The tutor’s role is to support and champion their students’ academic progress as well as help and advise with choices, including the next stage of education or work. They are there to keep students purposeful, reflective and resilient in their approach to study and will liaise regularly with Sixth Form teachers. The tutors also have a role in monitoring and supporting the students’ wellbeing. At report times, tutors will discuss in detail each tutee’s progress, achievements and aspirations, as well as making practical plans for the future.
Each Sixth Form tutor group is small to allow for a strong relationship to be established between tutor and tutee and each tutor group has at least two tutors so that one-to-ones happen frequently for every student, each term.
Where possible, the tutor group stays together for the two years of Sixth Form experience. Leweston has a horizontal tutor system which means that tutors and their tutees benefit from being able to focus entirely on the priorities associated with each of the Sixth Form years. In Lower Sixth, for example, student induction and transition from GCSE to Sixth Form studies, and in Upper Sixth, the UCAS application process and preparation for final exams. Enrichment sessions, assemblies and various other Sixth Form activities throughout the year are vertical, involving the entire cohort of Lower and Upper Sixth.
An induction programme is organised for new Sixth Form students after GCSE examinations have finished. This provides an insight into life in the Sixth Form and helps the new group to start to bond.
