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.