A successful Sixth Form career is a question of attitude and it is important for students to take greater responsibility for their studies and their conduct. In order to support students establish good habits, we provide private study areas where they can work outside of their lessons.

A good record of attendance is essential for the successful completion of all courses and pupils should not be absent unless there is a genuine reason. When absence does occur a note giving the reason should be sent to the personal tutor and there should be a strong commitment on behalf of the student to make up for any missing work as quickly as possible.

Before starting the Sixth Form, students will be interviewed, preferably with parents, in order to establish that the right choices are being made, and to give students an opportunity to meet with their tutor. It may be that the subject choices of some pupils may need revising in the light of their GCSE results and these changes can be discussed once the results are published. Staff will be available in order to advise on this. Year 12 students should have their timetables established and lessons started during the first week of term.

We should like parents to continue to show an interest in the school in general and their son’s or daughter’s progress in particular, and feel that they can contact us at any time should they wish to discuss any problem affecting academic progress, career choice or any issues in which we may be able to help.

The time spent in the Sixth Form can be the happiest and most memorable in anyone’s school career when opportunities for personal developments in terms of leadership and responsibility abound, and where satisfaction can be obtained from working to one’s full capacity. We wish all prospective students a happy and successful time during their Sixth Form days at St Robert’s and look forward to extending a special welcome to those students who come to us from other schools.

The School Day

School begins at 8.50 and teaching ends at 3.20. Students should be on the premises at 8.45. Excluding religious assemblies, registration time and breaks, each day consists of five teaching periods of sixty minutes’ duration. Extra-curricular activities take place during lunch hour, after school and some take place at weekends. 

Visits by Parents and Students

Parents and students may contact the Director of Sixth Form to make a private appointment or to view the School and College. An Open Evening will be held each year, usually in January, when parents and prospective students can find out more about the structure of the Sixth Form and the subjects we offer.

Social Work and Counselling Service

The school social worker is Elizabeth Hughes. She is a qualified social worker employed in partnership with St. Cuthbert’s Care and works with us full time.  

Accommodation  

Accommodation is provided in the new Sixth Form block which includes a large common room with a café and vending machines. In addition to this, there are specialist sixth form classrooms in this building and elsewhere in the main school building.

Religious Studies

This is a compulsory element of the Sixth Form curriculum at St Robert’s. The curriculum allocation of time is 10%, at the end of which the students have the opportunity to gain an Advanced Subsidiary qualification. This course will take place in Year 12 and students can be examined at ‘AS’ level at the end of this time. The course consists of Ethical theory and Practical Ethics modules. The students are introduced to philosophical thought and are able to develop critical and analytical approaches to study.

The ‘AS’ is a “stand alone” qualification and at the end of Year 12 students will have fulfilled the requirement for Religious Studies. The opportunity is available for them to proceed into Year 13 to follow the A2 modules of the course which combined with the AS modules form the full ‘A’ level.