Tag: Success

Pencoed 6th Form Applications 2025-27

Congratulations! We hope that your GCSE results are what you hoped for (or even better), but whatever the outcome we are here to support you with your next steps.

If you wish to continue your post-16 learning journey with us at Pencoed Sixth Form Centre, you will need a minimum of 5 GCSEs A* – C, preferably with a B or above in the subjects you wish to study. If you need to re-sit English or Maths, we can also support you with this.

Enrolment for Pencoed Sixth Form Centre will be online here. It is important that you compete the form as soon as possible, but by 31.8.2025 at the latest. You will be asked to clarify some personal details along with subject choices. If you would like a discussion about your options, please indicate this on the form.

You will return to full time studies on Wednesday 3rd September and be expected in school, in the 6th form study room in time for registration at 8.40am. You will find all uniform requirements here and your sixth form tie will be presented to you on your first morning back.

However, should you not have received the grades to study A levels and would like to explore alternative options or have decided not to return to Pencoed Sixth Form Centre, please let us know via the Google form – as mentioned above, where you can also request that we contact you should you wish to arrange a support meeting. You can also email us at Pencoed6th@pencoedcs.bridgend.cymru if you have any specific questions.

For those of you joining Pencoed Sixth Form Centre – we will be delighted to welcome you back in September. If you are not returning, we wish you the very best in your future endeavours and are here to support you should you need us.

Year 7 Take on the CyberFirst Enigma Challenge!

Our Year 7 students were fully immersed in an exciting CyberFirst Enigma Room event, where they stepped into the shoes of wartime codebreakers at Bletchley Park such as Alan Turning. As part of the mission, learners took on the role of intelligence agents working to protect British ships from German U-boat ambushes during World War II.

Bletchley Park, the historic heart of British codebreaking efforts, played a crucial role in the Allied victory by cracking encrypted enemy communications, most famously those using the German Enigma machine. It’s also regarded as the birthplace of modern computing, thanks to pioneering technologies like the Bombe and Colossus.

In this challenge, students used CyberChef.io, a real-world encryption and decryption tool, to crack Morse code and Enigma-style ciphers. Their task? Track down hidden submarines and prevent attacks, all under the pressure of time and competition. The event sparked curiosity, collaboration, and problem-solving across all classes, with 1st to 3rd place prizes awarded in each group. Judging by their enthusiasm and skill, we may already have some future cyber analysts in Year 7!