At Copleston, we believe strongly in the development of the person alongside the development of the student. We want every student to leave Copleston Sixth Form having not only achieved excellent results in their exams, but having also invested in their own personal development.
Students in Year 12 and 13 embark on an Enrichment programme that provides them with the opportunity to develop their study habits and skills alongside their core subject lessons. This includes reading around their subjects, researching potential careers, completing online courses, preparing for employment or University applications.
This enrichment is underpinned by the Apex programme, that every student studies during tutor sessions.
ENRICHMENT PROGRAMME
Year 12 students get three Enrichment lessons per fortnight, two of which are supervised by an Enrichment tutor. Year 13 students get two Enrichment lessons per fortnight, with one supervised. In these sessions across the two years, students follow a range of units that cover:
- Employment - how the job application process works, how to put together a CV and covering letter, and how to excel in an interview
- Life skills - developing independence, managing the balance between various commitments, communication skills and financial literacy
- An independent enrichment project - where students choose an area of focus for a term, which could range from learning a language to researching topics that could be studied at University
- UCAS / Higher level apprenticeships - In Year 12 all students go through the UCAS research process so that they can make an informed decision about whether they wish to attend University or not. In Year 13, students choose between two pathways (Employment or University) and complete tasks focused on their next steps.
The APEX
The APEX is Copleston Sixth Form’s unique enrichment programme of guided and self-study activities designed to help students understand more about themselves, their community and the wider world. THE APEX is about enabling students to develop as individuals and as global citizens as well as helping to equip them with the tools, knowledge and experience needed for future careers and university or job applications, encouraging them to aim high in all aspects of their academic, personal and social development.
The APEX begins in tutor time, with a set of activities written to help students explore a particular theme. Students will ALL be expected to get involved in discussions and complete tasks in their booklet and they will watch videos and learn about inspiring people from the UK. Each year group across the school will cover the same themes each week, so students are encouraged to engage in conversations with staff and other students beyond their own tutor group and to look for links to the lesson content.
The APEX continues into enrichment lessons, with a set of personal development activities and a huge range of additional activities to extend and enhance subject knowledge and understanding of the world. Students can choose from webinars or short courses, or they can select tasks to look deeper into the topics covered during tutor time.
The APEX will also extend beyond tutor time and enrichment lessons. There are lots of opportunities for extension activities which students should be completing as part of their independent study. Students will be expected to build up a folder of work and will have regular meetings and discussions with their form tutor. Students will have the opportunity to focus on topics which are relevant to them and which will provide valuable experience for interviews and applications.
the extended project qualification
Students will also have the opportunity to take the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) as part of our enrichment offer in Year 12.
What is the extended project qualification?
The Extended Project Qualification is an additional qualification that students undertake alongside their A Level study. The project is designed to inspire, challenge and extend a range of skills through the development and realisation of a free choice topic, taking students beyond the scope of their A Level subjects.
Why study an EPQ?
An EPQ is an excellent taster of university-style learning as it is effectively an independent research project. Completing an EPQ in Year 12 will show to Universities that students have the academic interest, rigour and skills to go above and beyond their core A Level studies.
What could I study?
For example, an aspiring medic could write a research article analysing the difficulties associated with management of the NHS. A Historian who found The Cold War' in History really interesting could do an EPQ project on the role of nuclear weapons in contemporary international affairs.
Other Enrichment Opportunities
As part of enriching the Sixth Form experience our students will have many opportunities to attend a variety of academic conferences, theatre and museum visits and subject specific field trips both nationally and internationally.
Sixth Form Students will also come together at regular times throughout both Year 12 and 13 to hear high-quality speakers who will cover a range of different topics including:
- University advice and guidance
- Opportunities within the local job markets
- Subject specific lectures
- Fund-raising opportunities
- Safer driving
- Drug and Alcohol awareness