Support for Sixth Form Students

Support & Guidance

Our students are closely monitored and supported to ensure that they fulfil their potential. This starts with an interview and induction, and develops through feedback and a relentless focus on learning. Experienced and dedicated tutors provide support for our students throughout their time in the Sixth Form. They will be a parent’s first point of contact. If, at any point a student feels they require additional support we have a School Counselling Service which is accessible through a referral process.

Students will also receive diverse careers support through online tools, the school’s Careers Adviser and attendance at local careers events. With over 65% of students each year applying to university we are well positioned to support students through the
application process. This will be done through UCAS and finance talks, personal statement workshops and individual support from tutors.

The Sixth Form curriculum includes hours of non-taught time, an element that is new to students. The work done in tutor time and throughout the Enrichment lessons teaches students important study skills so that they can utilise independent study opportunities. Students are regularly encouraged to research beyond their subjects in their study periods. Some useful links for this are here:

  • FUTURE LEARN 
    www.futurelearn.com: A hub of free online MOOC courses provided by top universities around the country that allow you to extend your knowledge in areas of interest to you, particularly something you might like to study after school.

 

  • STAIRCASE 12 
    www.staircase12.univ.ox.ac.uk: University College Oxford’s online hub of resources for students aiming high at school and thinking about applying to top universities. You’ll find plenty of resources to help you develop your interests, book reviews from current undergrads to help you ‘read around’ your subject, ideas for stretching yourself beyond the school syllabus (now an essential for entry to highly selective universities) and some stuff about student life at Uni for good measure. The resources section contains a wealth of useful sources for reading around the subject.

 

  • OXPLORE
    www.oxplore.org: From “Should under 18s be allowed to vote?”, to “Is a robot a person?” Oxplore allows you to explore important questions, from many different perspectives. It is a great platform to consider different perspectives on issues and signposts people or theories to research to extend your knowledge.

A Sixth Form Guide 2024-2025


16-19 Tuition Fund

We are committed to providing additional support for students using the 16-19 tuition fund. For full details please visit our 16-19 Tuition Fund webpage here.


Bursary

All students are invited to apply annually for a bursary. This information can be downloaded and submitted to Mrs Price for consideration. Students often use their bursary money to support the cost of coursework related trips, textbooks and laptops to aid study.


Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing Support

Mental Health is a really important issue for us at Waingels. We promote positive well being and resilience through our tutor and enrichment programme and if students are struggling we signpost a range of places they can turn to for additional support. Tutors are often a first point of contact if you are worried about your son or daughter but we have a mental health team to support any student who is struggling with mental health. For more information about our mental health provision please visit our webpage here

If you are looking for a sympathetic ear, need to offload any worries or concerns, the Sixth Form Team are always available to listen. If you feel you require more specialist help, here is a list of numbers you may find useful.

Samaritans

A free 24hr confidential helpline if you need someone to talk to or if you are feeling low.

Phone: 116 123

Email: jo@samaritans.org

Website: https://www.samaritans.org/

FRANK

Drugs helpline 24/7

Phone: 0800 77 66 00

SMS: 82111

Website: http://www.talktofrank.com/

rehab4addiction

Imparting invaluable advice for people seeking drug and alcohol rehab clinics in the UK

Phone: 0800 140 4690

Website: https://www.rehab4addiction.co.uk/

ARC

Free and confidential youth counselling

Phone: 0118 977 6710

Website: www.arcweb.org.uk

Selfharm

Free and confidential youth counselling

Phone: 0118 977 6710

Website: www.arcweb.org.uk

Cruse Bereavement Care

National charity for bereaved people who offer support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies and work to enhance society’s care of bereaved people.

Phone: 0870 167 1677

Website: https://www.cruse.org.uk/

Talking Therapies

Talking Therapies is a friendly and approachable service that helps people with anxiety, depression, stress and phobias. 

Phone: 0300 365 2000

Email: talkingtherapies@berkshire.nhs.uk

Website: https://www.talkingtherapies.berkshire.nhs.uk/default.asp?fldArea=0&fldMenu=0&fldSubMenu=0&fldKey=1

Kidscape Helpline for Parents of Bullied Children

Providing children, families, carers and professionals with advice, training and practical tools to prevent bullying and protect young lives.

Phone: 0207 730 3300

Website: https://www.kidscape.org.uk/

Number 5

Free and confidential youth counselling

Phone: 0118 958 5858 or 0118 958 5304

Eating Disorders Association

Phone: 0845 634 1414

Daisy's Dream

Daisy’s Dream supports children and their families who have been affected by life threatening illness or the bereavement of someone close to them.

Phone: 0118 934 2604

Website: https://www.daisysdream.org.uk/

The Florey Unit for Sexual Health

Sexual health advice and screening, family planning & emergency contraception, pregnancy tests etc.

Phone: 0118 987 7216

National Drugs Helpline

Free, confidential, 24/7

Phone: 0800 77 66 00

SANE

Advice on mental health issues, including self-harm. 

Phone: 0845 767 8000

Childline

Any issues for children and young people 24/7

Phone: 0800 1111

Sexwise

Sexuality and sexual health problems

Phone: 0800 28 29 30

NSPCC Child Protection Helpline

Concerns for abused children or for children themselves 24/7

Phone: 0808 800 5000

Rape and Abuse Line

Phone: 0800 8000 123