Sixth Form Leadership Autumn Conference (online)

Introduction on how the day works, ways to choose sessions, engage and access resources.

Michael Senior
Founder, NetSixthForm

• This session will explore the latest UCAS updates, tools and resources available to schools and colleges.
• We will share up to date UCAS data, insights and adviser resources to help with supporting student decision-making, track progression pathways, and enhance careers programmes.

• Discover what's changed, what's ahead, and leave with clear, practical takeaways to share with tutors on the latest support, resources, and updates.

Elizabeth Lloyd
Adviser Lead Further Education Colleges, UCAS

• Find out what other sixth form leaders are experiencing and solutions they are adopting in the session that invites everyone to engage with polls and share advice.

• Take away a sense of what's going on in other centres as well as what centres are doing about some of the issues they are facing.

Michael Senior
Founder, NetSixthForm

• How do you ensure every student experiences the same high expectations, support and approach—regardless of the subject they study?

• This practical leadership session explores how successful sixth forms create consistency across departments by aligning expectations, communication and accountability in and beyond the classroom. Led by a former subject leader in a large college, who has taken the systems and approaches that drove success in a subject area and applied them to his role as a Head of Sixth Form, this session provides a unique perspective on creating whole-sixth-form consistency.

• Explore how to establish shared approaches to independent study, homework, student routines, intervention and the wider learning habits that enable students to thrive across every subject.

• The session will focus on the leadership systems that make consistency happen: how to communicate expectations effectively, monitor implementation, provide meaningful feedback and secure staff buy-in across a diverse range of subjects—without removing the individuality, creativity and flair that make departments successful.

Kyle Evans
Director of Sixth Form, Twynham School

THIS IS A CHOICE SESSION - RECORDED FOR CATCH UP IF YOU CHOOSE OPTION B

• The impact will be school-wide but this session helps you understand the impact on KS5 particularly and then helps you go back to SLT and all work together on preparing if it affects your centre.
• Cyber attacks on schools are an increasing risk, but what happens when the systems you rely on every day suddenly disappear?

• Hear directly from sixth form leaders who have experienced a serious cyber attack and discover the real impact on staff, students and the day-to-day running of a sixth form.

• From exams and enrolment to mock exams, student records and the crucial UCAS deadline, explore the challenges they faced and the practical steps they wish they had taken beforehand.

• A timely, practical session designed to help you identify vulnerabilities, strengthen your contingency planning and ensure your sixth form is better prepared to keep functioning when systems go down.
• This session was delivered at the in-person conference so we have added it to the online event for wider access. If you attended the session previously, there will be an alternative session to attend.

Hanif Ladha
Former AHT and Head of Sixth Form. Currently a Vice-Chair of Governors.

THIS IS A CHOICE SESSION - RECORDED FOR CATCH UP IF YOU CHOOSE OPTION A

• Is exam anxiety something to take seriously?

• How does exam anxiety impact achievement and well-being?

• What can be done to support students?

David Putwain
Professor School of Education, Liverpool - John Moores University

• Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) are employer-designed, government-approved technical qualifications at Levels 4 and 5 (equivalent to the first two years of a degree) that are intended to prepare learners directly for skilled employment or higher technical progression.

• Delivered as part of an Extended Education package, HTQ's are rapidly changing the landscape for school leavers of the future, offering a middle ground between highly sought after, but sometimes elusive Higher and Degree Apprenticeships, and traditional academic degrees.

• Evolution of these programmes, alongside the potential for fluid, modular based learning linked to the LLE, will offer huge evolution of choice. The role of sixth form and careers teams will be crucial to help key students expand their post-18 horizons.

Jamie Bradford
Head of Future Students, De Montfort University

• This session provides an uptodate briefing on England's post-16 policy landscape, outlining major reforms from recent white papers and DfE announcements.

• It will cover the introduction of V levels as a new Level 3 route replacing many existing vocational qualifications, alongside reorganised Level 2 pathways for progression to study or work.

• Delegates will also hear about new Level 1 English and maths steppingstone qualifications supporting GCSE resits along with other recently-announced policy reforms, such as the Enrichment Framework and plans around NEET reduction.

Claire Green
Post-16 and Skills Specialist, ASCL

• Although schools will be familair with the new personal statement formet, Katie will go through the sections providing a university perspective now that they have been in use.

• Helpful briefing to pass on to tutors for the remainder of the process and espeiallty as CPD for the next cohort applying in the summer 2027 for 2028 entry

• Members will be able to share the recording with tutors after the event when we upload it to the CPD zone.

Katie Bizley
Schools Liaison, University of Winchester

THIS IS A CHOICE SESSION - RECORDED FOR CATCH UP IF YOU CHOOSE OPTION B

• Are you confident your bursary processes would stand up to an audit?

• This practical session will take delegates through the key requirements of the Post-16 Bursary guidance, helping you check that your systems, decision-making, records and evidence are compliant.

• We’ll explore what auditors may look for, what information you need to retain, areas of weakness and how to ensure your processes provide a clear audit trail.

• Delegates will leave with a practical set of issues for reviewing their own bursary arrangements and greater confidence that they can demonstrate compliance if audited.

Karen Leadbetter
Director of Sixth Form, Twynham School

• In this first of two centres providing feedback about their recent inspections, there are some common themes, but we have invited these new centres as they offer some different experiences from our previous speakers.

• Sacha Gillan will provide advice from a centre previously 'Good'. The context is one of an inner city, multicultural cohort where there has been a focus on British Values and driving up progress scores.

Sacha Gillan
AHT/Head of Sixth Form, Landon Park School

• Explore how degree apprenticeships combine university-level study with paid employment, allowing students to earn while they learn.

• Gain up-to-date insights into the degree apprenticeship landscape, including sectors, entry requirements and application processes.

• Discover how schools and colleges can support students in finding and securing competitive apprenticeship opportunities.

Dominic Mayhew
School and College Engagement Officer, University of Exeter

• Can fun really improve academic outcomes? Hannah Roberts believes it can—and the evidence from her sixth form speaks for itself.

• In this engaging and practical session, Hannah will show how deliberately building fun into sixth form life has created a stronger sense of belonging, increased student engagement and developed a culture that students genuinely want to be part of.
• Discover a range of creative activities that can be easily adapted for your own centre, together with the practical systems that make them sustainable.

• The results have included consistently high attendance, greater student buy-in, improved resilience and wellbeing, and a positive culture that supports higher achievement.

• Leave with practical ideas you can implement immediately to make fun a powerful driver of belonging, attendance and student success.

Hannah Roberts,
Head of School, The de Ferrers Academy - Sixth Form Campus

THIS IS A CHOICE SESSION - RECORDED FOR CATCH UP IF YOU CHOOSE OPTION B

• Peter delivered this session at the Summer in-person event and it was so well received we thought we'd schedule it for those who couldn't make the London conference.

• This session will take an honest look at the unique context in which we are teaching and consider how our own beliefs, emotions and perspectives are shaping our students' trajectories as well as impact on staff who lead and work alongside.

• How can we turn change and challenge into opportunity and optimism?

Peter Radford
Founder, Beyond This

THIS IS A CHOICE SESSION - RECORDED FOR CATCH UP IF YOU CHOOSE OPTION A

• How do we ensure students with lower prior attainment don't simply receive more support, but develop the independence, motivation and study habits needed to succeed?

• This practical session explores approaches sixth form leaders can use to raise expectations and improve outcomes – from teaching students how to learn independently, to sustaining motivation through Year 13 and making more purposeful use of UCAS predicted grades.

Vicky Stuart
Director of Sixth Form, Farlingaye High School

THIS IS A CHOICE SESSION - RECORDED FOR CATCH UP IF YOU CHOOSE OPTION B

• Lucy Horobin's centre graded was inspected but then was required to engage again in an inspection as her centre is part of a joint sixth form, so anyone who is part of a shared sixth form will want to join this session.

Lucy Horobin
AHT/Director of Aspire Sixth, Cheslyn Hay Academy

THIS IS A CHOICE SESSION - RECORDED FOR CATCH UP IF YOU CHOOSE OPTION A

• Progressing to Higher Education is a huge step for students, but universities offer lots of support to help them along the way.

• However, figuring out what support they need, and how to access it, can be challenging.

• This session will focus on how to support students to research, prepare, and feel ready to advocate for their needs.

Alannah Moody
Post-16 Outreach Officer, UEA

• Creating a calm, purposeful sixth form culture requires more than high expectations—it demands clear systems, consistent practice and confident staff.

• Drawing on many years as Assistant Headteacher and Behaviour Lead for a large split-site sixth form of over 2,100 students, Michael Senior shares the practical approaches that made a measurable difference.

• This highly practical session explores proven strategies for managing post-16 behaviour, securing staff consistency and developing a culture where students take responsibility for their learning.
• You'll leave with practical tools and approaches that can be implemented immediately, together with a ready-made CPD package you can deliver to teachers back at your own centre—saving valuable planning time while ensuring your whole team adopts a consistent approach to behaviour

Michael Senior
Founder, NetSixthForm & former behaviour lead and AHT Post-16

• As we approach a period when student numbers coming through to post-16 begin to decline it will become (and might be the case now) that student recruitment is key to sustaining a sixth form.

• We have asked Hannah to go through how some key student recruitment strategies in her centre that have had particular impact on numbers.
• For experienced sixth form leaders, they devil is in the detail in how the strategies are implemented so look out for lots of practical advice as Hannah drills down into a few impactful ideas.

Hannah Roberts,
Head of School, The de Ferrers Academy - Sixth Form Campus