Our students follow a two-year pathway program designed around the Gatsby benchmarks to provide them with the tools and confidence to make informed choices about their chosen career path. During this program they will engage in a wide variety of activities that will help build their knowledge of careers and ensure they are aspiring to reach their potential.

The aims of this program are:

• To educate students on all post-18 options
• To prepare students for work in the wider community
• To support the development of students’ skills and attributes, experience and knowledge for future progression
• To develop students’ applications for future destinations
• To prepare students to become financially independent 
• To raise aspirations, supporting students to aim higher 

The program will include the following:

• Unifrog online service focuses on CV writing, universities, apprenticeships and MOOCS. Unifrog
  will also be used to collate useful progression information (activities, competences and interactions). All of this will be used to support the completion of UCAS application forms,
  personal statements and teacher references

• Trips to universities and apprenticeship fairs as well as university open days, to educate students on post 18 options

• Options to visit university open days, masterclasses, taster courses and summer schools at a variety of universities, to develop their application profile this will include an Access to
  Bristol course available to all students where they can understand what is needed to achieve at university as well as increase their chances of getting a place at Bristol University

• A dedicated team of tutors to support students with the UCAS process. Each student will have support tailored to their application from their form tutor, Sixth Form team and Careers Advisor

• HE+ sessions for students wishing to apply to Oxbridge, medicine or veterinary studies to ensure they are confident in completing their applications via this route. This will include preparation for, and support with, aptitude and pre-admissions tests

• Interview preparation, practice and workshops for both university and job applications are led by the Sixth Form team, local and national companies

• Students will attend workshops to help understand the job application process, CV writing and application letters, this will lead to each pupil having a personalised mock interview with a local business

• Finance workshops that include applying for student finance, credit, bank accounts and understanding wage slips 

• Sixth Form students will be encouraged to undertake volunteering and work experience to support their university applications

• The pastoral curriculum for Years 12-13 will include lessons on life at university, including finances, driving, living away from home and cooking 

• Charity fundraising and enterprise activities will be encouraged as part of our extracurricular offer

In addition to this program pupils will be offered a wide range of careers opportunities throughout the year, this will include guest speakers, virtual work experience and aim higher activities. All of these opportunities will allow pupils to understand their skills and qualities and be able to achieve their goals after leaving Nailsea Sixth Form.

We have highly experienced subject teachers who take pride in the level of support provided for the students studying their courses.

Tutors arrange 1:1 mentoring session throughout the year to discuss any potential barriers to students reaching their potential, as well as reviewing academic progress and reporting grades.

Our Learning Mentor works with individuals and small groups to ensure they have the required study skills to be a successful Sixth Form student.

The Sixth Form Leadership Team regularly review progress data and plan timely and purposeful intervention strategies to support those students who are underachieving.

We support students in applying for the HE+ Scheme and embed this into the advice and guidance when considering highly competitive courses and universities, such as Oxbridge, medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, music conservatoires and Russell Group. Students engage in the HE+ programme during Year 12, where they access online sessions and resources from Cambridge University, attend conference days with other schools in Somerset and participate in workshops from Admission Tutors from Cambridge University, and finally attend a 2 day residential at Trinity Hall College at Cambridge University.

We also run an Aspire Pathway as part of our enrichment programme. This scheme offers bespoke support to students applying for more competitive courses, through guiding their analysis of wider reading, supporting applications and providing interview advice and guidance. For students who are applying to Oxbridge, medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, music conservatoires, a subject specialist acts as their Mentor to support and guide their wider reading and engagement in the subject. The Sixth Form leadership team oversee these applications, including their personal statements and references. 

The 1:1 mentoring sessions arranged by Tutors not only focus on academic support, but also explore any additional barriers and discuss the most appropriate pastoral strategies to remove the impact of those barriers on students reaching their potential.

Our Heads of Year lead on the pastoral wellbeing of the students within their care, and liaise with parents/carers, teachers, tutors and external agencies to understand the context for every student.

Nailsea School’s dedicated Safeguarding Team works closely with those students who require a higher level of support, and regularly communicates with external agencies involved with the student or family.

Click through to our ‘Wellbeing Support‘ page for useful links

The government supports students to stay in education post-16 by providing schools and Sixth Forms with access to 16-19 Bursary Funding. This aims to provide support to help students overcome specific barriers to ensure they can remain and attend education.

The support that the Bursary Fund provides can vary, depending on students’ individual financial circumstance and the funding available to Nailsea School.

Nailsea School Sixth Form Bursary Policy: DOWNLOAD HERE