Supporting You

Our bespoke tutor programme is embedded across all of our campuses and is designed to support students both academically and emotionally as they navigate their way through post 16 education. 

The tutor programme is a compulsory part of sixth form study and students are required to attend tutor time everyday. The importance of tutor time on a Monday and Friday means that no home study is taken during tutor time on these days.

Topics covered include:

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Year 12

Introduction to Sixth Form life

Study Skills including note taking, and revision.

Time management

Managing screen time

Sixth Form Mindset

Mental Health support strategies and Mindfulness

Sex and Relationships Education

Careers - planning for next steps/ HE guidance

Revision skills

Year 13 

Reading skills and note taking strategies

Sixth Form Growth Mindset

Destinations - support for HE or Apprenticeship applications

Mental well being and emotional awareness

Study and revision strategies

Student finance

In addition to this, students have PSCE, a super-curricular session timetabled weekly to support skill development and compliment the curriculum. 

Sixth Form Careers support

We are committed to providing our students with a comprehensive, impartial programme of careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) and work related learning (WRL). Our student website can be found here.

All students take part in a careers programme that:

• Aims to inspire as well as inform and guide students

• Is centred around the student and their needs

• Is integrated into the students’ experience of the whole curriculum

• Encourages all students to consider their career options

• Encourages all students to develop decision making skills

• Provides each student with high quality, impartial advice

• Raises aspirations and promotes equality and diversity

• Tutor Programme including Aspire and Sixth Extra programmes

• All Year 12 students invited to our Plan Your Future Evening 

• Selected Year 12 students to take part in the Oxbridge and Russell Group Preparation Programme designed to support students aspiring to these destinations  and to encourage students to be more ambitious when planning their destinations.  This is supported by a tailored Google classroom with resources to support them. 

• All students take part in the National Careers Week & National Apprenticeship Week activities.

• All students invited to attend annual The Apprenticeship Fair

• All students are offered impartial, Level 6 qualified 1:1 appointments to provide advice, support & guidance with Post 18 decisions – University UCAS applications/subject choices, college applications and apprenticeship opportunities

• All students invited to local FE college and Apprenticeship provider workshops and drop in sessions

• All Year 12 students invited to the UCAS Discovery exhibition, Newport.

• All students are members of bespoke Careers google classrooms for their year groups, highlighting opportunities and vacancies to them and also giving them access to valuable careers resources. 

• Students are encouraged to look into opportunities to study abroad with full support for students through the common application process for applications to USA universities. 

• Access to Bristol, Reading Scholars, Heading Higher, Northumbria University visits and lectures on uni life and study skills time management. 

• Students are provided with support in preparing for interviews for workplaces, apprenticeship and also Higher Education. This includes Mock Interviews.

• Careers talks and specialised talks for students who are interested in Medicine or other Healthcare careers from former students who are either in medical training or are practising.

We work closely with parents/carers to support their children to make informed career choices. Parents and carers are encouraged to attend the careers events and various parents information evenings are available to help parents support students in planning their next steps. These include Next Steps Evening, HE application guidance evening, Apprenticeship Application Support Evening and the Student Finance Evening. To seek advice and ask any questions you might have regarding careers pathways. Parents are encouraged to contact Ms Baker-Starling, Ms Oxley-Hughes or Mrs Ward if they wish for further guidance on HE applications. 

The placement with an employer is for a period of one week, where you will learn about a particular job. This usually takes place in the last week of the summer term, however some students might opt to take part in a  more regular placement, for example volunteering in a local school. While you are on your Work Experience placement you will be able to find out about the types of skills employers look for when they are recruiting.

This opportunity also gives you the chance to develop communication skills and self confidence.

It is always rewarding to hear success stories.  In particular some of our employers have had such good experiences with students they offer them part-time jobs which may lead to full-time employment.

Some students who are planning to go onto study at university may choose to take part in a university summer school or outreach activity which is designed to help students prepare for the next steps after Sixth Form.  

The National Careers Service provides information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work opportunities. The service offers confidential and impartial advice. This is supported by qualified careers advisers.

The National Careers Service website aims to:

• Help you with careers decisions and planning

• Support you in reviewing your skills and abilities and develop new goals

• Motivate you to implement your plan of action

• Enable you to make the best use of high quality career related tools.

www.getingofar.gov.uk/ provides information about apprenticeships.

Plotr is a website created to help 11-24 year olds discover and explore careers they’ll love.

LifeSkills, created with Barclays, is a free, curriculum-linked programme, developed with teachers to help improve the skills and employability of young people in the UK.

icould has a range of video clips showing real people talking about their jobs and careers.

Plan your study & work. Your choices at 14, 16 and 18, explore different job sectors and how you can study and work at the same time – even to university level.

Success at School is the place for young people to explore careers, get the lowdown on top employers, and search for the latest jobs, courses and advice.

MNSP Careers Policy - follow this link

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For further information about Careers at each of the school’s sites including details on the Career’s lead please follow the links below:

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Norton Hill School - Somerset Studio School - Somervale School - Writhlington School

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Careers information due to be reviewed in Sept 2024.

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Careers Leaders

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Sixth Form - Mrs K Barker-Starling, kbarker-starling@msnsixth.com 01761 402280

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SSS - Ms E Cooper, swoodward@mendipstudioschool.org.uk 01761 438557

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Norton Hill - Mr M Serle, mserle@nortonhillschool.com 01761 412557

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Somervale - Ms S Davis, sdavis@somervaleschool.com 01761 414276

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Writhlington - Ms Gunton,  esage@writhlington.org.uk 01761 433581

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