The government’s national lockdown announcement means working and learning is currently taking place online. This is because of the rising Covid-19 infection rates and this will allow our college to prepare Covid-19 testing for our students. This is because of the rising Covid-19 infection rates and this will allow our college to prepare Covid-19 testing for our students. 

Key changes are below:

• We have made the decision to cancel all exams to keep our students and staff safe during the Covid-19 pandemic. Students should not attend college for their exams. 

• Apprentices will be contacted by their tutors/assessors as different arrangements may apply to them.

• When the national lockdown is lifted, all students will return to college in line with our plans for mass Covid-19 testing.

We will provide further information, including details of our mass Covid-19 testing plans, once confirmed. 

If you are a student and have further questions, please contact your tutor.

Find out more information on Leeds Sixth Form College blended learning here.

Over the past twelve months, we’ve been busy transforming areas of the building to make way for exciting new facilities.

Fusing innovation with excellence, these dynamic  spaces will allow you to learn in an inspiring and independent way. 

Our new engaging environments include:

Learning Resource Centre (LRC)

Our new Learning Resource Centre brings learning to life where you can study, learn and be inspired. Exclusive to sixth form students, the centre offers a quiet space for you to complete work and develop your knowledge. 

More than just a library, the centre can help enhance your abilities. A member of the iLearn team will always be based here to offer support and help you improve important independent skills.

The LRC is also home to the Achievement Centre, where you can have one-on-one sessions with subject staff to support you in achieving your aspirational targets . 

Take a virtual tour of the new LRC here.

Natural Press coffee shop

If you fancy a break from your studies, our modern coffee shop gives you the opportunity to relax in an exclusive social space. As part of our green pledge, we will adopt an eco-friendly theme, and have plants throughout the space.

Due to open early in the new year, Natural Press will offer hot drinks, hot food and quick snacks.

Auditorium

Our large, open plan auditorium has been specially designed for assemblies, exams, external guest speakers, enrichment activities and student life projects. We can also separate the area into two sections depending on the activity. 

If you’d like to use the auditorium for an activity, get in touch with your personal tutor.

Look and Feel Project (B Block)

As part of our exciting ‘Look and Feel Project’, each level of B Block has been divided into distinct faculty zones. 

We know how important colour is for changing the dynamics and feel of a space, so we’ve given the entrance to each floor a unique feature wall, inspired by themes from the subject areas. 

In these spaces, we’ve also created dynamic and independent learning and seating spaces to shape an engaging environment. 

We hope these new facilities will invigorate your learning and strengthen your academic abilities.

Leeds Sixth Form College is celebrating being the first post-16 provider in the city to be awarded MindMate Friendly status for its commitment to improving the wellbeing of students. 

To achieve MindMate Friendly status, the college completed an in-depth assessment, focusing on safe spaces, teacher training and tackling wellbeing concerns. 

The Health and Wellbeing Service Advisor at Leeds City Council who worked with the college, said: “There has clearly been a huge investment in pastoral and academic support, allowing students to reach their full potential. The college has demonstrated how their staff are committed to going above and beyond for students’ welfare and act as a strong pillar of support, resulting in an outstanding self-assessment.

“Leeds Sixth Form College achieved this status due to its outstanding contributions to support services for students and families across areas including leadership, policy development, curriculum, assessment and school ethos.

Rachael Booth, Principal of Leeds Sixth Form College, added: “Being the first post-16 provider in Leeds to be awarded MindMate Friendly status is a fantastic achievement. Each department makes an incredible effort to meet students’ pastoral needs, enabling them to build vital emotional resilience. 

“We understand the importance of supporting our young people and their families, especially during such a difficult period. We are currently planning a ‘green box’ initiative, which will see parents and carers receive a mental health support kit. This will include advice and research-based strategies, which aim to bring a better quality of life during emotionally charged periods, such as the lockdown or exams.”

The MindMate Friendly programme was launched as part of the Future In Mind: Leeds Strategy; a city-wide programme aiming to support young people’s emotional and mental health. The strategy involves working with schools and colleges to help them achieve Mindmate Friendly status, and then Mindmate Champion status. 

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s executive member for learning, skills and employment, commented: “The health, safety and wellbeing of our city’s young people is always our top priority. Never has it been so important to do everything we can to support young people, with the uncertainty and struggles they continue to face as a result of Covid-19.  

“Congratulations to Leeds Sixth Form College on the outstanding work they are doing to support students and their families, and for being the first post-16 provider in Leeds to achieve Mindmate Friendly status.” 

The government has made the decision to cancel the 2020 summer examinations. We realise there will be a lot of unanswered questions as the guidance is quite limited at this stage, but we wanted to share with you what we do know or expect to happen.

This information is applicable to the summer exams for GCSEs, A levels, BTEC and some other equivalent vocational qualifications. Other qualifications’ awarding bodies may require students to sit an exam and/or assessment at a later date.​

Students will be awarded grades which fairly reflect the work they have put in. Please rest assured we will be doing everything we can to ensure that each student is awarded the grade they deserve in recognition of their hard work. It is clear from the announcement that every effort will be made to make sure that students will not be disadvantaged and will be able to progress as appropriate, to the next stage of their lives. 

Teachers will be asked to submit judgements about the grades students would have received if exams had gone ahead. This judgement will be informed by a range of evidence and data which could include; 

• A wide range of assessments completed by students over the course of the year 
• Mock examination grades 
• Class work and coursework

This will then be combined with prior attainment data and expected pathways to produce a calculated grade that is fair and expected. We will work closely with the exam boards to ensure that every one of our students achieves the right outcomes based on what is fair and reflective of their performance. This is important for adult learners or students who have only been studying their subject in this academic year.

For those who have exams as part of a vocational or technical qualification, some units will have already been assessed and completed. These will be important evidence in informing the final awarded grade. We will follow the guidance and work with the awarding organisations to ensure there is a flexible and pragmatic approach, so these students are not disadvantaged in any way. 

It is intended that students will be awarded their calculated grades before the end of July. Be reassured that grading and certification will look the same as in previous years.

Where students feel that their calculated grade does not reflect their performance, the option to sit an exam at the earliest reasonable opportunity will be available, or in the summer of 2021.

Students should continue with their remote learning as planned and supported by their teachers. This will make a difference in readiness for their next steps, and in completion of any assessments that may be used to inform the calculated grades. You should contact your tutor/s if you need any support.

We would like to offer assurance that although our ‘in college’ normal way of working has been interrupted, you can still apply for your next steps at college. We are doing different types of (safe) interviews and you will hear from us in due course. 

We look forward to celebrating the achievements of all our current students and meeting those who are yet to join us, as we plan for the new academic year ahead.

Our students are full of hidden talents and Ayse Selcuk is no exception. Alongside studying A level Art, Textiles and Business at Leeds Sixth Form, the 18 year old recently took part in a national barista competition, coming first in the regional heat. She will soon be heading to London for the finals, which are taking place in November at Bewley’s Tea & Coffee factory showroom.

Ayse works part-time at coffee shop, Insomnia, at Primark, which is how she got involved in the competition. “I was entered into the competition by my manager earlier this year, giving me lots of time to prepare. A Bewley’s coffee trainer came to visit me with some information about the day, advice on signature drinks and what’s expected.

“The competition was a full day, consisting of six candidates from across the UK who all shared a love and passion for making and drinking coffee. We each had 15 minutes to set up our work surfaces and prepare. We then had 15 minutes to present. This included making and serving four espresso drinks, four milk based drinks, (I chose lattes, decorated with a heart) and four signature drinks. I was judged by four experts, including a technical judge, two taste testing judges and a head judge.

“My signature drink was inspired by cherry bakewells as they’re my favourite pudding! I named it ‘Cherry Bakewell Moch-tail’. I created and tweaked this recipe with colleagues at work so that it was just right. It included a base of three glacier cherries layered with cherry sauce that I made at home, then I shook ice cubes, almond extract, vanilla milk and cooled espresso in a shaker and poured over the syrup. To finish, I topped it with whipping cream, a fresh cherry and a sprinkle of crushed almonds. The judges loved it!”

Ayse, whose favourite drinks include blackberry hot chocolate and hazelnut mocha was shocked to find out she came first. “It was so surreal. As it was my first competition, I wasn’t expecting it at all. I participated for the experience, but ended up gaining different life skills such as independence and confidence. I have also developed a passion for something I never thought I would.

“It would mean the absolute world to win the finals. I can’t put it into words how much it would mean to accomplish something like that. It’s a scary but exciting thought.”

The competition has inspired Ayse’s plans for the future, and she would like to take her business qualification to the next level by running her own coffee shop one day. “I’d love to have it art themed as I love being creative, and combining an arty vibe in my own coffee shop would be an amazing combination.

“I would just like to end by saying be happy and follow your dreams!”

GCSEs have undergone a bit of a transformation in the last year, with grading and qualification standards becoming tougher. However, despite this, students at Leeds City College have proved that anything is possible with hardwork and determination.

Approximately one in five UK GCSE entries scored at least an A grade, which is a 7 under the new grading system.

Charlotte and Gorsia are among many students who excelled at the academy and came out with outstanding results.

“It was quite overwhelming because I was sitting in the car thinking, I’d prepare myself for the worst and hope that I’d get the best.

I think I’ve had the best results in six years and I am really happy. The college has done so much for me,” said Charlotte.

Gorshia, who moved to the UK from Poland last summer also overcame challenges of not fitting in and struggling at school, to finding a place where she felt she belonged, winning the ESOL 14-16 Student of the Year award at the Star Awards in June.

Alongside her positive and jovial outlook on life and school, Gorsia contributed to every lesson and was an asset in her class.

“I think my teacher is the best teacher ever,” she said.

“She helped me with everything. I wasn’t the best student in my country, I didn’t learn anything, but this year, I was the Student of the Year for my course.”

Beth Whiteley studied at Leeds Sixth Form because she had the flexibility of studying creative subjects alongside maths. On results day, she was ecstatic to achieve B, A and A* grades for maths, textiles and photography, respectively. We caught up with her to find out more.

How was your time at Leeds Sixth Form?

I had a great time at Leeds Sixth Form. It allowed me to pursue my favourite subjects in a welcoming atmosphere. Other schools mainly focus on grades, whereas here, the tutors have a genuine passion for their subjects and ensure you develop vital skills that are needed for the industry.

It’s a very versatile place where I had the opportunity to meet people with a variety of different backgrounds. Throughout my time here, I felt comfortable, at home and safe.

What made you choose the subjects you studied?

I have always enjoyed making things, coming up with ideas and bringing them to life, it gives me so much freedom and creativity. Some of my projects have included photographing mouldy fruit and vegetables and creating hand embroidered flowers.

I spent a lot of time with my grandparent who showed me how to make things. I also enjoyed textiles at high school, so I decided to study it further.

As for maths, it’s something I am good at and it’s refreshing to study an objective discipline in between being creative.

Did you get involved in any extracurricular activities?

I took part in a sign language club which I found interesting and allows me to communicate with more people, which I think is important.

What’s next for you?

I’ll be studying a foundation diploma in art and design at Leeds Arts University. My aim is to build up a portfolio, go on to a full degree and possibly pursue a career in costume design.

Damilola Akinbolu was this year’s Leeds Sixth Form Student of the Year at the college’s annual Star Awards ceremony.

An international student with less than three years in the country, the talented 19 year old achieved A* in maths, B in further maths and C in physics. We caught up with him to find out what he’ll be doing next.

How was your time at Leeds Sixth Form?

It has been a wonderful experience. The support I received from the teachers and staff was invaluable.

Coming from Nigeria, I could already speak English but it was a different education environment, so I found it difficult to adjust at first.

What was your reaction when you opened your results envelope?

I was really pleased to see my results and I’ve got my place at university, which is great.

I got support from Leeds City College staff with everything related to UCAS; they really helped me a lot with it and I can’t thank them enough.

What advice would you give to students who are thinking of studying A levels?

A levels are hard work, but also enjoyable. If you put your mind to it, you can do it. No exam is hard if you make sure you prepare and study beforehand.

For international students, adjusting is challenging, but you will meet lovely, friendly people at the college who will help you every step of the way and support you to achieve your goals.

What’s next for you?

I will be going to the University of Leeds to study electronic and electrical engineering, but I’m taking a gap year to study electronics with Leeds City College.

In the future, I would like to work for an electric company, and improve the electricity supplies in my home country.