Oldham Sixth Form College
Encyclopedia
Oldham Sixth Form College is a government-funded college of further education
in Oldham
in Greater Manchester
, England
. Opened in 1992 as a specialist centre for advanced-level study, the Principal of the college is Jayne Clarke.
Despite being a relatively new college, the college has managed to gain an excellent reputation; with good reports coming from both OFSTED
and the local paper.
Students may take between two and four A level subjects to study; but some students have been known to take five subjects due to various reasons.
Students who take three subjects study in the college for around 18 hours each week whereas students who take four subjects study in the college for around 22.5 hours.
Students at the college are also able to take enrichment courses which are held once a week on a Wednesday afternoon. These enrichment courses can be vocational or academic. Some enrichment courses result in a qualification with some resulting in complete AS/A level qualifications.
To gain admission to the college, students must gain five GCSE results at grades C and above including English Language and Mathematics. It is also preferred if the students attend one of the many feeder schools but the college does in fact take on a large amount of students who do not attend these feeder schools. The college works off a point system in which:
To study four advanced-level subjects at the college students must gain 42 points or more, To study three advanced-level subjects students must gain between 38 and 41 points. To study 2 advanced-level subjects students must gain between 33 and 37 points.
Students who wish to attend the college must submit application forms before the deadline. If the college accepts a student, it invites them to an interview where they must bring their most recent school report, mock GCSE results, and progress files. If students come across well in the interview and their mock grades are good, the college offers them a provisional place.
Once students receive their GCSE results they will be invited back to the college to enroll. New students and students progressing into year 13 must enroll at designated times at the end of August to be eligible to study for the current academic year.
Further education
Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
in Oldham
Oldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...
in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Opened in 1992 as a specialist centre for advanced-level study, the Principal of the college is Jayne Clarke.
Despite being a relatively new college, the college has managed to gain an excellent reputation; with good reports coming from both OFSTED
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
and the local paper.
Courses
The college offers over 100 courses that include academic, vocational and even GCSE courses.Students may take between two and four A level subjects to study; but some students have been known to take five subjects due to various reasons.
Students who take three subjects study in the college for around 18 hours each week whereas students who take four subjects study in the college for around 22.5 hours.
Students at the college are also able to take enrichment courses which are held once a week on a Wednesday afternoon. These enrichment courses can be vocational or academic. Some enrichment courses result in a qualification with some resulting in complete AS/A level qualifications.
Acceptance and enrolment
The college takes on nearly 1200 students each year, the majority of which have just completed compulsory secondary education.To gain admission to the college, students must gain five GCSE results at grades C and above including English Language and Mathematics. It is also preferred if the students attend one of the many feeder schools but the college does in fact take on a large amount of students who do not attend these feeder schools. The college works off a point system in which:
- A*, A, B = 6
- C = 5
- D = 4
- E = 3
- F = 2
- G = 1
To study four advanced-level subjects at the college students must gain 42 points or more, To study three advanced-level subjects students must gain between 38 and 41 points. To study 2 advanced-level subjects students must gain between 33 and 37 points.
Students who wish to attend the college must submit application forms before the deadline. If the college accepts a student, it invites them to an interview where they must bring their most recent school report, mock GCSE results, and progress files. If students come across well in the interview and their mock grades are good, the college offers them a provisional place.
Once students receive their GCSE results they will be invited back to the college to enroll. New students and students progressing into year 13 must enroll at designated times at the end of August to be eligible to study for the current academic year.
Timetable
College lessons run from 9am till 4:05pm with five lessons each day. Lessons are 70 minutes long with ten minutes movement time between classes. Lunch time is at 12.50pm and finishes at 13.35pm. When students are not in lessons they may stay in college or leave the grounds.Other information
- The college has a team of students known as 'The Student Association' who help out in the local community and help improve the college for students. The association regularly organise special events and charity fundraisers within the college.
- Every year an OSFC Oscars is held in which the short films made by the Year 13 students are showcased and followed by awards replicating those from the real Academy AwardsAcademy AwardsAn Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
ceremony.
- Field Trips are regularly held in various subjects such as the GeographyGeographyGeography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
trip to the Isle of ArranIsle of ArranArran or the Isle of Arran is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, and with an area of is the seventh largest Scottish island. It is in the unitary council area of North Ayrshire and the 2001 census had a resident population of 5,058...
in 2006
- Oldham Sixth Form College's mission is ‘to provide the highest quality education for learners in Oldham and the local area so that they are equipped to the very best of their abilities to move into higher education or employment’.
- The college was awarded the learning and skills Beacon status in 2005 and most recently in an Ofsted report published in June 2008, the college achieved the highest grades in all areas.
- Each year the college holds a 'Pink Day' in which staff and students wear something pink for the day for breast cancer awareness.