School students are choosing The Bedford Sixth Form in rising numbers for their post-16 – Level and BTEC courses.
By the end of September 600+ students are predicted to be within the historical educational walls on Bromham Road, all of them taking a step close to life at university and the world of work. An official Destinations Survey showed that 98.6% of TBSF students said they had a “positive” outcome by winning places at university, higher level apprenticeships or full-time employment of their choice.
That growth in students is in direct contrast to most school sixth forms. The strength in numbers means The Bedford Sixth Form can offer the widest choice of subjects including Extended Diplomas which, upon completion of a two year course, are equivalent to 3 A-Levels. Well performing students can often opt for an additional A-Level – giving them a head start when it comes to gaining places at the best universities.
Sixth Form Head Paul Clarkson:
“The option to mix BTEC and Cambridge Technical Qualifications with A-Levels enables a wide range of different learning skills to be developed by students and this is particularly attractive to the best universities who look for that something extra from candidates.
Staff numbers are high too, there will be 45 qualified teachers and support staff members on hand to help students take that big step from school into adulthood, and because TBSF takes only students aged 16+, the environment is more like university.
The £450 a year Travel Bursary has proved popular with those facing increase public transport costs because of council cut backs.