What is it like to be a Sixth Former at BGN?

BGN Sixth Form is a small and inclusive community and most of our students have been together since primary school. This means that they value and respect each other and the two year groups mix easily. We offer a range of Level 3 qualifications including most of the facilitating subjects and a variety of Vocational BTEC courses.  Our students are able to select a mixed programme of study which builds effectively on their GCSE attainment and enables them to resit GCSE Maths and/or English if they did not achieve grade 4 in Year 11. In addition, all our students undertake an Extended Project Qualification, and this is delivered by the Religious Studies department to fulfil our Catholic life in the Sixth Form. Students in Year 12 undertake an enrichment activity of their choice for a minimum of an hour per week and also do a week of work experience at the end of their year.

Students are in tutor groups which, in the main, are a continuation of the house they were in lower down the school. This helps to maintain links with younger year groups and encourages inter-house collaboration, competition, and togetherness. In Year 13 students can apply for roles within our Pupil Leadership Team which enables them to assume whole school responsibilities and represent the student body in the wider community.

We have a structured programme of PSHE, RSE and Careers Guidance and our Sixth Formers are ambitious, confident, articulate, and compassionate. Student attainment is good, and we use ALPs to determine minimum target grades and monitor progress in year. Students are mentored both by tutors and academic staff and there is a programme of assertive mentoring for students at risk of underachievement. SEND and disadvantaged students are supported by our SENCO and make progress in line or exceeding expectations. A high percentage of our Year 13 are successful in their applications to University including the Russell Group and Oxbridge. Others leave us having secured Level 4 apprenticeships with local and national companies.

Our Sixth Form is a collaborative and supportive environment in which students flourish because they benefit from having a positive and accessible relationship with both the pastoral and academic teams. We regularly use formal and informal systems to listen to the student voice and to respond and reassure. We have a twice monthly information bulletin which we share with students and parents and use this as a one-place one-stop environmentally friendly method of communication. Students know that we are approachable and will listen and guide them. Our retention from Year 11 into Year 12 and then during the Sixth Form journey is excellent, as are their outcomes on leaving us.