SCHOOL LINKS
About Blackpool Sixth
Blackpool Sixth is the Fylde Coast’s leading provider of A Levels and BTEC courses for 16-19 year olds. Students are able to put together a programme which exactly matches their interests and future ambitions.
With a choice of over 60 advanced level options, specialist teaching and fantastic facilities, Blackpool Sixth gives all its students the perfect springboard to higher education and great careers.
Outreach programmes
Blackpool Sixth offers schools an extensive programme of outreach and engagement activities. Our School Liaison team co-ordinates this programme and delivers a wide range of activities relating to progression, careers education and personal development. Our nine curriculum departments also contribute to the links programme through offering subject-focused tasters, masterclasses and specially themed events.
For enquiries email: admissions@blackpoolsixth.ac.uk
Meet the Admissions, Liaison and Marketing team
Jon McLeod - Head of Admissions, Liaison and Marketing
Helen Thornley - Deputy Head of Admissions, Liaison and Marketing with particular responsibility for school liaison
Nicola Kelly - Assistant head of Admissions, Liaison and Marketing with particular responsibility for marketing
John Turnbull - Admissions manager
Rebecca Lovell -Admissions officer
Caroline Cameron - Marketing and Liaison Officer
Kayleigh Hall - Marketing and Liaison Officer
Patrick Hitie - Marketing Assistant
Admissions
We give extensive advice and guidance about our applications and admissions process including detailed information about how to apply, course combinations, entry requirements and our enrolment process.
For enquiries - admissions@blackpoolsixth.ac.uk
School Liaison
The team aims to promote the fantastic opportunities offered to students at Blackpool Sixth. We work closely with schools and the community, supporting students with their post-16 education and career choices.
We give information, advice and guidance to young people and their families about all aspects of student life at Blackpool Sixth including the courses we offer, the extensive support for our students, the extra-curricular activities and our fantastic facilities.
We offer a variety of activities in schools for students to encourage them to explore their options for the future.
We work with school staff to help facilitate links with staff at Blackpool Sixth either in curriculum areas or support teams.
CAREERS EDUCATION AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
The School Liaison team can offer a wide range of sessions and activities covering important aspects of careers education as well as broader personal development areas. These can be tailored in terms of subject matter, length and year group or ability group and can be offered in school or in college.
Typical sessions offered include:
- Thinking about option choices (Year 8 & 9)
- Post-16 study choices, focusing on A levels and vocational courses
- Career pathways
- Events for academically able students regarding our Excellence programme
- Information about university and higher training
- Creating CVs and making applications
- Mock interviews
Preparation for post-GCSE transition
Our team offers a package of information and support to help students decide if Blackpool Sixth is the right choice for them and if so what their study programme should be. This package includes:
- Assembly presentations in school - These are designed to encourage students to think about post-GCSE options and learn about the opportunities Blackpool Sixth can offer.
- Information, advice and guidance sessions in school - Presentations or interactive sessions about post-GCSE options and careers. The sessions give students information about the opportunities offered to them by Blackpool Sixth and beyond and they are designed to promote high aspirations and to motivate students to plan ahead.
- ‘Drop in’/ ‘Application support’ sessions in school - Members of our team can come into school to be available for an informal chat with students about Blackpool Sixth, our application process and career progression. We can support individuals or small groups who need help with their course choices or with completing their application.
- Other liaison activities - The School Liaison team is always happy to help wherever possible with school-based events such as personal development days, careers days/evenings and parents’ evenings.
COLLEGE EVENTS
We arrange events in college to enable people to come and see Blackpool Sixth for themselves and to give prospective students an opportunity to sample our courses via taster sessions.
Open Events
Blackpool Sixth has two Saturday Open Days during the Autumn term and an Open Evening in the Spring Term.
Saturday 30th September 10:30am - 2:30pm
Saturday 11th November 10:30am - 2:30pm
Wednesday 24th April 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Taster events at Blackpool Sixth
With the support of curriculum departments, the School Liaison team is able to offer taster activities across our full course range.
Taster Day - Saturday 16th March
After school taster event - Wednesday 27th March
Year 10 Experience Days
In early July, Year 10 students, interested in finding out more about Blackpool Sixth, are invited to attend a taster day in college when they can attend sessions in a range of subject areas. This is arranged through school but students book their own sessions online.
The event gives students an opportunity to gain an insight into post-16 opportunities at Blackpool Sixth and key information about the application process which starts as soon as they are in Year 11.
New Student Day
In early July, when all the GCSEs have been completed, applicants are invited to spend a whole day in college. They are able to choose subjects to sample during the day, enjoy musical entertainment and a barbecue and gain an insight into student life at Blackpool Sixth.
This year our New Student Day will be on Thursday 4th July 2024
Visits to college
We can provide a campus tour for students and/or staff and can combine this with an interactive session introducing Blackpool Sixth, our study programmes, support services, enrichment and wider opportunities for students. Some visits can be combined with curriculum-based taster sessions and we can arrange for your students to meet with some of our students to talk about subjects they are studying, college clubs, societies and extra-curricular activities.
academically able students
Blackpool Sixth has extensive provision for high achieving students. This includes our Excellence Programme which has been specially created to support our most academically able students in their studies and prepare them for entry to the most selective universities in the UK and abroad.
We offer school students the opportunity to come into Blackpool Sixth for inspiring and informative events and activities such as our Leadership & Excellence event, subject-specific masterclasses and presentations from universities such as Oxford and Cambridge.
support
Our team works extensively with Blackpool Sixth’s Additional Learning Support team to facilitate the transition of students with additional support needs, looked-after children and other vulnerable students.
