Yea

As part of Aston Manor Academies’ careers advice and guidance, we aim to ensure our sixth form students have a thorough insight into the range of career opportunities available and the universities, apprenticeships, and colleges that offer courses that align with students’ aspirations.

Our year 12 aspiring medics visited Keble College, Oxford, to see first-hand if the course modules, facilities, and halls of residence appealed to them, before completing their UCAS applications this September.

Aston Manor for the second time was awarded Ofsted Outstanding in June 2025.

Aston Manor Academy Sixth Form is in the ‘Top 3% nationally for A Level Progress’ from the most recent examination results.  Ranking 75^th out of 2540 sixth forms across the country!

Further information regarding Aston Manor Academy and the school’s overall performance within the https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/

Mr. Preston (Assistant Head Teacher, Sixth Form) remarked, “We couldn’t be prouder of our achievements.” Our students and staff have shown tremendous commitment and dedication to achieve such excellent results.

Currently, of our year 13 cohort, which consists of 120 students, 99% have received offers from their preferred university for entry in September 2025

Aston Manor Academy is incredibly excited to have been awarded Bronze status as part of UNICEF’s Rights Respecting Award. This is the first stage of our journey in working towards Gold over the coming academic years. Taking part in this award ensures that our core ethos of all different, all equal, all achieving links closely with the Rights Respecting award and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This award provides further support in ensuring our students’ confidence in talking about their rights and living them day to day is strengthened further. In order to achieve Bronze status we have strengthened our student leadership team, delivered form time sessions on the award, supported staff with initial training on the RRA, and liaised with governors, the senior leadership team and parents. Please see below for information on the award from UNICEF.

The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) works with schools in the UK to create safe and inspiring places to learn, where children are respected, their talents are nurtured and they are able to thrive. Our Rights Respecting Schools Award embeds these values in daily school life and gives children the best chance to lead happy, healthy lives and to be responsible, active citizens.

Our Year 12 students had a great day at the UCAS Careers event held at the NEC Birmingham. This annual event provides a great opportunity for pupils to meet universities, colleges, apprenticeship providers, and employers, and ask them questions, so they can start to consider which pathway best suits their future career plans.

Our eager students attended subject workshops and enquired about career taster sessions, entry requirements, and personal statements.

Assistant Head Teacher Sixth Form, Mr Preston said “These events allow students to chat with Universitities and speak to real-life role models who can demonstrate the relevance and connection of what is taught in the classroom and how this will support their future studies and careers aspirations. We provide a range of very informative careers events and activities, to ensure all pupils at Aston Manor Academy aspire to reach their full potential and progress to their chosen career destination”.

Throughout Year 12 students are introduced to universities and apprenticeship programmes to assist individuals in determining which higher education pathway is most suitable for them and aligns with their chosen career destination.

Today, Year 12 students could choose from a range of external providers to visit with a focus on specific courses and careers. These included;

Wolverhampton University- sports courses and Degree Apprenticeships. Wolverhampton also included a great Science presentation by Mark O’Shea MBE- Blood Sweat and Snakebites.

Newman University provided an insightful presentation on studying teaching and the various placement opportunities available to students throughout their studies.

The apprenticeship pathway has become increasingly popular with Aston Manor Sixth form students, and Ask Apprenticeships explained in detail, the range of degree apprenticeships available, plus the application and interview process.

Headteacher Mrs Sweeney said “This jam-packed event serves as an essential and fun addition to our careers programme, to help guide our students as they start their attention to completing their UCAS personal statement and life after exams next year”.

A huge thank you to all the employers and universities who attend our 2024 Year 12 Mock Interview Day.

Mr Preston Assistant Head Teacher (Sixth Form) said “The Mock Interview Day provides an ideal opportunity for students to meet with employers and universities to find out more about entry requirements, what they can expect at the formal interview stage and future career paths. When students return in September, they must decide who they wish to apply to and determine which course or university, best fits their career destinations. Today’s event is invaluable to our students”.

Our interview panel, provided some great feedback

I had some amazing conversations with Aston Manor Year 12 students and almost all of them plan to go to university. They are very driven and have clear career goals.

Again and again, these conversations remind me why we love to work in the HE sector. Looking forward to seeing these young ambitious students embark on a bright future.

Cherry Chorltal, Regional Recruitment Specialist- Central England & North Wales

The Aston Manor 2024 Sports Awards evening was another fantastic event where students were rewarded for their sporting achievements throughout the 2023/24 academic year. ​ The room was packed and the atmosphere electric as we celebrated the sporting achievements of our students.

We were delighted to welcome our guest speaker, Haseebah Abdullah, the highly regarded first Hijabi boxing coach for England. Haseebah fought to change dress code regulations for Boxing England.

Ms Abdullah exclaimed, “It was an absolute pleasure to be invited to the 2024 Aston Manor Sport Awards, it was brilliant to see such talented students in their chosen sports. Keep succeeding, you are truly amazing and remember, be the change you want to be”.

Head teacher, Mrs Sweeney, said, “We were so proud of our students as they collected their much deserved awards. Our male, female football and basketball students train and work so hard to combine their academic studies, which requires incredible discipline and dedication”.

Our sixth form students excelled again this year achieving a 100% pass rate for both A-level and vocational subjects and securing a place at their preferred university.

The tension was palpable as sixth form students arrived to receive their A-level and Extended Diploma results. Many knew from their UCAS portal that they had already secured a place at their chosen university but they didn’t know their actual grades.

Tension quickly turned to relief with lots of smiles and hugs between friends, parents and students and staff as they celebrated their incredible results.

“So much is reliant on today’s results, students want to make their families so proud of them. The dedication and determination of our students, is incredible. They are a pleasure to teach” said Mrs Kaur Head of Year 12 and 13

The relief of knowing that they have all done so well and that all the hard work has paid off, is amazing” commented Mr Preston Assistant Head teacher. “Many students have secured places at the University of Birmingham, University of Warwick, Aston University and Birmingham City University, to study either medicine, money banking and finance and law, Chemical engineering, speech and language therapy, interior design and criminology.  We couldn’t be more proud”.     

Five students clinch USA basketball scholarships

There are over 2,000 college basketball athletics programmes available in America which means the opportunities are vast, but the competition for places is notoriously fierce.

All the more reason to celebrate and acknowledge the outstanding achievement of five students from our sixth form sports academy, beating many applications and securing

basketball scholarships at some of the USA’s top colleges.

Mark Collett Basketball Coach at Aston Manor Sports Academy said “Gaining a scholarship is a lengthy and in-depth recruitment process. USA college coaches and scouts will look for technical characteristics in players that make them truly stand out from the crowd. In addition, students also must complete and pass a SAT exam. I couldn’t be more proud of these young men”

Jill Sweeney, Head teacher at Aston Manor Academy, commented “whilst we know Aston Manor is one of the leading Sports Academies in the Midlands, attracting sixth form applications far afield as Stratford-upon-Avon, Coventry and Leicester to study with us, but this really is an outstanding achievement. Our sports academy students have to balance the challenge of studying a rigorous BTEC Extended Diploma in sport whilst committing set training and coaching sessions, often before and after lessons. I am absolutely delighted”.

Students who secured scholarships are –

Frank Madubuko – College of Biblical Studies, Texas (NCAA Division 2, 4-year Basketball Scholarship). Frank previously attended TMG Preparatory Academy in Orange County California. 

Akol Ring –  Hibbing College, Minnesota, (NCAA Division 2, 4-year Basketball Scholarship)

Yahye Makaran – Omega Preparatory Academy, Georgia State (1-year Basketball Scholarship)

Paul Joseph – Charleston Southern University, South Carolina (4-year academic Scholarship)

Derrick Oyowvi –  TMG Preparatory Academy, Orange County, California (1-year basketball scholarship)

Pictured with students, Mr Preston (Assistant Head teacher and Head of Sixth Form and Head teacher Mrs Sweeney

If you are interested in applying to our sixth form, please refer to https://astonmanor6thform.com/apply/how-to-apply/