Welcome to the Sixth Form
Our well-established Sixth Form has expanded to almost 180 students, attracting increasing numbers of high calibre external students alongside our own Year 11s. We are delighted with the enormous benefits our Sixth Formers bring to the whole school community, and the academic outcomes and personal development that our Sixth Formers achieve.
Our staff are thoroughly enjoying teaching the A level programme to small dedicated classes (typically 10-15), and our Sixth Formers are not only relishing the academic challenges but are finding time to be positive role models, helping our younger students and working as ambassadors for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects, the Arts and Sport. Key to our success and enjoyment is that our relatively small size as a Sixth Form allows us to personalise much of the advice and support we give.
ALUMNI
It is with great pride that we annually send over 90% of our year 13 students to study at universities across the country, with over a third studying at top Russell group universities, including Oxford and Cambridge. The 2021 cohort are now studying a huge range of courses, from Architecture at Cambridge, Sports Science at Loughborough, and Maths at Exeter, to The Art of Video Games at Pearson College and Aerospace Engineering at Swansea. We are equally extremely proud of students who have been successful in gaining apprenticeship places at blue-chip companies such as at the top accountancy firm EY.
STRUCTURE
The Sixth Form is split into small mentor groups who meet through the week as a group and then once every three weeks for individual sessions with their mentor to discuss academic progress, enrichment opportunities and address any concerns. The tutor time programme and super curricular lessons include financial education, topical debate, a character & culture programme, PSHE & Ethics, and weekly year group and whole school assemblies.
We have a strong Sixth Form leadership team, led by our head students and deputies. This team helps with Sixth Form development but also forges student links with the lower school, runs assemblies, leads mental health initiatives, and organises charity events.
FACILITIES
Our purpose-built Sixth Form houses a fully equipped learning resource centre, two study spaces (including a new year 13 study room for September 2021) as well as an open plan social area which looks out onto the Sixth Form garden. There are also seminar rooms for A level teaching and three new Science labs equipped for A level study. Other facilities, developed for the benefit of the whole school are a newly spec’ed drama space, activity studio, additional changing rooms and IT suites. Whilst we encourage students to bring their own laptops, students have access to PCs and two suites of Chromebooks, together with a variety of books, journals and online subscriptions in the school library to support their independent study.
LEARNING
We offer a good selection of traditional academic A levels, including ‘new’ subjects like Politics, Sociology, Media Studies, Psychology and Economics, and two BTEC courses. We have the capacity to have 180 students in total across years 12 and 13, meaning we can retain a nice balance of optimal class sizes which enable staff and mentors to really get to know their students well.
We run a varied enrichment programme encompassing sports, debate, journalism, STEM, Theatre/LAMDA, and open learning opportunities. This runs alongside extra-curricular opportunities, leadership roles, and subject-related events for super-curricular development.
All students receive extensive careers support from our dedicated careers and progression lead, who is available for in person appointments or online guidance throughout the week.
On a daily basis I am heartened by the enthusiastic and committed approach to Sixth Form life by our students and delighted to be leading a dedicated team of staff and governors who continually work on ensuring outstanding outcomes for our Sixth Form students.
HELEN HARRIS
Head of Sixth Form
