The New Sixth Bath Issue 1

issue 1executive headteacher raymond frielphase one - opening september 2013heads of sixth mrs christine boardman and ms rachelpurnell on planning for september 2013phase two - the gateway at the new sixthfinancing phase two - the gateway campaign

The New Sixth Administrative Centre Combe Hay Lane, Odd Down, Bath, BA2 8PATel 01225 832873 Fax 01225 835848 email [email protected]

www.newsixthbath.org.uk

theNew Sixth

News

head students, ben and hannah at the launch of the new sixth fundraising campaign

Students of St Mark’s and St Gregory’s stole the show at the publiclaunch of The New Sixth, held at The Forum in Bath.

The purpose of the event was to raise awareness of The New Sixthand to start our campaign to raise the £1.5m needed to buildPhase 2, which will provide the auditorium and chaplaincy centre.

In attendance were the Chair of Bath and North East SomersetCouncil and the Mayor of Bath. Also attending were the Leaderand members of the Council and representatives of local churches.

WELCOME to the first issue of the NewSixth News, providing you with updates on theprogress of this exciting new development ineducation in our area. The building of PhaseOne of the New Sixth, which includes a stateof the art learning centre for our sixth

formers, six classrooms, two laboratories and admin space, isnow well underway.

This part of the project has been made possible by £2.4m infunding from B&NES Council and almost £400k in grant fromthe Government via the Dioceses of Clifton and Bath andWells. Phase One will give us the accommodation we need toopen our sixth forms in September. Despite a few days lost tothe snow, our main contractor ER Hemmings is making verygood progress and the main timber frame should be put uparound mid-February.

We were delighted at the end of last term to receive 125 applications for the New Sixth from students from St. Gregory’s and St. Mark’s, as well as some external students.This was a major vote of confidence in what we have to offer.

Last September, some parents and students were asking if wewould be able to provide as good an education in the sixthform as we offer up to the age of sixteen - after the OpenEvening in October, not many people were asking that question. There is a strong belief that the New Sixth will provide what parents and students have been demanding foryears: a high quality state sixth form in B&NES with a strongChristian foundation, committed to high academic standards,outstanding pastoral care and a vibrant and varied enrichmentprogramme.

The students in the lower years at St. Gregory’s and St. Mark’shave already expressed a great deal of interest in the new development and many of them will certainly see the NewSixth as a natural progression for them. Many external students, who adhere to or support Christian values, have also expressed an interest in what we have to offer.

We look forward to keeping you posted as we prepare to openthis September. We also look forward to your support forPhase Two, which you can read about in this edition.

Raymond Friel, MA (Hons) NPQHNational Leader of Education



modern, dedicatedteaching areas;

two new science laboratories;

a learning resource centre;

six classrooms;

recreation area andstudy space.

Building work is already well under way on groundwork, laying services and building the foundations. Our contractors, ER Hemmings, have made considerableprogress over recent weeks and work is due to start shortlyon constructing the main frame of the building, using the latest modular building technology. We will soon see rapidresults!

Staff will be able to access the new facilities over the summer holidays, giving them plenty of time to settle in totheir new surroundings, before the first wave of students in September.

construction under way on the new sixth

The New Sixth is a unique opportunity for students of both schools to be a part of something new in the educational landscape,we will be laying the foundations for the future of The New Sixth for generations tocome. ”

“

head of sixth at st mark’s, rachel purnell

September 2013planning for the future

The opening of the New Sixth is now only months away andthe beginnings of the building work on site no doubt makethe prospect of post 16 study here a reality for our students.Whilst the building may have only just begun, many studentsand staff have been involved behind the scenes in planning aunique Post 16 Provision for the young people of Bath.

subjects on offer

As part of our commitment to personalised learning, we haveworked closely with our Year 11 students at both schools,through a series of one to one meetings and whole yeargroup guidance sessions, to ensure that we are offering thesubjects that they are interested in and to support them tomake the right decisions. Not only are we able to offer thefull range of A Level choices that you would except from asuccessful sixth form, but in addition we are providing LevelUp, a bespoke learning programme for our students who arenot yet ready to access Level 3 courses but do still wish to bepart of the New Sixth.

pastoral care

In addition to an excellent academic offer, we will continue toprovide the outstanding levels of pastoral care that our students have become used to. Students will be supported by

by head of sixth at st mark’s, rachel purnell, and headof sixth at st gregory’s, christine boardman

Phase One

the good news...Phase One of The New Sixth is entirely paid for by £2.4mstatutory funding from Bath and North East Somerset Council and £400k Government funding.

It will open in September 2013, providing a learning environment of the highest quality for post-16 study.

Students starting in September will come from both StGregory’s Catholic College and St Mark’s Church of EnglandSchool, with a number also coming from other secondaryschools in our area.

This state-of-the-art facility will provide students with:



Phase Two, which we have named ‘The Gateway’, is expected to open in 2014/15 and will complete The NewSixth project.

It will be a prominent addition to The New Sixth site, enabling us to create a truly landmark building at the southern entrance to the World Heritage City of Bath.

This additional accommodation will comprise:

A 250-seat auditorium and performance space;

Additional teaching areas and practice rooms;

The Well - a unique social and spiritual centre;

Cafe and refectory for students, also creating a community hub for out-of-hours events.

Extended entrance.

Phase Two

Phase Two, The Gateway, will cost £1.5 million and will be entirely funded through The Gateway Campaign, our dedicated fundraising project, supported by the governingbodies of St Gregory’s and St Mark’s.

A substantial amount has already been pledged by governors and parents and we are looking to build on thisover the coming months through our school community andbeyond. St Gregory’s and St Mark’s are aiming to raise 10%of the total budget, £150,000, through our own fundraising activities.

The remaining 90%, £1.35 million, is expected to be raisedfrom fundraising from local, national and internationallybased individuals and organisations.

We are offering students a wide range ofcourses that will appeal to universities andemployers. This includes upto 25 different ALevel subjects, so that there really is some-thing to appeal to everyone.”

“

head of sixth at st gregory’s, christine boardman

a dedicated tutor who will provide the support and guidancethey need at this stage in their education. We have alsoplanned an exciting enrichment programme encompassing arange of activities to build the skills needed for life, whateverroute is taken after the New Sixth. As you would expect, students’ spiritual health and well-being will also be nurtured,with dedicated chaplaincy provision and a physical space forstudents to find support and guidance – The Well, anotherunique provision of The New Sixth.

new beginningsAs both students and staff will testify, there is nothing moreexciting than being part of something new from the very beginning and playing a significant role in shaping its future.We look forward to welcoming you in September 2013 andcreating something very special together.

Although it’s still a part of St Gregory’s andSt Mark’s, it’s new and exciting. It will allowus to carry on learning with people weknow and have grown up with but at thesame time gain independence and becomemore self-reliant.”

“

niall, st gregory’s

the challenge...



The GatewayFundraisingCampaign

DIRECT GIVING

Anyone can make a financial donation tothe Gateway Campaign. This can be in theform of a one-off payment or spread over anumber of years.

Our target of £150,000 is 10% of thetotal building cost, but it is the key thatopens many doors.

If we can raise this from within the resources of theschools, we can access major funds from trusts, charities, businesses and government.

A major source of funding is through personal giving.

The great thing is that donations from individualsare ‘Gift Aided’ by the government, effectively givingback the tax that you have already paid on earnings.So we gain an extra 25%. For example for a gift of£800, the government will add £200 Gift Aid, for atotal gift of £1000.

It is also possible to pledge in relatively smallamounts over a period of time, for instance £3.08per week, or £13.33 a month, with Gift Aid, grows to£1000 over five years!

Join those already giving. It is really easy. We willprovide the two forms and step-by-step guidance.

You decide how much you want to give and for howlong. It just needs your name, address and a signature.

FUNDRAISING EFFORTS

Over the coming months, there will be a range of fundraising eventsand activities for you to get involved in at both schools.

JOIN THE PTFA EFFORTBoth PTFAs have pledged to help support the Campaign withtheir own fundraising efforts. Come along and support an eventhappening in your school soon, or why not join the PTFA andhelp to organise an event?

Maybe a film night, disco, car boot sale or help revitalise the Summer Fair?

MAKE AN INDIVIDUAL EFFORTOrganise an individual or family fundraising event - a sponsoredskydive perhaps? Or something less ambitious such as a sponsored slim, swim, cycle or walk?!

Maybe you could invite 10 people to dinner at £10 per head?

SUPPORT STUDENT EFFORTSEncourage students to organise their own events - a schoolcake sale, whole school sponsored event or a community carwash?

Many firms and employers donate to local causes, particularly if they are linked to, or suggested by, their employees.

Ask your employer if they run a business workplace scheme that will match your donation

Does the company that you work for support charitable donations to employee linked causes?

Do you know anyone else outside of our school community, who may be interested in supporting our Campaign?

WILL YOUR EMPLOYER HELP OUR EFFORTS?

Documents

The New Sixth Bath Issue 1