Key Information for Starting Year 12

Starting Sixth Form brings new routines and responsibilities for students. This page collates a lot of information, some of it from elsewhere on this website, to create a single page to help parents and students new to Year 12 navigate the first weeks at TWGSB6. Parents of existing TWGSB students moving up from Year 11 will also find useful information here as it helps answer queries that commonly arise at the beginning of Year 12. There is plenty of further detail under the Parents' Information tab and elsewhere on the main school website, so please do look at all the relevant pages before contacting us with queries.

We recognise that there is a significant transition to A Level studies from GCSE. We have a comprehensive programme in place to make this process as smooth as possible. This includes the Year 12 Induction Day on Wednesday 3rd September, team-building and skills workshops in school, and a Curriculum Evening for parents and students in the autumn (date to be advised).

A-Z of Key Information

Apps

We use a number of apps and digital learning resources at TWGSB. We have two portals that are connected to our Management Information System (MIS), Bromcom – our parent portal called MCAS (MyChildatSchool) and the equivalent for students called the Bromcom Student Portal. Parents also need to access our payments platform called Iris +Pay/Parentmail, and students use Office 365 for work in school and at home. 

There is no need for students to purchase software as TWGSB provides each one with a school email address and a free Microsoft Office license, which allows them to download the full suite of Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc) on to up to five personal devices free of charge. This works on phones and tablets as well as Windows and Mac PCs. You and your son/daughter will receive details on accessing all the necessary apps/websites during the first few weeks of joining TWGSB (see Essential apps for TWGSB parents and students below).

Attendance/absence

The expectation for Sixth Form students’ attendance is the same as the lower school. Year 12 and 13 are expected to be punctual and in school from the beginning of the day. If a student’s attendance is low, we will work with them to encourage an improvement through intervention programmes and support. However, if improvements are not made and their attendance falls below 90% they could be taken off roll unless there is a medical reason that is supported by evidence.

Sixth Form attendance to registration, even when there are study periods thereafter, is compulsory. Students who miss registration and fail to sign in, will receive an unauthorised mark for the whole morning session, which will affect their overall attendance percentage.

Study periods are not 'free' periods. These sessions are for study purposes – driving lessons, for example, may not be booked during the school day (see below).

Sixth Form students are not allowed to report their own absence. A parent/carer must report their son/daughter's absence to the Attendance Office before 09:00 via one of the following methods:

• MCAS app (send a message) or MCAS web page (click ‘Report Absence’)
• Email thegrammarschool@twgsboys.kent.sch.uk
• Telephone the school on 01892 529551 and press option 1.

Behaviour

The Sixth Form is part of TWGSB and therefore we do expect the highest standards of behaviour, commitment to studies and adherence to the school policies in terms of attendance, punctuality and behaviour. All the school policies are available to review on our website HERE.

Sixth Form students sign a studentship agreement at the start of Year 12 to declare that they agree to abide by the rules of TWGSB. Sixth Form students are still in full-time education and, as such, are expected to remain in school all day. Year 13 students have more off-site privileges than Year 12. It will be made clear at the start of term as to when Year 12 students are permitted to sign out and leave the site. They need their lanyards for signing in and out (see Lanyards below).

Bursary

Students aged 16–19 who meet the criteria for financial assistance could get a bursary to help with education-related costs, such as transport, books and equipment and educational trips. Click HERE for further details.

Business dress

Sixth Form students are expected to lead by example and always be smart and appropriately dressed. The dress code is essentially formal business attire. Students should be able to differentiate between attire for work and attire for social wear, and we expect all students to wear a tailored trouser or skirt suit, including a suit jacket at all times around the school site – and a lanyard so that they can be identified for safeguarding reasons on the school site. We have high expectations of our students meeting this requirement – see details of our Sixth Form Dress Code. A student can be expected to be challenged if not adhering to this code. The student will be expected to change into suitable clothing provided by the school or return home to change. With regard to piercings/jewellery/make-up, the student will be asked to remove any inappropriate items immediately. 

Catering

Catering at TWGSB is provided by Independent Catering. We operate a cashless payment system whereby students 'purchase' food using a prepaid catering fob. New students will receive their fob within the first few days of term and parents will be able to put credit on the dinner account via MCAS as soon as they have access to the system (see Essential apps for TWGSB parents below). Students will be able to use their fobs on the first day of term, even if parents have not been able to credit the account in advance.

Contacting school

Office hours are 08:15 to 16:00 Monday to Friday. To contact school, parents can email thegrammarschool@twgsboys.kent.sch.uk, send a message via MCAS, or call 01892 529551.See Who to Contact below for full details.

Driving lessons/tests

Driving lessons cannot be booked during the school day. For driving lessons directly before or after school, students should not be dropped off at the end of their lesson or collected for their lesson in the school car park because the amount of student/vehicle movement on the school site at these time is unsafe and unmanageable.

Student absence for theory and practical driving tests, however, will be authorised. As always, parents must notify the Attendance Officer in advance (see How to report absence).

Enrichment

Alongside their A Level choices, Year 12 students choose either a sport enrichment activity or volunteering, which they attend for two hours a week. These activities are designed to offer students the chance to develop skills outside the standard A Level curriculum.  Sixth Form students participating in sport during their enrichment periods may wear their own suitable sportswear (no large or inappropriate logos). 

Lanyards

It is essential that a Sixth Form lanyard is purchased from school at the start of Year 12 (cost is £10). Sixth Formers are required to wear their lanyard at all times during the school day so that they can be identified for safeguarding purposes. In addition, they will be unable to leave site at lunchtime without one as it is used to open the gate and register their presence on- and off-site.

Medical/dental appointments

Ideally, medical, dental or other appointments should be arranged outside of school hours. If this is not possible, and your son/daughter needs to leave during the school day, please let us know in advance (see How to report absence). We will then make a note on the register, so the relevant teacher knows that the student is leaving class. Students should go to Reception to sign out before leaving the site.

Mobile phones

We have a no-mobile phone policy across the school which applies to all students and staff, however students in the Sixth Form are permitted mobile phones in dedicated study areas only, and for study purposes only. Similarly, ear buds/headphones are not to be worn while walking around school.

Payment platform

Our online payments platform is called Iris +Pay/Parentmail (see Essential apps for TWGSB parents below). Once your son/daughter has joined us in September and you have registered for the platform you will be able to pay for items as and when requested.

When you are using Iris +Pay/Parentmail, a query we commonly receive involves parents/carers unable to see an item in their account that they are expecting to purchase. You simply need to click on the trolley icon, ‘Shop’, at the foot of the screen in order to access the next payment screen and view the item.

Sixth Form Study Centre

The Sixth Form Study Centre is a study area only or a place in which to see a member of staff from the KS5 team. No food or drinks (other than water) are to be consumed in the Sixth Form Study Centre. Sixth Formers may use the dining pods, outside space and benches or Dining Room 1 instead.

Timetables and timings

Individual timetables are given to the students by their form tutors on their first day. Your son/daughter will be able to view his/her timetable online once s/he has started school and registered for the Student Portal (see Essential apps for TWGSB parents and students below). We operate a two-week timetable – the school website lists whether it is Week 1 or Week 2.

Click for timings of the school day at TWGSB. From 08:00 Sixth Formers are allowed to enter the library and the allocated Sixth Form areas. Form period starts promptly at 08:45 and all students should be in their form rooms with their Form Tutors by this time.

Registration is taken at 08:50 and students who arrive after 08:50 will be marked as late. Continued lateness may result in a detention. Students have a responsibility for following school procedures should they miss registration and must sign in on arrival. Students who miss registration and fail to sign in, will receive an unauthorised mark for the whole morning session, which will affect their overall attendance percentage. This is of great significance to Sixth Form students, who will be taken off roll if their attendance falls below 90% without medical evidence.

Sixth Form students must sign in if they miss registration, even if they have free periods, as soon as they are on site. If they are unable to register electronically, they must report to Main Reception to ensure the registers are updated. This is for safeguarding purposes.

Transport to school

The KCC 16+ Travel Saver is a bus pass that can save parents and students money on the cost of bus travel to and from school and college. To apply for a pass, click HERE.

Sixth Form students who drive themselves to school should speak to Mrs Martin regarding where to park.

Tutor time and pastoral support

Sixth Form students are part of a tutor group and have an assigned tutor who will take them through both years of their studies. The tutor will be the first point of support for the students and will guide them in the transition to A Level studies, through choosing a future pathway and the UCAS process. Tutor time is a vital part of our Sixth Form culture and ethos and takes place 08:45–09:10 each day. 

University visits

Absence is permitted for Sixth Formers attending university/college open days. To request absence for this planned absence parents should contact the Attendance Officer (not the Sixth Form team) – see How to report absence.

Upcoming dates

All relevant dates during the school year are listed on the School Calendar of the school website. Term dates are also on the School Calendar and additionally listed separately on the website. Both areas can be accessed via the Quick Links tab at the top of the home page.