Student Life
Preparing for your future
At Burnside College we offer an unrivalled all-through 11 to 18 experience. Our outstanding sixth form was recognised by Ofsted as being a beacon of excellence in our last inspection. Students have the opportunity to continue their journey with us all the way through to age 18 as they prepare for the world of higher education or employment.
The number of students continuing at Burnside Sixth Form College is increasing year on year and we take students from other schools in the area due to our reputation for success. Students can look forward to tailored teaching that ensures rapid progress is made in all subjects. We provide both an academic and a vocational pathway offering a high quality variety of career opportunities. Staff provide excellent support for our students, ensuring that great importance is placed on their personal development.
There is high quality careers guidance involving trips to university and meaningful work experience. Students complete their studies as young adults, ready to make the right decisions about their future.
Top 5% of Schools in England #1 in North Tyneside 2017, 2018, 2019
99% of our students last year went on to a sustained destination of education, training or employment
79% of our students last year gained a place in higher education, compared to the national average of 50%
27% of our students last year gained a place at an elite Russell Group University, compared to the national average of 12%
We have an excellent success rate of students gaining places on courses such as Medicine, Nursing, Midwifery, Business, Physiotherapy, Sports Science and Coaching, and many more.
Understanding your new privileges and responsibilities
As a member of Burnside Sixth Form, students have access to certain privileges. Privileges include having private study periods, sole use of Sixth Form facilities, unlimited access to careers advice, Café 6, more autonomy about how they use their time and freedom to go off site during designated periods. They will also enjoy a varied calendar of events, university tours, trips, clubs and talks from external speakers.
However, these privileges come with responsibilities and duties. Students play an important role within the Sixth Form and wider community as role models and leaders. There is an expectation that students will become an ambassador for the Sixth Form and positively influence the younger members of the school by setting the right example at all times.
Student Responsibilities:
Show a positive attitude at all times
Be prepared for every lesson
Demonstrate a love of learning
Meet all deadlines set by staff
Use study periods and embed what you have learned
Contribute to the wider school community
Take responsibility for your learning, both inside and outside the classroom
Active participation in enrichment opportunities
Attendance and Punctuality
Good attendance is the most important factor in students’ ability to progress and succeed in sixth form. There is a significant link between good attendance and academic achievement. Students should strive to maintain 100% attendance and are expected to achieve 100% punctuality to all lessons and activities. Sixth form students must attend all subject lessons, independent study periods, lesson zero and assemblies unless they have a valid reason.
Unplanned Absences
Absences must be reported on each day of absence before registration at 8:45am. This can be done via telephone on 0191 2598500 or via email:
Planned Absences
It is not appropriate to book personal activities during school time, these should be completed outside normal school hours. Students are required to liaise with their subject teachers regarding any work missed and to catch up accordingly. Any planned absences which have an academic or career basis, such as work experience must be discussed and approved in advance by Miss Giles. Any other absence requests will be considered in alignment with the Attendance Policy
Holidays during term time will not be approved. In addition, students should try to schedule medical appointments around their timetabled lessons. Any non-approved absence will form part of students’ attendance record, which we may be required to provide to potential employers and/or higher education institutions.
Illness during the school day
Any student feeling unwell during the school day must report to Miss Giles or Ms Reid and if appropriate, they will authorise them to leave the site and notify parents/carers. Students must not go home without permission and without signing out
Going off-site
Students are permitted to go off-site at certain points of the day (break and lunchtimes), provided they sign out and back in on their return. During lessons and independent study periods, students must remain on site. All students must attend school for registration at 8:45am and must remain on site until 12:55pm, after which time they can leave the site for the remainder of the day if they have no timetabled lessons.
All non-attendances will be monitored. Messages will be sent home if there is no reason provided for absence. Attendance letters will be sent home every term and parents/carers will be invited to a meeting with Mrs Reid should attendance not improve. Further non-attendance will lead to a final meeting with Miss Giles and may lead to dismissal from sixth form.
Punctuality
You must be punctual to all lessons, lesson zero and assemblies. If there is an unavoidable reason for lateness, please notify Miss Giles, Ms Reid and your form tutor. Lateness will be unauthorised unless there is an exceptional or unavoidable reason. Continued issues with punctuality will lead to a letter being sent home and parents/carers being asked to attend a meeting with Miss Giles or Ms Reid
A Level Mindset
Vision
Set personal targets for success and take responsibility for achieving them.
Maintain focus on your goals even when you have setbacks.
Invest time in shaping your own future in school and beyond.
Effort
Make every lesson count by arriving promptly, engaging fully and working hard.
Commit to high quality and academically productive independent work.
Be proactive in seeking out and taking advantage of opportunities to deepen your knowledge and understanding.
Systems
Structure your time by arriving promptly to school and identifying a key focus for each study period.
Manage long-term and short-term goals by prioritising work and meeting all deadlines set.
Organise your work and maintain effective filing systems.
Practice
Mature content by taking steps to secure, process, explore and review learning to ensure clear and deep understanding.
Regularly apply knowledge practising exam questions, timing yourself and attempting challenging questions.
Seek out expert feedback from teachers to enable you to reach your potential.
Attitude
Always strive to be the best that you can be, never give up and ask for help when you need it.
Develop and maintain a positive healthy balance between study and other activities.
Treat everyone in our school community with respect, act as a role model for younger students and be proud to be an ambassador for the school.
Dress Code
At Burnside College our school uniform reflects our core values of Pride, Respect and Achievement. As sixth form students are role models for other students across the school we do expect them to reflect this in the clothing that they wear.
Therefore we must ensure that students:
dress appropriately for education in a school setting
dress in a way that models our high expectations
do not wear any clothing items that have any inappropriate or offensive logos, images and words on
do not have any extreme hairstyles that may distract other students from learning
do not have any visible tattoos
Lanyards
All sixth form students must wear their sixth form lanyard which must be worn and visible at all times. If you do not have your lanyard for any reason, you must check in with the sixth form team for them to ensure safeguarding protocols are followed and a temporary lanyard is issued for the day.