WELCOME TO
OUR SIXTH FORM

Welcome to the Sixth Form at Fort Pitt Grammar School

We are delighted to welcome you to our Sixth Form!

Our aim is simple: to be the best Sixth Form in England, and to ensure that you receive the very best support in order to fulfil your true potential.

It is important to us that you leave Fort Pitt Grammar School not only with the very best exam results, but also with the values, resilience and social skills you need to take your place in our ever-changing world.

Your choice of where to study for the next two years is probably the most important decision you have made in your life so far. Studying for your A-Levels will define your future; at Fort Pitt we are passionate about providing you with the best education possible, guiding you to becoming successful and independent learners.

We pride ourselves on our excellent results and the individualised approach we take to career guidance so that all students leave the school equipped with the academic and personal skills to thrive at university or in the workplace.

We recognise the importance of a well-balanced education and as such all students participate in a dedicated enrichment programme. We also offer students the opportunity to lead the community and ensure that students play a central role in the life of the whole school.

This website provides you with a taste of Sixth Form life at Fort Pitt, but the best way to fully appreciate all that we can offer is to come for a visit and see us in action.

We look forward to meeting you.

Mrs S Bambling & Mr N Blight

Heads of Sixth Form

INTENT
IMPLEMENTATION &
IMPACT

INTENT

At Fort Pitt, our values of nurturing successful, resilient, aspirational, respectful and inclusive young people, is at the heart of all that we do. They underpin our intention that all students should make outstanding progress and that there should be no barriers to learning. We firmly believe in a nurturing and caring environment, where students’ happiness is a key priority and allows them to flourish.

Our curriculum reinforces these values and is broad, deep and knowledge rich. It is both ambitious and inclusive, and aims to develop in students, a deep awareness of their learning and understanding. It is designed to stretch and challenge the students in our care, and builds upon the foundations that our partner primary schools have set. It reinforces and revisits prior learning following a sequential and interleaved approach.

We have exceptionally high expectations of every student at Fort Pitt and firmly believe there should be no ceiling to their aspirations. Students study a wide range of subjects in the classroom and have access to a wealth of opportunities to enhance their learning outside of the classroom. This facilitates the development of each student’s cultural capital and helps them to prepare for their future successes. These encompass experiences as varied as university visits, lectures from leading females in industry, theatre groups, artist visits, internships and international visits.

We want all our students to develop the character, resilience and cultural awareness to become successful and engaged global citizens. As such, SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural) education and FBV (Fundamental British Values) are embedded into the curriculum and delivered through all subjects. Career advice and guidance takes place across all years with students working through the Gatsby benchmarks.

IMPLEMENTATION

A robust and broad curriculum is integral to the successful learning and teaching at Fort Pitt. It is carefully planned and structured to both build upon prior learning, and to prepare students for the next step in their educational journey. The curriculum is complemented by our ‘Fort Pitt 6’ charter which demonstrates what exceptional learning and teaching should look like.

Our subject leaders and experts have carefully constructed their curricula to engage students and promote a deep understanding of a wide range of topics and concepts. Teachers plan and sequence learning that enables students to embed and recall knowledge, to engage in deliberate practice and to develop their subject schemata. Time is purposefully built into schemes of learning to provide frequent retrieval and revision opportunities and students are supported with frequent exam practice.

KS5

The curriculum in Year 12 is broad and offers a wide range of subjects. All Year 12 students select either 3 or 4 A Levels to study across two years, and have the option to complete the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). In addition to their A Level subject choice, students follow a programme of enrichment which aims to further develop their skills outside of academia, and build their cultural capital.

IMPACT

At Fort Pitt our curriculum and values are entwined in ensuring that all our students are aspirational and ambitious and ready for the next steps in both their education and lives. This is evidenced in a variety of ways; through impressive outcomes in public examinations, through progress made each year, and through destination measures in Year 13.

Impact however, is not only about quantitative evidence, our curriculum also helps develop and encourage students to be well rounded, happy, respectful and kind individuals. It instils a love of learning, a desire to think deeply and an ability to empathise yet also question.

Curricular impact is also evident in the proportion of students participating in a wealth of extra-curricular opportunities, the large numbers embracing sport, music & drama, and the popularity of the extensive range of trips and visits available.

KEYSTAGE 5
DAY

Students joining the sixth form can study between 3 and 5 subjects and have the opportunity to study for the EPQ. All students complete our Enrichment Programme and take part in work related learning placements.

KEYSTAGE 5
SUBJECTS

DRESS
CODE

We have high expectations of all our students and believe that our Year 12 and 13 students are incredibly important role models both within school and in the local community. All students should respect and promote our values, including our Sixth Form dress code...

SIXTH FORM DRESS CODE

16 -19
BURSARY

16-19 BURSARY FUND STATEMENT 2023-24

The Academy Trust is provided with a limited amount of Government funding from the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) specifically for the provision of bursaries that may provide targeted support for students who are financially disadvantaged or facing other financial barriers or hardship. The funding may be used to support 16 to 19-year-old students who stay on in the sixth form in full time education so they can achieve their full academic potential and should be used to purchase resources such as the cost of transport, food or equipment.

Priority will be given to applications from students who, without extra financial support, would find it difficult to continue with post16 education. Students will therefore need to demonstrate the reason why support is required and should attempt to access all other available funding sources prior to making an application.

THERE ARE TWO ELEMENTS OF BURSARY AVAILABLE

Vulnerable Bursary – This covers students in care, care leavers, students in receipt of Universal Credit or Income Support (whether supporting themselves or supporting themselves and a dependent living with them) and disabled students in receipt of Employment Support Allowance who are also in receipt of Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments.

Discretionary Bursary – The school may make a discretionary bursary award depending on the individual needs and circumstances of a student following a needs-based assessment. There are two levels of discretionary bursary available.

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Students must be aged 16 or over and under 19 at the start of the Academic year.

Students aged 19 or over are only eligible to receive a discretionary bursary if they are continuing a study programme that began aged 16 to 18 (‘19+ continuers’) or they have an EHCP (Education, Health & Care Plan)

Students must satisfy the Residency criteria as stated in the ESFA Funding regulations for post 16 provision for the relevant academic year. (i.e. A person on 1st September who is settled in the UK and has been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands for the 3 years preceding 1st September)

Students must be undertaking provision that is funded by the ESFA and subject to inspection by a public body e.g. Ofsted. (Attendance at one of the FPTA Academies Trust schools fulfils this criteria)

BURSARY FUNDING LEVELS

Level One – Vulnerable Groups

The Award amount can be up to a maximum of £1200.00 per annum. Students must satisfy the following criteria:

• Be currently in or have recently left local authority care or are under a care order

• In receipt of Universal Credit or Income Support (because they are financially supporting themselves)

• Receiving Disability Living Allowance and either Employment & Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit

• Receiving Personal Independence Payments and either ESA or Universal Credit

Level Two – Discretionary

The Award amount can be up to a maximum of £750 per annum and is available to students not eligible for the Level One bursary but who satisfy the following criteria:

• Are currently or have in the past 6 years been receiving Free School Meals (FSM) (Ever 6)

• Become eligible for FSM during the course of the academic year

• Are children of Service Personnel (Ever 4)

• Are a Young Carer as designated by the Children’s Support Team.

FSM entitlement applies if parents of students or students themselves receive any of the following

• Income Support, Income based Jobseeker’s allowance or Income related Employment & Support Allowance

• Support under Part VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999

• The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit

• Child Tax Credit (providing they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit) and have an annual income of less than £16190

• Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks after you no longer qualify for Working Tax Credit)

• Universal Credit (If you applied on or after 1st April 2018 your household income must be less than £7400 a year after tax and excluding any benefits received)

Level Three - Discretionary

The Award amount can be up to a maximum of £450 per annum and is available to students who are not eligible for bursary Levels One or Two and whose gross family household income is below £25000 per annum. This category can also be used to apply for ‘one-off’ applications.

CONDITIONS OF AWARDS

These conditions are applicable to all three levels of grants and must be satisfied throughout the academic year otherwise any grants awarded may be withdrawn or reduced.

• Students must maintain the levels of standards and behaviour as detailed in each School’s Sixth Form Code of Conduct’

• All deadlines for submission of work should be met (both internal and external)

• A high level of academic attainment/commitment should be maintained throughout the period of study including punctuality and attendance at all lessons

APPLICATIONS

All applications should be made at the start of the Academic year for the year ahead and must be received by the Head of Sixth Form no later than 15th October. Mid-year applications may still be accepted for late joiners or where there are changes in circumstances, but any awards granted will be made on a pro-rata basis. Application forms are available from the Sixth Form Manager, from the school website or from the School Office. All supporting evidence required must be submitted at the same time as the application forms.

All application forms and documentation submitted as evidence will remain confidential and be retained for a period of 6 years.

Examples of Resources that may be applied for from the Grant are as follows: -

• Transport to/from school

• Books/Equipment (If purchased through the school this will be provided ‘on loan’ to the student and should be returned once they have completed their course of study)

• School trips/visits/activities (if directly relevant to the course of study)

• School Meals

• UCAS fees and travel to University Open days

• Course related protective clothing (sportwear, lab/art coats etc.)

• School Uniform/Dress code

• Examination re-sit fees

Students who apply for/receive funding and are subsequently found to have made a fraudulent application will be required to refund any payments/resources already received, may be prosecuted and will be subject to the School’s disciplinary procedures.

ASSESSMENT & AWARDS

All applications will be assessed by a panel of 3 consisting of the following:

• Head of Sixth Form

• Executive Business Manager

• Sixth Form Manager

The panel will meet as required to assess any applications received at the start of and during the academic year.

All applications will be reviewed on a case by case basis and any allowances for other additional sources of financial support will be considered when deciding on a bursary award.

Other exceptional circumstances will also be considered when assessing applications that do not necessarily contain the evidence requested within the previously listed requirements.

Students will receive a letter within 1 month of the deadline date (or the date of submitting their application mid-year) confirming receipt of their application and advising them of the amount that has been awarded to them for the academic year if they have been successful.

As funds are limited there are no guaranteed awards. All awards will be allocated on the basis of the funding available at the time of the application and the needs-based assessment of the individual student.

Purchases & Payments

• In accordance with the ESFA guidance documents any bursaries awarded should be paid ‘in kind’ rather than as fixed amount cash payments (unless there are exceptional circumstances)

• The purchase of any resources/services should be made directly through the school but in some situations, it may be necessary that the student purchases the service/equipment themselves and is then reimbursed by the school upon production of the appropriate receipts/invoices and proof of payment being made.

• In the event of a cash payment being required, payments can only be made to the student’s bank account and not to a third party. Bank details must therefore be completed on the application form. (The only exception to this is where a student is unable to manage/administer their own bank account. In these circumstances the School must ensure any nominated person is suitable to manage the Student’s funds)

• Any Payments made to students will be made on a termly basis in arrears (up to 6 per year).

APPEALS

All students have the right to appeal against any decision made in respect to a bursary award or non-award. Appeals must be made in writing to the Head teacher within 10 term time working days of the decision letter being received.

If the student wishes to appeal against the decision of the Headteacher, they may contact the Local Chair of Governors, and their appeal may be considered by the Local Governing Body whose decision will be final.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Further information regarding Bursary Funding, which should be read in conjunction with this statement, may be found at:

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

FORT PITT GRAMMAR SCHOOL CONTACTS

Heads of Sixth Form

Mrs S Bambling

sbambling@fortpitt.co.uk

Mr N Blight

nblight@fortpitt.co.uk

Executive Business Manager

Mrs D Zlateva

dzlateva@beyondschools.co.uk

Sixth Form Manager

Mrs S Button

sbutton@fortpitt.co.uk

16-19 BURSARY FUND PROCEDURES AND APPLICATION FORM

NEXT
STEPS

FORT PITT FUTURES

The Fort Pitt Futures Programme aims to provide all students with a wide range of opportunities that will enable them to take their next steps to university, apprenticeships or into the world of work.

The Fort Pitt Futures Programme aims to provide students with:

The information they need to make informed choices at each stage of their educational journey
The opportunity to develop a wide range of skills needed for the move into employment, Further or Higher Education
Relevant experiences that will ensure they can be confident in making their next steps
Individualised support and guidance required to make the right decisions for them