Building Futures

At Eckington Sixth Form, our ‘Building Futures’ programme ensures students thrive and flourish both academically and personally, in a welcoming and supportive learning environment so that they are ready for the challenges after Sixth Form.

 

Your Career

Ensuring that our students are prepared for the next important stage in their lives is of paramount importance to us. Our Sixth Form team will work with prospective students from the outset and throughout their time with us to supplement their own research. This will help students to select the right options for them at Eckington Sixth Form.

Eckington School is proud to retain the Quality in Careers Standard and Career Mark Gold Award for effective careers education, information, advice and guidance. In Year 12 we enhance our students’ employability skills through a number of experiences and opportunities that make our students stand out from the crowd including:

• Industry mentoring.
• Professional development/work experience.
• Careers week – an intensive week of preparations for each student’s future including university visits, degree apprenticeship talks, career talks from a variety of industries, mock interviews, UCAS advice and personal statement guidance.
• University visits and workshops delivered by a variety of universities including the University of Oxford and other Russell Group universities.
• UCAS fair and VIP access to our large careers fair.
• Opportunity to engage in the National Citizenship Service (NCS).
• Alumni speakers on industry, university, degree level apprenticeships and gap years.
• Access to a both a qualified careers advisor who is the Year 12/13 Head of Year and an external qualified careers advisor.
• Subject specific careers education (delivered through each subject area).
• Live vacancies and local labour market information.
• Local Business Link projects with Dronfield Barn.

We have a dedicated Employer Engagement Manager who will support all students in finding ‘hands on’ industry experience along with giving more bespoke support to those students interested in apprenticeships. The Employer Engagement Manager can also arrange links between students interested in particular career paths and suitable employers.

We support and guide our students through the university or apprenticeship application process. Specialist support is given to potential applicants to Oxbridge and to early application courses such as medicine, dentistry and veterinary sciences. In Year 13, tutors will support students with their UCAS application including their personal statements. We also provide interview practice.

We also know how important it is for parents to be part of their young person’s next steps and ensure that we offer support to parents through post-18 pathway and higher education evenings/workshops.

Your Engagement

Sixth Form students take more responsibility for their progress and development academically, emotionally and professionally. As young adults they will be expected to take ownership of their own learning, with the support of the Sixth Form team.

Your Growth

At Eckington, we believe that a broad and balanced curriculum is essential in the development of our students. The enrichment and student leadership programmes we offer allow students opportunities to explore, learn and grow and to develop the softer skills valued by employers as well as enhancing applications for university, apprenticeships and employment.

Leadership Opportunities

The student leader programme is an established part of Eckington School and Sixth Form. We have a variety of programmes that enable students to lead on whole school issues, support students and departments. Student leaders are actively involved in school open evenings, making the student voice heard and coordinating the school student committee. Sixth Form students also have the opportunity to become lunchtime supervisors, providing positive role models for younger students.

Six For Sixth

We encourage all Sixth Form students to try six new cultural experiences, choosing from the numerous curriculum and year team visits, trips, experiences and extracurricular activities available. Trips and visits have been organised to Europe, North America and Asia, German Christmas markets and CERN in Switzerland. Regular visits are made to key architectural sites in English cities and the coast as well as to academic conferences, university visits and the UCAS conference at Sheffield Arena.

A wide range of extracurricular activities take place both after school and at lunchtime, including catering, Spanish, French, German, art, drama, music and a variety of sports.

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)

Students have a weekly dedicated directed learning period to complete a number of MOOCs throughout the year allowing students to learn about a specific subject or skill in more detail.

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

Our EPQ is very popular and the qualification is highly regarded by universities and employers. Students are supported through the course of an independent piece of research on a topic of interest to them.

Reading and Debating

A range of wider reading activities provoke debate and encourage students to research and discuss a range of contemporary topics and issues. All Year 12 students have the opportunity to support selected Year 7 students with their reading.

University Programmes

We have close links with both the universities in Sheffield, which provide regular talks and opportunities to visit the universities and experience their facilities. In partnership with the University of Sheffield outreach programmes, students may have the opportunity to receive lower offers. We also work with the Social Mobility Foundation, the Sutton Trust and The Talent Tap to ensure our students from disadvantaged backgrounds have the opportunity to attend summer schools and residential courses with employers.

Your Toolkit

A-level courses are very demanding, and students will need to manage their study, personal and work life effectively. Eckington Sixth Form team will help our students develop good routines and practices – and help with problems that are encountered - that will allow them to be successful on their chosen pathway.

Your Moral Compass

Through registration time, assemblies and a guidance programme students will learn about a variety of issues and topics that will affect them in the future and will hear from a range of visitors from different faiths and political parties.

Your Balance

Achieving a work-life balance is a challenge for any adult. There are many ‘community’ Sixth Form events and social activities to help everyone get the most from Sixth Form life. These include weekly fun Fridays, the Autumn Ball, Christmas celebrations, the beach party and Leavers’ Prom.