POST 16 EDUCATION AT THE BARCLAY SCHOOL

WHO IS IT FOR?

We offer further opportunities for those who wish to follow one or two year vocational courses, provide A levels for those entering various professions, send some to Colleges of Art, some to other specialist colleges and many to Universities to read for degrees.

WHAT ARE THE FACILITIES?

The accommodation is purpose-built, comprising: a computer work room, a lecture theatre with video conferencing facilities, three teaching rooms, a spacious common room, a kitchen and a locker area.  This allows the students some measure of privilege and separate consideration, as befits their changing status, but ensures, through the connecting link, that the students remain clearly a part of the school.

WHAT IS LIFE LIKE IN THE POST 16 CENTRE?

Students learn to cope with greater freedom and with the responsibilities that naturally accompany this.

Students enjoy the benefit of working in small groups and of having more individual contact with members of staff.  Students themselves plan their study time [tutors give guidance] and are encouraged to take full advantage of the quiet working areas available for private study.  Most students will have approximately five ‘non-contact’ periods during the week, but

these will only partly ease the workload. It is essential that students also devote sufficient time outside school hours to their school subjects. 

There are four post 16 tutors who carry out Review & Guidance interviews with individual students on a regular basis. The Student Support Leader works in an open and flexible way and offers personal counselling where necessary. The students meet together on a fortnightly basis,  it is during these meetings that information is given about career matters and higher education. Individual contact with a Careers Officer continues on a self-referral basis.

Students organise their own social activities and control their own funds for this purpose.  They thus develop a strong social group identity.  Most of the organisation of the day-to-day life and of the social functions is in the hands of the Committee, which is presided over by the four Head Students.   All members are encouraged to state their views and opinions.

We look to all students to recognise their responsibilities as examples to others in the rest of the school and the wider community.  We look to them to set responsible standards and to involve themselves with the younger children.  This involvement can be in a number of ways: assisting the staff at school functions or within lessons; acting as buddies or mentors for YR7 students; running after school clubs; or offering time and assistance in neighbouring primary schools. There is also the Annual fundraising Rag Week!

POST 16 COLLABORATION

The Stevenage 14-19 Partnership comprises the six community secondary schools in the town, together with North Herts College, local Special Schools, a local training provider and the University of Hertfordshire. The Partnership brings together a range of initiatives, which seek to transform the educational culture in the town and, through collaboration at 14+, broaden and enhance opportunities and pathways for all learners.

The Partnership’s stated aim is ‘to develop a coherent, progressive 14-19 curriculum structure in the town by building on existing good collaborative practice and by drawing together a range of initiatives into a single planning and delivery framework.’

The Partnership puts the learner at the heart of our collaboration. It is committed to shared curriculum planning and delivery that is designed to facilitate learning rather than organise teaching. At post 16 this process is now well developed. Students are currently offered 45 Advanced level subjects across the town and 3500 possible combinations.

The Prospectus for September 2008 - Download the Prospectus for 2007_08 here