive school. They value the supportive and nurturing relationships they have with staff."

At Meopham School Sixth Form we measure success not just in terms of excellent academic outcomes, but also in the development of emotional intelligence and strong character. Our academic and vocational curriculum combines with our Sixth Form Baccalaureate to ensure that every student is nurtured to uncover their talents and aptitudes. We recognise that excellent examination results are only a part of the story. Qualifications and personality open doors initially, but it is strength of character with a solution focused, growth mindset which keeps those doors open and allows our young people to lead happy, successful and healthy lives.

We are proud that Meopham School students are curious in their learning, resilient in overcoming difficulty, and are confident in evaluating their own progress. As a consequence, they are ambitious to achieve academic and personal success, both in school and in the world beyond.

We hope that this prospectus provides you with a flavour of what Meopham School has to offer.

Mr Prebble
Headteacher of Meopham School

Meopham Sixth Form offers both academic and vocational qualifications to continue your education. Meopham is a smaller Sixth Form, so everyone knows everyone and teachers are able to get to know their students well, planning lessons to challenge and support everyone.

Students can enjoy the facilities of the Sixth Form Learning spaces between lessons developing their study skills through the digital resources, texts and a small but focused library that enables students to read around topics being studied. The spaces are arranged to be multifunctional to enable students to study privately, in groups as well as to socialise with their peers.

Students are supported within Sixth Form on a day-to-day basis by the Sixth Form Team who are responsible for their academic progress and pastoral care. All students are allocated a TAC group and tutor for daily timetabled sessions, we believe it is important for students to have a consistent member of staff to support them throughout their Sixth Form journey.

Community is important to us and we believe in working together to achieve our common goals through mutual respect and hard work. We are committed to your learning experience and want you to thrive and succeed at Meopham Sixth Form.

We look forward to welcoming you to our Sixth Form.

Meopham School Sixth Form

Meopham Baccalaureate

The Meopham Baccalaureate has been designed in response to the growing skills gap between employers and their requirements and the skill set of school leavers. Beyond the academic learning experience the Baccalaureate explores employment and life skills as well as personal development topics such health, relationships and wellbeing. These topics are covered through students' TAC time, Baccalaureate lessons and enrichment opportunities.

We believe enrichment is a vital part of the Sixth Form and learning experience. These are available through visits, clubs and workshops. We also run a range of leadership programmes that students can take part in including subject leaders, peer and reading mentors as well as our prefects programme that forms the top layer of student leadership within the school. Our Student leaders are supported in all their endeavours by the Sixth Form Student Leadership Team chaired by the Head student and deputies and assistants. These students support the wider school community and work together to develop the student experience.

Our Curriculum

At Meopham School we understand that every student is unique and so we tailor our teaching and curriculum to help all students reach their full potential. Our aim is to ensure each student makes the greatest possible progress from their own individual starting point. To this end we use students’ targets as floors to help raise aspirations, not ceilings to limit their ambitions.

It is our view that effective lessons will: Stimulate and encourage student curiosity, engagement and a love of learning; Be fully inclusive and enable progress for all students; Include appropriate and effective assessment and feedback opportunities; Allow opportunities for retrieval of key identified knowledge and skills.

Our teachers demand high expectations, build positive relationships and support effective learning. Staff use a range of teaching and learning approaches to ensure all students experience challenging and engaging tasks, which are matched to their learning stage.

"Across subjects, staff have strong subject knowledge and give clear explanations of lesson content. This was especially evident in teaching in the sixth form." - Ofsted 2023

Careers and Destinations

We recognise that what happens after Sixth Form is as important as what happens in it. Providing high quality information, advice and guidance when you need it means you will feel prepared for their next steps. Students have the opportunity to take part in University visits, University, Apprenticeship and careers fairs as well as workshops with the aim of giving students the information they need to make informed decisions.

As part of the school curriculum in year 12 all students will take part in a work experience placement. It is intended to give them a true experience in their field of interest to support decision making when it comes to their future career. Work experience provides many benefits giving students skills and experience that will allow them to stand out with potential employers.

In the final year of Sixth Form all students are supported throughout the process of choosing and applying for University courses and apprenticeships by tutors, the Sixth Form leadership team and the school’s Career’s Advisor.

Mrs Bishop is the school's independent careers advisor. She will be able to provide all of the advice, guidance and support you might need to make the right decisions for your future.

Applications

The minimum entry requirements for Meopham Sixth Form are 5 Level 4 GCSEs including English and Maths.

Subject specific entry requirements can be found on the subject pages of this course directory.

All students must follow a full time programme so must make a choice of at least three subjects to study, an EPQ can be taken as a fourth option.

The school reserves the right to cancel courses if demand is not sufficient. Where courses are not viable students will be asked to reselect.

All applications can be made through Kent Choices. Applicants will be invited to an interview to discuss their course choices and aspirations.

Students can only pick one option from each block.