There are a number of enrichment activities that are available to our Sixth Form pupils. Please speak to Ms Elmi if you are interested in participating.

 

The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) 

What is the EPQ? 

This is an extra qualification offered that provides an opportunity for pupils to extend your abilities beyond the A-level syllabus and prepare for university or their future career. It can also be used it to earn extra UCAS points and is worth 50% of an A-level.

 

By taking responsibility for the choice and design of an individual project (or an individual role in a group project), pupils will:

•  become more critical, reflective and independent learners
•  develop and apply decision-making and problem-solving skills
•  increase their planning, research, analysis, synthesis, evaluation and presentation skills
•  learn to apply new technologies confidently
•  demonstrate creativity, initiative and enterprise

 

Using a six grade scale from A* to E, the EPQ is initially assessed by the lead supervisor, then is moderated by AQA and the final grade is awarded.

 

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Heathcote School is offering Year 12 and 13 pupils the opportunity to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award. It doesn’t matter if you have a background as a black belt in Tai Kwando - or as a couch potato! - the DofE Award is open to everyone and is a real adventure from beginning to end.

You can participate in the award at three levels: Bronze, Silver or Gold. Participants achieve their award by completing a personal programme of activities in four sections (five if you're going for Gold), which include Volunteering, Physical, Skills, Expedition and for Gold, a Residential.  

You'll find yourself getting fitter, developing existing or learning new skills, helping people or the community and acquiring and testing your survival skills during expeditions to Epping Forest and the South Downs!

The best bit is - you choose what you want to do!

Your programme can be full of activities and projects that get you buzzing, and along the way you’ll pick up experiences, friends and talents that will stay with you for the rest of your life. If you’re interested in signing up or would like more information about what you could do for each section, talk to our DofE Coordinator, Ms O'Neill.

 

Voluntary Hours

At Heathcote we encourage as many pupils as possible to take part in voluntary service. This gives the pupils a chance to give some of their free time to somebody else. By taking part in the scheme, the pupils will gain new skills which will benefit them in the future. 

Pupils often work as classroom assistants in the lower school and usually dedicate one hour of their time per week. Pupils will be required to keep a log book and can achieve a bronze, silver or gold award depending on the number of hours they complete.

 

Work Experience

Pupils in Year 12 will be given the opportunity to complete a 2 week work placement. This gives the pupil an insight into the working world, allowing them all to gain practical knowledge. There are many benefits of work experience:

1. Careers education and guidance: raising pupils’ awareness of the factors which may determine career choice and the requirements of particular employment sectors.

2. Attainment in individual subjects: enhancing pupils’ understanding of the skills developed within the curriculum.

3. Support for vocational qualifications: improving pupils’ understanding of the areas they are studying and acquisition of relevant knowledge and skills.

4. Learning about the world of work: preparation for the transition from education to work and recognising a wide variety of employability skills such as problem solving, flexibility and the ability to work with others.

5. General personal and social development: enhancing their self-confidence, maturity and their interpersonal skills.

6. Breadth of curriculum experience: support for pupils’ learning in a range of areas which will prepare them for adult life, such as understanding of social, economic and industrial issues, citizenship and enterprise.

7. Health and safety: helping raise pupils’ awareness of the importance of following health and safety requirements in the workplace.

8. Key Skills: offering opportunities to collect evidence which can go towards developing key skills.

9. Career Planning: contributing to the development of a young person’s career plan, including applying to university.

10. Motivation and achievement: helping raise pupils’ motivation and self-esteem through experimental learning.

 

Sixth Form Tutorial Programme

Up to the end of Year 11, learning is tightly structured and every minute of every day is accounted for. When pupils leave the 6th Form to go into Higher Education or employment, they will be expected to be capable of organising themselves and setting their own targets. The 6th Form is therefore an important transition stage, and we will be supporting our pupils in developing the appropriate skills and qualities for more independent study through the tutorial programme.

The 1 hour a week tutorial programme in the 6th Form focuses on the transition to Advanced level study and on preparation for Higher Education and employment. The main elements of the tutorial programme are:

• Study and self-management skills (reading, thinking, note-making, time-management, revision, stress-management and action-planning)

• Careers, preparation for employment and Higher Education (the costs and benefits of the different options post-18, career planning and advice, individual careers interviews on request and preparation for UCAS applications)