Beaumont School

SIXTH FORM PROSPECTUS

Welcome To Beaumont

Beaumont is a long established, mixed community school located on the east side of St Albans, with specialisms in Languages and Maths. The school provides outstanding education for students aged 11-18 and all students are encouraged, through a wide range of opportunities to ‘enjoy and excel’.

We are a truly outstanding school which achieves the very highest levels of academic success, supported by excellent pastoral care. This year we were delighted to open our new Science block and have ambitious plans for further developments over the coming years.

I am immensely proud to be Headteacher of such a fantastic school with over 1400 students and 168 highly qualified staff who are committed to give their best throughout their time with us.

Martin Atkinson
Headteacher

Teaching in the Sixth Form is outstanding. Teachers monitor, review and assess students often. A wide range of activities supports learning including an extensive range of extra-curricular activities and visits. Achievement in the Sixth Form is outstanding. Leadership of the Sixth Form is outstanding. Teachers plan exciting challenging lessons that stretch students’ thinking. The structures in place support learning, progress and attainment very well … so students make outstanding progress. A wide range of activities supports learning including an extensive range of extra-curricular activities and visits. Students’ personal development and well-being is outstanding. They enjoy Sixth Form life.

Welcome To The
Sixth Form

Choosing the right Sixth Form education is one of the most important decisions many of you will make. Beaumont School is proud to have a thriving, diverse, inclusive and highly academic Sixth Form currently comprising 462 students.

Beaumont is justifiably proud of the results achieved by our students each year. We consistently rank within the top 5% of all schools nationally.

A broad curriculum, outstanding teaching, dedicated study and social areas, approachable staff and our ethos of achievement all contribute to this success. However, your personal development is also a priority and there is a wide range of opportunities outside the academic curriculum in which to gain experience, confidence and valuable inter-personal skills.

Whether you decide to go to university, take a gap year, move on to college or embark on your career straight from school, we will support and guide you in planning and preparing for your future. We would be delighted if you decide to become part of our outstanding Sixth Form.

Joanna Tolley
Head of Sixth Form

Entering Our Sixth Form

ENJOY & EXCEL

A smooth transition from Year 11 into the Sixth Form is our top priority for all students in their first term. We understand that the move into Sixth Form can appear daunting and we appreciate that many students joining us from other schools may feel apprehensive. We also recognise that students cannot move straight from Year 11 to being able to work like an undergraduate, so a clear framework of support and planning is in place for each student.

To assist with the transition we offer the following:

Sixth Form Induction

This is held late in the Summer, immediately after GCSE exams, and offers a very helpful introduction to life in the Sixth Form. You will experience sample lessons in your chosen subjects, together with activities designed to encourage all students to feel part of the Beaumont community.

Supported Enrolment

Students will meet with the Head of Sixth Form or their individual Form Tutor to confirm their subject choices, interpret timetables and receive general guidance.

Facilities

Recent investment in the school has doubled the size of our Sixth Form facilities. Additional private study space, an enhanced Common Room incorporating a modern cafe and social area, together with an improved library, have been provided to all Sixth Form students.

Study Skills

Early in the Sixth Form, students are given practical advice on how to study effectively within their chosen courses.

Pastoral Care

A dedicated and experienced pastoral team is located in the Sixth Form Centre to support, assist, guide and encourage students.

Our Curriculum

Our curriculum allows selection from a wide range of challenging subjects.

We offer the following A Levels: Art, Biology, Business Economics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Drama & Theatre Studies, Economics, English Literature, French, Further Maths, Geography, German, History, Maths and AS Maths, Music, Philosophy & Ethics, Photography, Physical Education, Physics, Politics, Psychology, Sociology and Spanish.

In addition, Beaumont delivers the following A Level equivalent qualifications: CTEC Level 3 in Business, Sport & Physical Activity, IT and BTEC Level 3 in Creative Digital Media.

Other nationally accredited qualifications include the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and a Level 3 Certificate in Financial Studies.

Details of our A Level outcomes this year, including three-year trends, are available on the school website: www.beaumontschool.com. We are able to offer a range of subjects through our extensive curriculum and, with our arrangements with the BeauSandVer Education Trust, the following subjects can also be worked into your programme: Dance, English Language, Media Studies, Music Technology, Product Design and Textiles.

Students’ personal development and well-being is outstanding. They enjoy Sixth Form life. A wide range of activities supports learning including an extensive range of extra-curricular activities and visits. The structures in place support learning, progress and attainment very well … so students make outstanding progress. Teachers plan exciting challenging lessons that stretch students’ thinking. Leadership of the Sixth Form is outstanding. Achievement in the Sixth Form is outstanding. Teaching in the Sixth Form is outstanding. Teachers monitor, review and assess students often. A wide range of activities supports learning including an extensive range of extra-curricular activities and visits.

Examination Results 2020

Please note that the results shown are for Beaumont. Results for BeauSandVer are available on the website (www.beausandver.org.uk)

University Destinations 2020

In 2020, 90% of our students went on to a university of their choice; 47% gained a place at one of the ‘Russell Group’ of universities. Beaumont students consistently access the most highly competitive courses nationally.

Each year we support students who apply to medical and veterinary schools, as well as Cambridge and Oxford Universities. All students are given extensive university application and careers guidance, support and impartial advice.

We host a university application information evening for students in Year 12 each Spring Term, which helps parents to understand the process and therefore support their son/daughter as they make important decisions regarding courses to apply for and which universities or alternative career options to consider.

Engaging in Sixth Form Life

Academic achievement is of paramount importance but students enhance their intellectual and social development by participating in the many extra-curricular opportunities that are offered in drama, music, sport and community involvement.

Drama

Beaumont delivers an ambitious programme within Drama, with two school productions each year. We also host National Youth Theatre auditions annually in school. All Sixth Form Drama students are invited to auditions with many successfully securing places at prestigious theatre schools and universities around the country to further their studies. In 2019 the Drama department was awarded funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, to commission playwright, Mark Wheeller, to write a brand new verbatim play, Game Over, based on the story of Breck Bednar. This play, premiered by our students, received national television and media coverage, has now been published. In 2020 we offered more performances of this innovative production to audiences from other schools across Hertfordshire.

Music

The Music Department at Beaumont offers a wide range of enjoyable and enriching extra-curricular opportunities. Our Sixth Form students regularly represent the school locally, as well as at regional and national events. The choirs, vocal ensemble, bands and orchestras are justifiably proud of the enviable reputation they have earned. Staff at Beaumont are experts in their fields, having earnt a national reputation amongst music educators. Individual advice, support and guidance are also offered to students

Sport

Every student at Beaumont is strongly encouraged to live a healthy and active lifestyle. We introduced Wellbeing Wednesday in 2019. Sixth Form students are able to play sports entirely for the enjoyment of taking part. Our excellent facilities are at their disposal including the fitness centre, four-court sports hall, top quality grass pitches, floodlit all-weather pitches and Multi-User Games Area. Our sports teams regularly perform exceptionally well at district, county, regional and national levels. Some highlights from last year include: U18 Girls’ Rugby County champions, U18 Boys’ Basketball County Cup winners, U18 Boys’ Football County Cup winners and U18 Boys’ Football District Cup winners. Beaumont had six medal winners at the County Track and Field Championships and 41 medallists at the District Track and Field Championships.

Community Involvement

There are wide and varied opportunities for students in the Sixth Form to become further involved within both school and the wider community. Specific examples include mentoring younger students or running a lunchtime club as a Sixth Form Captain. Beyond the classroom, each year we have a cohort of Year 12 students entered for the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards. Students work hard at four sections throughout the year, culminating in their expedition. We are proud of our DofE students and always look forward to being able to celebrate their successes in normal DofE style at a Royal palace.

Personal Development In The Sixth Form

All Sixth Form students are encouraged to take on leadership roles within the school. These range from drama, music and sport to specific subject responsibilities. Vital life skills in communication, organisation and leadership are developed as well as the promotion of a sense of community.

Students take on many responsibilities. There are currently 48 Captains in 18 different areas across departments and houses. Students run clubs, support lessons and lead extracurricular events. Additionally our Summer Festival, a large, annual music and sports event held at Beaumont to raise money for the Prince’s Trust and the school, is “run by students, for students”. There is a successful peer mentoring programme, which enables pupils from Years 7 to 11 to meet weekly on a one to one basis with a Sixth Form student.

We also provide a structured tutor programme, where students will receive a tailored PSHCEE programme, support with the UCAS process, information advice and guidance in relation to all career pathways and the opportunity to book appointments with a YC Hertfordshire advisor should they need it.

Application Process

Having considered your subject options with reference to our academic entry criteria sheet provided, please complete our Application Form which you will find on our website.

If you are joining from another school, after submitting your application, you will be invited to attend a guidance meeting to discuss your subject choices. This is an informal meeting which will give you the opportunity to ask questions about the school, your subjects and your future aspirations. Internal applicants will have a similar guidance meeting with a member of the school’s Leadership Team in January.

In the first instance, you will be allocated to classes taught at Beaumont. In the rare event that we cannot fit in all your subject choices here, you will be contacted regarding attending classes at one of our BeauSandVer Education Trust partners for that particular subject. Our two day induction programme will be held on Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 July when you will receive a formal offer of a place for September, subject to you meeting the entry criteria with your Summer GCSE results.

View and Download Prospectus
BeauSandVer Education Trust

Beaumont, Sandringham and Verulam Schools have been in a successful consortium for over 20 years. This partnership, which converted to an Education Trust in 2016, allows us to offer a wider curriculum to Sixth Form students. In the event that a chosen subject is not offered at Beaumont, students will be given the opportunity to study the subject at one of our consortium partners. Students are transported by minibus between the partner schools during the day. The Heads of Sixth Form of the three schools meet regularly to ensure the smooth running of the consortium.

Further
Information

Further information about Beaumont Sixth Form is available from the following sources:

Beaumont School website:
www.beaumontschool.com

Maria Atkinson
Sixth Form Administrator
Email: sixthform@beaumont.school

Tel: 01727 732962
Beaumont School, Austen Way, St Albans, AL4 0XB