About Us

Pastoral Support and Student Wellbeing

Successful education is also based on relationships. We pride ourselves on a dedicated and caring team of Sixth Form staff who will provide the best pastoral care available. You will find our expectations of you are of the highest standard and we will do whatever is necessary to support you in meeting your potential.

Students are grouped and assigned a Tutor, who provides support with both personal and academic matters. Tutors play an important role in supporting University and job applications as well as monitoring progress and providing a virtual link to parents. 

We believe that developing students’ confidence, self belief and resilience during their time at Sixth Form is critical in ensuring academic achievement. Gildredge House works hard to ensure that we provide a safe and supportive learning environment where students feel they are looked after, but also where they are encouraged to learn from challenging circumstances or setbacks. Through our compulsory weekly Community lessons, we provide opportunities for students to debate and explore topics around Personal, Social, Health and Economic education. These sessions are designed to not only support and develop employability skills, but also to give students the opportunity to prepare for life after Sixth Form.

Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance

We are passionate about the quality of careers support our Sixth Form students receive. You will have access to our on-site Careers and Employability Co-ordinator, who offers University, careers and apprenticeship related support.

The school is committed to providing a planned programme of careers education, information and guidance for all students. Whether you aspire to be a doctor, have dreams of going to Oxford or Cambridge University, or would like to explore apprenticeships in hospitality, Gildredge House will offer you the opportunity to fulfil your career aspirations. We believe that if you want it, and can do it, we will get you where you need to be.
You will have opportunities to have one-to-one careers interviews, support with your UCAS applications and interviews and the chance to go out on work experience to enhance your academic profile. We aim to introduce you to enthusiastic employers who are ready to give you the best advice before entering the world of work, or help you to make those all-important career choices. Here at Gildredge House, you can aim high and go far with your career choices.

Work Experience 

Preparation for University and employment is an integral and key part of our Sixth Form programme. We give all our students the opportunity to complete a week’s work experience and gain a deeper knowledge of the subjects and careers they are considering. Employability and work-readiness is becoming increasingly important to both Universities and employers. By gaining work experience in relevant sectors, our students are able to acquire a valuable insight into their chosen field.

Key Staff 

	Mrs Karen Maxwell  Head of year 12	k.maxwell@gildredgehouse.org.uk
	Miss Francesca O'Callaghan  Head of Year 13	f.ocallaghan@gildredgehouse.org.uk
	Mrs Sara Bray  Careers and Enterprise Advisor	s.bray@gildredgehouse.org.uk

The school is a caring environment in which every pupil is valued. Staff have positive relationships with pupils and know them well. This means that staff are alert to any changes in pupils that may indicate a concern. Pupils feel safe in school. They are confident in knowing that there is always a trusted adult they can speak to if they are worried about something. (Ofsted 2018)

Enrichment Opportunities 

Opportunities beyond the classroom are also crucial. By being part of a smaller Sixth Form your access to our Enrichment and Co-Curricular opportunities increases. Opportunities outside the classroom include:

• Work Experience
• Duke of Edinburgh
• Enterprise competitions
• Preparing for mock trials
• University visits
• Organising charity events
• Duke of Edinburgh Award (Bronze, Silver and Gold)
• Supporting in Primary phase lessons
• Recreational and competitive sport sessions
• PSHE sessions
• Careers events

Teaching and Learning

Learning in the Sixth Form is based on small groups working together with the best teachers available. Lessons are of the highest calibre and the collaboration and relationships between teacher and student are exemplary. Our smaller class sizes allow students to benefit from working with teachers who know how you like to learn best and who will share pride in your achievements. Smaller than average class sizes means that teachers can give individual attention to each of the students and take care of their particular needs.

16-19 Bursary Fund Policy and Guidelines 2021-22

The decision to authorise payments will be made by the Bursary Panel. The Bursary Panel will meet on a termly basis to consider requests for financial assistance. Panel meetings will happen every term on the Monday immediately after the deadline. In order to be eligible for a bursary payment, students will need to complete the Bursary Application Form prior to this meeting. The Panel’s deliberations and decision will be based upon the guidance provided by the DfE.

What is a bursary for?

A bursary is money that you, or the Sixth Form, can use to pay for things like:

• clothing, books and other equipment for your course;
• transport and lunch on days you study or train.
  
  

Eligibility

You must:

• be at least 16 and under 19 on 31 August 2021;
• study at our Sixth Form; and
• meet the residency requirements – we can check this for you.
  
  

Bursary for students in vulnerable groups

You may be able to get a bursary if at least one of the following applies:

• you are in, or you recently left, local authority care;
• you get Income Support or Universal Credit because you are financially supporting yourself;
• you get Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in your name and either Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit; or
• you get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in your name and either ESA or Universal Credit.

The amount you may get depends on the costs you have and what you need for your course. This might include money for books, equipment or travel costs to our Sixth Form.

Discretionary bursary

Each school or college has their own criteria for discretionary bursaries. We will look at your individual circumstances – this usually includes your family income. Ask the Head of Sixth Form about our criteria and the evidence you will need.

You can apply for a discretionary bursary if you are over 19 and either:

• continuing on a course you started aged 16 to 18 (known as being a ‘19+ continuer’); or
• have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
  
  

How to claim

Students must complete the Bursary Application Form, which also lists the documentation that students need to provide. If the application is successful, the student is accepted onto the bursary scheme. Students are required to make requests for the specific amounts they need via a claim form. Students can make a claim for each of the six school terms, by the following deadline dates:

Note: Bursary funds are limited and once funds are fully allocated, no further funds will be available; there is no guarantee of multiple payments. All claims, where possible, need to be accompanied by receipts. If an application is successful, the student will receive a letter confirming when the money will be deposited into their account.

Claim forms must be completed for each term and are available from the Secondary and Sixth Form School Office.

16-19 Bursary Fund Application Form

Please return the completed form below and evidence to Mrs J Logan, Director of Finance & Administration, by the deadline stated in the guidance above.

16-19 Bursary Fund Application Form