12page 2016 propectus

Sixth Form

A Sixth Form tailored to you

Could this be

You?

Alex - Pharmacology Owen - Food & Nutrition
Hertfordshire Teesside

Nathan - Astrophysics
Manchester

Charlotte - Journalism
Nottingham Trent

Lizzie - Religion & Politics Chelsea - Mechanical
King's College London Engineering Newcastle

Welcome
to Polam Hall Sixth Form

Where every individual counts

A personal message from Head of
Sixth Form, Nikki Holmes.

If you are picking up this brochure for the first time, you
are probably thinking about studying A Levels next year.
As well as considering which subjects you are likely to
take, you must also decide what sort of Sixth Form
you are looking for.

Let me tell you a few important things about Polam Hall:

Our Sixth Form is smaller than most, which means that you
will get to study your chosen A Level subjects with support from teachers who you will
get to know well.

Not only are we small, but we’re also friendly and supportive, and the teaching we offer is
flexible enough to allow every student to enjoy a tailored experience, studying the right
subjects and receiving as much or as little mentoring support as they need.

Your subject teachers and form tutor will invest huge amounts of time in you – not only
academically, but in you as a person, helping you to identify and build on your natural
strengths, interests and abilities. They will work with you to find suitable university courses,
or apprenticeships and other employment options, resulting in future destinations that
will excite and motivate you as a whole person.

At Polam Hall Sixth Form we will want you to be ambitious for your own future whatever
that entails – and we will share those ambitions with you. They say ‘small is beautiful’ for
a reason. Polam Hall will always be small enough for every Sixth Former to find their niche.

As Head of Sixth Form my door is always open and that applies to anyone interested in
joining us with questions to ask. I look forward to meeting you at one of our Sixth Form
Open Evenings, or you can email me at anytime at: [email protected]

P O L H A M H A L L S C H O O L | S I X T H F O R M 3.

Studying A Levels

at Polam Hall

Polam Hall offers the full range of A Levels courses, all of them recognized by universities and
employers as traditional A Level subjects. The top universities (known collectively as The Russell Group)
look for students who have studied ‘facilitating’ A Level subjects. These subjects are marked with an
asterisk in the table below.

A Level teaching staff at Polam Hall devote considerable time and energy to ensure that their lessons are
stimulating, interactive and enjoyable. Because we are small, students have the advantage of ‘tailored’ lessons
which means they get exactly the right amount of help and support they need, hopefully making the overall
learning experience more meaningful and productive.

A Level courses are a big step up from GCSE courses, so it
is important that you find out as much as you can
about the subjects you are thinking of studying to make sure they are what you are expecting. There are leaflets
available on our website for each subject and these give an overview of the course content and how you will be
assessed. There is also an opportunity to speak with subject specialists at our Sixth Form Open Evenings.

Art & Design Economics Maths & Further Maths
Biology
Business Studies French Music
Chemistry
Drama & Theatre Studies Geography Physical Education
English Language
English Literature German Physics

History Psychology

Extended Project Qualification RS - Philosophyand Ethics

Statistics Photography

Download information leaflets on each of these subjects at: www.polamhall.com/sixth-form/a-level-studies

Entry Requirements

You need to achieve at least five or more A*-C grades at GCSE, including English and Mathematics. If any of
your GCSE subjects are under the new 9-1 grading system, then you would need to have Grade 5 which is the
equivalent of a Grade C.

We want you to be able to cope with your A Level workload and for this reason we recommend that you have at
least a grade B at GCSE in the subjects you choose for A Level. It is usual to start studying four subjects in Lower
Sixth and drop to three subjects in Upper Sixth. Some students will choose to study four subjects through to
A Level; others may opt just for three subjects from the outset and keep all three on for the full two years.

4. POLHAM HALL SCHOOL | SIXTH FORM

A Sixth Form

tailored to you

Sixth Form life at Polam Hall involves far more than just turning up for lessons.
Academic study is important, but we also want you to recognise and start to fulfil
your future professional and personal ambitions, whatever they may be.
University isn’t for everyone, and we will present you with several study and
career options to consider including apprenticeships and other types of
study and employment.

Our Sixth Form is small enough for everyone to become friends with
everyone else – which means huge opportunities to support one another
and find your niche. Staff and students become close in the two years and it
is true to say that you will develop bonds with people that will stay with for
the rest of your adult life.

Mentoring support

Every Sixth Former receives personal mentoring from their form tutor as well
as their academic subject teachers. You will be offered advice and support that
fits you as an individual – as opposed to a ‘one size fits all’ approach adopted by
larger educational establishments. You will have contact with your form tutors
twice a day and the Head of Sixth Form, Nikki Holmes, will actively encourage
you to talk to her about your progress and future plans.

Sixth Former also benefit from Polam’s membership of Unifrog; an online portal
that gives private access to careers information and requires you to document
your skills and competencies in readiness for university applications and work.
It is a hugely effective tool that will help you to focus on what it is that you
really want to do after Sixth Form and how best to go about it.

Sixth Form Centre

Sixth Formers have use of their own building – an old, quirky rambling
house at the far end of the School grounds. It is called ‘Plantation’ and is the
place where students go both to socialise and study. There’s a small kitchen
on site, pool, computer suite and careers library. In addition, students are
also required to use the School’s main library for private study at least
twice a week.

Dress Code

In line with our commitment to developing every student as an individual, there
is no uniform for Sixth Formers at Polam. That said, we do ask students to wear
smart ‘business dress’ – as reflected in the images in this prospectus and on our
website. We believe this is an important aspect of taking your studies seriously
and helping you to prepare for the world of work.

P O L H A M H A L L S C H O O L | S I X T H F O R M 5.

We chose Polam

because…

Since becoming a Free School, students have joined Polam Hall Sixth Form from state
schools in Darlington, County Durham, Teesdale and North Yorkshire. Most of them
travel daily, but some live in through the week.

Mia
‘ I am an affiliate with Durham University's hockey team and
needed a flexible and understanding Sixth Form because of midweek
training commitments. I was able to do three subjects rather than
four, to take some of the pressure off.’

Matthew Hannah
‘ When I came to Polam's Sixth Form taster ‘ I come fr
day I couldn't believe how friendly everyone one of the
was. It was as if we all knew each other School and
already! It never felt like that in my and stay w
last school. ‘

6. POLHAM HALL SCHOOL | SIXTH FORM Roxanne
‘ I never felt like I belonged to my
last school. It's much better here.
I feel like I am part of things.’

Amelia
‘I'm studying History, English Literature,
Philosophy & Ethics, and Latin. I want
to go onto a good university and was
looking for a SixthForm that would
really support me through the
application process.’

Mirren
‘I wanted to be in smaller classes where I would
get to know my classmates and receive lots of
help and attention from my subject teachers.’

JAMES
‘ I wasn’t sure about Polam until I
came to the taster days. That was
what finally convinced me.
Everyone was so chatty I felt
like I’d always been here!’

Ethan
‘I wanted individual attention to
help me succeed academically.’

rom Austria and am living at Polam Hall as
e Sixth Form boarders. I like the feel of the
d my grandparents live nearby so I can go
with them too.’

Will Lancia
‘ I liked the family feel here, plus I wanted ‘ I made my mind up at the open evening.
to study Art and liked the flexibility of the The staff were just so friendly towards me
course and the fact I could include and I liked everyone I met.’
photography.’

P O L H A M H A L L S C H O O L | S I X T H F O R M 7.

Leadership

opportunities

Polam Hall is a ‘through School’ with pupils joining us from reception upwards. Sixth Formers are taught
separately, and the Junior School has its own buildings, but Y12 and Y13 students are still very much a
part of the wider School community and many take on leadership positions. We operate an active and
competitive House System with school plays and sports activities every year. All Sixth formers are
expected to contribute taking on key roles within their House and acting as positive role models to
those lower down the School.

This makes Polam Hall quite different from a Sixth Form college, in that you will be expected to take on
leadership roles that only a School can offer. It has huge advantages, not only in integrating you into school life,
but in providing you with vital evidence of your self-confidence and organisational and managerial skills –
exactly what employers look out for on CVs and universities in that all-important Personal Statement.

A word from House Captain, Yeva
‘As someone who joined Polam Sixth Form from another school,
the house system really helped me to interact with all of the
year groups and made me feel like an integral part of the
school. Being a house captain has given me more confidence
and improved my ability to organize and lead others,
particularly during competitive events such as house
plays and sports day.’

Other challenges

As well as taking up the four most important posts of Head Student and Deputy and Head Boarder and
Deputy all Sixth Formers are invited to:

• Join Interact, our student charity organisation
• Take part in the Duke Of Edinburgh scheme
• Sign up for the School’s own Combined Cadet Force
• Participate in World Challenge – a national organisation of which Polam Hall is a member

and where students raise funds to secure their place on a major long-haul expedition overseas.

8. POLHAM HALL SCHOOL | SIXTH FORM

A word from Head Student, Jenny

‘Being head student involves creating rotas, attending
fortnightly council meetings and reading notices in assembly.
I’ve also had to use my communication skills to generate student
input into the running of the school. Whether it’s through a
formal council meeting or discussed in passing in the corridor,
it is incredibly rewarding knowing that I can be approached
to discuss personal thoughts and concerns. I’ve also had to
learn to delegate and trust others to do a job well. This has
made me appreciate the true value of teamwork, both among
my peers and in the School as a whole.’

Other weekly activities include:

Sport Orchestra Choir

Debating Duke of Edinburgh Award Drama

Charity Work Expeditions Wind Band

Inter-House Competitions Creative Writing Reading Mentors

School Council Peer Mentors Combined Cadet Force

Read more about our extra-curricular programme at
www.polamhall.com/school-life

A word from Liv, President of Interact

‘As President I have to liaise with Darlington Rotary Club and the staff and pupils at Polam.
It has helped me to communicate in a more professional manner and improved my organizational
skills hugely! I now feel more confident in articulating my opinions and feel I have established
leadership skills which I didn’t have previously.’

P O L H A M H A L L S C H O O L | S I X T H F O R M 9.

Try living-in

as a stepping-stone to university

If Darlington is too far to travel each day we offer Sixth Formers the option
of either full boarding or ‘flexi boarding’. This is where you stay for some,
or all, of each week, returning home at weekends. We even offer overnight
stays on a ‘pay per night’ basis, which some students find especially useful
when taking part in evening activities.

Our Senior accommodation has a shared kitchen and a choice of relaxation areas and most students have their
own room or share with a student of similar age. They eat their main meals in the School dining room but are able
to make drinks and snacks in the boarding house.

Sixth Form boarding in not dissimilar to living in halls of residence; in fact those boarders who’ve gone on to
university have said that it played a vital role in helping them to prepare for living independently away from home.
Sixth Form weekly boarders can now stay at Polam for a reduced fee of just £2,000 per term. This includes all
accommodation and meals and allows students to live-in from Monday to Thursday each week, returning home
for the weekend after school each Friday and during the school holidays.

Further details at www.polamhall.com/boarding

A word from Sixth Form boarder Nele
‘ I come from Hamburg in Germany and chose to come to Polam to
do my Y12 because it felt very relaxed and homely which I liked.
I know it sounds ridiculous, but I
also liked the tree logo and when
I went on Google Earth I could
see all the beautiful grounds.
I have my own room and have
made many friends. The
weekends are good too because
I've been able to go on days out
with the other boarders.’

10. POLHAM HALL SCHOOL | SIXTH FORM

You too

can achieve success!

Last year, 93% of our Sixth Form students when on to study at university, with 78% securing their first
or second choice. If university is not your preferred route, we will support you in finding and applying
for apprenticeships or other employment opportunities so that everyone leaves Polam Hall with a
purpose; a true sense of who they are, and a readiness to take on the world!

U N I V E R S I T Y COU R S E U N I V E R S I T Y COU R S E

Aberdeen Entrepreneurship and Finance Nottingham Trent Journalism

Abertay Dundee Computer Games Sheffield Unconditional East Asian Studies

Bristol Medicine Southampton Chemistry

Coventry Automotive Design Staffordshire Computer Games Programming

Exeter Radiography Sunderland Pharmacy

Exeter Zoology Teeside Food and Nutrition

Kent Fine Art U of West England Bristol Forensic Science

Lancaster History and English U. Central Lancs Fine Art

Leeds Arts and Humanities UEA Pharmacy

Manchester Architecture University of the Arts Ceramic Design.

Manchester Physics with Astrophysics York Applied Social Science

Manchester Met Sports Coaching York St John International Business Management

Northumbria Fashion Marketing York St John Psychology

Nottingham Psychology York Marketing Management

Pointing you in the right direction
Careers guidance at Polam Hall is geared towards matching your
own strengths and abilities to the best possible career path for you.
Every year, students leave us to embark on interesting and diverse careers,
including, most recently, Nathan Alcock who secured a place at Manchester
University to study for a Mphys in Astrophysics under the tutelage of his
childhood heroes Professor Brian Cox and Professor Tim O’Brien
from TV’s Stargazing Live.

Richard Hart is also set to fulfil his forever dream of
becoming a car designer and is now doing a BSc in
Automotive Design while Charlotte Crowther is studying
broadcast journalism and can’t wait to get her first
TV assignment!

Read about other leavers now enjoying successful
careers on our website at:
www.polamhall.com/sixth-form/success-stories

POLHAM HALL SCHOOL | SIXTH FORM 11.

Polam Hall School and Sixth Form,
Grange Road, Darlington, Co. Durham DL1 5PA

T: 01325 463 383 • E: [email protected] • www.pollanhall.com