BSix Sixth Form College
Encyclopedia
BSix Sixth Form College: Brooke House is a sixth form college
located in Upper Clapton
, London
in the United Kingdom
. It officially opened in September 2002, giving students in Hackney
the opportunity to study at a college close to where they live. Brooke House has previously been the site of other educational institutions. The College is twinned
with the Cayuga Community College - State University of New York
.
BSix Brooke House Sixth Form College was opened on the site of the of Brooke House school in September 2002. It was set up by the then Secretary of State for Education, David Blunkett
, and formed part of an unrealised plan to build eleven new sixth form colleges in London. BSix is unusual in the sixth form college sector because it offers courses at all levels and across a wide range of subjects, including vocational courses
, like Hair and Beauty, Business and Art as well as a significant number of “A” levels.
After an initial surge of enthusiasm, the educational context changed rapidly. Hackney’s local education authority, The Learning Trust, introduced a programme to create five City Academies in the borough, all with sixth forms. As a consequence, many other 11-16 schools applied to open their own sixth forms.
The growth in student recruitment was not as rapid as the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), the funding body, had anticipated. In 2005 the College was inspected by Ofsted and judged to be satisfactory.
In April 2006 the founding Principal, Angela O’Donoghue, was promoted to lead the much-larger City Of Sunderland College. The LSC and the governing body took the opportunity to review the future of BSix. An interim Principal, Joe West, was given the task of canvassing opinion about merger, closure or continuation for the College. The conclusion of the report, the LSC and the governors was that BSix should continue as an independent institution.
A new Principal, Ken Warman, took up post on October 30th 2006.He had previously been Director of the sixth form centre at Tower Hamlets College. During his tenure results improved by 15-20% at all levels and , on his departure, the centre was flourishing with an excellent reputation and burgeoning student recruitment. In 2005 Ofsted judged the College to be outstanding and awarded it Beacon Status. Prior to that, he had led a similar improvement programme at Uxbridge College, relaunching the academic studies department as the Uxbridge College Academy.
BSix is a rapidly improving college, gaining a national and local reputation for innovation and high standards. The College’s success rate has risen by 8% in just two years. In 2009 the College’s average points score per advanced level subject was above the national average. It had the best value-added of any college in London. For the last two years, the College has been in the top 5% of all schools and colleges for value-added. An Ofsted inspection in March 2009 rated leadership and management and capacity to improve as good. A follow-up visit six months later concluded that the College was making “significant progress.”
In 2009 the College was named Representative Organisation of the Year by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) for its work on student voice. Students are trained to observe lessons, undertake research and make presentations. This project has aroused a lot of interest in the post-16 sector. The Deputy Principal, Philip Elliott, and BSix students have addressed six national conferences about their work. The College also takes an innovative approach to staff development. Under the slogan of “BSix: a university for teachers”, there is an extensive array of development opportunities. These include an MA in Teaching and Learning run by the Institute of Education University of London and available for free to teachers. The College also runs a Coaching Diploma, accredited by Middlesex University, for all staff. In March 2010 the College was awarded the Investors in People kite mark and the report stated that BSix “excels in all areas.”
In June 2010 the College was given a London Education Partnership award for “Driving achievement forward: achieving successful outcomes at post-16”.It was also runner-up in the “Building bridges” category for its work with Pembroke College University of Oxford. The scheme, known as Pem-Brooke, allows students to take a year-long academic course. This includes seminars run by Oxford tutors and undergraduates, an Easter school on study skills and culminates in a week-long summer school at Pembroke itself.
These innovations and achievements have generated a lot of interest in the College among young people, parents and the wider education community. As a result student applications have risen rapidly, tripling in just two years.
Sixth form college
A sixth form college is an educational institution in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Belize, Hong Kong or Malta where students aged 16 to 18 typically study for advanced school-level qualifications, such as A-levels, or school-level qualifications such as GCSEs. In Singapore and India, this is...
located in Upper Clapton
Upper Clapton
Upper Clapton is a district in the London Borough of Hackney. It is bounded by the Hackney districts of Stamford Hill to the west, Lower Clapton and Lea Bridge to the south and the Haringey district of South Tottenham to the north...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It officially opened in September 2002, giving students in Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
the opportunity to study at a college close to where they live. Brooke House has previously been the site of other educational institutions. The College is twinned
Twinning
Twinning may refer to:* In biology and agriculture, producing two offspring at a time, or having a tendency to do so;* Twin towns and sister cities, towns and cities involved in town twinning...
with the Cayuga Community College - State University of New York
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
.
BSix Brooke House Sixth Form College was opened on the site of the of Brooke House school in September 2002. It was set up by the then Secretary of State for Education, David Blunkett
David Blunkett
David Blunkett is a British Labour Party politician and the Member of Parliament for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough, having represented Sheffield Brightside from 1987 to 2010...
, and formed part of an unrealised plan to build eleven new sixth form colleges in London. BSix is unusual in the sixth form college sector because it offers courses at all levels and across a wide range of subjects, including vocational courses
Vocational education
Vocational education or vocational education and training is an education that prepares trainees for jobs that are based on manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic, and totally related to a specific trade, occupation, or vocation...
, like Hair and Beauty, Business and Art as well as a significant number of “A” levels.
After an initial surge of enthusiasm, the educational context changed rapidly. Hackney’s local education authority, The Learning Trust, introduced a programme to create five City Academies in the borough, all with sixth forms. As a consequence, many other 11-16 schools applied to open their own sixth forms.
The growth in student recruitment was not as rapid as the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), the funding body, had anticipated. In 2005 the College was inspected by Ofsted and judged to be satisfactory.
In April 2006 the founding Principal, Angela O’Donoghue, was promoted to lead the much-larger City Of Sunderland College. The LSC and the governing body took the opportunity to review the future of BSix. An interim Principal, Joe West, was given the task of canvassing opinion about merger, closure or continuation for the College. The conclusion of the report, the LSC and the governors was that BSix should continue as an independent institution.
A new Principal, Ken Warman, took up post on October 30th 2006.He had previously been Director of the sixth form centre at Tower Hamlets College. During his tenure results improved by 15-20% at all levels and , on his departure, the centre was flourishing with an excellent reputation and burgeoning student recruitment. In 2005 Ofsted judged the College to be outstanding and awarded it Beacon Status. Prior to that, he had led a similar improvement programme at Uxbridge College, relaunching the academic studies department as the Uxbridge College Academy.
BSix is a rapidly improving college, gaining a national and local reputation for innovation and high standards. The College’s success rate has risen by 8% in just two years. In 2009 the College’s average points score per advanced level subject was above the national average. It had the best value-added of any college in London. For the last two years, the College has been in the top 5% of all schools and colleges for value-added. An Ofsted inspection in March 2009 rated leadership and management and capacity to improve as good. A follow-up visit six months later concluded that the College was making “significant progress.”
In 2009 the College was named Representative Organisation of the Year by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) for its work on student voice. Students are trained to observe lessons, undertake research and make presentations. This project has aroused a lot of interest in the post-16 sector. The Deputy Principal, Philip Elliott, and BSix students have addressed six national conferences about their work. The College also takes an innovative approach to staff development. Under the slogan of “BSix: a university for teachers”, there is an extensive array of development opportunities. These include an MA in Teaching and Learning run by the Institute of Education University of London and available for free to teachers. The College also runs a Coaching Diploma, accredited by Middlesex University, for all staff. In March 2010 the College was awarded the Investors in People kite mark and the report stated that BSix “excels in all areas.”
In June 2010 the College was given a London Education Partnership award for “Driving achievement forward: achieving successful outcomes at post-16”.It was also runner-up in the “Building bridges” category for its work with Pembroke College University of Oxford. The scheme, known as Pem-Brooke, allows students to take a year-long academic course. This includes seminars run by Oxford tutors and undergraduates, an Easter school on study skills and culminates in a week-long summer school at Pembroke itself.
These innovations and achievements have generated a lot of interest in the College among young people, parents and the wider education community. As a result student applications have risen rapidly, tripling in just two years.