Being a Sixth Former is a position of responsibility. You are the oldest students in Arden and the other students will look to you to set the example. There is an expectation that your conduct reflects this position, at all times.

In order for the Sixth Form to function in the most effective way possible, we ask you to accept our way of working. Please read this agreement carefully. Both students and parents/guardians must agree to adhere to all elements of it.

Code of Conduct

• I will attend school all day, every day, from 8.40am until 3.30pm, unless permission is given to study at home (Y13 only).

• I will display an excellent attitude to learning.

• I will be active in my learning both in lessons and between lessons.

• I will act as a role model to all the younger students in the school.

• I will attend all scheduled sessions, including morning tutor period at the required times, unless I am ill, when the school will be notified of my illness before 9am by calling 01564 773348 (Opt 2, then Opt 1) or via Edulink.

• I will maintain a high level of punctuality.

• I will scan in as soon as I arrive on the school site and scan out if I leave before 3.30pm.

• I will arrive on time for all sessions with the necessary equipment and resources for each class.

• If I miss a lesson, with no valid reason, I will attend an hour’s catch up session after school on a set date to make up for lost learning time.

• I will not book driving lessons, driving theory tests or holidays during school time.

• If my attendance or punctuality is an issue, I will be placed on a monitoring report.

• I will wear the appropriate dress code (details below) and visibly wear the identity badge (lanyard) at all times when on Arden premises (even during study time). I will pay for a replacement if I lose it (total cost is £3).

• If my dress code is incorrect, I accept I will be sent home to change into the correct dress code.

• I will listen to and respect the opinions of others.

• I will avoid any language and behaviour that may cause offence.

• I will submit all work set by deadline and seek permission in advance if this is not possible.

• I will only use a mobile phone in the Sixth Form block during break and lunch times. I will not use my phone anywhere else in school.

• I accept that Social Media is to be used in a mature and responsible manner, and will not do anything that brings the school into disrepute. If my use of Social Media brings the school into disrepute or is discriminatory, I may lose my place at Sixth Form.

• I will not bring or consume any alcohol, drugs or cigarettes/e-cigarettes onto school site, nor will I smoke/vape within the vicinity of the school.

• I will regularly check my email for messages from school and will update school if my email address changes.

• I will not park within 1 mile of the school premises and will not drive onto the school site at any time.

I understand that if any of the above is not adhered to, I will attend a meeting with my Head of Year/Head of Sixth Form and my parents/guardians will be informed.

We strongly believe that a smart appearance creates the best atmosphere for learning and, as a result, achievement reaches its full potential.

The expectations are:

Male Students

• A smart suit

• A formal shirt

• Arden Sixth Form tie (available at Early Years or Palmers)

• Smart shoes

Female Students

• A smart suit or a smart tailored jacket with trousers/skirt or smart dress, suitable for a school environment.

• A formal shirt or blouse

• Smart shoes

General

In the cold weather, students may wear a plain dark cardigan or V-neck jumper under their jacket. Hooded tops are not permitted. A jumper is not a replacement for a jacket.

Skirts, dresses or trousers that are judged too short or tight are not permitted.

No denim, lycra or stretch material is permitted.

A shirt or blouse that is judged as low cut, cropped, transparent or revealing is not permitted.

Unnatural colour hair dye is not permitted.

Piercings are only permitted in the ears.

Students should adhere to this dress code to avoid unnecessary conversations about their appearance so that a focus can remain on their learning.

Students who do not adhere to this dress code will be sent home to change.

Please note that our Code of Conduct and Dress Code is subject to approval by the Governing Body.

PDF Here

If a student is ill or absent from school for any reason, the school must be notified of the absence before 9:00am by calling 01564 773348 (Opt 2, then Opt 1) or via Edulink.

The Department for Education has allocated an amount of money to Arden to allow the school to grant bursaries to students on low incomes to contribute towards the costs of studying at Arden. If you were eligible last year, you will still need to re-apply for this academic year.

Eligibility

To be eligible to receive bursary payments, you must be a full time student at Arden Sixth Form and be aged under 19 on 31^st August in the academic year in which you begin your programme. Students must also adhere to the sixth form agreement at all times.

The qualifying criteria is one of the following:

• Level 1: Students who are or have recently left local authority care or are in receipt of Universal Credit or Personal Independence Payments.

• Level 2: Students who are in receipt of free school meals.

• Level 3: Students facing financial hardship where the household income is less than £28,000 per year (appropriate evidence confirming income will be required).

What the funds can be used for

Bursary funds are available for eligible students to help with the costs of transport to school (if not already funded by the Local Authority), books and equipment, field trips and other educational visits, attending industry placements, UCAS applications and attending open days. A contribution for the purchase of the Sixth Form uniform/dress code may also apply.

Bursary payments are dependent on individual student’s educational and financial needs.

Requests for funding are to be made to the Head of Sixth Form prior to the expenditure as failure to do so may result in incurred costs that are not reimbursed by the school.

The school may choose to procure any items required by students, directly and to 'loan' them to students for the duration of their course of study. In such instances, the items will remain the property of the school and should be returned to the school at the end of the course for use by future students. Such purchases will be considered to form part of the bursary award.

How the funds will be paid

Those eligible for the bursary will submit claim forms available online. Receipts for all expenses/purchases may be emailed to sixthform@arden.solihull.sch.uk. Once these are verified, payment will be made as soon as possible, normally within 2 weeks of receipt of claim. Receipts may be submitted at any time throughout the academic year (not just at the end of term). Funds can only be paid into student’s own bank account provided on the google application form (link highlighted below).

The Process you should follow

If you are eligible for a bursary on any one of the criteria mentioned above, you should apply as soon as possible.

Applications will be considered by the Head of Sixth Form and a member of the School Finance Team.

Appropriate evidence will be required to support your application. These requirements are specified on the application form (link highlighted below) and may include proof of free meal entitlement, P60, income support notification, etc.

Application form:

https://forms.gle/KMd8eed5TG4VbMRW9

For more details of the scheme, please visit the following web site:

https://www.gov.uk/1619-bursary-fund/overview

Appeals

All students have the right to appeal against any decision made in respect of a bursary award or non-award. Appeals must be made in writing and submitted within 10 working days of the decision.

Appeals regarding applications should be sent to the Associate Headteacher who will act as the first point of appeal. Should an applicant wish to appeal against the Associate Headteacher’s decision, it will be considered in line with the Arden MAT complaints policy.

For approved applications and to claim a refund, please complete the form below and email to sixthform@arden.solihull.sch.uk along with copies of receipts:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1khLPSSVno3vBQI9OiAbZ6qF8sCCvD_D0/view?usp=sharing

As part of a Year 7-13 school, the Sixth Form adheres to the same policies as lower down the school. These can be found on our main website: https://www.arden.solihull.sch.uk/about-us/arden-policies/

These include the Safeguarding Policy, the Photographic & Digital Images Policy, the Online Safety Policy and the Supporting Students with Medical Conditions Policy.

Arden's GDPR and Privacy information can be found here: https://www.arden.solihull.sch.uk/information/gdpr-data-protection/