Academic Success and Personal Responsibility within a Caring Environment

Welcome to The Herschel Consortium

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the Herschel Consortium. Our aim is to provide high quality

education within a safe and supportive environment. The decision of where to study for your post-16 education

is a vitally important one that will affect the rest of your life. Your time in the Sixth Form is not only about

achieving academic success but also about your development as an individual and the choices that will shape

your future.

Herschel Grammar and Baylis Court are both schools with a proven track recordfor excellence and Sixth Form provision in particular is first-class. In recentinspections both schools have been recognised by Ofsted as “outstanding” andby joining the Consortium you will be benefiting from teaching and opportunitiesof the highest calibre.

The Herschel Consortium will enable you to:• Achieve highly and develop an enquiring mind• Develop new skills• Develop your self-confidence and celebrate your successes• Accept responsibility for yourself and others both within the school

community and beyond• Enjoy your Sixth Form experience• Develop a lifelong love of learning

We provide you with a positive, caring ethos where each of you is recognised,developed and rewarded. In return for the opportunities we provide, we expecthigh standards from you in conduct, performance, appearance, attitude and self-discipline. We hope you will decide to pursue your post-16 studies as a memberof the Consortium and we will be delighted to welcome you next September.

Michael BourneHerschel Consortium Coordinator

2 “Pupils make outstanding progress and achieve excellent results in external examinations.”HERSCHEL GRAMMAR SCHOOL OFSTED INSPECTION SEPTEMBER 2012

3“The effectiveness and efficiency of the Sixth Form is outstanding and pupils achieve extremely well.”BAYLIS COURT SCHOOL OFSTED INSPECTION 2009

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What the students say

The teaching is very effective, and the teachersand students are friendly. I really enjoy comingto school. I like the way the school pushes youto do your best and gives you responsibilityfor your learning.

Whenever there is a problem it is easy to talkto a member of staff who gives effective adviceon how to get the issue tackled and resolvedor you can speak to the Sixth Form Committee.In particular my tutor is an excellent mentorwho genuinely cares for his students’academic and personal welfare.

The Sixth Form has many good opportunities(e.g. the Travel Scholarship, Mock Trial, andDuke of Edinburgh) and it’s a great place tolearn with really supportive teachers.

Having been slightly uncertain at the end ofGCSEs, joining the Herschel Consortium isprobably one of the best decisions I havemade because of the quality of teaching andsupport. For someone who had no idea what Iwanted to do at the beginning of the year, itwas reassuring to know that there wassomeone to help me see where my realinterests lay, and to guide me through theprocess on how to pursue them. Staff arereally helpful and enthusiastic by genuinelywishing to see us reach our full potential.

The younger pupils look up to us as rolemodels and the teachers are also more open with us.

I think pupils in the Sixth Form are veryfocused and are determined to reach theirpotential. There is a general feeling of wanting to do well.

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Life in the Sixth Form is a learning curve that hastaught me an array of skills and equipped me withexperiences for the future. The Sixth Form hasprovided me with the wonderful opportunity ofbeing a Managing Director in the Young Enterprisescheme. I learnt to delegate tasks effectively, totake responsibility for mishaps and to motivate theteam at all times. My organisation andcommunication skills have vastly improved and wewon several trophies along the way!

As part of the Year 12 Community InvolvementProgramme we carry out an hour of communityservice each week; I carried out my placement at alocal nursery. Overseeing children, assisting withactivities and reading stories were just some of myduties. Not only was this something I could includein my personal statement but it was also a stress-relieving and pleasurable experience, allowing me togive back to the wider community.

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Teaching and Learning at The Herschel Consortium . . .

. . . successful learning through challenge

One of the advantages of the Herschel Consortium is

the breadth of courses and subjects you can choose.

Most students choose to study all their subjects in

one school but you may choose to study subjects

across both institutions. The curriculum we offer

provides a broad, balanced education and allows you

to specialise as appropriate. Information about the

courses and subjects on offer can be found in the

insert at the back of this prospectus.

Our experienced, specialist teachers will provide you

with a varied and challenging learning experience.

You will be encouraged to learn independently which

will equip you to meet the demands and

expectations of higher education and employment.

“The quality of teaching is outstanding and the level of discussion is inspiring at times.”HERSCHEL GRAMMAR SCHOOL OFSTED INSPECTION SEPTEMBER 2012

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Subject teachers will provide you with individual

attention when monitoring your progress and offer

support to allow you to achieve.

Beyond the formal curriculum, all students

• attend a weekly lesson of Personal, Social, Health

and Citizenship Education

• undertake private study, both in school and at home.

“This is a ‘Yes We Can’ school. It is completely devoid of complacency and sets itself challenging targets.”BAYLIS COURT SCHOOL OFSTED INSPECTION 2009

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Pastoral Care at The Herschel Consortium . . .

. . . successful learning through support

The Herschel Consortium offers a safe and secure

place in which to work. There is a caring support

system which is based on the crucial partnership

between you, your parents and the school. You will

be a member of a tutor group at your base school.

Your form tutor, supported by the Head of Sixth

Form, works closely with you to provide quality

guidance and advice about all aspects of Sixth

Form life.

“The school has an outstanding tutorial system which is built on respect. Pupils are achieving well because they aregiven every opportunity, support and encouragement to succeed.” BAYLIS COURT SCHOOL OFSTED INSPECTION 2009

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Each year, the vast majority of students within the Consortium achieve places on a wide range of university degree courses, whilst others

progress successfully through to apprenticeships, employment and other training opportunities.

Pastoral Support for

Sixth Form Students

Regular contact with

parents

Structured mentoring

for individuals

Informal discussions

with staff

Individual interviews

with professional

careers advisers

Visits to Higher

Education

Conferences and

universities

Preparation for

university lifePersonal guidance

through the university

admissions process

“Pupils thrive in the school’s academic, yet very caring and secure, environment.”HERSCHEL GRAMMAR SCHOOL OFSTED INSPECTION SEPTEMBER 2012

Day to day access

to personal and

academic guidance

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Enrichment . . .

. . . successful learning beyond the classroom

The Sixth Form is not solely about following an

academic programme of study - it is also a time for

your personal development. We believe you will leave

us as well-rounded and socially responsible

individuals having enjoyed a breadth of experience.

The more that you put into Sixth Form life, the more

you will benefit. Our students have been able to

demonstrate this breadth of experience in their

successful university and employment applications.

As students develop their sense of social

responsibility, there is a wide range of community

involvement opportunities. This could include

supporting pupils at the local primary schools,

assisting vulnerable pupils at the Herschel Pupil

Training Centre, mentoring younger pupils, or assisting

staff in a range of curriculum-based activities.

A significant number of Year 12 students participate in

the Young Enterprise scheme which encourages

students to set up their own companies. This fosters

leadership, team working and organisational skills.

The initiative and self-confidence which this develops

have been reflected in local, regional and national

success.

“The Sixth Form is outstanding. Pupils are hard working and ambitious. They contribute to the smooth running of the school.” HERSCHEL GRAMMAR SCHOOL OFSTED INSPECTION SEPTEMBER 2012

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There are a number of additional opportunities which

also develop strong leadership skills. The Senior

Prefects at Herschel and the School Executive Team at

Baylis enable our students to take on challenging roles

and to work with others in new and responsible ways.

Students on the Sixth Form Committee act as a vital

channel of communication between the student body

and the school’s Senior Leadership Team, giving them a

real input as to how the school is run.

Students are encouraged to develop their resilience,

problem-solving and cultural understanding through

foreign travel and they benefit from World Challenge

expeditions and travel scholarships.

“There are many extra-curricular activities; all are very good, aid learning and are much enjoyed by the pupils." BAYLIS COURT SCHOOL OFSTED INSPECTION 2009

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AdmissionEach year we have a limited number of external places

available across the Consortium and applications are

welcome from students in other schools. Selected

applicants attend post-16 discussions, and offers are

conditional on the attainment of the required grades at

GCSE (see insert for details) and availability of places.

Cross-site MovementAll students have a “base school” and a minority will

travel to the other site within the Consortium. Travel

between Herschel Grammar School and Baylis Court

School is a five minute walk.

“The school is extremely well led and managed at all levels.”HERSCHEL GRAMMAR SCHOOL OFSTED INSPECTION SEPTEMBER 2012

Gloucester Avenue, Slough,

Berkshire SL1 3AH

Tel: 01753 531760

Fax: 01753 553719

Email: office@bayliscourt.slough.sch.uk

Web: www.bayliscourt.slough.sch.uk

Northampton Avenue, Slough,

Berkshire SL1 3BW

Tel: 01753 520950

Fax: 01753 530984

Email: mail@herschel.slough.sch.uk

Web: www.herschel.slough.sch.uk

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