The Senior School
An Introduction to Year 12 and Year 13
Sha Tin College has approximately 1200 students with over 300 students in the Senior School. We fully embrace the mission of the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) and offer a broad IB and Advanced Diploma curriculum, with a choice of over 30 subjects, to cater for the needs of the individualstudent. The curriculum encourages students to become creative and critical thinkers and its international base enables students to explore their own as well as other cultures.
We provide opportunities for students to take intellectual risks by facilitating independent learning and encouraging debate and discussion in formal and informal settings. Sha Tin College has developed excellent working relationships between students and staff. Students can access staff outside of lessons and during the wealth of co-curricular activities that are on offer during and after school. All teachers are committed to the IB philosophy of nurturing lifelong learners and encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning through a wide variety of teaching styles and methodologies.
Sha Tin College offers a diverse range of co-curricular activities and there are also many opportunities for leadership and teamwork. Students are encouraged to keep abreast of current world affairs and participate in the varied social life that Sha Tin College has developed. An emphasis is placed on helping and caring for others through fundraising and charitable activities and students are encouraged to work together to organise these events.
Sha Tin College aims to support the whole student and there is a well developed system of support and guidance for students that takes care of their personal, social and emotional needs as well as their academic welfare and higher education and career aspirations. We have a dedicated team of higher education and careers counsellors who deliver a comprehensive programme of guidance and counselling to ensure that students make informed choices about their future.
Sha Tin College welcomes students of all abilities and interests and seeks to provide a stimulating and purposeful environment in which all individuals are challenged to realise their full potential. Each student receives personal guidance to ensure that they are placed on an IB or Advanced Diploma programme that will lead to individual success, whilst providing a suitable level of academic rigour and enable access to higher education and career opportunities in the future. Each student is assessed on a regular basis and progress throughout the Senior School is monitored closely and communicated to parents. Contact with parents is given a high priority.
Sha Tin College offers a wide range of opportunities for energetic, young people to enjoy and demonstrate their talents. Staff are willing to help and support; but ultimately the beginnings of a successful future depend on the motivation of each individual. To achieve their full potential, each student must be prepared to rise to the challenge that Sha Tin College Senior School has to offer them.
Leadership Opportunities.
All Year 12 & 13 students are expected to act in a mature, responsible manner and as role models for younger students. There are opportunities for students to undertake specific leadership roles and organise events and activities.
Student Leaders
The role of student leaders is vital to Sha Tin College. These students assist staff in the planning and implementation of whole school, community based and fundraising events.
Student leaders have a degree of autonomy in their role and are encouraged to introduce new ideas and work collaboratively to bring them to fruition. Individuals who can demonstrate maturity, enthusiasm and a commitment to the aims of the College are invited to apply to be Student Leaders. Staff will interview suitable candidates and those selected will be provided with appropriate training.
Student Leaders hold office from November of Year 12 until November of Year 13. They are directly responsible to the CAS Coordinator and Head of Senior School and will liaise closely with form tutors, younger students and their peers.
There are eight Student Leaders in each house (one Head of House, two Heads of Action, two Heads of Service, two Heads of Creativity and one Head of Environmental Action).
Heads of House
The Head of each House will serve to take the lead in co-ordinating all House activities. They will be expected to liaise with Student Leaders in their House, the College CAS Co-ordinator and Head of Senior School on a regular basis.
Heads of Creativity, Action, Service AND Environmental Action
Year 12 & 13 students selected to be student leaders, assigned to specific house groups, will have the opportunity to work closely with the College CAS Co-ordinator, staff and students in that house group to develop opportunities for students to face challenging situations that will recognize and encourage commitment both inside and outside school.
Student Council
This is a student elected body which comprises a president, two vice-presidents, a treasurer and a secretary. The council represents student voice at every level of the school. Appointment to the Student Council is through nomination and hustings and voting by every member of the student body.
Careers and Higher Education Programme
After leaving Sha Tin College, our students move on to Higher Education throughout the world. Whatever their destination, we aim to equip them to make the best possible choice of both what and where to study based on their own personal interests, talents and backgrounds. While most of our students attend university in one of our five major destination countries (U.K., Canada, U.S.A., H.K. and Australia), Sha Tin College graduates have enrolled in universities in over 25 countries in the past 5 years. Preparation for Careers choices, potential Higher Education paths and related school subject choices is an integral part of the IPSE programme from Years 9 through 13.
College and University Visits
We highly recommend that students try to arrange visits to institutions which they are considering for their future Higher Education. The best time to arrange these is during the summer holidays after Year 12, so that they are ready to make their applications in Year 13. The Higher Education and Careers Department will give support and advice on how best to arrange a programme of visits.
Work Experience
Work Experience is widely regarded as an essential part of preparation for Higher Education and future employment. We recommend that students arrange and complete a placement of at least one week before they start Year 13. The Higher Education and Careers counsellors can help students in the procedure of how and where to look, and how to make requests as they are organising their placements. Please note that while these placements are very useful for all students, they are especially important for competitive higher education paths in fields such as Medicine, Law, Engineering, Architecture and Design, as students must have evidence of understanding what is involved in the professions that these university courses/programmes prepare them for.
Privileges
A number of privileges are available to Year 12 and 13 students.
Dress Code
Students in the Year 12 and 13 are expected to dress appropriately for a place of learning. The following guidelines should be adhered to:
- Clothing may be casual but must always be practical, well presented and clean.
- Clothing should not contain any provocative or offensive slogans or designs.
- Footwear should be unobtrusive and appropriate for climbing stairs (no flip flops)
- Footwear must always be appropriate for practical Art, Science & DT lessons.
- Skirts and shorts must be of a reasonable length.
- All jewellery must be discreet and suitable for the school environment.
One facial piercing (a discreet stud only and excluding ear piercing) is allowed but prior approval must be obtained from a member of the Senior School Team. The Senior School Team are arbiters of what is
acceptable and inappropriately dressed students may be sent home to change.
Private Study
All Year 12 students will have at least four private study periods per two-week period. Private study periods are designed to provide additional time for work and research, allow access to the Senior School Centre and Library and Learning Center enable critical discussion between students. It is imperative that students manage this time productively and learn to work independently. Internal assessment (coursework) deadlines must be met.
During this time, students are free to study in the Senior School Centre, Seminar Rooms (Rooms 233 to 236) if available, and the Library.
Study Afternoon and Mornings
In recognition of the heavy workload of Year 12 and Year 13 students, and as part of the Senior School privileges, students may have one or two study afternoons or mornings per week when they can study at home, timetable permitting. This privilege is only extended to those students who abide by the student contract and who display a mature, responsible attitude to their studies.
Study afternoons and mornings will be awarded to responsible Year 12 students after the first interim report in November of Year 12 and from the beginning of Year 13.
The Senior School Centre (SSC)
This room is for the use of Year 12 & 13 students. It contains a suite of laptops, with internet access and there is also a resources section which has relevant periodicals, reference books and newspapers for student use. All resources must remain in the Senior School Centre, unless the Manager has given permission for them to be removed. The room should be a quiet work area during lesson time but it can also be used for relaxation during breaks. No food or drink may be consumed in the room at any time.
Senior School Seminar Rooms (233-6)
The Senior School corridor contains five seminar rooms which are for the exclusive use of Year 12 and 13 students. These rooms can be used for private study when they are not being used for Senior School lessons. They may also be used for relaxation or discussion at break or lunchtime.
LIBRARY AND LEARNING CENTRE (LLC)
Sha Tin College has a well equipped Library and Learning Centre and qualified Library staff to support Senior School students through all curriculum areas of the IB and BTEC programmes. Students are given support and guidance on information retrieval, effective use of databases and writing and researching extended essays and personal projects. The Librarian also delivers dedicated sessions to all Senior School students on plagiarism and writing bibliographies. Additional resources and our library databases can be accessed via the library page on SMART
updated 29th September, 2011
