A guide to what you can expect when you

join The Sixth Form College...

Welcome

I would like to congratulate you on

being offered a place at The Sixth

Form College and welcome you to

Wirral’s No.1 Sixth Form. Your

decision to apply to us here at the

College means you are on a path to

a bright and successful future as

you will be studying at one of just

93 specialist colleges in England

for 16-19 year old education.

We offer the widest choice of A Level

programmes in Wirral, meaning we

can offer personalised timetabling

to ensure you have the opportunity

to study a programme that meets

your individual needs, achieve the

best results possible and support

you for your next move.

Last year we achieved record results

with an overall pass rate of 99%

and we outperformed 95% of other

A Level providers in 2015 for the

value-added to students’ grades

and performance. More than 400

students successfully gained Higher

Education places at Universities

including Oxbridge and the

prestigious Russell Group.

College life is an enjoyable and

vibrant experience – with students

aiming high to aspire, achieve and

succeed in all they do. There is a

mature and supportive atmosphere

with a wide range of enrichment

quality facilities and a strong

community of students.

We believe in the potential of all

individuals and we believe that

our Sixth Form offers you the

opportunity to make a successful

transition from school to University

and employment.

Moving from school to college can

be a worrying time – but there is no

need for it to be. We are always

available to discuss things with you,

whenever you need us. We have

outstanding help and support to

help you as a student at The Sixth

Form College.

Good luck with your exams this

summer, and I look forward to

seeing you at The Sixth Form

College soon.

activities to suit all interests, high Kathryn Podmore Principal

Congratulations!It is extremely competitive to achieve a place with us here at The Sixth Form College.

We received over 1300 applications in 2015 for Year 12 admissions.

Get Connected

By keeping up to date with us, you will become part of our student community

before you start in September.

You can also find us on:

Join our Facebook Freshers group for all new students

joining the College in 2016. It contains lots of useful

information throughout the year.

Visit our student microsite for more of #whatyouneedtoknow

before you join. You can also see who has previously joined

from your school in the Student Alumni section.

facebook.com/bsfcfreshers

your.bsfc.ac.uk

Facebook: /birkenheadsixthformcollege

Twitter: @BSFC

Instagram: @BSFC_

Youtube

Google+

What Happens Next?

Look out for our monthly newsletter! When you completed your application you will

have automatically been added to our mailing list to receive our top news and student

success stories. This is a great way to stay up-to-date with the opportunities that will

be available to you when you join us in September.

Now that you have received your offer

with us, you will need to confirm your

acceptance. You can do this via email

(enrol@bsfc.ac.uk) or by filling in and

sending us the postcard enclosed in

your offer letter.

Name:

Date of Birth:

Date of Interview:

Email Address:

I wish to accept my place at The Sixth Form CollegeI do not wish to accept my place at The Sixth Form College

www.facebook.com/birkenheadsixthformcollege@bsfc

You will be invited to join one of our

New Student Events. This day forms an

important part of our admissions process

and allows you to explore a day in the life

of a Sixth Form College student.

It involves taster sessions in your chosen

subjects, the chance to meet the staff

and meet other students who are joining

at the same time as you.

The taster sessions you attend will be

based on your preferences discussed at

your interview. This will give you a real

insight into how your usual college day

will look from September. It can also aid

the decision process; if you are undecided

between two subjects, try them both and

make a more informed decision on your

preferred programme of study.

On top of this, there will be a host of

activities to meet new people and to help

you settle in quickly.

Key Dates:

THURSDAY 30 JUNE 2016

FRIDAY 1 JULY 2016

NEW STUDENT EVENT

ENROLMENT

Enrolment is when you officially become a student

at The Sixth Form College!

We will send you an appointment to attend on one of these dates nearer the

time. During your enrolment we will confirm your GCSE results and agree your

programme of study. If you have met the entry requirements for your chosen

courses you will have the opportunity to ask any questions before we finalise

your programme.

If there are any entry requirements that you have not met, we will discuss

your options with you, this may include alternative courses. We do look at

every student individually, so final decisions on your programme will be

made after we have discussed this with you.

During enrolment your student ID will be organised.

unable to, please advise the admissions team as soon as possible so

that if you enrol after these dates you will potentially have a more

limited course choice.

FRIDAY 26 AUGUST 2016 - THURSDAY 1 SEPTEMBER

It is important that you enrol on one of the above dates. If you are

that an alternative enrolment time can be agreed. Please be aware

Financial SupportMost essential college costs such

as course workbooks, textbooks,

instruments and equipment are

provided by the College free of

charge.

The Sixth Form College has

Bursary schemes available

to assist students with low

household income. This

includes help with costs for

transport, books, meals or

other course related costs

needed to help you to

There are several elements to the

financial support available:

• Guaranteed Bursary of

£1,200* for students in most need

and who meet the criteria

• Income-assessed Bursary for

students who meet The College’s

Income Assessed Bursary Criteria

• Hardship Fund – an

emergency fund for students who

experience short-term financial

hardship and are struggling to

meet costs associated with College

A Guaranteed Bursary of £1,200 is

available to students who are: -

• in care or a care leaver

• a young person receiving income

support (e.g. young parents, young

people living independently,

young people who are registered

as disabled)

• or a young person receiving both

Disability Living Allowance and

Employment Support Allowance

Guaranteed Bursary*

succeed at College.

A subsidised college meal PLUS

either a solo bus pass OR a bus

pass to cover the college’s own

direct bus services OR £250

payable in 5 x £50 instalments.

In all circumstances attendance

must be over 95%

An Income-Assessed Bursary is

available to students if a Parent/

Parents receive the following:

• Income Support / Income Based

Job Seekers Allowance / Income

• Child Tax Credit, provided you are

not entitled to Working Tax Credit

and your annual gross income is no

• Guarantee Pension Credits

• Support under Part VI of the

Immigration and Asylum Act

1999

Students who live over 3 miles

away and whose parents are on

Income Support may be entitled

to a local authority supported bus

pass.

Details are available by phoning

0151 606 2020. Students are still

entitled to apply for the College’s

income assessed bursary.

For more information visit our website:

http://www.bsfc.ac.uk/college-information/bursary-scheme

Income-Assessed Bursary*

* Details correct at time of printing for academic year 2015/2016

more than £16,190.

• Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for

4 weeks after you stop qualifying for

Working Tax Credit.

The Income-Assessed Bursary

consists of:

• During the initial roll out of the

benefit, Universal Credit

related Employment and Support

Allowance (ESA)

Make use of Free Unlimited WiFii

All students can download Microsoft

#BSFCFacts

Office 365 for free to use at

available across the college!

home!

All students can download Microsoft

Frequently AskedQuestions

If you have achieved 5 GCSEs at A*-C

(including Maths and/or English

Language) you will study 4 AS Levels

(or equivalent) in your first year.

In your second year you will study 3

subjects at A2 Level.

If you achieve below 5 GCSEs at A*-C you will study towards a BTEC Level 2 Diploma and will be enrolled onto Level 2 programmes in Maths and/or

English Language.

What is the College Timetable?

Monday / Tuesday 9.00 – 4.15

Wednesday 9.30 – 3.00

Thursday 9.00 – 4.15

Friday 9.00 – 2.30

How many subjects will I study?

#BSFCFacts

The HUB has over 130 computers for students to use as well

as access to high speed internet and specialist software.

There are also over 9000 books, journals and other

media for you to use.

Do I need to attend College if I don’t have a lesson scheduled?

Students may not have lessons

scheduled at certain times of the

day. During this time you are

encouraged to be in college using

the study facilities, such as the

Hub or Study Hall.

What are the lunch facilities at the College?

Lunch lasts for 45 minutes. The

student refectory, 8SQ, provides hot

and cold meal options as well as a

wide range of snacks and drinks. It

is open throughout the day from

8:30am-3pm. There is also plenty

of social space including our

student conservatory.

Is it possible to visit the College before I start?

Of course! If you or your parents

would like to visit the college please

contact Hilary Mitchell, Admissions

Officer (enrol@bsfc.ac.uk), to book a

tour with us and we would be happy

to show you around. There will also

be an opportunity to book on to a

Talk & Tour session through the

year, where you can attend a talk

by our Admissions Department &

be taken on a guided group tour

of our facilities.

What do I wear?

At The Sixth Form College, you

don’t need a uniform to succeed.

You are able to wear your own

clothing, but we ask that you

dress appropriately for the

How many students go on to University?

Over 400 students go onto

University from the College each

year- more than any other sixth

form in Wirral!

Is Wi-Fi available at the

College?

We provide FREE Wi-Fi throughout

the college. This is just one of the

excellent facilities and services

our IT and Technical Services

department provides!

I was a prefect at school - do you offer any similar opportunities?

There are opportunities to become

a Student Ambassador or Head

Boy or Head Girl. Student

Ambassadors get involved in

events and marketing activities

at the College.

College environment.

Visit: your.bsfc.ac.uk

for more FAQ’s and for

#whatyouneedtoknow

> Personal Tutors

> Mindfulness Sessions

> Careers Guidance

> Advanced Academic Writing Programme

> Tutorial Sessions

> Learning Support

> Higher Education Guidance

We’re proud to provide a wide variety of support options to all students.

#BSFCFacts

What sets us apart from local

school sixth forms?• We’re experts in A Level and BTEC qualifications. Our priority and focus

is Advanced Level study and our results are in the top 5% in the country.

• We have more A Levels and BTECs for students to choose from allowing

us to tailor programmes to your ambitions and abilities - you are not

restricted by option blocks.

• We have specialist sixth form teachers and support staff.

• We offer an adult approach to student learning, providing a stepping

stone from school to the world of employment or university.

• We have invested £4m in learning environments designed for sixth

form study.

– Max achieved A* grades in Mathematics, A’s in

Physics and Chemistry. He is now studying Physics

at the University of Bath.

More Students Choose Us.Over 1300 students applied

to the college for September 2015.

Our results put us in the Top Tier of

Get In The Driving Seat.

Take advantage of exclusive deals and

Theory Test sessions available to all

students at The Sixth Form College.

withWirral’ssixth formNo.1

More people are choosing to study with Wirral’s specialist Sixth Form college

than ever before!

‘The Sixth Form College outperformed 95% of other

A Level providers in 2015 for the value-added to students’

grades and performance’.

Learn to drive and get ahead of your peers!

More #BSFCFacts

Sixth Form Colleges nationally.

Watch our video online at bsfc.ac.uk to

hear from our current students and why they

decided we were their No.1 choice!

The Sixth Form College - Birkenhead

Park Road West, Claughton Village

Prenton , Wirral

CH43 8SQ

T: 0151 652 5575

Any questions?

Call: 0151 652 5575

Email: enrol@bsfc.ac.uk

Visit: www.bsfc.ac.uk

facebook.com/birkenhead

sixthformcollege

@BSFC

Find us on @BSFC @

Join our Facebook Freshers Group:

facebook.com/groups/bsfcfreshers

Visit your.bsfc.ac.uk for more of

#whatyouneedtoknow