SIXTH FORM PROSPECTUS 2016

An Academy of the

The Voyager Academy has established its reputation as a really good Sixth Form centre in Peterborough. This reputation is based on strong academic success, a significant range of courses appropriate to student needs, exceptional student leadership opportunities, high levels of student satisfaction and an outstanding success rate in gaining places at the best universities for a variety of subjects.

It is well known that the teaching and facilities for Media, Dance, Drama, Music and Art at the Voyager Academy are exceptional. Facilities and achievement are also very impressive across other key areas of the Sixth Form. Overall, students achieved an A-E pass rate above the national average and 70.4% of grades were A*-C.

The Voyager Academy is seeking to be at the leading edge of creating opportunities for students. For example, in 2014–2015:

• 8studentsattendeda1weekresidentialtripstoleadingUniversities including Durham, Edinburgh and Nottingham.

• 3STEMscholarsattended1weekresidentialsrelatingtoForensic Science and Astrophysics

• StudentsledtripstoParisincludingDisneylandandLondon

• StudentsundertookDukeofEdinburghGold

The best way to learn about our Sixth Form is to meet our students, who will tell you what it is like to study here. You are very welcome to visit and see The Voyager Sixth Form at work.

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WELCOME FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Scott Hudson

The Sixth Form is good. Students make good progress, and teachers have high expectations of what they can achieve.

Ofsted February 2014

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SUPPORTING YOU TO SUCCEED

Daniel Taylor Director of Sixth Form (Assistant Principal)

It is a very exciting time to be leading our Sixth Form; numbers are continuing to growandresultscontinuetoimprove.Thisyearouryear13and14studentsachieved our best results with the A*-C reaching 70.4%. We were also pleased that theA*-Epassrateremainedabovethenationalaverageat98.2%.Ihopethatyouwill make the decision to share in the success of Voyager 6.

Our academic and vocational successes have seen our Sixth Form numbers expand. This means we are big enough to be able to offer a diverse range of subjects. Our priority is to get to know all our students well enough to offer the support and guidance so they choose subjects that enable them to achieve their ambitions in terms of university or career choices. We will help you choose a set of subjects you will both enjoy and be successful in.

The Sixth Form team are committed to making the transition to Sixth Form as smooth as possible. TheteamwillalsobethereonGCSEresultsdaytooffersupportandguidanceandensureyouarestill happy with your choices.

Damon LewisSixthFormProgressLeader

Ensuring that individual students make the progress expected of them and fulfil their ambitions is central to the success of The Voyager Sixth Form. This involves constant tracking of performance and introducing timely interventions to ensure our students achieve in line with the highest of academic expectations.

Students moving on from The Voyager Sixth Form are well supported and I particularly enjoy helping our students, whether with their applications for training, employment or university. Some of our alumni this year have gone on to study a range of areas such as Business, Education Studies, Fashion Buying, Criminology, Tourism, Creative Writing, Nursing, Accountancy, Maths, Economics, Art,Dance,PerformingArts,PsychologyandLaw.

Students will have a Sixth Form tutor who will be able to give you specialised advice linked to next steps such as employment or university. They will also ensure you play a full and active role in the life of the school.

My experience in Sixth Form has been great; there is a lot of support and help, as well as lots of opportunities that have

helped to strengthen my application for Uni.

Amina Ahmed

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Leadership in the Sixth Form is good. Leaders track students’ progress well, and interventions are put in place where necessary. Teaching is improving and achievement is rising.

Ofsted February 2014

Paul Taylor Sixth Form Student Engagement Co-ordinator

In the Voyager Sixth Form, we aim to offer students a variety of opportunities including student leadership, voluntary work, extra-curricular activities, work experience, running the school magazine and taking part in trips and expeditions. I co-ordinate these opportunities, to ensure students are more attractive to employers and universities.

Anne Mason Sixth Form Intensive Adviser

I am here to help you make the right choices regarding your future. When you join the Sixth Form, if you are unsure of your subjects, or your next steps, I can support you, whether it’s the UCAS process, helping with an application or personal statement, or if you are looking for an apprenticeship, employment or training. Whether it’s the UCAS process, helping with an application or personal statement, or if you are looking for an apprenticeship, employment or training, I can help!

Sarah Olson Sixth Form Student Support Adviser

I am here to ensure you succeed and will closely monitor attendance and punctuality. I am here to make sure you get to the right place at the right time so you get the best results possible. Students who need financial support can apply for a bursary and I organise payments.

Tutor Team

We now also have a dedicated tutoring team of Sixth Form only tutors who specialise in Sixth Form teaching and preparation for life after Sixth Form such as University, Apprenticeships and Employment.

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SIXTH FORMSUCCESS

Voyager Sixth Form students continue to make exceptional progress.

Theschoolhasachievedconsistentlyhighpassrates.In2015theALevelresultssawtheA*-Brateremainconstant,whilst the A*-C rate improved significantly from 65% in 2014 to 70.4% in 2015. The A*-E pass rate stayed above the national average. The breakdown is detailed below:

• A*-B 37%

• A*-C 70.4%

• A*-E 98.2%

The Voyager Academy Sixth Form has been identified as a strength of the school by Ofsted on its last two visits. This recognisesthefactthatstudentsmakesignificantprogressbetweentheirGCSEandAlevels.

Achievement in the Sixth Form is good. Students make good progress in most subjects.

Behaviour is good...Students have positive attitudes to their work and take pride in the quality of their outcomes.

Ofsted February 2014

SIXTH FORM OPPORTUNITIES

We actively encourage our Sixth Form students to take up some of the many opportunities we provide for their wider development. Whether it is in support of a university or employment application or simply to have a more diverse CV. Taking part in enrichment, voluntary activities and student leadership will give you an advantage.

Our Sixth Form students all commit to 15 minutes a week (or 10 hours in the year) of service to the school. These activities include mentoring, translating, decorating, paired reading and performances. All students are then awarded a nationally recognized volunteering certificate.

Other opportunities include: trips and visits in the UK and abroad, visits to universities, work experience, sports activities, Duke of Edinburgh, leading roles in performances, Peterborough Youth MP and AssociateGovernorroles.

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Aided by the school, over the summer I have taken part in a Sutton Trust summer school and went to Edinburgh University for five days to experience university life, and also to Wales to climb Snowdon to complete DofE Gold.

Matteo Spremulli

The Sixth Form leadership help and support every decision I make in order to fulfil my potential and aspire higher, even endeavouring to offer me a subject that was not originally offered as a course,

which is something no other centre was willing to do.

Douglas Henderson

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Thursday 12th November Open Evening

December Early application interviews*

Friday 18th December Early application deadline

January Remaining early application interviews

Friday 26th February Additional applications deadline **

March – May Additional application interviews

June Voyager 6 Induction

August Results day – Voyager Academy students will receive a letter confirming their place or inviting them to a results surgery if there are any problems.

Post-Results surgery with the Director of SixthFormandSixthFormLeadProgressto resolve any problems.

Applicants from other schools should attend the Post- Results surgery to show their results and to confirm place

September Start Sixth Form studies .

*Offers will be sent to you within one week of interview

Responses will be needed within 2 weeks to secure your place

**We will accept applications until September but for 2015 we were very over subscribed and this is likely to be

the case again this year. We would recommend an early application to guarantee a place.

APPLYING TO VOYAGER 6

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The academy offers a broad range of subjects, and students receive good quality advice and guidance about which most suit them.

Ofsted February 2014

Voyager 6 offers a wide range of courses designed to meet the needs of all our students and to prepare them for today’s higher education and employment markets.

ALevelcoursesareacademicLevel3qualifications,offeringagood foundation for higher education and employment. At the endofthefirstyearyouwillachieveanASLevel.Ifyourgradesare strong enough, you will then go on to complete the full A level at the end of year 2.

BTECLevel3coursesarevocationally-basedandaredesignedas a preparation for employment or higher vocational qualifications(suchasnursing).IneachyearoftheBTECyouwillachieveaqualification.

BTECLevel2andGCSEcoursesareone-yearprogrammesofstudy.

StudentswhocompleteLevel2inSixthFormandachieveMeritsorabovewilloftengoontostartALevels/BTECLevel3.

On the next page the subjects we are able to offer are listed. If there is something else you want to do let us know, as if there is enough demand we will always endeavour to offer it.

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A Level:• Art(Fine)• Biology• BusinessStudies• Chemistry• Citizenship• DramaandTheatreStudies• Economics• EnglishLanguage• EnglishLiterature• FilmStudies• French• Geography• German• History• Mathematics• MediaStudies• Photography• Physics• Psychology• ReligiousStudies• Sociology• Spanish• Textiles• TravelandTourism

ALevelsinCommunityLanguages are also available for a number of Languages.Recentlywehavehadstudents sit exams in Chinese, Panjabi, Polish, Portuguese and Russian.

Level 3 BTEC / OCR• AppliedScience• Business• EarlyYearsEducation(ChildCare)• CreativeDigitalMediaProduction• Criminology• Engineering• ExtendedProject• HealthandSocialCare• IT(Practitioners)• MassageTherapy• Music(Performance)• MusicTechnology• PerformingArts–Acting• PerformingArts–Dance• Sport

Level 2 BTEC / OCR • Art&Design• BeautyTherapy• Business• EarlyYearsEducation(ChildCare)• CreativeDigitalMedia• FinanceIFS• HealthandSocialCare• Photography• SportsLeadership• Textiles• TravelandTourism• Workskills/CommunityVolunteering

GCSE*:

* All students who do not achieve at least a C grade in English and Maths will receive lessons to help them achieve this grade.

Course details are available on our website www.thevoyager.co.uk

VOYAGER 6COURSES

To start courses in our Sixth Form we will need to be convinced of your commitment to your studies as demonstrated on both your application and whenyouareinterviewed.YouwillneedtohavethefollowingminimumGCSEorequivalentqualificationstostudy:

AS / A Level• 5Cgradesandabove(preferablyincludingEnglishandMaths)

• YoumusthaveachievedaCinthesubjectsyouwishtostudybutsometeachers may prefer a B grade

• TostudyASMathsyoumusthaveatleastaBforGCSE

• TostudyASPhysics,ChemistryorBiologyyoumusthaveaBinthatScience or a BB in Science and additional Science

• TostudyPsychologyyoumusthaveaCoraboveinGCSEScience

Level 3 BTEC Nationals and OCR Cambridge Technical • 5Cgradesandabove

• TeacherspreferyoutohaveaachievedatleastaMeritinthesubjectsyouwishtostudyatlevel3

Level 2 BTEC Firsts and OCR National• Fewerthan5A*-Cgradesor5GCSEgradesD-E

Any Level 2 BTEC or OCR qualification will be taken as 1 GCSE.

We will look at the following when considering your application:• Yourschoolorcollegereport

• Yourattendanceandbehaviourrecord

• Yourestimatedandactualexaminationgrades

JOINING OUR SIXTH FORM

Teaching in the Sixth Form is good. Lessons maintain the students’ interests and develop their knowledge, key skills and wider learning.

Ofsted February 2014

Media Arts SpecialismThe Media Arts at The Voyager are vibrant, thriving and central to the life of the Academy. We have an environment that is state of the art, where every student’s abilities and interests are recognised, valued and engaged in a broad range of contexts.

By providing our students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the professional equipmentthatisneededtoproduceprofessionalresults,weareabletoequipthemwiththerelevantskills they can take into university, employment and beyond.

Stage ProductionsEach year we undertake a full Academy stage production.LastyearweperformedBacktothe80s.SixthFormstudentswerefullyinvolvedintheproduction and many had leading roles.

MEDIA ARTS AT VOYAGER 6

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BEYOND SIXTH FORM

Sixth Form study is an important period for all students. It is an opportunity to specialise in specific areas, if they have a particular career focus, or the chance to gain a broad range of skillsandqualificationsiftheyarekeepinganopen mind.

Voyager 6 caters for all. There is a range of pathways students can take after Sixth Form – university, employment, apprenticeship programmes and work experience placements.

Opposite you can see where those who achieved places at University in 2015 have ended up and what subjects they are studying. The chart below shows where our students progressed to in 2015.

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Voyager 6 Leavers Destinations 2015

University

Further Education

Employment

Apprenticeship

Army

Staff have always encouraged me and supported me in every single way – academically and personally; giving

me amazing opportunities which helped me to apply for Medicine this year.

Ridah Khan

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Student Reading InstitutionFarhan Adil Accountancy and Finance LeedsBeckettUniversity

Visba Ahmed Tourism and Events Management University of Westminster

Jessica Atkinson Education Studies and Special and Inclusive Education Nottingham Trent University

Rebecca Bloodworth Foundation Diploma in Art and Design New College Stamford

Courteney Campbell Film Studies De Montfort University

Rebecca Cave Education and Childhood Studies Anglia Ruskin University

Emilia Djalo Fashion Buying (with Marketing) De Montfort University

Kirstin Donovan Creative Writing and Drama Studies De Montfort University

Hannah Fox PrimaryEducation:LaterYears(withQTS) LeedsTrinityUniversity

PaulinaGluch LawwithaModernLanguage UniversityofLeicester

Mariam Hayat Education and Training New College Stamford

Alysha Kassam Psychosocial Studies University Centre Peterborough

Olga Kazanova InternationalBusinesswithLanguage(4years) University of Birmingham

Sabina Kouser International Relations UniversityofLeicester

Roheena Naseri International Tourism Management (Sandwich) University of Bedfordshire

Kayleigh O’Neill Nursing (Adult) UniversityofLincoln

Chloe Pettit Performing Arts De Montfort University

Emily Raines Event Management University of Bedfordshire

Robert Riddell Human Resource Management (with placement) Manchester Metropolitan University

Muhammad Sabeel Criminology LeedsBeckettUniversity

Mindaugas Savicius Business Studies with Marketing UniversityofWestLondon

Shahmaila Shah Open Degree The Open University

Holly Sheppard English UniversityofLincoln

GeovannieSimms Dance Studies University of Roehampton

Tarondeep Singh Economics Coventry University

Shanee Spalding Criminology and Psychology LeedsBeckettUniversity

LeahSpencer Economics University of East Anglia

Taherra Tarmohamed Education Studies University of Wolverhampton

Nicholas Toomey Law Manchester Metropolitan University

Shay Walsh Criminology and Psychology Coventry University

YueLingZhao Mathematics University of Keele

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

ItookALevelEnglishLanguage,Business,MediaandASlevelEconomics.IachievedABB, enabling me to go to The University of Nottingham, where I currently read a Management degree. I have referred to things numerous times in my degree that I was taughtinmyALevelBusiness.However,IwouldsaythatthesubjectthathascontributedmostisEconomics.IthoroughlyenjoyedEconomicsatALevel.TheEconomicmodulesatuniversity are some of the more challenging however, I feel I have the upper hand from already studying topics that arise. The thing I enjoyed most about The Voyager Sixth Form is how supportive the teachers were. I can honestly say that in all of my chosen subjects I had a teacher that really cared, and wanted me to do well. Not only were my teachers supportive with regards to the subject, but were also very approachable for any other problems I may have had.KAYLEY ALLPRESS

IrecentlygraduatedfromtheUniversityofYorkwithadegreeinEnglishLanguageandLinguistics.ThetwoyearsIspentattheVoyagerSixthFormweremyfavouriteschoolyears!Myteachersprovidedunconditionalsupport,helpingmetoachievethegradesrequiredforuniversity(A*inBusiness,AinMedia,AinEnglishLanguage,CinFrench,andCinASCriticalThinking). I received a lot of support: from choosing my A levels at the very start of the journey to applying for universities. I really appreciated the extra time and effort that each of the teachers put in and this encouraged me to develop a strong work ethic that helped me when completing my degree. What I loved most about the Voyager was the array of opportunities provided for each student: I was able to partake in producing a local magazine, Seasons Entertainment, which gave me a good insight into the magazine industry and has since inspired me to pursue a career in publishing.SAMANTHA COOPER

Studying at the Voyager Sixth Form gave me the opportunity to stay at Durham University for a week’s residential, which has now provided me with the scope to study there in the future.

Alesso Jepson

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A SAMPLE OF OUR ALUMNI

I’mcurrentlyworkingasanEditAssistantforaPost-productionhouseincentralLondon. I recently graduated from Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication with a BA HonoursinEditingandPost-production.IstudiedALevelAppliedBusiness,ICT,CriticalThinking and Media Studies. Sixth form at the Voyager was a great experience as it allowed me to focus my energy on subjects I enjoyed. I was fortunate enough to be taught by excellent teachers who were enthusiastic about their subjects and were determined to help students get the best grades possible. My time in Sixth Form was a crucial point in time where I chose what field I wanted to specialise in, and having such great teachers around to advise me was invaluable.

Iaminmy2ndyearasanEconomicswithAccountingstudentatCityUniversityLondon.InSixthFormItookAlevelEconomics,Mathematics,BusinessandASTravel&Tourism.When I started Sixth Form I never thought that I will be studying at one of the top UniversitiesinLondon.However,withthehelpofexcellentandpassionateteachingstaffat the Voyager Academy I was able to achieve AABC and secure my place at University. The whole learning experience at the Voyager Academy has been very enjoyable as you are given a lot of opportunities to develop and learn new skills. I believe that if you are passionate about going to further education, the Voyager Academy is a place for you, as you will be taught by excellent staff and you will be given all the support that you need to succeed. The Sixth Form at the Voyager Academy will prepare you for University and will also provide you with the skills and knowledge for your future.

RYAN LAUNCHBURY

MANTAS BEIVYDAS

I’mcurrentlyastudentatLoughboroughUniversitystudyingRetailing,Marketing&Management.MyprofessionalplacementisbasedintheSchoolofBusiness&EconomicsatLoughboroughUniversity.AtVoyagerSixthFormIStudiedA-levelAppliedBusiness,MediaStudiesandTravel&Tourism.WhenstartingmyALevels,Ichosemy subjects and my end goal and from there the teachers at the Voyager showed which direction to take in order to get me where I wanted to be. Through their support I developed as a person, a learner and an achiever, by helping me understand the full potential that I could reach as a student. I am very grateful for the immense amount of time and effort put in to helping me get to where I am today which without a doubt, you will receive too!

KATERINA KOUFLIS

The Voyager 6The Voyager Academy

Mountsteven AvenueWalton

PeterboroughCambridgeshire

PE4 6HX

sixthform@thevoyager.co.uk01733383888

www.thevoyager.co.uk

An Academy of the