FAQs

To apply directly to Wye School Sixth Form please complete our brief application form.

If you have any sepcific questions please do not hesitate to contact the Head of Sixth Form, Dr. John Marks john.marks@wyeschool.org.uk

Alternatively, please apply via KentChoices

Please use the link below which will enable you to apply to our sixth form via KentChoices:

https://www.kentprospectus.co.uk/courses?section=sixth-form&provider=wye-school

If you are in Year 11 in a Kent school you will receive login details in November. If you have not received them please ask your school - do not self-register. If you have forgotten your login or are having problems, please ask your school for help or email us at ProspectusMail01@theeducationpeople.org.

If you are in Year 11 at an independent school or a school outside Kent or if you are not in Year 11: you can self-register directly on the KentChoices website.

If you are not in Year 11: you can still use the KentChoices website to research courses available in Kent without needing to log in.

Please read the Learner Guide on how to apply: Learner Guide

We are a Free School, i.e. a school set up by an organization or group of individuals, funded by the government but not controlled by the local authority.  We opened in 2013 and grew each year until completing our first GCSEs in 2017 and A levels in 2020. We are a mixed school with boys and girls, and a non-selective school with no academic entry requirements until you get to Sixth Form.  Whilst being non-selective, we aim to be academically challenging for all students.

Our standard entry number is 90 in each year group, forming 3 classes. Our Sixth Form has a limit of 75 in each year, 150 overall.  We are therefore a school of just under 600 students, the smallest local secondary school.

We follow the National Curriculum at Key Stage 3, but deliver it via the United Learning core curriculum, which aims to be academically challenging and provide students with a strong foundation for GCSE study.

At GCSE and A level, we offer a broad and balanced curriculum with a very strong emphasis on academic and ‘facilitating’ subjects.

At Key Stage 5 we have students studying for eighteen A’ level subjects one Level 3 BTEC in Health & Social Care. This allows students to develop their subject knowledge and the range of skills that they will need for university entry, to embark on an apprenticeship or to gain employment.

Art, Biology, Chemistry, Drama, English Language, English Literature, French, Geography, History, Mathematics, Health & Social Care (BTEC), Photography, Politics, Physics, Psychology, RS, Spanish, Sports Science and Sociology.  This is reviewed yearly and reflects the demands of our students.

Wye has a unique approach to study at Key Stage 5. Our Sixth Form has the benefit of being small but with a very good A’ level offer. Our teachers are all specialists in their subjects with degrees, experience and a passion for the subjects they are teaching. Class sizes are small which means that alongside traditional teaching we can use a ‘university tutorial’ inspired approach allowing content to be directly tailored to individual students. Small classes mean that teaching staff really know their students. This means that when we are asked for references linked to university applications or careers, we know exactly what to say to best represent our talented and focussed Sixth Form students.

As we are a school rather than a college, students are still assigned to form groups with a tutor who they see every day. This means that they have a small group of peers and a tutor who they see very regularly, and who can offer support and advice.

We offer a ‘life skills’ course for all Sixth Form students. This covers applications to UCAS, careers, how to apply for apprenticeships, how to manage your finances, how to cook for yourself, wellbeing and teamwork amongst other topics.

Students are all given a dedicated mentor at Key Stage 5 who takes them through the careers process and UCAS applications where this is relevant. Our highly individualised approach means that students are well supported when deciding on their future.

All students at Wye are provided with a ‘Unifrog’ account. This is an excellent application for searching relevant careers and making relevant applications. It means that students can readily seek our advice and be provided with suggestions and guidance as to how to move forward with their plans in a very timely manner.

Our dedicated, supervised Sixth Form study and ICT rooms are well used, with some students remaining to do their work after school.  These transform into common rooms at break and lunch times. 

We offer onsite secure parking to Sixth Formers.

Each year we have been joined by students from local schools who have fitted in seamlessly, with the majority of our Sixth Form students who join us from Wye Year 11. New students often comment on the small class sizes, which are hard to match even in the independent sector, the personal attention that they get and the friendliness of the Sixth Formers. 

Even as a new school we have already had students go on to a wide range of careers and many degree level courses. In Summer 2020, 50% of our A’ level students successfully secured places at Russell Group universities. Something we are justifiably very proud of. Wye students have gone onto study Politics, Geography, History, English Language, Biochemistry, Policing, Social work, and a very wide range of other subjects.

An educational trust with charitable status that runs more than 60 state schools across England, as well as independent schools. Locally it runs Ashford School and will run the new Chilmington Green Free School. The benefit of being part of United Learning is that we get to share resources and experiences from a chain of successful schools in a way that benefits us as a small school. For example, our tests are centrally produced and moderated so we can be sure that the marks we give are accurate and comparable across England. So even though we are small and only have one music teacher, she works with the wider United Learning music team.

Yes, we are over-subscribed in Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11.

Our Sixth Form started more recently and is still growing.

Yes, we have had four sets of results at GCSE and two sets at A level since we opened and are very successful in both. Our progress measure (how students did compared to other students of the same ability nationally) has always been above national, Kent and local average and higher than any other local non-selective as well as some grammars. Our attainment measure (how many top grades) places us above all other local non-selective schools. At A level, 93% of our first cohort got the university place they wanted, with 50% going to the more prestigious universities from the Russell Group.

You will need to ask around, but we pride ourselves on being friendly and happy. We expect good behaviour and hard work, but we also take equal pride in strong relationships and trust. We are good at exams but not an exam factory.

We offer the full range of sport and extra-curricular clubs that you would expect at a secondary school including taking part in local sports fixtures and running a Combined Cadet Force and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. We have a school allotment and work with the local Community Farm. We won the 2020 Green School Award locally for the work of our Nature Club. We offer peripatetic music lessons and have music, art, photography, and drama departments for creative pursuits.

Most students use designated Kent County Council school transport. This ranges from big buses that go to Ashford and smaller minibuses and taxis that go to the villages. Local students walk and cycle. We discourage parent pick up and drop off as the village is a congested one but where necessary we have a parent parking and drop off area. Sixth Formers can drive and parking is available on site. 

There is no Sixth Form uniform but you are expected to dress as if you are going to work in a professional setting.

All students are required to wear their identification lanyards at all times.

Whilst we encourage you to exercise your own judgement on professional appearance, there are some items which are deemed as unacceptable:

• Female tops – no spaghetti straps, strapless, low cut, see through or revealing midriffs. If we can see your underwear it is inappropriate.  Tops should avoid being very tight and avoid large slogans or graphics. 
• Skirts/dresses – these should not be too short, the ideal length is just above the knee. Clothing should not restrict movement nor should it prevent a task from being undertaken with dignity.
• Trousers/skirts/jackets – no leather, leggings, denim or ‘cargo‘ styles to be worn, not too tight/skinny.
• Jewellery and Piercings – no visible piercings other than small earrings allowed and other jewellery items should be conservative to not pose a risk to health and safety.
• No shorts, hoodies or leisure wear allowed (except for sports events)
• Footwear - trainers, Dr Marten boots, heel heights over 3 inches (8 cms), flip flops or open backed shoes are not allowed
• Both hair and facial hair should be appropriate for the working environment.  Hair colour should be natural or conservatively dyed.

The Sixth Form dress code is not exhaustive in defining acceptable and unacceptable standards of dress and appearance. The final decision on whether you are deemed inappropriately dressed will be made by either the Head of Sixth Form or a member of the Senior Leadership Team. Any member of the Sixth Form who does not conform to the dress code or who is considered inappropriately dressed will be sent home to change and will be asked to report back to a member of the Sixth Form Team on return.

Sports Kit

One pair tracksuit bottoms, one hooded top, one skirt or pair of shorts, one polo top.

Footwear and team kit as appropriate to your sport.