Mercia School

Mercia Collegiate Sixth Form will be the home of the most diligent and hardworking young people in our city and its surrounding areas. Dynamic and unapologetically academic, this will be unlike any other Sixth Form in Sheffield. Our unquestionable purpose will be to provide a Sixth Form with scholarship at its heart, with an unrelenting focus on strong academic performance.

Our key aim will be to help our scholars attend the best universities in the UK and abroad, and to thrive in high-quality, professional careers. To be successful at Mercia Collegiate Sixth Form, you will need to work hard and persevere when faced with challenges.

 This Sixth Form will appeal to those who want to achieve great things in their lives; it will excite those who do not mind making sacrifices in the pursuit of true excellence. Hard work is the unmovable bedrock of success – if you don’t want to work, then Mercia Collegiate Sixth Form will not be for you.

At Mercia Collegiate Sixth Form, you will be challenged and stretched to exceed your potential. Our truly exceptional teachers know how to access the very best universities in the country. They have all attended outstanding institutions and are academically gifted in their own right – they will provide the teaching expertise and advanced subject knowledge required to help you achieve the very best results in a range of subjects.

As an Elite Sixth Form, our entry requirements are higher than most providers. We expect applicants to have achieved a GCSE Grade 7 in the A level courses of study they wish to pursue. Prospective applicants will also sit entrance exams and have a short interview with subject specialists.

During these assessments we want pupils to demonstrate not just their current high level of knowledge, but also their drive and commitment towards their future studies. Although potentially nerve-wracking, this process should be an exciting and valuable one – certainly not one to worry about! And once an offer to study has been made, then applicants can be reassured that the community they are joining is similarly motivated and supportive.

 Mercia Collegiate Sixth Form will not appeal to all. If you are a Year 11 pupil expecting to achieve strong GCSE grades, looking to push yourself to your full potential and aiming for an Elite Russell Group University, then you should seriously consider applying. In return for your appetite for learning, we will provide not only the very best teachers and study facilities, but also push you beyond the traditional curriculum to ensure you and your application to university stand out from the crowd. Our offer is more than subject based, it is experienced based.

TO MAKE AN APPLICATION TO MERCIA SCHOOL PLEASE APPLY VIA THE MERCIA WEBSITE https://www.merciaschool.com

The deadline date for applications is 31st December 2022 (more information is available on Mercia School website)

Mercia Collegiate Sixth Form will have a longer school day, with more timetabled lessons, seminars and independent study sessions than other A Level providers. As a result, scholars will have both a deeper and broader understanding of their courses of study and to gain powerful knowledge. They will be ready for the rigour of a world-leading university education.

Supporting Performance In any high performing organisation with talented and ambitious individuals, there will inevitably be some pressure to succeed and achieve. All scholars will be supported with the following initiatives:

1. A dedicated Mastery Tutor who supports pupils with mindset, organisation and mental/physical well-being

2. A strong sports and leisure culture, with an on-site gym and organised fixtures against other Sixth Forms

3. Clubs and Societies – Robotics Society, Art Society and Musical Theatre Society to name a few

4. Trips and visits – scholars will regularly have the opportunity to visit galleries, museums and theatres locally and nationally.

Application Process

Applications will open in October 2022, immediately after our open events. All applicants, whether internal or external, must complete their online application by the deadline stated.

 Mercia Collegiate Sixth Form will acknowledge receipt of applications from external applicants and their current school will be asked to complete a reference that is countersigned by the Headteacher. Predicted GCSE grades must be verified by the reference writer.

 The current school must submit this reference to us via our online application system by the stated deadline in December 2022. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure their referee submits this reference in time for us to consider their application. Please note this is not via the Sheffield progress application process.

 All applicants will receive a response from Mercia Collegiate Sixth Form about their application in January 2023.

Mercia Collegiate Sixth Form will really challenge any individual who wishes to apply. There will be a need for pupils to be determined as they undertake the application process. We know that character is important, and we want to offer an opportunity for that to shine.

The process will include the following key steps: 1. A 45-minute examination in 2 out of 3 subjects chosen. Pupils need to pass these examinations in order to have a chance of being offered a place

 2. Successful pupils who pass the aptitude examinations will be offered an interview

3. The aptitude examinations and interview will be considered, with places offered to individuals who exceed a pre-set qualification score If successful, a first-class transition will be implemented by Mercia Collegiate Sixth Form’s staff. In order to ensure all pupils are ready to join the Mercia community.

Contact from the Head of Sixth Form and your Mastery Tutor, as well as visits to Mercia School itself, will be organised. Individual plans will be drawn up for each pupil new to Mercia to ensure that all are fully immersed in the school’s ethos and values before commencing their studies. All scholars attending Mercia Collegiate Sixth Form will attend an Inauguration Week so all of the sixth form expectations and routines are understood before studying commences. Induction will be a priority to ensure scholars are fully ingratiated into the community and meet their staff team fully